333 Pacific

What I wouldn't give to have the Midas touch! David Cohn seems to have found out the secret of turning all he touches into gold based on his extremely successful restaurant group, which covers 11 restaurants in San Diego and 1 in Maui. I had the opportunity to meet him at a food trade show before the opening of his 11th restaurant in Oceanside last year, and was struck by his pleasant demeanor, ability to cut the business chit chat bullsh*t and speak frankly without the hint of rudeness or elitist superioriy. To be honest, if I was in his shoes I'm not so sure I'd be so nice!

His latest venture, North County's 333 Pacific off the Oceanside pier, is still in its infancy and yet has been met with more acclaim and praise than many more established restaurants over years of toil. Multiple awards have already been won; steak and seafood blend together for a wildly innovative and solid menu, and with hundreds of their hand-selected vodkas from around the world, not to mention a formidable wine list to pair the food with, it's a match made in heaven. Entering the restaurant you are met with a mix of people- mostly nicely dressed 20 and 30somethings hobnobbing in the dimly blue lit vodka lounge, maybe a small handful of kids who haven't reached their teen years, a whitehair here and there, and what seemed to be the most attractive waitstaff in Oceanside. It was extremely upscale with no snobby overtones whatsoever. The view is unbeatable, and the space is large enough to accommodate an intimate pair or a huge family gathering.

Ashton and I had been trying to find an excuse to make the 40+ minute trek up to North County and justifying spending what promised to be a triple-digit meal. Based on 333's reputation, this was not the kind of place that we would be able to hold back. We finally had the opportunity for our 2 year anniversary, and to seal the deal I made sure to make the reservation online. A unexpected pleasantry I found was the "special requests" option on the browser. "Sure", I thought, "I'll just ask for a nice, intimate table and they'll do that. Doesn't hurt to ask, right?" Apparently not! Once we got there, we were quickly escorted to one of the enclosed-patio tables with a stunning view of the Pacific. Unfortunately, our reservations fell after the sun, but the people watching was just as good.

Surprised with the good start, we only had to open the menu to be even more impressed without having touched a bite of food. The waitstaff was impeccable. Elegant without being stuffy, knowledgeable without being snobby, the waiters danced around us in a constant ebb and flow of service without once interfering with the actual experience. Since we both had fish on the mind, we decided to start with a steak appetizer. A Kobe beef tartare salad was the special of the evening, and it came as though the greens were picked upon ordering and the meat had simply been peeled off a live animal. Lightly seasoned with pepper, the steak was just warm enough to accent the chilled greens with tossed veggies and a light Asian dressing. Absolute balance on a plate.

For the main course, Ashton decided to go for one of the more 'comfortable' dishes offered- wild striped bass sauteed with a sweet velvet corn sauce and paired with Maine lobster fritters. This proved to be a heavier dish, but one that sat well with the tastebuds! Velvety was the perfect adjective for the sauce, which was ladled with the perfect amount over the absolutely divine fish. I swear it was fresher there than much of the fish you could get on the East Coast! The fritters, though a side, spoke loudly and declared that yes! The word "fritter" can be found even here in the swanky Southern California food scene! Maine lobster is some of the best in the world, and that was proven again and again with every bite.

However, once I spied the word "ahi" on the menu, my mind was made up. The sashimi grade tuna came to life on a bed of elegantly steamed sushi rice and baby bok choy with an enhacing shiitake miso soy sauce. For some reason, I can never get bok choy quite right, and I still manage to enjoy the Asian green, so imagine my delight when I come across it when it prepared not just correctly, but magnificently! I've always said that if I were to work in a kitchen I would love to be a saucier, because I find that the true art lies with the details. Sashimi grade ahi tuna is hardly a blank slate to start with, and the addition of a delicately crafted sauce is the backbone that separates the simply good dishes from the award-winning, orgasm-inducing ones.

How, you might ask, could we find room for more? I can assure you that no bit was left on our plates as we obediently followed our mothers' instructions to clean our plates. Our server, seemingly via a psychic connection, offered us an anniversary dessert, but we quickly decided upon the pumpkin and white chocolate mousse cheesecake. I love the word "cheesecake". How can you go wrong with cheese AND cake?!?!



Just another special, unexpected touch to seal the wonderful experience of the evening. Many kudos to the chef, waitstaff, and obviously talented team of fine restauraneurs. An absolute must.

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.

Recipe for a bogus day

Main: Grilled portobello mushrooms topped with melted provolone and fried artichokes
Side: Mashed cauliflower and potatoes with garlic butter
Veg: Steamed green beans with black pepper and prosciutto
Dessert: Butterfinger ice cream with hot fudge
paired with beer of your choice.

Let's just say the day ended on a high note.

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.

Kensington Cafe

The ideal typical Sunday: wake up leisurely, the sun is shining, friends are in town, all are in high spirits, and all tummies are a-growlin'. Somehow, a group of 8 manages to meet at the perfect time to avoid the early risers and pre-lunch rush and head to a favorite corner spot with promises of a delightful brunch all around. It was my first time finally sitting and ordering at the Kensington Cafe, but certainly not the first time I'd caught wind of its edible delights. Even with a large brunch party (every restaurant's necessary but worst and most irritating fear), the servers scrambled to arrange a patio spot for us hup-quick, and within minutes and a few shuffled people later, we were nestled cozily in a corner spot, perfect for dog watching, which was plentiful this crisp Sunday morning.

Generally, I opt to start my morning with a savory bite. I find that too much sugar in the AM upsets the stomach and confuses the mind. This doesn't really make much sense to anyone but myself, but as someone whose sweet tooth is mightily overpowered by the savory desires this seems to make sense. However, something clicked in my mind when I heard the word "waffle" and it became instantly cemented in my mind that a waffle was the most logical and obvious choice for this particular brunch. Their menu strangely offers no pancakes, but for a bruncher in the mood for a flapjack I highly recommend switching it up and giving their waffles a try. Today, the seasonal waffle was a cinnamon apple waffle with candied walnuts and a cinnamon butter, which was my immediate and non-regretted selection of the day.




I ate half before admitting defeat from the rapidly oncoming sugar coma, which was somewhat thwarted by the sodium and protein overload aid from the $2 add-on bacon and eggs. The eggs were standard scrambled eggs (strangely enough, no salt or pepper was to be found outside?) but the bacon was great. Thick, hot, nice and salty, everything bacon should be. The tomatoes were generously donated by one of my party who, inexplicably, doesn't enjoy the chilled flavor of yummy offered from the red fruit! Inconceivable. Good thing I was there to ensure the sacrificed fruit didn't go to waste.



My comrade to the left decided upon the Spanish Revival burrito, which was a bundle of vegetarian goodness in a spinach wrap and a side of tasty-looking salsa. Looked promising, and he assured me it was a happy selection.


Bolstered with high recommendations, and having experienced the excellent service, good food, and the right price, along with happy extra treats like OJ in mason jars and apparently Cute Dog Headquarters of Kensington, I have an inkling I'll be frequenting this spot on the regular.

Tioli's Crazee Burger

Burgers must be in high demand in San Diego based on the number of burger joints, large and small, that reside in this fair city. Rightfully so! While In-N-Out is still a great place (albeit chain) to snag a cheap burger and shake, we needed a new place to tantalize our tastebuds and meet the meat. North Park's Crazee Burger boasts its superiority, and with national spotlights like Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives (below!)

and various other news clips and features, how could we go wrong?

Their menu is as wild as they promise- ostrich, kangaroo, buffalo, not to mention beef, lamb, and more! All come topped with a smattering of gourmet sauces and toppings cooked up by the German partners, and have been pleasing crowds for years! I went for the Saturday special- Hamburgeeeeeerrrrr FRANCAISE with melted Brie Cheese with their special parmesan dusted fries.


It was fantastic! You can't go wrong in my book with huge amounts of brie, or any cheese for that matter, and this was juicy, succulent, and all around great. The fries were nice and crispy with lots of flavor, and even with 7 people on a Saturday night the service was fast and accurate. We had other reasons besides a delicious flavor experience to celebrate as well!


Nothing like celebratory cheeseburgers for getting engaged! Luckily, my soon-to-be life partner loves food just as much as me and was equally enthusiastic about toasting our new life together with hot meat sandwiches and orange soda. All in all, a creative and equally delicious place that I'm sure we'll find ourselves again.

Born Round by Frank Bruni

As an avid reader since childhood, it's easy for me to be extremely critical of many books that I come across as insincere, wordy, snobbish, or just plain sucky. However, nothing pleases me more than an accidental stumble upon something fresh, new, and that I can completely relate to. As a dedicated reader and foodie, Frank Bruni's book "Born Round" fulfills two of my great loves and engages the reader into the world of professional dining in a way that has never been done before. From chubby to college, from bulimic to the hot seat of dining, the New York Times restaurant critic, he explores his Italian roots where dining is an all-encompassing way of life, through his struggles with weight, acceptance, yo-yo diets, eating disorders, and finally professional accomplishment. It's a must read for anyone who either loves literature, loves food, or best of all, loves both.