Adams Avenue Farmer's Market

When is too much community participation a bad thing? Recently there was a news story about two Los Angeles art walks that are competing for participants as they have both been scheduled at the same time, meaning in the end both will suffer due to conflicting schedules and ultimately hurting the overall cause since neither will back down or combine the two. Many are focused on just getting these sorts of events off the ground, but with communities becoming saturated with farmer's markets, craft fairs, street festivals, and so on, when can one say enough is enough- there's already a plethora of local pride and anything I do would take away from the already established events?

Thankfully, San Diego has struck a wonderful balance of supply and demand with its farmer's markets, offering at least a handful a day spread across the entire county. Geographically spread out, each market has a similar offering of local produce and prepared foods, and as far as I can tell none conflict with a nearby market with a similar demographic. Some only cater to a few vendors (like Coronado and North Park), while some cause traffic jams and thousands flock by bicycle and Birkenstock with reusable bags (Hillcrest and Little Italy). Some have a large variety of vendors offering not just produce, but local jewelry makers, paper artists, or musicians. Some close down entire streets to handle the crowds, while some are tucked away conveniently into parks and parking lots with perhaps only 20 visitors at a time. One can either get some serious shopping done, or peruse leisurely and perhaps pick up a snack before heading home via their Hybrid vehicle. Whatever your bag is, there's most definitely a market for you... as long as your bag includes no plastic and hopefully some sort of snappy "Save the Whales" slogan.



These week, I decided to try out the Adams Avenue Farmer's Market, held at John Adams Elementary School at 4674 35th Street every Wednesday from 3-7 pm. Reviews of this particular market have been overwhelmingly positive, and as one of the newer additions to the scene it seems to have remarkable potential with its vicinity to MANY celebrated local food haunts with sustainability served up daily such as Viva Pops, Mariposa Ice Cream, Blind Lady Ale House, etc. The entire Adams Avenue corridor is packed with attractive draws for exactly the market-going crowd, so I have a feeling this rookie market will only grow as time goes on.



At first glance, this is one of the smaller markets I've visited and I'm immediately approached by a vendor who I'm unfamiliar with selling a variety of candied nuts. He's extremely interested in my camera and is borderline intrusive with his insistence on pouring handfuls upon handfuls of his wares into my hands. Thankfully, I'm not allergic to nuts, because I'm fairly certain that refusing was not an option. Soon, his next-tent neighbor was offering her figs as a compliment to his nuts, and I had to peel myself away, somewhat unwillingly, to be able to actually observe the scope and variety of the crowd.



There was an obvious emphasis on seasonality, perhaps more so in comparison to others due to the limited number of vendors versus the larger markets with a bigger reach, where seasonality is often a bit more flexible.



The number of produce vendors vastly outweighed the number of prepared food vendors- I could count the number of tents with smoke wafting out from their canopies on one hand. However, despite the lack of readily available hot meals and the relatively small number of actual vendors, the variety of available items were well represented across the entire market and everything that one might need for a basic supply of produce was available and local. Too late in the season for citrus and strawberries (both of which in the summer months remain kings of the fruit stands), but plenty of artichokes, squash, peaches, green beans, and peppers, not to mention colorful gourds and decorative pumpkins lined the tables and bins ripe for rifling through.



One of the more spartan tables was the mushroom man- usually a favorite of mine (as I happen to be a fungus fanatic), but as the single mushroom vendor on Adams, there was a single-digit selection of varieties to choose between. Local yes, seasonal to be sure, but with the bulk made up of generic looking white and brown 'shrooms I was left wanting. However, one of the more exciting finds to tantalize my tastebuds was the discovery of an okra farmer! My Southern roots danced in delight as I discovered the delectable veggie available near the piles of brightly colored peppers. I've only managed to spot pickled okra sporadically at the Hillcrest Farmer's Market, but the fresh thing is generally unavailable and unwanted in this region. Gumbo anyone?







All in all, for what the concentrated Adams Market lacks in size it makes up for in variety and genuine friendliness. For someone interested in keeping their fingers on the pulse of What's Happening In San Diego Food Now, I'd recommend staying tuned for what's next on Adams. Not just in the market- the restaurant scene is taking a page straight from the farmer's book and running with it more than any other neighborhood south of Orange County. Big things are in store for Normal Heights and I for one am glad to be a part of it!

Blind Lady Ale House

San Diego was recently named the Best Beer Town in America by the Men's Journal, and one of the places that helped us to acquire such a noble title is Blind Lady Ale House in Normal Heights. We had first attempted to drop by for a pint and a bite a few months ago, and unhappily were never served or helped. You know that feeling when you walk into a new place for the first time and you can tell it's not quite the standard way of doing things, but you can't quite put your finger on how it works? That's BLAH. It's a small joint on Adams Ave., in between 34th and 35th Streets with open shared seating (not unlike Pizza Port Solana Beach), and the "waitstaff" is more of a one to two person bussing and food running operation. To order, there's a cashier line for food, and a small bar to take your drink orders. The beers of the day are written in chalk above the plain taps (no fancy tap pulls here!) and it seems to be a consistently rotating and well thought out selection. Read here about their "Honest Pint" Certification!

Our second attempt proved more fruitful- after spotting their weekly ad in CityBeat, I noticed that they were kicking off their Saturday with a cask of Stone Vanilla Bean Smoked Porter. Generally, porters aren't my bag, but this sounded like something I couldn't pass up. Our initial plan was to head to Hamilton's Tavern for their Green Flash night, with 19 Green Flash beers on tap, free BBQ, and 3 hours of David Bowie in honor of his birthday weekend, but by the looks of the line wrapping around the corner half of San Diego got that memo too! Not discouraged, we decided that this was a sign to spend our evening at Blind Lady, which proved to be a wise plan. Families, foodies, and beer-o's alike were swarming the place, but even with 7 of us in tow we managed to finagle a spot after a few minute's wait. Now that we had our bearings, the separate food-and-drink ordering lines became less daunting, and the food selection promised to be top notch.

I'm still getting used to the idea that San Diego is filled with people who love beer as much as me... most of them more so! It's refreshing to know that the bartender at any given "beer" bar is going to know just what the hell they're talking about. He enthusiastically recommended the Stone brew, describing it as a beer milkshake. After an endorsement like that, how could I resist? The pour was perfection; the head took minutes to fall and the smell reached my nostrils even with his back turned to the pour. Generally, vanilla makes itself known much more by smell than taste, which remained true for this brew as well. Nonetheless, it was a surprisingly pleasant porter that went down more like a stout with a quick sweet bite during the aftertaste. It took a while to down the pint (this is definitely a "sipping" beer) but by the time I'd reached the bottom of the well-poured glass I was a little saddened by the lack of beer that I held in my hand.

Since we were nibbling as well, a second porter wasn't in the cards for me, so it was a Delirium Tremens next, which served as a great pairing to the clam appetizer and prosciutto pizza we had ordered. The clams were good, the broth was hot, buttery, and the sausage was a light and tasty side afterthought, but nothing spectacular. The pizza was fantastic- the crust, prosciutto, and all ingredients met in a sweet harmony of bliss that was well worth the $13 it cost. Others in our group also got the vegan butternut squash pizza with mushrooms and lemon zest, which tasted a little too clean and not enough like pizza to tantalize my tastebuds. The margherita pizza looked and smelled great, but unfortunately didn't make it into my mouth. Just something to look forward to next time- it's a definite recommendation for casual dining that's a step above the norm!

Antique Row Cafe, Normal Heights, San Diego

In my humble but completely undebatable opinion, fall is the best season for food and drink. Don't get me wrong, a crisp shandy or electric lemonade enjoyed on a hot summer day or a steaming bowl of homemade soup during a wintery storm are delights that can't be replicated. Still, I find the spicy, earthy, homemade tastes hit the spot unlike anything else, and when the sun is still clinging on to the last delicious bits of summer, it's a great time to chow down.

Our latest brunch expedition before the break was to the Antique Row Cafe in Normal Heights. Don't be fooled by the cheap diner-esque feel, on weekends this place is so hopping that there's often a crowd spilling out into the street as they anxiously await a table inside or out. (Note- they even offer coffee and pastries while you wait!!) Inside is a dark maze of bizarrely lined tables winding around oddly placed walls and cramped spaces, but I personally like to hide in a corner to enjoy my meal in a dim setting without worrying about scooting my chair into the obese man next to me or having to step over an unruly child. Bitter? Not as much as that sounded...

Back to the point. This place caters to all sorts of people, and by the looks of it people who enjoy a damn fine breakfast. The menu offered more, of course, but as the Brunch Warriors we focused solely on that menu plus the specials. The Fall special caught my eye, and with Pumpkin Pancakes smothered in homemade applesauce paired with a generous helping of cheesy potatoes and 2 eggs, how could I resist?!? Ashton opted for a standard veg omelet, and we anxiously awaited our goodies.

Our wait was not in vain! Two heaping platefuls were presented to me as my eyes bulged as much as my stomach soon would. Ashton also received a generous helping, and we quickly dug in. Before too long, both plates defeated us, but who needs syrup when applesauce is on the pancakes? They were fantastic, fluffy, huge, well-cooked, and piping hot with great spices. The eggs were also cooked perfectly, and the potatoes were smothered in cheese and hot sauce to make an excellent addition. The cost was definitely on the lower end of the spectrum, and the plates we received could have easily fed twice as many people. The service was okay, and the clientele was diverse, but the breakfast was quick, cheap, and true to the diner feel. Nothing outrageous was found on the menu, but all the expected diner fare was there, and it looked like they had some great specials cooked up. A definite recommendation.


Ashton's scramble


Pumpkin pancakes with applesauce


2 over medium eggs with cheesy potatoes

Jyoti-Bihanga

FINALLY! We have been hearing NOTHING but good things about Jyoti-Bihanga, a vegetarian venture in Normal Heights run by the followers of Sri Chinmoy's teachings. It's described as a "divine enterprise" and is closed for a few weeks and weekends out of the year specifically for congregating with their (now deceased) spiritual leader and sporting events such as the World Harmony Run. Hey, as long as the food is good, they could be worshipping Nico for all I care! Still, our several attempts for brunch were thwarted with their odd weekend closing schedules, so naturally we were thrilled to finally make it to dinner.

Luckily, our dining partners were regulars of the establishment, and offered helpful tips on what to order. The mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy were particularly highly recommended, and how convenient that they were the included side for most dishes! Their meatless "Neatloaf" was available vegan and vegetarian, and their special curry of the night was Lentil and Spinach. Their menu is very impressive for a vegetarian/vegan specialty place, and not with the normal boring fare.

The whole place was extremely serene; its high vaulted ceilings and white walls were decorated sparsely with minimalist and spiritual art, with books and pamphlets available to read while you wait. The staff moved slowly, deftly, quietly, and while the voices remained hush, it still maintained a very casual feeling, not at all like being uncomfortably stifled in a place of worship. The food arrived quickly, and it did not disappoint. I'm not a huge tea drinker, but pairing my famous Neatloaf sandwich (pictured below) with a cup of hot Bengal Spice tea was absolutely divine. My friends are now very used to me reaching over to try a particularly tasty looking morsel on their plates (all for the good of the readers of course!) and I managed to sneak a slurp of the broccoli soup (WONDERFUL), the BBQ duck sandwich (a third of our group ordered it- it was as excellent as I had hoped) and the lentil/spinach curry (fantastic). Everything we had was perfectly made, the sauces were delicious, and the service was polite, prompt, and understated. I'd give this place an enthusiastic recommendation with every intention of returning!


All this neatloaf just for me?!?!?!


Their "tziaziki" was just as good as the Greeks!

3351 Adams Avenue
San Diego, CA 92116
(619) 282-4116

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 11:00 am to 9:00 pm
Saturday 12:00 noon to 9:00 pm
Wednesday 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Two to three Sundays a month we do an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet from 9:00 am to
1:00 pm. Please make sure to call for the monthly schedule.

Country Kabob

We were feelin' Greek last night, but since we've gone to Alexis on 5th Avenue in Hillcrest a few times we figured we'd try something new. Normal Heights is an awesome neighborhood with a ton of bars on Adams Avenue, and no shortage of good restaurants either. We found the Country Kabob next to the Ould Sod, and I was immediately hopeful when the decor was authentically Greek- bland.
With high expectations that the food would not match the bland decor, I couldn't decide between a few things, because the menu was small, but had all the classics. Finally I opted for the Spanikopita and Mousaka combo plate, which came with tzatziki, two kinds of rice, pita, and steamed veggies. The spanikopita had a really bizarre flavor and was pretty mushy, with an overwhelming taste of lemon and not spinach at all. The flaky crust was alright, but woefully lacking the crisp that would have added some substance against the squish. The mousaka was infinitely better, but still only in the realm of simply "good". Simple flavor, well-cooked, but nothing awe-inspiring. The rice was hard, the veggies were soggy, and the tzatziki was flavorless. However, the pita was excellent, nice and hot with a perfect texture, and the Greek salad came with just the right amount of dressing and fabulous feta (but the olives were pretty mushy, bleh).
If there's a next time, I'll definitely try the Gyro/Kabob platter or something more dependent on the pita. It wasn't great, but for a quick bite of Greek I'd stick to Alexis until I find something better.