As in, yoso-silly, yoso-hungry, yoso-full, or best of all; mmm-delici-yoso!!!!! A San Diego based food and travel blog. An Ex-Pat Kama'aina and Friends explore food, restaurants, and travel from San Diego and points beyond.
We wish everyone a safe and fun Halloween…..
Hope everyone has a great time and aren't too, ummm, "bushed" tomorrow.
Or, ahem…."down in the dumps"…..
I still haven't found any Halloween "decoration" as disturbing as "How Bad Do You Need to Go?" Which was right outside Olive Hill Farm in Los Olivos….sheesh, an olive oil tasting room. Insert, olive oil as a constipation remedy joke here……
Anyway, Happy Halloween from our busy little bee!
A couple of revisits for a Monday.
Pho Duyen Mai:
**** Pho Duyen Mai is under new ownership
In the comments on my last post Pho Hut & Grill, "Alan from Clairemont" mentioned that Pho Duyen Mai had gone downhill. Which was sad news for me; since when our office was in the area, was a fairly regular stop. So, this past weekend, with temps finally getting to normal for this time of the year, I decided to drop by while running errands. Pho Duyen Mai opens at 9am….which is not bad.
I got there right at 9 had a seat and was given a menu…..it was just too early in the morning for me to go with dem' bones; so I just took the easy way out and ordered the Dac Biet. Which arrived within minutes.
I quickly noticed that the basil was starting to brown; not a good sign of quality control. Though unlike Alan's visits, there was a whole half lime on the plate…..a darn good thing, as the broth was even more overly sweet and salty than I recalled. I needed a good amount of lime to attempt to balance the broth, which was even more defatted then I remembered.
On the good side, the rare steak was still nicely rare when the bowl hit the table, the tendon was adequately tender, the other cuts were ho-hum, the flank like cardboard and tripe was MIA.
The noodles, while in a clump wasn't over-cooked and still had a nice stretch to them.
So, the verdict? The broth at Duyen Mai has gotten much more salty and "sweeter", while losing what little richness there was. Not a complete fail, but it seems like the place has slipped a bit. Not a good sign in the vast pho wasteland that Clairemont/Kearny Mesa has become.
Pho Duyen Mai
5375 Kearny Villa Rd
San Diego, CA 92123
Tiger! Tiger!:
**** Tiger! Tiger! has closed
Hard to believe it's been over six months since we were last at Tiger! Tiger! Our visit was just a last minute decision….we just couldn't figure out where we wanted to go.
Not much to say; we ordered the usual, the Bratwurst, which I've posted on a couple of times.
And of course got the 1/2 order of the Charcuterie Board. The Missus loved the chicken and pork liver mousse.
It almost always delivered; except the bread was too hard and chewy this time around. Still, that smokey, porky, terrine was wonderful.
And of course, we always think of Sammy, when we're sitting outside. We miss you!
Tiger! Tiger!
3025 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92104
The Missus and I were planning a trip….well, this one is basically four trips out, and we started ruminating about croissants…..do we miss Paris, and even there, it can be hard to find a good croissant….to be honest, we've had our share of not so good croissants (au buerre) in Paris as well. The discussion reminded me that I had a couple croissant photos just waiting for a post. I guess today's the day. So, "allons y"…..
The French Oven:
Several folks in the office, who live in the Scripps Ranch area kept on telling me about The French Oven, telling me it's run by a fifth generation Boulanger from France. So, a few weekends later, I headed on over to a little strip mall in Scripps Ranch.
Man the place was hopping!
Service was fast, I believe the owner was working the front of house as he and another gentleman were speaking in French. It kinda made my morning.
As for the croissant, while it was the best of the three in post, well, it was okay…..light with a decent flakey-crispness, but really lacking in butteriness, and when broken lacked that hint of yeastiness we love.
Not bad.
You can read Cathy's post on The French Oven here.
The French Oven Bakery
10299 Scripps Trail Suite E
San Diego, CA 92131
Bread Bar (at the Little Italy Mercato):
The following week, I dropped by the Little Italy Mercato to do some shopping. And decided to pick up a couple of croissants for the Missus and I to try. First, was from Bread Bar.
This was more crumbly than flakey and crisp. It had enough salt, but lacked a good buttery flavor and was too dry. It also had that fishiness that pastries in the states sometimes have, usually from the eggs used, which both the Missus and I don't care for.
Bread Bar in the Little Italy Mercato.
Prager Brothers (at the Little Italy Mercato):
We enjoy the bread from Prager Brothers and should probably head up to their bakery in Carlsbad. But until then…..
The croissant was not bad; but lacking in enough butteriness, salt, and yeastiness to us. The texture of the interior was a bit too soft for us.
We'll stick to getting their wonderful breads.
Prager Brothers at the Little Italy Mercato.
So….the search goes on…..
I know most folks think of Korean BBQ when one mentions Prime Grill…..I mean, "grill" is in the name of the place, right? But for the Missus and I, PG has been a place to get Bi Bim Bap and Bi Bim Naengmyun when the mercury soars here in San Diego. When things cool down a bit, it would probably be Seolleontang from Woomiok or Heokyumso Jeongol from Grandma's that would come to mind. But now, the Missus has another favorite; the Mukeunji Daejji Galbi Jungol from Prime Grill.
It's a dish that uses "Mukeunji" which is poggi kimchi that has been aged at least six months. It's got a much stronger fermented flavor and is what we eat at home. Along with Daejji Galbi; braised pork ribs; which here add a nice porcine touch to the dish. There's a couple of huge pieces of kimchi that is sliced before placing the pan over the heat. Throw in some nice and meaty king mushroom, tofu, enoki mushroom, ssukgat – what I grew up calling "shungiku"; chrysanthemum leaves, and some rice cakes, this makes for quite a comforting meal.
We enjoy the leftovers even more; as the pork tends to add much more flavor overnight. I add in even more aged, fermented, kimchi…the good stuff, minced maneuljong muchim, the potent kimchi garlic scape, daikon, watercress, and tofu, and we have a heck of a second meal.
It's one of those dishes that tastes even better the second night……
Though it's pretty darn good at the restaurant as well.
Prime Grill
4620 Convoy St
San Diego, CA 92111
So, now that things are cooling off; what dishes are all you nice folks thinking of?
We'd put in some decent mileage during our first day in Vienna. After resting up a bit, we decided to walk to a wine bar I had on my "list". Unfortunately, they were unexpectedly closed for the evening. So what to do? Well, we didn't want anything substantial, so we headed off to just stretch our legs as it were. Initially, we thought we'd just drop by Julius Meinl and do some self-catering.
But after wandering thru the aisles of this very upscale grocery, we decided to just grab a glass of wine. Fairly close by was a location of Wein & Co, an Austrian chain of a combo bar and wine shop. It was quite convenient, so we just walked in and found seats at the bar of this busy little café.
The place was hoppin' at this time of the day….what we'd call happy hour here in the states. We both had glasses of Veltliner, which was very pleasant, dry, slightly acidic, quite refreshing.
The service was very professional…….I kinda think of this place as an slightly upscale happy hour joint…..
Wein & Co Wien Stephansplatz
Jasomirgottstraße 3-5
1010 Wien, Austria
Fortified by a couple of glasses of wine, the Missus asked me what I wanted for dinner. I told Her that I'd heard about a sausage, called Käsekrainer that I just wanted to try. And heck, what would a visit to Vienna be without a stop at a Wurstelstand. We were kind of headed back in the direction of the apartment and decided to stop by a stand on Schwarzenbergplatz, named Zum 
Scharfen René.
The stand was fairly busy, so I decided not to take any photos of it.
When I walked up to order, two of what I only assume were "regulars" were really funny….I think they were pretty well "lubricated" and were really helpful.
Anyway, I told them I really waned to try a Käsekrainer and they told me to get the Currywurst with the "special sauce" as well.
As so, we had dinner at a sausage stand in Vienna.
I loved the texture of the sausages, the skin had a wonderful "snap". The flavors came thru really well….not a big fan of the ketchupy "special sauce" on the currywurst as it was a bit too sweet and sour for me. The dark bread, almost rye like was moist and actually tasted really good.
I really enjoyed the Käsekrainer, basically a sausage stuffed with Emmenthal cheese.
Think of a sausage injected with milky "Swiss cheese". Again the casing had a nice snap, the sausage was delicious……porky, smokey, with soft, creamy, milky, deliciousness in every bite. The nice slightly pungent mustard helped to cut the richness. This was really good…..
I truly understand how good this would be after an evening of imbibing "refreshment".
Zum Scharfen Rene
Schwarzenbergplatz 15
Vienna, Austria
Hours:
Monday 11am – 7pm
Tues – Wed 11am – 4am
Thurs – Fri 11am – 5am
Saturday 9pm – Midnight
After getting our share of encased meats in tubular form, we were ready to call it a night……
Because tomorrow was going to be another full day……
Thanks for stopping by!
A few weeks back, even with all the new Chinese restaurants that have opened in San Diego recently, Calvin and I headed off to revisit Taste of Hunan. One of the main reasons is that Calvin's Missus just doesn't eat offal or lamb…..nor anything with Sichuan Peppercorns. So, Calvin wanted his "pig fix" in a way. And so, we pulled "all the hogs" out…..
First thing I noticed was that the place isn't quite as busy as it was on my previous visits to the restaurant.
We placed our orders and items started coming out rather quickly.
First, the Sauteed Pig Stomach, for those who have seen pig maw on Chinese menus and wasn't sure what it was….no it's not a mother pig, but the wall of a pig's stomach.
It was as expected quite chewy, with no off flavors. Very straight-forward soy-sauce saltiness and kind of greasy.
The texture of the Crispy Intestine was excellent. Crisp, light exterior, creamy interior.
Slight, pleasant offal flavor, but the addition of salt and pepper would have made this dish even better. As it is; just straight-forward hoisin or chili oil just added one simple layer of flavor…in other words; pun intended, it was just "lipstick on a pig".
Easily the best dish of the day was a favorite during my previous visit, the Smoked Pork and Preserved Green Beans Fried Rice.
Though there was less preserved green beans and La Rou this time around. Still, almost every grain was coated; the smokiness and mild sour flavors came through nicely. Though easily the best item of the day; it was not nearly as good as on previous visits
Another favorite from previous visits; the Wild Mushroom with Pork, was a far cry from what I'd had before.
It was more spicy this time around, much more salty, with a very faint mushroom flavor, and the pork was tough. Bummer, as this was a really nice dish vefore.
So, what's happening with Taste of Hunan? Can't say I haven't seen this pattern before; the honeymoon's over and things settle into a pattern of cost cutting, lowering of standards, and malaise. I'm hoping this is not true…so we'll see.
Taste of Hunan
9880 Hibert St. Suite E2
San Diego, CA 92131
I think it was my good friend Candice who first mentioned Kindred to me. And even though the Missus is now eating a fairly vegetable heavy diet at home, I wasn't sure about Kindred…..I mean not just vegan food, but a Death Metal themed vegan restaurant? Though the cocktail menu did entice us a bit and then I recommended the place to my coworker "AA" who is a tried and true vegetarian….she absolutely loves the place; it's now her "date night" stop.
So, of course we had to stop by.
We loved the setting and most of all our favorite Server; Tracy!
And now kindred has become a fun stop for us.
We'd tried a host of cocktails; anything with Bourbon, Rye or Mezcal….with names like Psychic Venom.
Most were decent; though some on the sweet side.
All of this came to a stop when one day; I ordered what I thought was a great sounding cocktail and it arrived looking flowery pink!
At this point I enlisted the help of Tracy, who having served us at least three times before already had a bullseye drawn on our tastes and recommended something called the "Golden Axe". I'm usually not a fan of too much saffron or turmeric, but man, this cocktail with Bourbon and Rye is now my favorite.
The turmeric rice nectar adds a touch of bitterness, the ginger, spice, the booze some good smokiness.
The Missus will still order something like the "Horrorchata" or the "River Styx"…but I'm styx-ing with my Golden Axe.
As for the food, over our half dozen or so visits to Kindred; we've only ordered four items……two are winners, one is good, and the last meh….. I will say; we stayed away from items like salads and typical fare. So maybe that's the way to go here.
Both the Missus and I love mushroom; so when Tracy mentioned "the Dip" being something that used to be on the secret menu….and so we should try it; we did.
It's the earthy-salty mushroom jus that makes this for us. Heck, we'd just take bread slathered with the horseradish aioli and we'd be good to go. As it is; the peppered satan seitan, does no damage, and the sautéed pepprs and onions add a touch of sweetness and light pungency. There's also a nice spicy component to this as well. And as strange as it sounds; the tapioca mozzarella has a non-descript, but not terrible flavor or texture. The chips have usually been on the soggy side when we order this. But we're not here for the spuds.
Our other go-to are the Skewers.
Like the Dip, it's the flavors that make this dish for us; garlicky chimichurri, punchy harissa, which kind of leaves the horseradish sauce in the cold here.
The seitan is nicely charred, crisp around the edges, not mushy like other versions I've had. The flavoring of the seitan is covered up pretty well; which I think is the M.O. here a Kindred.
The "Hearts of Palm" is basically a farinata (garbanzo bean flour) flatbread.
The texture is somewhat "mushy – doughy", though it's moist, there's a bit of an earthy flavor to it. Again, it's the Aji Amarillo Aioli and lime that really gives this dish some "umph". It's a decent dish; though perhaps a bit too sour at times.
We've tried the Herb Puffs twice and it really didn't make an impression on us.
While light, on both occasions it was served rather cold and had lost any pleasing crispness. 
As a whole, we enjoy Kindred, the staff are great, we've found some favorites, the music……well, maybe I'm too old? Though I get a kick thinking about Bee-Oh-Bee who loves Death Metal….I keep reminding him to bring his lovely Missus here. The food is unique and they don't hold back on flavor either. And that Golden Axe…….
Kindred
1503 30th St
San Diego, CA 92102
Hours:
Mon – Thurs 4pm – Midnight
Friday 4pm – 1am
Saturday 10am – 1am
Sunday 10am – Midnight
So, we lost our Internet access over the last two nights…..well, actually mostly last night. The most wonderful technician came in and fixed things up late this afternoon….after testing and crawling through our circa 1950 crawlspace. He was a great guy, not originally from the states, but I got to ask him a bit about his home, a place we're thinking about travelling to soon.
That's the wonder of travel….and the places we've been; and the honor I've had of being able to share that with folks who read our blog.
And of course, all the great meals……
And yet, as much as I enjoy doing posts……while the Missus was just tortured not being able to get Her Netflix or YouTube; I enjoyed just relaxing and reading something from my backlog of books. Just like old times.
And then today, a former coworker; JillV contacted me, who I'd always encouraged to travel….who now is creating her own company and is moving to Europe! There are few things more gratifying than that.
You know, my desire is not to be an "influencer"…..I'm not looking to make money from this blog……as Cathy always says, "we eat and then write about it". Be it good or bad…..
I look at the blog as my little food and travel diary……of places I've been…..
And things, sometimes amazing, sometimes not, that I've had pleasure of eating……
And……as always, I need to thank you for stopping by!
Now that our connectivity issues are resolved; I'll have something for you all tomorrow!
Thanks for stopping by!
Been kinda busy over the last month or so. I finally had a chance to drive around a bit and noticed a couple of things for a leisurely Sunday post.
Saigon Restaurant Replacing Yum Cha Café:
I noticed some new signage up when I drove by Thuan Phat Market.
Hmmm….is it "that" Saigon Restaurant? This will be interesting.
Well, at least somethings happening in this spot. It's been over two years since Yum Cha Cafe closed.
6933 Linda Vista Road
San Diego, CA 92111
Chicken Charlie's FryBQ (Balboa) Closes:
I had to drop by the bank and noticed that it looked like equipment and furnishings in Chicken Charlie's were shrink wrapped. So, I parked the car and walked over.
Even though the outdoor tables and chairs are still in place; Chicken Charlie's is closed.
You can still go to the Rancho Bernardo location as a, sorry, can't help it…..bypass if you need to get your fix.
5407 Balboa Ave
San Diego, CA 92111 
And finally……
Just like last year; "Alle" wanted me to do the One-Chip Challenge.
And, just when I thought it couldn't be hotter than last year…..well, let me tell you……this had me fooled as it wasn't too bad for the first 15 seconds or so. Then it got really, burning, searing hot……like I just ate a porcupine. The heat lasted even longer this year….I got the hiccups, my scalp itched, all normal reactions on my part. Admittedly, I don't use any "props", no gloves and such…so it wasn't a particularly good move when I rubbed my face with my hands with the powder from the chip on them. Oh well, it wasn't as bad as when I worked with Ghost Peppers and didn't wash my hands well…..then took out my contact lenses a bit later.
This chip made the Triple Atomic Wings seem like ice cream.
Well, I'm done until next year…..
Hope everyone had a great weekend, thanks for dropping by!
After getting some "comfort food" at Tofu & Chili, the Missus was back in "mission mode". She really wanted to have the "Vienna Café" experience. So, we headed off to the café at the Hotel Imperial.
Man, talk about posh.
With prices to match. The Missus wanted to try the Imperial Torte, which She had read was created here for Emperor Franz Josef I when the Imperial Hotel opened in 1873.
The Missus really enjoyed the service and the atmosphere…….
Though for me….thirty bucks for coffee, tea, and dessert is a bit on the high side. Still, we were on vacation, right? And the Missus enjoyed herself.
Plus, Imperial Café has some of the most elegant bathrooms I've ever been to…..
Imperial indeed…..
Cafe Imperial
Kaerntner Ring 16
Vienna 1010, Austria
After getting our sugar and caffeine fix; we headed off to visit the last spot the Missus had on "Her list" for the day; the Belvedere Palace.
We headed down Schwarzenbergplatz; which, like the Wikipedia page says is more of a street than a square; with the regal, Equestrian Statue of Karl Philipp, the Prince of Schwarzenberg, his mighty steed with one hoof raised, ready to lead the way.
While the drizzle had stopped; it was still quite overcast and blustery at times. Still, there's something quite regal about Vienna.
Did you know that Vienna has a Soviet War Memorial? I didn't know what this was when we walked through it on the way to the Belvedere.
So, I was a bit surprised to find out it was the Heroes' Monument of the Red Army (Heldendenkmal der Roten Armee). It has been the subject of controversy and has been vandalized several times.
Belvedere Palace was built as the summer palace for Eugene of Savoy; who in spite of being rejected for military service by the French, made his way to Austria and pledged loyalty to the Habsburgs. He became one of the most successful military officers in European History and was instrumental in defeating the Ottomans. The Lower Palace was Eugene's home and the Upper Palace, which was completed in 1723 contains one of the best collections of Austrian art and there was one particular work that the Missus wanted to see.
The upper palace looks quite grand, built in the Baroque style.
The gardens aren't shabby either…..
Nor the grand décor….I'm sure Prince Eugene had some major parties here.
But the Missus was on a mission……
And when we found Gustav Klimpt's "The Kiss", it was mission accomplished.
We wandered about a bit more; then headed out and strolled the gardens……which must be quite stunning on a sunny day.
After wandering about for a while; we decided to take our leave. It was time to head back to the apartment…..you could say we were "imperialed out".
It was time for nap!
Thanks for stopping by!