Return to Asi es Jalisco

Located in the strip mall NEXT to Aqui es Texcoco was the similarly named Asi es Jalisco...

How could we not pass this up, right? So we walked over to give some goat a try...

Aqui es El South Bay Food Crawl! First stop: Texcoco

This past weekend I had the pleasure of doing a food crawl with fellow friends and foodbloggers Cathy and Dennis...Our first stop would be very early...

We wanted to avoid crowds, so...

Bake This...or the Return to the Baked Bear

Despite my normal intense hatred aversion to driving in PB, or any beach area for that matter, I took my chances and headed up north from OB to PB...

The traffic gods were on my side as it was smooth sailing the whole way through, even when stuck behind this rather slow, but vintage Airstream trailer on Mission Blvd.

I'd only been to this place once before but with two young 'uns in tow, was glad for a revisit...

Hodad's with the Teens

It was such a beautiful day yesterday. TC's friend, KDD would be over and what better reason than to go to OB...

to soak up some sunshine and also to enjoy the ocean breezes, right?

Plus, I had a coupon burning a hole in my wallet screaming, :"Use me before I expire!"...

Exploring Zion Market with Astroboi & dessert at Paris Baguette

From my visit last week, I noticed that there were even more "new" signs under the new "Food Plaza" sign!

A couple of the places are not yet open, Cocohodo and Spotted Cow.

Astroboi was excited to check out the new Zion so off we went...

Return to Pho Fusion

Yesterday's lunch out was with my very good friend Astroboi...

We met up at the Mercury Village stripmall on the corner of Clairemont and Mercury. He suggested Vietnamese...

Master Blaster - Ice Blast

[Update - Closed as of late 2015]

After hearing about several bloggers' visits to a new Hawaiian shave ice place on Convoy, we thought we would check it out...

It's in the same strip mall (Convoy Plaza) as Phuong Trang and Big Joy Bakery...

Return to Crispy Fried Chicken

Yesterday we took TC and her friend Sherlock ice skating at the Joan Kroc Center...

where this lovely painted utility box is located (corner of University Ave and Salvation Army Way or Drive). Yours truly along with Bert and the two girls all enjoyed ourselves on the ice where we worked up an appetite...

Return to Mien Trung and dessert at K Sandwiches

Yesterday TC and I met up with Paul (sans Darlene) for a quick dessert meetup at Da Shack for some Hawaiian style shave ice. I thought it would be efficient if we had lunch near the proposed site.

We parked in the K Sandwiches parking lot, which was hella crowded during the lunch hour.

Food gifts

A few days ago when I met up with Cathy of mmm-yoso, we exchanged a few food gifts...

Wrapped in the wax paper was a baked delicacy I'd never had before...

Sunshine Donuts

[Update - As of early 2014, Sunshine Donuts is now under new management and called "Donut Panic"]

One cool thing about hanging out with another food obsessed friend is that they don't mind driving out to try new things...such as to this little strip mall near the Kaiser Hospital near Zion.

Thank goodness for Cathy's sense of adventure and curiosity and shared obsession with blueberry pastries (heh heh)...

Yarn bombs at the Kensington Library

Before Cathy and I went off for dessert, we took a walk up the street. I wanted to show her the yarn bombed public library located right next to the sign...

I'd seen it already a few days before but I wanted to snap more shots...

and take a closer look at the handiwork that went into this piece of public art...

30th St. Cafe? Actually The Haven Pizzeria revisit!

Upon approaching the 30th Street Cafe location, we saw this sandwich board on the street as well as a fellow manning a bbq grill outside the cafe.

We were a bit puzzled at first...

Return to the Subterranean Coffee Boutique

Yes, it felt so good to be free and on break instead of being cooped up in my office...Two glorious weeks I shall enjoy...

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting up with good friend Cathy (of Mmm-yoso) in the hipstery part of North Park...

So that's what it's called...

While driving home from lunch today, I saw this sign on University Ave in North Park...

There was a recently article about the "parklet" a few days ago in the Union Tribune (article linked at the end)...

Plaza Donuts

Not too long ago, the signage for this place was lavender...for the loooooongest time. Then it got refurbished in red with these little paintings on it...

The site of a former Winchell's, Plaza Donuts is located on the corner of 16th and Highland. It's one of those places that you drive by all the time but never go to because you are on your way to and from somewhere...

This was one of those times when we finally stopped to check it out...

Hogetsu & Seafood City

Now this was a place we hadn't been to for awhile...

I see that their boxes no longer have the stamped address, but are handwritten now...TC and I were still out on errands that afternoon with a craving for mochi...

Maple Syrup pie once again...

Last night, TC helped me make our second Canadian Maple Syrup Pie...

I wish I could bottle the smell as it came out of the oven...

Return to The Incredible Cheesecake Company

Our last stop of the day was around the corner on Adams...

We just wanted to pick up a few slices before heading back home...

Persian desserts at Soltan Banoo

Continuing on with our dessert trek, we made our way to the University Heights neighborhood.

This banner was near the end of Park and Adams where we were lucky enough to score a coveted parking spot.

Panaderia Moreliana

A few weeks ago TC and I were out and about doing errands. It was a Friday if I can recall. I thought I'd check out this bakery down in the Castle Park area...

In the 80's, this used to be Alice Cakeland, a Filipino bakery, but has since been replaced with this humble Mexican panaderia...

San Diego's Finest Donuts?

Our next stop was a donut joint in City Heights when searching for donut shops in the area.

One recent reviewer on that four lettered site mentioned that they had..."cronuts" so I thought we would try checking it out...

The Haven Pizzeria

For my first vacation weekend, I ventured up to the cute neighborhood of Kensington (the sign is finally back!)...

to meet up with Kirbie for lunch...

Stuff from Zion

Ever since the new Zion Market opened up in late May, we've been going at least once every two weeks. We'd be there more often if we lived closer.

I made the trip up to pick up a few items for dinner that night since my MIL was staying with us...

Coupon fail @ Lisa's and coupon success @ McD's!

Last weekend, my MIL stayed over at our place. Not wanting to cook, TC and I went to pick up some Filipino food over at Lisa's at this strip mall...

We would find two rude surprises...

Bert's bday dessert at Big Joy

After our lunch at Jeong Won, we headed south on Convoy to this strip mall...

It had been awhile since our last visit and it was Bert's number one choice for dessert too...

Thai Time II

Last week was the first progress report for school. TC did pretty well so we wanted to treat her to dinner out. Cheapa$$ Thriftminded as I am, I looked through my coupons for Thai, which was her cuisine of choice...

We ended up choosing the Thai place in Point Loma...

Vegetable scrap soup & homemade chicken stock

I found this post in draft form hidden and forgotten...

so now I am finally getting rid of it so it shall languish no longer...

I was in one of my 50's housewife kind of moods...

Jeong Won

This past Sunday was Bert's birthday. His stipulation was Korean food, so that is what we had...

In this strip mall, one of many on Convoy that have at least one or more Korean businesses and restaurants...

Donut Stop

We weren't quite done with the day yet though.

At the strip mall across the street from Pho Cow Calli and Namaste is the other strip mall with Lucky Seafood and Pho Lucky...

I like to be "efficient" whenever we're out and about and it was a good thing this other spot was nearby...

Desserts and snacks from Namaste Plaza

Now where were we? Oh yes, at the checkout at Namaste..

Here was our basket filled with, uh, sugary snacks and drinks along with two out of the three Indian-style ice creams that I bought.

I thought it would be fun to try something new for dessert...

El Camaron

Last week was the Labor Day Holiday. Not wanting to cook, I craved mariscos but TJ Oyster Bar was closed (BOTH locations, dagnabbit)...so we headed west.

We thought we might go to El Super but we already that last year so onward we went and after meandering a tiny bit, we passed this place by off the corner of Broadway near E.

It was either this, or keep heading south to go to either Hector's or Godoy...

Namaste Plaza Indian Supermarket

Located in the same strip mall as Pho Cow Cali is the relatively new Namaste Plaza Indian Supermarket.

They opened not too long ago along with a new Indian restaurant, 8Elements, located a few stores down. Namaste Plaza is an Indian supermarket chain with locations throughout the Bay Area/Silicon Valley area (Fremont, Milpitas, San Jose and Sunnyvale). This is the first one in San Diego

Alerted to this by the ever knowledgeable Cathy of mmm-Yoso fame, I thought this would be a good opportunity to check it out...

Pho Cow Cali Express

Earlier today we were in the Manila Mira Mesa area and changed our lunch plans...

Being such a hot day, we thought we'd go with Vietnamese food instead of Indian. Both cuisines are handily represented in this particular area of San Diego, but today, Vietnamese won out.

I noticed that the clock still wasn't working. It had been awhile since we'd eaten here, although we've been to the adjacent yogurt shop next door for their snow ice...

Chaca Chaca, chamoy and mango = the perfect combination

Man, it hit close to 100F today! In Chula Vista of all places! I had a coupon burning a hole in my pocket and wanted to use it. Like NOW.

So off we went down south, off the 805 and Palm Ave exit in Otay Mesa...

Cooling off at PHGC

With all the hot weather lately, we've been craving bun...

Something about cold noodles on a hot day is so refreshing...

We also wanted to try something new instead of the same old same old...

Tom's Farms Old Fashioned Hamburgers

I had a blast just looking at all of the food and wondering why I never even heard of this place.

I guess we just don't travel up to these here parts, eh.

Tom's Farms - The Stores

After waiting nearly an hour for Triple A to come by and open Cathy's locked car door in the Vroman's Bookstore parking lot, we began to head back to good ole San Diego. We had such a fab day so far, going to so many different bakeries culminating in "The Adobo Road" booksigning at Vroman's.

Here is one last look at the lovely San Gabriel mountains as we left Pasadena...

juliette & chocolat

We were still on the same street and noticed this arresting red sign...

The word "chocolat" caught our attention,  so of course we had to stop in...

Au Pain Dore

After our awesome lunch at Schwartz's Deli, we ventured out into the blazing heat...

while enjoying the many street murals scattered throughout the boulevard...

Stray lunches, random pix and more

It's another one of those "random" pix posts...

This is the view of the 805 from the H Street Bridge. The freeway median is being converted to HOV lanes...

and will supposedly be finished by 2014. Hmmm, we'll see about that. I really hate how the lanes are super narrow now because of this.

It's been a super hot and humid week too....

Tokyo Grill & In 'n Out Burger

The other night we hosted TC's very first sleepover and SURVIVED. Six teen/tween girls.

The girls were out before noon. Later that evening, we took TC and two other friends (one classmate and KDD) to see this manufactured boyband propaganda movie directed by, of all people, Morgan "Supersize Me" Spurlock:

Well, I just bought the tickets but we did not watch it ourselves...

I still cringe from having to watch that Justin Bieber flick a few years ago...

To kill time Bert and I resorted to window shopping, browsing, and enjoyed a snack before taking the girls to a late dinner after the movie...

Schwartz's Deli - Charcuterie Hebraique de Montreal Inc.

My Canada posts have been drawn out longer than the entrails of a medieval torture victim. After more than a year since our summer visit, I've finally reached the Schwartz's Deli post.

This was THE place that we just had to go. Even C and her husband FJ (seen here carrying LO on his back) agreed. We could not miss going to Schwartz's...

We had our first smoked meat sandwich a few days earlier at Canadian chain La Belle Province, but Schwartz's is considered the most famous purveyor of Montreal style smoked meat...