The return of the Dolphin Statue at Cali Baguette on El Cajon Blvd

A place we wanted to go wasn't opened yet,

so we went here for a bite to eat to kill time and also because we were hungry...

Birthday crawl with Astroboi - Return to Sunshine Pancake House + The Lazy Hummingbird (El Cajon Blvd location)

I had been looking forward to my birthday date with Astroboi for weeks...

This past weekend took us to the outer edges of La Mesa...

The Dojo Cafe

A few days ago was PCaRH's 12th anniversary of existence.

I was happy to spend the morning with MN (my neighbor) who was game to do a blogaversary crawl....

Return to Duet Coffee

Earlier today Bert and I had another "morning date". We just had breakfast at Van Hoa

and were headed over from City Heights to the Rolando neighborhood...

TC has been quite busy volunteering these past few weeks, so...

Grinds and Vine Coffee Bar

How's this "stopped-at-the-light-roll-down-the-window-hurry-up-and-take-it" shot?  Thanks TC...

She does the dirty work when I'm driving, my child does...

While on the way to meet up with Cathy earlier this week, we took the LONG way to Mission Valley Mall, taking Texas St. from University Ave. I just wanted to get off the $%#@ freeway which was tied up with crappy traffic. Anyhow, as we were stopped at the light on Texas, I glanced to the right and saw a "coffee bar" sign...

Breakfast with TC @ Lil B's

Breakfast was once again enjoyed with TC...

as I braved crappy morning traffic to get over to North Park...

(photo from my "Return to Lil B's" post, March 2013)

where the once awesome rotating Lil B's sign...

Late lunch @ Social Life Pizza

This past weekend I participated in a Red Velvet Cupcaking Taste-Off (my title, ha ha) coordinated by the ever so awesome Mary of This Tasty Life. Before the cupcake tasting however, was lunch  at a new'ish pizza place...

located in the college area right around the corner from Burger Lounge on the corner of El Cajon and College Ave.  It's just a few steps away from San Diego Desserts, a seedy pawn shop and the wonderful Lebanese restaurant Alforon. The good thing about this place is that they have their own parking lot too, so score for that.

Seem like a lot of these "custom" pizza places are popping up nowadays...

San Diego Soup Shoppe

Earlier this month, I was finally able to meet up with Cathy...

we both decided on this little soup place in North Park, one which I'd overlook while driving by on the Boulevard...

A Rosca from Pancho Villa's Farmer's Market

Earlier today TC and I went out for lunch and stopped by here before going home...

Pancho Villa's is right off the 805 and El Cajon Blvd exit and is a market I haven't  yet explored...until today, that is.

Day after Xmas breakfast- Not Lucky's but lil b's...

After having read about this place from Kirk, Mary, and Dennis...

I totally wanted us to go here the day after Christmas...you know to just chill out and not be at the malls fighting hordes  of bargain hunters...

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...

Lil b's Urban Eatery

Sometime last summer, I snapped a drive-by shot of the  Brian's Eatery. We actually wanted to have lunch there but we noticed the sign, "Closed for remodel". Huh?

Later that fall, I heard from a friend in the know that the place had closed but would soon re-open under a different name...

Little did I know the old Brian's would end up taking over the old Johnny's R. spot on El Cajon Blvd (near the water tower)...

This was the place with the rotating sign! We were bummed because we never had a chance to try Johnny's R. We were always curious because of the spinning sign and the unusual look of the restaurant, which reminded me of some type of weird tree house. In it's past life, it was once the House of Pies.

It turns out that the Johnny's R closed in June of 2012. It's namesake and owner, Johnny Raizian died the year before and the restaurant kind of went of downhill from there.

A compendium of random photos...

I've got quite a few photos lurking in my files that are pretty random and don't really warrant a full post.

Retro Bubble Up that Bert was compelled to get at Marukai Living, of all places...

These were in the "Hawaiian" section

And yet another visit to San Diego Desserts...

This past weekend, we were in this area...

Good ole El Cajon Blvd, near College Ave...

The Lafayette Hotel

When I hear the word Lafayette, I think of Lafayette Reynolds, the flamboyant but tough gay cook from "True Blood":

"Bitch, you come into my house! You eat my food the fuckin' way I make it!" (quote from Season 1)

But this is the Lafayette I'm referring to....a grand looking hotel on El Cajon Bld, just a few steps away from Eclipse Chocolate, Pizzeria Luigi and the Live Wire bar.

It looks so swanky. I felt like I should have worn a Bettie Page dress, a dramatic pompadour hairsytyle, and screaming fire engine red lipstick!

Let's take a peek inside...

MD Desserts at Lisko

[Update - Lisko closed Spring 2013]

After our amazing lunch (with tons of leftovers) from Que Huong, I suggested Liskos for dessert.

Bert hadn't been there before and was game to try a new dessert place...

Chocolate bars and Franken Pizza

Yesterday, I went out with TC to use up my last Groupon at Eclipse Chocolat.

Since it's right next to Luigi's...well the temptation was just too much to resist!

Return to Lisko

[Update - Closed as of Spring 2013]

After our fab lunch at Sultan, we all headed over to Lisko! Dennis and Kirbie hadn't been to the actual shop yet but have only seen Lisko's booth at local farmer's markets. We wanted to have something sweet...I actually lucked out and got one of the "two" regular parking spots at Lisko's (three if you count the handicapable spot).

Macarons on steroids...

[Update - Closed as of Spring 2013]

After our lunch at Tamarind Thai, TC and I headed west on El Cajon Blvd. We wanted to check out this place that Mary blogged about last week (post link at end of this post), Lisko Artisan Deli and Fish Market...

It's on the corner of El Cajon Blvd and Rolando...

For those of you that used to go to SDSU, this was the old location of Woodstock's Pizza. Yeah. Remember that? N and I used to get pizza slices over there during our record hunting excursions at Off the Record and Blue Meannie back in the late 80's...

Let's take a look at Lisko shall we?

Use 'em or lose 'em!

I finally used up my two Groupons for Pubcakes today. This batch was from several weeks ago. I bought them back in November and it was for either six regular size or one dozen minis. These were a half dozen of the minis...

The other half went to Kirbie whom I met for lunch that day. Top row: Stoned Portzilla, Irish Carbomb, Beer for Breakfast. Bottom Row: Malted Marlin, Cup o' Hefen and Honey Nut Beerios.