Foodcrawl with Cathy - Stops 3 & 4: Tamales Ancira + the new Manolo Farmer's Market

[This post has been on draft since 2019. It is really 6/16/2022 now. I will hit update.]

If you guessed Tamales Ancira...

then "You are correct, sir!" (say in an Ed McMahon voice)!

South Bay Food Crawl 2018 - West side of Chula Vista: Aqui es Texcoco, Otay Farms Market & Tamales Ancira

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of hanging out with friends...

Mary (+ her bf Jake) of This Tasty Life and Lynn from Oh So Yummy...

Lunch round up - Carnival, Halphen Red, Los Pollos, Pho Convoy, Cali Baguette, the food court in Su Mercado, Sandwich Bags Deli, Gunco Ramen and Mandarin

Time to clear out the memory card before the end of the year,

featuring past lunches...

D's Bday Crawl - Return to Mae Ting's, LAX-C, LA's Chinatown + Dinner on Convoy St. @ Hui An Garden

Funny..this post is being written on 10/22 but backdated to 8/26...

I'm trying to finish D's birthday crawl posts and this one...

IC Monster with Astroboi + fun at Vinh Hung

We were curious to try this new dessert place in Mira Mesa...

The store front may look familiar...

The bakery at the new Ranch 99 Chula Vista (including cream puffs)

As promised...

a look at my gluttonous pastry purchases at 99 Ranch in house bakery...

The new Ranch 99, Chula Vista (the store)

Signs were up on the old Haggens (formerly Vons) on Telegraph in November of last year...

with progress in late December..

up until late March/early April when the new Ranch 99 in my 'hood opened...

International Deli and Cafe + shopping break

Before heading over to Fashion Valley to window shop, I wanted us to check out this place that Cathy of mmm-yoso highly recommended...

It's in the same strip mall as Rose Donuts and J & T Thai Street Food...

Island Pacific Seafood Market, Chula Vista - A First Look

As promised, the follow up post...

(photo illegally taken while at the light on H St.)

What once was the former Fresh & Easy is now a Filipino market for all to enjoy...

Phil-House - Sarap ng Lutong Bahay & Bread Republic @ Island Pacific Seafood Market

This past weekend, a new Filipino market opened up in the old Fresh & Easy in my neighborhood.

Just last week my sister was telling me about Island Pacific and the other day, a friend had texted me that he was just there. I had to go check it out.

Coming soon...Ranch 99 in Chula Vista

As seen back in November 2016...

(former Vons on Telegraph Canyon Road near the 805)

This used to Vons, then it folded and became Haggens and we all know what a disaster Haggens was...

Turkish Delight from Balboa International Market and Harvest International Market

Last week Bert and I had some free time and decided to check out a new ethnic market...

I'd just read Cathy's recent post on Balboa (linked at the end) and remarked to Bert that we should check it out.

It's kind of hidden on Balboa Ave (behind Mr. Fish and Chips) and in the same strip mall with Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore and Sufi Mediterranean Cuisine...

Carnival Market - Food Court

Carnival Market's previous tennant in this strip mall off 3rd and L used to be Haggens.

We all know how "successful" that was (sad face). Prior to being Haggens. it was Vons. It wasn't one of the bigger ones, but at least it was there.

Last month we noticed the "coming soon" signs and now it was open...

Belated birthday breakfast @ Sam Woo + Desir Bakery (Ranch 99)

Earlier today, I met up with Cathy of mmm-yoso, along with her husband (aka The Mister)...

Breakfast would be at the restaurant inside Ranch 99,

one that I've always walked by or peered into but never ate at, until today...

Little Jewel of New Orleans

Like the Pied Piper of Hamlin, the nattily dressed Carl Baldwin led us down the street to one of his favorite new eateries in Chinatown...

the newly opened (at the time) Little Jewel of New Orleans...

which he and his wife raved about. We couldn't pass up on their recommendation especially since po'boys were on the menu...

North Park Produce, Normal Heights

Before heading home after our craptastic coffee from Mission Hills Coffee Company...

we took the long way home and stopped by the NPP in Normal Heights (well south of it), which is on the corner of Wilson and El Cajon Blvd.

Indian Food Crawl - Surati Farsan Mart, Akshar Cash & Carry, Bawarchi Dosa, Miramar Cash & Carry + even more flavors @ Kwality Ice Cream

It's been awhile since we tried Indian food...

This time TC and I were joined by a friend, his wife and daughter along with two other friends (a couple) for their first Indian food crawl...

Miramar Cash & Carry + Kwality Ice Cream

My last stop for the day was on the way out, so why not check this place out..

a place that came highly recommended by Cathy...

Snacks and more from Vinh Hung & Namaste Plaza Markets

Later that same morning, I headed up to the Manila Mira Mesa area to run a few errands...

I specifically wanted to go to the Vietnamesemarket behind the Tar-jay store...

Otay Farms Market revisits

Last month I was down South doing errands and thought to revisit this place...

Otay Farms Market...where I once bought the elusive Lay's Spicy Ketchup flavor chips sevderal years ago.

I noticed the signage on top of the building was new...