Heaven Sent

The original idea was to go to the Daily Scoop on Juniper to have ice cream. Well actually, the original idea (in my mind) was to go to Lucha Libre for a surf 'n turf taco or a bacon wrapped TJ dog and then do a slice at Bronx, and then head back down to Donut Star for a shaved ice. Parking sucked ballz in Hillcrest so we went to Luigi's in Golden Hill.

Back to my story...so Daily Scoop was closed so we took 30th all the way north to University and found parking on Ray St. We were going to Heaven Sent!

Window of the shoe store a few doors down from Heaven Sent...

I haven't been here since March of 2010...


TC and my nephews weren't really feeling the offerings. They aren't into red velvet or alcohol spiked desserts.

They had their version of a Yule Log. Next to it was a cake with a deformed looking Hello Kitty.

To go with Bert's coffee, we got the Pistachio Heaven Cake which is Pistachio cake filled with pistachio cream and topped with Dark Chocolate Ganache, whipped cream and candied pistachios. Yum! This was really delicious!

The kids (TC and mainly Boy #1) shared the Chocolate Brownie Parfait which had layers of Chocolate cake crumbs, milk chocolate mousse and brownie bites. Poor Boy #2 didn't like anything there...

Their presentation has gone downhill here. Well, it's not like you need extra chocolate squiggles or anything to make your stuff taste better, but at least try to make an effort.

The layers were so fluffy and light. Pistachio is one of Bert's favorite flavors. I was looking for that chocolate pyramid bombe again. Not there but this was a nice substitute. Hopefully next time we'll go to Bronx.  I want to compare between Luigi's...

I don't know about you but after the holidays, my pants are kinda tight. Time to start working out again!

Almost Bronx - Pizzeria Luigi's

Unfortunately, our virgin foray to Bronx Pizza was thwarted by the hellacious parking situation in Hillcrest. It was the usual, shitty and awful. We tried several blocks away and decided to forgo Bronx altogether. It was nearly 1:45 and the kids were hungry. Here's some cool street art on the corner of 11th and Broadway.

Instead, I made the executive decision  to go to Pizzeria Luigi's in Golden Hill, just 7 minutes away. On our way there, we passed by this cool house.

We parked about a block or two away to get in some more exercise in. The place was so busy with the line nearly out of the door.


TC and I saw by the front window the last time we were here. We ended up grabbing a picnic table out in the back patio.

Bert and I and the kids  checked out the choices...

OMFG! They have IT here!  The Airdaile"Dark and Stormy" Imperial Stout on tap! Only $4 too!

Bert got the beer but I also had a bit of it. It's pretty strong, but I really really like this flavor. A bit chocolatey with a coffee flavor to it...

We all got 2 slices each. There were two slices on a separate plate. In no particular order, we got cheese, cheese with sausage, the combo, ricotta and meatball and ricotta with mushroom.

These are my slices with the beer. I really love how they keep the ricotta in clumps.

TC's combo slices. She wanted the pieces with olives in them.

The nephews are normally not very adventurous, eating only cheese or cheese with pepperoni pizza. Having a slice with the sausage and meatball was "adventurous" for them. They do not like anything green on their pizza either. Boy #2 told his mom (my sis) that it was the "best pizza he ever had" except for the burnt crust. Well, the crust wasn't really burnt black, but I think they were not used to New York style thin crust.

They loved eating in the back patio because the decibel level was much lower and it wasn't so crowded. Some chick complimented me on my hairstyle too. Kind of ironic because my hair "style" is kinda grown out and was whipped by the wind that day. But hey, I'll take the compliment!

Chula Vista Nature Center

Last week, we took the nephews (sister's kids) out to the Chula Vista Nature Center (hereafter referred to as the CVNC). We had a 2 for 1 adult coupon so I saved $11 dude! Plus TC had two free child coupons from the Summer Reading Program (she and boy #2 used this). So, all I had to pay for was one adult ticket and one junior (boy #1 is 13); $11 plus $8 = $19 divided by 5 people = super fkg cheap.

To get to the CVNC, you have to park in a lot off of E St. (off the I-5) and wait for a tram to pick you up.

The octopus was quite lively this morning. Every time we've gone in the past, it's just stuck there. It was cool watching it slither and bob around. I also thought about pulp ceviche. Mmmmm.

I forgot what kind of snake this was but it was also quite animated that morning.

This is a Steelhead Trout with a really nasty looking crooked underbite.

The kids enjoyed this place out in the back shark and ray sign. Sorry no photos of the sharks and rays today.

There was a room where kids do "make a craft" for .50. Instead of an actual craft, they had the option of decorating a cookie. I guess this would be an edible craft.

Whilte the kids and Bert were enjoying the Shark and Rays exhibit, I checked out this map of the marshes and the moutains...

I also saw the tram making it's way back to the parking lot/pickup area.

The kids wanted to walk out on the trails that lead to the bay. This is a zoomed photo of the skyline from afar.

The street that the CVNC is on is called Gunpowder Point because this area used to be a gunpowder factory.

I am SO NOT INTO NATURE (because I don't like smelling like the outdoors and physical exercise in general) but I enjoyed walking out here with Bert and the kids. It was low tide and you could see how low the water was. Across the bay you can see Silver Strand and at the far right, the very tip of Point Loma.

View of the CVNC from the trail.

TC and Boy #2 enjoyed writing in the sand.

All right, enough of this nature shit! Let's go to lunch! I gave the kids two choices: Lucha Libre for an appetizer AND Bronx Pizza or just one of those places. The kids overwhelmingly chose the pizza place.

Mariah's West Wind

Last week during one of the non-rainy days, TC and I headed up north to visit Superman and little Supe. Lunch was near his place at Mariah's in San Marcos.

It's a small family style eatery in a relatively new community, kinda near San Elijo Hills.

Supe's neice was also with us. So, two girls, one small boy and us two grownups. I thought it was funny that the guy serving us (who was super nice) thought we were one family. I made a comment to Supe, yeah, each kid has a different mother!

Supe got the Patty Melt with fries...(those fries were good by the way!)

Little Supe got the pancakes with bacon.

I got a salad with the blue cheese and balsamic dressing on the side. The salad was romain and spinach with dried sweetened cranberries and candied walnuts.  I wanted to eat light because I thought we were going to host dinner that night with N and L. Turns out the dinner was cancelled and I ended up meeting them both the following day at Sammy's in Mission Valley.

My salad had the option of coming with a half sandwich so I got the cheese. This was not that exciting. I can't believe they charges $3.25 for this.

Supe's teeneaged neice got the Pastrami sandwich with fries...

while TC got the Burger with fries. She said the burger wasn't as good as Station Tavern's (which we had last week). Well, no duh!

It was cool seeing Supe again. Plus we got to see his new house. He has a really cool workspace filled with his colorful artwork, bookshelves full of graphic novels and the crowning piece de resistance, a shelf devoted to 100+ Superman dolls action figures. Even though I don't see him that often, Supe is a great friend and one whose advice I trust and opinion I value.We had a fun discussion about John Hughes movies...my favorite of course is "Sixteen Candles" whiles his is "Some Kind of Wonderful" (which is like "Pretty in Pink" in reverse).

Song in the video is by the pop punk band Bowling for Soup, also known for the "Phineas and Ferb" theme song and for their hit "1985".

Happy New Year's! Random pix...

Happy New Year's to everyone...of course this is a few days after the New Year, heh heh.

Here are some pix that I either haven't posted before or if I have, I must really like them!

Gojira on the Mile of Cars...

I didn't know they still made these things...Monchichi, Monchichi!

When I met Darlene (of the blog My Burning Kitchen) last fall at M-Theory, she gave me this little food gift, Macademia Nutz with Spam! The "z" is my contribution, thank you thank you. Spam nutz modeled by my Superhero shirt clad husband (aka Bert). He is excited about the new Thor movie. I'm not because Thor is NOT Alexander Skarsgard.

This is a British food item I saw on the shelves of Fresh and Easy last Spring. What's wrong with SPOTTED DICK? Doesn't everybody want to try a dessert named after a heinous venereal disease?  Correction - Spotted dick is a pudding with currants and Golden Treacle has honey in it. [Edit 1/30/11: I made the correction after JW pointed out the difference between Spotted Dick and Golden Treacle. Thanks JW!]

A super sweet soda that I bought at Mercardo Internacational 2000. Even though it's apple flavor, the color is pink, not pee colored (like the other apple sodas out there). I first tasted this soda at El Colombiana in Queens with L. and really liked it, despite the sugar coma.

My bday cake made by the super talented Jenny of the blog Foray into Food. The cake designed is inspired by my Tokidoki L'Amore bag (Spring 2007 design).

Utility box on the corner of 6th and Robinson in Hillcrest.

I love these Rainbow cupcakes that a friend made for a recent Xmas party. She used Airheads Extremes sour candy belts for the rainbows!

Dennis of a Radiused Corner, if you're reading this, this photo is for YOU. Behold, a palm tree/cell phone tower behind Marshall's and Unleashed in Terra Nova Plaza off the 805 and East H Street exit.

More fun posts to come this year! You know, the usual...food, recipes, music, pop culture and so on!

Posts I still need to complete:
Canada posts (Manitoulin Island and Toronto)
San Francisco and Berkeley posts

Movies to watch:
Rango (Johnny Depp as a chameleon!)
Water for Elephants (yes, RPattz in 1930's period costume)
Bel Ami (RPattz in period costume yet again! This time, turn of the century!)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (need to read the books first)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 (I think this will be the best one yet!)
and yes, The Hangover 2 (sometimes you just want to turn off your brain and roll with it!)

For Bert (anything comic book related):
Thor
The Green Hornet
The Green Lantern
Captain America: The First Avenger
The Avengers