March 2021 – Page 2

Donkatsu from Gala Chicken (Brown Donkatsu)

March 9, 2021 mmm-yoso Korean Restaurants, yoso-silly

**** Zion Market has moved and Gala did not make the move with the market

I had to run an errand for the Missus recently….She requested something from the Korean Market, so I headed off to H Mart, which didn't have what She wanted. So, as much as I didn't want to; I then went to Zion Market. Where, as my luck would have it, had the product on sale. After an "interesting" incident at the check-out stand (more on that at the end of the post); I decided to treat myself and grab some chicken wings for lunch. I hadn't been to Gala Chicken in a while so I decided to head on over.

I had my sights set on an order of wings; but unfortunately, the really nice guy working….he was very nice, told me that they were out of wings and weren't sure they'd be getting more. My first thought was to just cut my losses and leave; but the gentleman was really nice and I noticed a sign above the counter that I hadn't seen before; "Brown Donkatsu". Hmmmm……when did Gala start making d(t)onkatsu? Brown is a fairly well known brand in Korea. So, I decided to try the regular pork cutlet ($11.95). After about 15 minutes, my order was ready and I headed home.

The portion size of the cutlet looked quite generous.

The mac salad had been replaced by one made with penne pasta…or maybe they had just run out of macaroni? Regardless, it wasn't quite as sour as before and was seasoned well, nicely chilled, the pasta firm, though was a bit overdressed with mayo.

I think the version of donkatsu here has sealed it for me. I'm not a big fan of the watery, not overly savory typical sauce served with this version of tonkatsu. There's something weird in the texture like they put cream or milk in it? I opened up my bottle of Bulldog Tonkatsu Sauce.

The rice was really mushy as well.

As for the pork…well, this was pounded really thin, so the panko to meat ratio was quite high. However, the breading was uneven, though in terms of temperature control, things must have set-up well since the breading was not separating from the meat. The pork was quite bland and very dry.

I'll pass on this next time……"give me wings or give me nothing at all…."

Gala Chicken
7655 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. (In the Zion Market Food Court)
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 279-7959
Current Hours:
Wed – Mon 11am – 8pm
Closed on Tuesdays

As for what the Missus needed….well, ahem, I think many husbands will relate to this; She needed "fem hygiene" stuff. Anyway, I hit the jackpot, or something like that at Zion; it was on sale. And me not wanting to repeat this again for a while went and bought six boxes! So, I'm waiting in line with my basket of "stuff", maybe I should have bought other things to help camouflage those boxes, but I didn't. There were two customers in line in front of me; both older Korean women. The one in front of me looks at my basket and says:

"Why you buy so much of that; what you going to do with it?"

I could feel that bead of sweat rolling down the middle of my back as the woman in front of her peers over at what I have in my basket….

My response:

"It's for my wife. And you are really embarrassing me right now!"

The woman in the front starts laughing……

The woman's response?

"Humph…..you don't need to buy so many"

I almost say something like "well, you wouldn't know because you don't have to worry about using this at your age", but I bite my tongue and respond with:

"Well, it's so that I don't have to come back and buy more and have people in line question why I'm buying this….."

Ah yes, just another day standing in line at Zion….where the sign in the produce section says:

I have another similar story; but one much nicer about Paris….hopefully I'll remember to add that to a future post.

Island Style Cafe Reopens (Now in Santee)

March 7, 2021 mmm-yoso Local Kine Stuffs in San Diego, Plate Lunch

There were quite a few disappointed folks (me included) when Island Style Cafe announced they were closing their shop in Tierrasanta. On my last visit to ISC, Teri did tell me that they were going to reopen. But I heard nothing about that….until mid-January when I randomly went to ISC's Facebook page and noticed a strange address….based in Santee. Then it soon started….first "FOY" Kerri sent me an email telling me ISC was reopening, the address and target date. This was followed by emails from LaurieH and KathyQ informing me that a reopening announcement had been made on NextDoor….finally, to put the cherry on the top, our own Cathy sent me a text letting me know that ISC was reopening! As I mentioned in my previous post; our own little "coconut wireless" is still going strong!

Now Santee is not quite down the street for me; I haven't been "back East" since before the pandemic. I really didn't want to go during prime time or rush hour….in spite of having had both of my vaccinations completed at the end of January, I'm still somewhat adverse to risk. I did see an opening though. Back at the beginning of February, I took a vacation day to get my car serviced. Unfortunately…..as I was waiting for my vehicle to be ready (it was amazing how quick they completed my service) I got a bunch of text messages….there was an emergency need at work, so I started trying to set the foundation for what was needed (I had the work laptop with me), but WiFi at the dealership was really bad….I rushed home and halfway through our internet went out! Sigh….so I ended up going into the office and spending the rest of the day completing the request. Needless to say, I was fried……more on that in a later post. Anyway, I went and requested to have a replacement day…..and I took it this past week. So guess what…Santee, here I come.

And to be perfectly honest, this location is only about 15 minutes away from their former location, on the 52 East, exit at Mast…so what the heck was I whining about.

I got there at around 1035 and the phone was ringing off the hook. Teri was there running….well, everything. It was nice to see her and it seems she remembered me as well. The menu has changed a bit; no moa' Kaloko Moco…but they now have other versions; a Curry Moco, Kalua Moco….and something called the "Kanak Attack" Loco Moco. Since I'd be taking my stuffs to go (no outside seating – and I'm still waiting to feel comfortable enough with that anyway) I went with the Char Siu – Spam Scramble ($11).

Between the myriad of phone and takeout orders; Teri did have a few moments to chat while I waited for my food. She mentioned that the six months off really gave them time to reflect on life and the business, making them so much more thankful for all great customers and relationships the restaurant provided to them….thus really giving them more motivation to reopen. Teri also told me that business has been really brisk; especially during afternoon rush hour….it seems like folks were doing a bunch of takeout on the way home.

Soon enough my order was ready and with Teri telling me "Mahalo Kirk" and I responded with "Mahalo nui loa, noʻu ka hauʻoli Teri"……man, when was the last time I said that?

Anyway, unpacking things at home; the Scramble looked pretty hefty.

I like the "loco style fried rice" that ISC makes; it's always been moist and fluffy…….the eggs were nicely done, soft, slices of my favorite canned meat product, char siu (decent), kamaboko, onions……of course a nice shake of Tabasco, I ended up finishing the whole darn thing! The only thing I would replace…is that next time, I'll pass on the teriyaki sauce as it is too sweet for my taste.

Eleven bucks….heck, I just recently spent $10 for a banh mi. So this is well worth the price. At my age, I can't put these away too often, but today was special. It was reconnecting with a place that has a special spot in my heart and cardiovascular system.

Teri and I spoke about the gradual reopening of indoor dining and I told her I was holding off on my loco moco until then….she laughed. But what better way to celebrate the transition to some sort of normalcy, right?

Island Style Cafe
9828 N Magnolia Ave.
Santee, CA 92071

You know, Teri's mention of being thankful really resonates with me. I mean, we have a humble, very low-tech little blog, and yet there are wonderful folks like Kerri, LaurieH, and KathyQ who actually take time out of their lives to contact me and let me know that Island Style Café was reopening and where! It warms my heart and keeps me inspired!

Mahalo nui loa Kerri, LaurieH, and KathyQ!

What’s Going on with Da Kine’s

March 5, 2021 mmm-yoso Plate Lunch

**** The La Mesa location has closed and Nelson is currently only doing catering

**** Da Kine's has reopened in La Mesa. You can find a post here.

I've always made mention of the "coconut wireless"….you know, the way we get info word of mouth…..at times it's better than social media. Though in these times with social distancing it's a bit harder; though I still get a lot of info from my circle of "FOYs" and various places in the 'hood and beyond where folks know me. Take for instance, last week, when working form home, I took the quick five minute drive down to Bay Park Coffee for my caffeine fix and Bruddah Noel was working. After the usual greeting and antics, he asked me if I knew that Da Kine's had closed! What!

So a couple of days later I drove on over to see for myself.

Well, the light were on and I went and found parking. The doors however, were locked. Then I saw the sign posted. It looks like they are in the process of moving.

There was a sense of relief. While Da Kine's is not on my permanent rotation, my (and from previous comments a lot of San Diegans) history with DK's goes back a while. Which I detailed in my post when they reopened in Linda Vista.

Ok so, I mentioned this to my "FOY" RonR, who lives on Maui part of the year and resides in Linda Vista. Like a good mole, ummm spy, scout he walked on over and found someone leaving the premises. According to that person, who claims to work at DK's, Nelson has found a spot to relocate to fairly close by, but doesn't want to jinx the deal…..ha, he no like make "bachi" (bad karma)….you just can't take the local out of you…..

Anyway, I'll keep you posted on what I see/hear/read. I'm glad that Da Kine's is not closing permanently. And thanks to Noel and Ron for keeping my apprised of things. Like I say, this blog would not exist if not for all of you.

Da Kine's Plate Lunches
Used to be at:
5401 Linda Vista Rd. #402
San Diego, CA 92110
Soon to be at:
???????

Have a great weekend!

Cambria (During Covid-19) – Fiscalini Ranch, Cambria Coffee, Shamel Community Park, and Dinner at Black Cat Bistro

March 4, 2021 mmm-yoso American/New American Restaurants, Caffeine Fix, European Restaurants, Paso Robles/Cambria/San Luis Obispo County, Road Trip, Travel

During our roadtrip last November, our second stop was in Cambria. We had really enjoyed our dinner at Madeline's the night before. From the food, wine, and wonderful service….it was such a nice experience. We were looking forward to our full day in the town. Man, it really felt good to be travelling for a bit. We had really missed it.

I had gotten up early in the morning. The office had an urgent request so I was on my laptop and the phone for a bit. After my call, the Missus wanted a cup o' Joe. So I got dressed and headed out.

I crossed Highway 1 onto Main Street, which was quite sleepy at this time of the morning.

I really enjoyed the quaint, artsy, but unpretentious vibe of Cambria…..and a definite sense of humor!

A few blocks down was my destination; Cambria Coffee Roasting Company.

While I understand that there's a deck seating area upstairs with a view of the street; at this time, due to Covid restrictions it's closed. Basically, a table was set-up in the doorway and you could place your order.

And then you stand aside until you are called. I was happy to note that Cambria Coffee does pour-over…..which would make the coffee snob in the family (the Missus) happy. So, I got a coffee and a pour over for the Missus.

It was nice to see locals seeing each other….during these times, with the social distancing and such, I'm sure it's a treat for those on fours legs as well for those on two.

I went and walked on back to our room. The Missus enjoyed Her coffee. While not quite on the same level as Birdrock, She did enjoy it.

Cambria Coffee Roasting Company
761 Main St.
Cambria, CA 93428

Bolstered by caffeine, the Missus was ready to head out. I had done a bit of research and planning for this trip to keep the Missus busy. One thing that caught my attention was Fiscalini Ranch Preserve. Previously owned by the Fiscalini family since the late 1800's as a cattle ranch, it was sold in the 1980's to a developer. The plan was to create a residential area, much like what surrounds the ranch. Fortunately (for us), the developer went bankrupt and the North Coast Small Wilderness Area Preservation was formed and raised 11 million dollars to purchase the property. The preserve consists of over 400 acres of trails which straddle both sides of Highway 1. You go from one of the last Monterey Pine Forests to the beautiful coast.

There are at least 17 trails available all of which are well maintained and makes for rather easy hiking. I decided that we should start at Huntington Road entrance, basically just an gate with street parking and walk along the Ridge Trail.

Where we quickly came upon an interesting bench.

This one is known as the, well, Dolphin Bench of course. We'd come to really enjoy the wonderful and quite artistic benches crafted with driftwood along the way.

We hiked along the Ridge Trail coming upon the pine forest.

And then meandered down to the Bluff Trail, which was scenic and beautiful.

And course there are those benches that I mentioned earlier….they really looked like works of art to us.

We took our time, sitting on the benches and enjoyed the views along the way.

These were the Missus's favorite benches.

Once we reached the North Windsor Boulevard Entrance, we headed back up the SeaClift Trail and eventually back from where we started.

Fiscalini Ranch Preserve was a fun, relaxing, and needless to say beautiful way to spend our day in Cambria.

It was time well spent.

After our hike, we headed into Cambria's East Village to do some shopping.

Which was a lot of fun……

We headed back to our very comfortable room at the El Colibri for, at least for me was a well earned afternoon nap.

I had made dinner reservations for this dinner at a restaurant in the East Village. I asked the Missus to get ready a bit early….She was a bit perturbed, but went along. We got into the car and instead of heading across Highway 1 I took a right turn down Windsor Boulevard and right at the turn down the hill stopped and parked at Shamel Community Park.

As we walked from the parking lot to the beach, the Missus got it…..

And boy was it beautiful!

Doesn't get much better than this, does it?

After the stunning sunset, we headed to our dinner destination, finding parking on the street. And enjoying the wonderful fun and artsy décor along the way.

Dinner was at Black Cat Bistro. The menu looked interesting…. We were seated in a covered porch area. During this time SLO County was under the Red tier and had 25% indoor, we requested outdoor. There were only two other couples during our whole meal….all from out of town and the other two parties had such cute and well behaved pooches with them.

The meal started in fine fashion with a delicious Crab Cake and Shrimp Salad ($17).

The shrimp was fried perfectly, the batter was light and crunchy, the shrimp sweet, plump, and oh so tender. The crab cakes was well made, full of crab meat, moist, the breading stood up well in the face of the remoulade sauce. The arugula added a nice balance as the mild bitterness helped to cut the richness. This was easily the best dish of the night, a memorable dish.

Next up was the "Paso Robles Pork Belly" ($15).

Love the addition of Gigante Beans; the pork belly was fine, the sauce was too salty and sweet for our taste.

Next up; the Gnocchi ($14). The gnocchi is fried giving it an interesting texture…..but beyond the light crispness, the interior was too mushy.

We did enjoy the earthiness of the mushrooms paired with the pleasant bitterness of the radicchio. This added a nice dimension to the plate, though that cream sauce just wasn't to our taste.

The last dish of the evening was the main reason I decided to book our dinner at Black Cat Bistro; the Strozzapreti ($25). The Missus loves strozzapreti and strigoli, the wonderful toothsomeness of the pasta. This was a vegetarian version which the Missus was more than happy to order.

There was just too much going on in this dish and the pasta was over cooked and on the mushy side, lacking in that nice chewiness the Missus enjoys. We enjoyed the purple cauliflower and Romanesco….the Missus just loves Her cauliflower. The currants seemed a bit too much for the dish as was the cream sauce. We would have preferred a bit more restraint in the saucing of the dish….but hey…..this is the US, not Italy. Sometimes, simple is best.

Overall a nice meal; friendly staff, the other two parties were from out of town and come to Cambria yearly. The Black Cat Bistro is a favorite of theirs. The Missus enjoyed the wine pairings as well.

Black Cat Bistro
1602 Main St.
Cambria, CA 93428

As you can see; we didn't go to bed hungry! We really enjoyed Cambria and will be sure to return.

Pho To Go From Pho Hoa Huong

March 2, 2021 mmm-yoso Pho, Vietnamese Restaurants

The Pandemic has really accelerated the Missus's online purchases….to the point that She often doesn't remember what has been delivered. Of course, while the Missus is very good at ordering and opening things up at home, as I noted before, She's not really very good at making trips to the Post Office to pick up or to do returns. Well, at least when I had to make this last trip to the Post Office, it was to return items. Luckily, working from home, I was able to schedule a quick trip to the Post Office. It was between meetings at around 10am and when thinking about what I'd be picking up for lunch in the area, the solution quickly became clear…….the "fastest pho in the west" might fill the bill.

So, just over a year to the day I last visited, I dropped by Pho Hoa Huong, this time for takeout. I placed my order…..for good old #4 (now $10) and headed to the Post Office where there was no line. I basically made it back to PHH in ten minutes and guess what? My order was waiting….in fact, the nice gentleman saw me walking over form my car and brought my order out to me! Man, it's such a far cry from those days when they basically dealt the menu out to you and then hovered over you to order. Not that I miss those days at all, mind you!

So, unpacking at home…man, the Pho broth was super hot! And in character it was quite dark, though a bit less fatty than before.

As I mentioned in a couple of recent posts….it just seems that portion sizes have increased quite a bit during the pandemic. Since I got home with a good amount of time before my next call, I decided to have an early lunch.

The broth wouldn't need much heating and the noodles were nicely under-cooked. So, I briefly brought the broth back to a boil, then easily separated the proteins and herbs/veggies from the noodles. I placed a noodle strainer in the noodle bowl, placed the banh pho in it and then poured the boiling broth over it, separating the noodles easily.

There was a decent amount of sprouts and a ton of sliced jalapeno. A couple of leaves of good looking ngo gai….though the basil was starting to go bad with most of the leaves discolored.

The broth was pretty dark and I noticed that distinct sweetness that pervades pho broth here in San Diego; not as bad as most other places, but it looks like it's creeping into the "old school" places like here. At least it wasn't overly salty. There was a mild anise-beefiness to it as well.

The noodles were just spot on perfect; even better than what I've had when "dining in" during those pre-Covid days. Once unclumped it had a nice al dente pull.

I was quite impressed with the tripe; clean finish with a good crunch to them. The rest was fine; the tendon was decent, the flank was actually better than the brisket, with a nice toothsome chew and good beefiness. The brisket was too tough for that cut and lacked a good bovine flavor.

This might be the best overall non-frills pho I've had in a while….of course, I haven't had much pho during these times. But I was quite satisfied with my lunch.

Pho Hoa Huong
6921 Linda Vista Rd.
San Diego, CA 92111
Current Hours:
Daily 8am – 9pm