Carve this!

Happy Halloween!

The scene from last night...TC and Bert diligently working on two of our three pumpkins...

The big reveal after the jump!

Indian Snacks

All right, enough about purple hair. On with the food! After our two part lunch at Surati Farsan and Bawarchi Dosa, we stopped by this vendor table near D's car...

They were selling snacks and sweets for the Diwali event in the Little India shopping plaza. As we were quite curious about the snacks, we opted to get a few "for the road"...

Plum crazy!

At the end of June, I had my hair stylist bleach a streak in my hair and add some purple semi-permanent dye. That only lasted a couple of week. I had her do it a few times since then, but finally got brave enough to do it myself. The photo below was a different color, courtesy of Cathy from mmm-yoso.

It wasn't as dark as my previous experiment but I wanted to give it a go.

Bday lunch for TORC - Part 2: Bawarchi Dosa

Does anyone remember when this space was Gateway to India and Ker Market?

Well, that was a longass time ago (2006'ish)...Bawarchi Dosa is now in this space...

Bday lunch for TORC: Part 1 @ Surati Farsan Mart

Yesterday the Educator GF's and I were out and about in Mira Mesa to celebrate TORC's birthday.

As we approached the parking lot of the Little India Center,  we saw that it was blocked off and that many empty vendor tables lined the perimeter of the lots, along with chairs and tables for dining.

Turns out that all of this was for Diwali, the Festival of Lights, which is the Indian New Year, according to a gentleman that we spoke to. Well, it was still early and things weren't quite ready yet. We managed to find a spot on the outer edges of the center. Lucky us!

TORC's first choice for lunch today was in this shopping center...

Ice cream two-fer

After our lunch at Fern St. Cafe, we headed back down South to National City...

If you take the Main St. exit from the I-5, you will pass by this National City landmark, the Psychic Palm Reader. The older sign used to have palm facing out with an eye in the middle. It has since been replaced with the words "Psychic" in the blue field of the sign. I've always wondered about this place but am too scared to actually go in...

Fern St. Cafe

[Update - This place is now closed as of 2013 and has since reopened as an Italian sandwich shop/gelateria - Piacere Mio]

Fresh from our trip to the market, we once again headed to a different neighborhood to get our lunch on.

Traveling past the very striking and very pink Calvary Baptist Church in Barrio Logan...and this cool looking house in Sherman Heights. I really like how the door is situated at the corner of the house!

Our next destination would be the very charming neighborhood of South Park...

Veg-o-rama!

So with all those vegetables we bought at the SD Public Market...

including this tiny and cute Mexican cucumber that somehow got mixed into the pint of okra...it was time to make these bad boys (or girls, let's be equal opportunity here) into dinner sides...

Return to the San Diego Public Market

Still thinking about last week's visit prompted us to go here again...

The day started off sunny and ended up drizzling later that afternoon! But us spoiled San Diegans are finally getting a taste of fall right?

Anyhow, let's go back to the market shall we?

Shelter Island

Our next stop after the Elegant Truffle was Shelter Island,

a place where my parents used to enjoy taking us out when we were still kids...

Father's Day Dinner at Royal Michael's Bay Restaurant

Being that today was Father's Day, we had the privilege of joining C and her family to dinner at the Royal Michae'ls Bay Restaurant....






Although it was only a few miles away from C's parents' house (they drove), it seemed a lot longer because her father drove VERY cautiously on the backroads...and by "very cautiously" I mean, so very fkg slow that  I lost track of time looking at all the trees in the forest!

My heart is crackin' like a Krakatoa...

After our visit to the San Diego Public Market, I wanted to check out some local coffee shops in Barrio Logan, but they were closed.

While on our way, we admired the newly refurbished Chicano Park murals under the Coronado Bay Bridge ("Hasta la Bahia!" means "To the bay!!"). The mural restoration project has brought new life to
these fantastic artworks, which is the largest collection of outdoor murals in the United States! The murals in fact, won the grand Orchid Prize in San Diego's annual Orchids and Onions Awards this year. We plan to revisit the area again and really take a quality look and stroll around the columns to admire the artwork. Below, "La tierra mia", which means "My land" or "My homeland". Underneath the overhang it says, "We are not a minority"...

Plan B was now set into motion...

The Elegant Truffle

The parking on Scott St. was limited so we turned the first corner we could, which was the Avenida de Portugal (near Canon Street). Little did we know, but once we parked on that side street, it was apparent that we hit the heart of the Portuguese community organizations.  Below, the United Portuguese SES Chapel built in 1922. For those of you that are not familiar with the history of San Diego, many Portuguese immigrants made their living as fisherman and lived in the Point Loma area...

I read a yelp review that behind the UPA SES Hall  (below) is a tiny Portuguese Market! Holy fkg shit! Must go here again to check that out! I have a sudden craving for linguica, bacalhau, and Sumol!

There was also a tiny Portuguese museum on the other side of the street, plus a restaurant (not Portuguese) at the end.

What we were seeking was right around the corner...

San Diego Public Market

With our interest piqued by Darlene's recent post on the newly opened San Diego Public Market,

we decided to pay a quick "look see" visit this past Sunday...

Dinner night with the neighbors

A few nights ago we were invited over to dinner by our neighbors...

The saltines could only mean...

Better late than never...

Lunch didn't seem complete without dessert and I had one place in mind.

But first some coffee using a super old "e-cup" certificate given to me by Kirk...

More of OB

Just a few cool things we saw while in OB...

like this mural near a hair salon....

Pear Tart attempt

I have no idea where I bought this can of "almond pastry filling" but this is what it looked like when I opened it and then mixed it up a bit...

I was going to do something that you are told never to do when bringing dessert to a dinner party...

Hodad's

Last Friday Bert took the day off so we could all enjoy the last day of Fall Break together.

On our way up on the 5, we noticed that the scaffolding was gone on the new downtown library dome.

Turns out they were having some sort of ceremony there that same day about that...

Can't wait to see what it looks like inside AND out when if finally opens.

Today we were going to OB to finally try out a "beloved" burger spot...

Return to Legoland

It had been about five years since we last went here...

Thanks to comped passes from Darlene, we were able to go during the Fall Break with TC and KDD...

Turn it up to 11

My car radio is still messed up and will most likely stay that way since I don't feel like shelling out $$$  for a new one.

Here's a selection of what I've been listening to for the past week or so...

Kurbside to Go

After seeing the Kagawong Mill and the nearby Heritage Center, C wanted to take us to a fairly new vegetarian food shack...

which was unfortunately closed...

Plan B was to go to another food shack owned by a family friend...

Kafe Yen

Sometime last week when I was still on vacation, TC and I made a trip out to PB...

Above is the original location of Rubio's, which is on Grand Ave in PB.

We were headed out to the edge of PB, right near the Crystal Pier...

Return to the Chula Vista Heritage Museum

[The museum was damaged two years ago, as of 2016 and torn down]

]The days I went with KD and the 2 C's, we also checked out this place...

The Chula Vista Heritage Museum is just a few steps from the sign in downtown Chula Vista, near Fred Rohr's drop anvil. We were interested in seeing their new exhibit about the history of Japanese Americans and their contributions in the Chula Vista farming community...

Sweet Sisters Bakery and D'Volada

Because I'm expedient, okay, lazy, I am combining two posts in one...

detailing our recent excursions on two separate occasions into this cute bakery in downtown Chula Vista...

Mariscos with the two C's...

Earlier last week, I had the pleasure of having lunch with two awesome friends (who both happen to be foodbloggers)...

otherwise known as the two "C's" - Cathy from Mmm-Yoso and Carol from CAB Cooks!

This unassuming eatery on Broadway in Chula Vista was our first stop...

Teriyaki Grill

After our quick stop at La Concha, we walked south on third, pas the Chula Vista Heritage Museum (post is forthcoming) for our lunch destination...

There's construction going on and it's right next to all the road work. If you walk further down, you will hit the Social Security Office, a place I haven't been to since I had to change my last name...

Soltan Banoo

After several years of always wondering what it would be like to eat here, we finally got to find out.

I'd always been curious about this cute little eclectic eatery. Our visit to Soltan Banoo constituted part two of my lunch with TC just a few doors down from Plumeria...

Sights in Kagawong

After our totally necessary stop at the Manitoulin Chocolate Works, C wanted to show us a bit of Kagawong...

It's a really cute small town...

Thai Orchid

We had such a long day beginning from our early morning commute to  Gaston and experiencing cold rain while ziplining through the trees, having purple rice sushi and visiting one of the most bizarre non-tourist spots ever...

Not wanting to have our spaghetti leftovers from a few nights ago, TC suggested Thai at a nearby spot...

Return to St. Honore Boulangerie

After our awesome visit at the FreakybutTrue Peculiarium where Bert enjoyed a scorpion topped ice cream cone and we consorted with the likes of a killer ventriloquist dummy and were alien autopsy victims...

we headed across the street to a more genteel location, a local French bakery...

Plumeria

Still enjoying our Fall Break in summery weather, TC and I ventured out to University Heights for lunch...

We've had bad luck the past few times we tried going here but then again, those were Friday nights. KD told us about this new Thai vegetarian place a couple of months ago when they first opened. We were curious and wanted to visit

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

Crabby Puffs

You know, puff pastry really does make everything taste better!

Any filling you put in a butter and flaky puff pastry crust is automatically elevated to "fancy" status.

I've done numerous puff pastry turnovers or meat pies or whatever you want to call them, but this is the first time I've used seafood...

Hot Dog Buffet, I mean Thai Fresh Spring Rolls & Smoothies

A few weeks ago while cleaning out the laundry room cabinets, I came upon an old tiny giftbag with tissue paper still in it. Before throwing it away, I opened it up an found two $25 gift cards to Regal Theaters! Turns out this was an old birthday gift I'd received from my SIL a few years ago and I somehow forgot about it, OBVIOUSLY.

I probably thought I'd remember where I put it, then promptly forgot about it. That actually happens to me... A LOT. Durrrr!!!

Nevertheless, it was nice to "rediscover" these and use them as an excuse to stay out of the heat...

Mary's Donuts

Later that afternoon, we ran a few more errands which would take us out to Santee. While on our way to the Goodwill to seek out components for TC's costume, I finally decided that today was THE  day. I mean, we would see this awesome donut sign everytime we went to Sab e Lee (a few steps up the same road). Even though it was in the high 80's today, I didn't care!

It was time to finally step inside and smell the donuts!

House Burger

[House Burger is now closed as of 2014]

As you can see, this coupon was about to fall apart...

I've had it for the past couple of months and figured we should finally use it...

Pizzeria Bruno Napoletano

A few days ago, we were on our way home from watching the PASACAT Extravaganza at the Lyceum when I asked Bert if we could try out this pizza place...

I'd only read about this place and forgotten about it. However, the address was in the Garmin and it was the closest place as we headed towards North Park...

La Concha Bakery

After our little snack at Tacos Toro Bravo, we headed up the street and around the corner...

This is one of those places where I drive by it all the time and always wonder what it's like inside and so forth...

Tacos Toro Bravo

[Update - this place closed and became Mariscos los Cabos in 2013, then closed recently and is now a banquet hall for rent now a dentist office]

A few days ago, KD took the day off to hang out with me, TC and her daughter.

I thought it would be fun to just do places in downtown CV such as this new'ish taco shop here...