Farmer and The Seahorse (another lunch in an Office Park)

Thanks for stopping by to read mmm-yoso!!!, a blog about food.  Kirk has a cumbersome load at work today, while Ed (from Yuma) has a comparatively small list of 'to-do' items and Cathy has an unsubstantial schedule on this rainy Tuesday; that's why she is writing this post. 

Since about November, The Mister and I have been in the La Jolla area once a month, for various appointments.  Following those, we look for lunch, more often than not stopping at one of the two locations of Green Acre, a great set of restaurants founded by Top Chef (Season 3) 'Cheftestant' Brian Malarkey, a San Diego resident and co-owner of "fabric themed" (Searsucker, Gabardine, Burlap, Gingham and Herringbone) restaurants around town.  It turns out that Farmer and The Seahorse is another great place founded by Malarkey. 

Everyone has to eat, and finding a restaurant near work is usually easy, but not always interesting.  So, when we saw this signage…attached to the front of one of the buildings in the 'Biotech' area of Torrey Pines Road (just across from Scripps Green Hospital)…we figured the same concept applied (good, quality food in an office park).Driving toward Torreyana Road, we saw this view of an outdoor seating area just behind a nondescript office building…When we rounded the corner to park in the front lot of that decidedly generic office building…anticipating another possibly great lunch ahead we noticed the lobby area was buzzing with people in a large, open adjacent room.  There were signs directing us to take the stairs or elevator to the second floor…Arriving at the top of the stairs, we saw it…while noticing an area of office spaces you can rent, just off to the right.  The multipurpose building is interesting.Walking toward the self order/cash register/reception area, you pass this beautifully converted (into a meeting room area) Airstream.  There are a variety of seating areas here, as well as various separate rooms, similar to the second location of Green Acre.  

There is no garden here, though, because the food concept, while similar, is a bit different.Because we didn't have a reservation (?)(it was a Friday, and…well my guess is there may have been some sort of 'event' planned) we were seated outside, which was fine; the day was nice.Here is a little peek inside…and the bar area. Usually, we don't order beverages, but I had been curious about Butterscotch (instead of root) Beer ($2) after seeing it sold in a six pack…but not wanting to obligate myself to a large purchase.  This was a great melding of flavors…spicy with with a smooth almost carmel-y butterscotch/vanilla undertone.  

That's not beer in the glass.  Both of us have been trying cold brew coffees this summer and the menu showed a 'cold press' ($4.50), so we had to try it (excellent).

 {The menu photos will turn as they enlarge}

 The small menu means all items are fresh…and within the theme of both 'farmer' and 'the sea'.  The Shrimp Louie Louie ($14) sounded good- and not like a 'traditional' Shrimp Louie.  This included four very large fresh tasting grilled shrimp, the soft lettuces enjoyed at Green Acre, green beans, cucumber, scallions, capers and peppadew peppers with a light, creamy house dressing.  Wow.  Fresh and plenty and great tasting.The Farmer and Seahorse version of 'fish and chips' ($13): Local Cod, served with garden chips and slaw (and a wonderful house made tartar sauce) was beer battered to a perfect crispness.  The cod was not your standard, frozen nasty fish, but large, thick, fresh and flaky..all complimented by the light batter. 

All in all this was really nice, really good, quite fancy.  We'll be back.

Farmer and The Seahorse 10996 Torreyana Road San Diego 92121 (858)260-5401 (no website yet) Open Mon-Fri 7-3 (closed on weekends)