Alchemy, South Park

South Park is a foodie's paradise- a little off the beaten path but easily accessible, small, quaint, but with a ton of variety and filled with local joints from your friendly neighborhood tavern to an upscale dining experience requiring a tie. The former, happily, is much more prevalent, and the majority of restaurants in the area lean more towards a casual atmosphere, with varying levels of cuisine. One of the more interesting places whose menu is a cut above the norm is Alchemy on 30th and Beech. When I find myself on that block, 9 times out of 10 it's because Hamilton's Tavern is a favorite haunt, where the beer list is huge and spills over to the menu itself.

Alchemy in nestled just south of Hamilton's by only a few doors, but the clientele is as different as the menu. Alchemy's dinner menu is broken into sections with appetizers, tapas, entrees, and desserts available with influences ranging from Italian pickled vegetables to Puerto Rican tostones. Although upon entering it appeared that the restaurant was only about half full, the host informed us that we had perfect timing and the very last table available before reservations booked up the entire floor was ready for us. The decor was extremely tasteful and welcoming, despite a noticeable crowd of upper-middle class couples. However, we didn't glaringly stand out with our attire of t-shirts and shorts, and the entire waitstaff was prompt, friendly, and helpful.



Ashton had happened to stop by with Andy the day before on a whim, and what a happy choice that was! We decided to go again for a few tapas choices before Ashton caught a plane to Vermont, so we decided upon the squash blossoms and gazpacho Anduluz for starters, and then a shared entree of the local sea bass and Thai oyster shooters to round off the meal. Unfortunately, despite the tantalizing looking dessert menu, it wasn't in the cards for us that night.


Squash Blossoms (Road Side Stand) – lightly tempura battered and stuffed with herbed ricotta, drizzled with basil oil

Andy and Ashton had tried the squash blossoms the previous occasion and sang its praises; I found it to be very satisfying in some areas and woefully lacking in others. The presentation was magnificent, the cheese was delightful, and the freshness apparent- but the bite taken from the top of the stem released a surprisingly bitter taste that completely dominated that (small) section of the vegetable. However, the majority of the plant proved to be a solid offering and I'd recommend it without hesitation.

Gazpacho Anduluz – charred tomatoes pureed with garlic, olive oil, shallot and cucumber

The gazpacho came next, and I found it to be just slightly heartier than I expected, but by no means do I consider myself a gazpacho connoisseur and it was great nonetheless! The cucumber resonated throughout the bowl, and the temperature was ideal for a summer night's enjoyment. The vibrant orange and yellow blossoms were beautiful against the tomato-red broth, and the Bread & Cie sourdough crust crowning the top was a delight, as usual.

Ashton was hungry for a bit more than tapas, so for his entree he chose the Local Sea Bass – pan roasted and served over caramelized fennel with extra virgin olive oil, grape tomatoes and capers. For some godforsaken reason, despite the fact that San Diego is on AN OCEAN and THERE ARE A BAJILLION FISH TO BE EATEN, reasonable and fresh seafood is hard to come by from what I've found. However, this fish was thick, fresh, wonderfully prepared, and an altogether glorious experience. I found it interesting that even with what seemed to be an overabundance of salty ingredients, this was by no means overly salted, which had a lot to do with the bed of cabbage-like white greens that the fish rested upon. By itself, this cabbage was a bit sweet and on the cusp of being too sour, but with the fish and the jus it was just delicious. The sauce was light and seemed to be simply the natural juices and a little olive oil, but it was perfectly seasoned and brought out the fresh flavor of the wish without being overpowering in itself.


Thai Oyster Shooters – fanny bay oysters, coconut milk, lemon grass, red chili, and cilantro

To wrap up the meal, we ordered the oyster shooters, which was a first for me- I love oysters, but wasn't quite sure how the "shooters" part came into it. The lemongrass was slightly stingy on the back of my throat, but there was a pleasant spice to the creaminess of the dish. Unfortunately, it was only slightly tainted by a bit of shell, and I found the lip of the glass to be a little small to accommodate the swift movement required to properly inhale this. However, I found the flavor to be complex and enjoyable- a recommendation for next time!

Overall, Alchemy seems to be able to balance an international menu without spreading themselves too thin and achieved a higher echelon of flavor balanced with a welcoming atmosphere. Next time Hamilton's is overflowing and you don't mind gussying it up a bit more, head a few doors down and enjoy!

Photo Montage: El Camino as Haiku

We thought 'twas a bar
Foolishly not entering
'Til told that was wrong.


Ancestral decor
Mixed the contemporary
with traditional.


Packed with hungry folk
Red lights twinkle and glimmer
Tummies craving grows.


Promising menu
A fusion of tex and mex
Will not break the bank.


Praise Virgin Mary
Surrounded by artful leaf
My saliva flows.


Cousin and girlfriend
Ponder the selections well
Perhaps the special?


Not just one but four
Hot, flavorful, gooey, green,
A taste for us all.


Feeling so parched
One dollar adds tomato
Chelada it is.


Asked for extra juice
Perhaps it was a bit much
Not a giant fan.


Decided upon
Packed with sweet potato and
Sweet crema on top.


Very much enjoyed
Bean and rice presentation
Tasty treat in pot.


A bit of a wait
4 way split of sugary
Delightful churro.


I had to go pee
An exciting bathroom trip
Yielded door decor.


Saints be praised, lit flame
Offers homage to those gods
Dollar candles burn.


Mask hides emotion
I prefer to imagine
Camino is pleased.


A wet dreary night
How appropriate to end
Glistening outside.

Sea Rocket Bistro

Why is it that San Diego, a "seaside" town, seems to noticeably lack affordable, fresh seafood? The majority of restaurants in the greater San Diego area with an emphasis on serving our fish friends are either overpriced, sushi (while delicious, a cooked meal is often necessary), or el cheapo a la Rubio's. I had high hopes for Sea Rocket Bistro, a local, organic restaurant in its infancy with seemingly endless recommendations and ads in local weeklies. As a general supporter of food-with-morals, a perfect opportunity to finally put the Bistro to the test came with Ashton's 23rd birthday. Just a hop, skip, and jump down the bustling 30th Street area, the parking situation isn't ideal, but at 6:30 on a Tuesday we managed to find something in the same zip code, despite the proximity to about 5 other restaurants and a corner bar.

My first impression was impressed- the decor is spot on. Whoever decorated the space has a fantastic eye for color, simplicity, warmth, and friendliness. The soft green walls were accentuated perfectly with the school of swimming cardboard fish that cover the industrial ceiling, and twinkling lights splashed along the walls seemed to be a cheap and adorable way to draw you in. It seemed to be split into two different areas plus a bar with a chalkboard announcing the specials of the day, which is great if you were sitting at the bar but completely unreadable if you were anywhere else. Subtle touches included the warm wood furniture and beautifully framed photographs along the walls.

However, while decor is great and creates a warm atmosphere in which to set your expectations high, I don't eat photographs. It's going to come down to the food, which isn't 100% of the experience, but the most important and basic of dining out. The menu was just long enough to be impressive but without losing focus. I really enjoyed their $2 Tapas inclusions, a quirky idea to allow tidbits to be tasted without breaking the bank. Our waitress had a bit of trouble remembering all of the specials of the evening, but luckily there seemed to be a veteran Bistro'er to offer support and recommendations. We finally made our final selections of:
One dozen oysters
Sauteed sardines
Winchester Gouda Cheese & Honey on bread
San Diego Fisherman’s Stew (recommended and received spicy!)- squid, Carlsbad Aqua Farm clams & mussels, and market fish chunks simmered together in a tomato-based stew
Yellowtail special (sauteed with fresh local organic greens and sweet potatoes)
Carrot cake cupcake
Chilled Bread Pudding (with seasonal fruits, served with whipped cream and fruit garnish)

Let me start with the oysters. We had made a point to go on a Tuesday purely for the 1/2 off oysters. I've harbored some hesitation with our slimy friends, and have some good oysters along with bad ones. Let me tell you, one bad oyster cancels out the memory of 100 good ones. However, luck was with us, and these were a fantastic way to start the meal. I find that West Coast oysters are a little meatier and saltier than their East Coast relatives, but with a dab of their unique cocktail sauce and a squeeze of lemon these were top notch.

We'd been recommended the sardines from a fellow foodie friend, and they were a big disappointment. I'm not completely sure what I expected from the generally salty, prickly, and oily fishes, but they were exactly that. Would not order again anywhere.

The cheese and honey bread was superb. Two slices of fresh bread lined with a hard cheese and a dabble of honey- simple, sweet, light, and delicious. Could have eaten a loaf of the bread with a block of cheese and gallon of honey, but thank goodness it was tapas! A delight.

Ashton's stew was actually better than I had expected. Generally, I find that seafood stews are the leftovers ready to get tossed and the flavor completely depends on the broth. This tomato-based stew was recommended spicy, and came sort of spicy; as a hot sauce collector, lover, and enthusiast, I POSSIBLY have warped ideas about heat, but this was okay. Not the best, not the worst. It tasted fresh enough, and had a nice variety of what seemed to be generally fresh fish and assorted underwater creatures, but at the end of the day it was fish soup. Not bad.

My yellowtail was perfectly acceptable. I found it somewhat bland, lacking seasoning and when you depend on the fish to make up the majority of the flavor you really need to have some wizard hands to use subtle spices and preparation to enhance it to its full potential. This had a long way to go to reach its full potential, and the soggy greens and squishy sweet potatoes didn't add much. The sweet potatoes were an odd combination. Serious meh.

However, faith was restored with my dessert selection. The cupcake was a little slice of moist heaven. I perhaps speak too soon with a blanket statement of new-found appreciation. Ashton's bread pudding was more like sweet mush. If what they served was bread pudding, then slap my face and call me Sally. Let's just say Ashton didn't leave on such a high note as me.

When I had asked a friend with a similar love of dining what she thought about Sea Rocket, she thought for a moment and said "Some restaurants get too much credit for being local, organic, eco-friendly, etc. If it comes down to the food, Sea Rocket Bistro doesn't measure up." I wasn't quite sure what she meant, but after having experienced it for myself I can see what she meant. It has absolutely everything going for it, the process, the ingredients, the people, the vision, the location, the creativity, the niche, the atmosphere, etc. Unfortunately, if I had had a blindfold on I wouldn't have given it a second thought. I don't want to deter people completely from going there- not only are they extremely active in the community, avid supporters of sustainable food culture, and offer great incentives like 10% biking discounts and the like, it's not a BAD place, it's simply not amazing. There were highs, and there were lows, but all in all I enjoyed myself, the experience, and left a bit wiser about food vs. food culture.

The Station

South Park is what I consider to be the "mature" North Park. For as much as North Park is booming and expanding with plenty of art galleries, shops, and restaurants opening up, South Park enjoys a slightly more established neighborhood and quieter tree-lined blocks, along with a closer vicinity to Downtown. It's one of my favorite neighborhoods in San Diego, with a small but solid community of local businesses ranging from family-owned delis, a fixed gear bicycle shop, the quintessential corner coffee joint, and now a new tavern to boast as their own- The Station Tavern and Burger Lounge on 30th.

The Station opened its doors the last week of August 2009, and had an absolutely insane soft opening. Owner Sam has already had a successful run in his other ventures, with include the Riviera Supper Club in La Mesa, Turf Club in Golden Hill, and a couple other establishments that San Diegans are more than happy to frequent. People poured in from all directions, and it seemed like South Parkians had really claimed this as their own place on their own turf. I worked a few shifts there running food and waiting tables, and this is EXACTLY the type of place I'm likely to frequent. Tons of regulars, good tunes on the stereo, small but solid menu, and some good brews. There's not much of a selection, so unless you're in the mood for a burger you're SOL. There's only 5 beers on draft, and 4 available in bottles, but with selections like Stove Leviathan Ale, Paulaner Oktoberfest, Tiger, and a few more, you're bound to find something to tantalize your tastebuds. The menu is simple- burgers. Hamburgers, cheeseburgers, black bean, turkey, or veggie. That's it. Your side choices are fries, tater tots, garlic fries, sweet potato fries, or a house salad. Personally, I'll recommend the Spicy Black Bean burger with either tots or sweet potato fries. I wouldn't steer you wrong!

Like I said, don't bother going unless you're in the mood for a great burger and good times. The bar is an inviting curvaceous triangle, and The Station offers outdoor and indoor seating with great corner views of the nearby streets. Kid-friendly gravel lines the outside patio, with a bona fide choo-choo for the younguns to play in. A fun decor is splashed inside, with multicolored faux train lights above the tables, and if you're looking to rest your tired tootsies at the bar, just plop them on top of the train rails that line the bar wall!


What they lack in choice they make up in quality. You can spruce up your burger with caramelized onions, avocado, or dip your fries in their feta-red pepper-paprika aioli, or perhaps smear their cilantro/lime sauce on your veggie burger. Whatever you get is sure to please.


The Station gets an A for atmosphere, price, quality, and service. Now add a few things to the menu, open for lunch, and you'll have an unbeatable place!