Cathy – Page 64

J-K’s Greek Cafe (La Mesa)

April 22, 2014 Cathy Greek Food, What Cathy Eats!

mmm-yoso!!! is a blog, written interspersedly by Kirk, Ed(from Yuma) and Cathy. Today, it's Cathy's interspersion.

J-K's, tucked in the corner storefront on University Avenue, has been in this location for more than 20 years. You might miss it if you aren't keeping your eye out for the signage.

The little sign "Greek Style Whole Chicken $7.99" to the left of the door is take out only.

Above, the signage you'll see when driving on University.

When you step inside, you'll be greeted by someone working the grill behind the counter. If you say you are eating in, you can take a seat at one of the eight tables. There are also two tables out in front.

If you come in Monday-Saturday at lunch time, you will be handed the Specials as well as the regular menu.

We enjoy the Greek salad here; cold, crisp lettuce, tomato, cucumber and onion topped with a house made herby dressing and Feta.

On this day, I chose the chicken souvlaki sandwich lunch. Served on soft, warm pita, unrolled in the photo, the marinated grilled chicken is surrounded with lettuce, tomato and onion and served with a house made tzatziki (yogurt-cucumber sauce) on the side.

The Mister ordered the Grecian Burger lunch, which was an absolutely wonderful lamb-ground beef mix, cooked to a light medium. So flavorful and served on the toasted fresh sesame-seeded bun, with lettuce, tomato and more fresh tzatziki, it was large, juicy and tasty.

We also ordered a side of fried zucchini ($4.95) to share. Fresh, crispy and not greasy, the fry here is done right. There are some herbs in the batter, which makes dipping in the tzatzki sauce a complimentary flavor.

Above, the $7.99 Greek Style chicken to go. Marinated (lemon and oregano are the predominant flavors), rotisserie'd, not as large as a Costco chicken, but oh so good…the meat falls off the bones. The Mister picked this up one evening not too long ago.

The fresh tabouli ($4) goes well with the chicken. It's made with parsley, onion, tomato and bulghur-the dressing of olive oil and lemon is on the side when it's a "to go" order. I usually save some for the next day.

Fresh made (smoky tasting eggplant) baba ghanouge ($5.50, comes with pita) is a side I always enjoy.

J-K's has withstood the test of time and is still going strong.

J-K's Greek Cafe 7749University Avenue, La Mesa 91942 (619)464-1915 website

Oaks Bar and Grill (Carlton Oaks Golf Course, Santee)

March 16, 2014 Cathy American/New American Restaurants, What Cathy Eats!

mmm-yoso!!! is the name of this food blog. Kirk, Ed(fromYuma) and Cathy take turns writing about food and related adventures. Today, it's Cathy's turn.

Just down the street from home is the only public Pete Dye Designed golf course in our large County. Open from dawn until dusk, the Carlton Oaks Golf Course, as well as the accompanying restaurant (Oaks Bar & Grill), is a very nice, local place.

When you walk from this parking lot, down some stairs and straight through the building, you see these views. Yes, this is Santee, a small City just East of San Diego City.

The parking lot view just doesn't do it justice.

The bar at the West end of the indoor eating area is large.

There is a chalkboard listing daily specials.

There are televisions everywhere, showing various sports. That doorway leads out to the exclusive swimming pool.

Which you can peek at when walking in from the parking lot.

There is a 'regular' as well as a 'Meat' menu given to you when you sit down.

On this day, we chose from the 'regular' menu. The half spinach salad (which is made with glazed toasted pecans, a (more solid) cow's milk Feta and a choice of Granny Smith apples or strawberries) ($6) was something I wanted. The house made vinaigrette on the side is very complimentary.

I also ordered a cup of the "Firehouse chili" ($4), (because I seem to be ordering some everywhere lately). It came with onions on the side, Vermont made (really good) oyster crackers and was topped with cheese. The beef, pinto and kidney beans and fresh spices were a tasty combination. {As an aside, I was asked if I wanted the salad or chili first; a nice, professional touch.}

The Mister ordered a Club Sandwich on wheat ($10) which included a choice of tots, salad or onion rings. You can see what he chose. This sandwich was really good, with crispy lettuce and fresh tomatoes, the toasted bread was very good and the plethora of bacon, turkey and cheese was very complimentary. Those onion rings were wonderful; freshly made, crispy and a very sweet onion.

All in all, a nice lunch on a beautiful day.

Oaks Bar and Grill 9200 Inwood Drive (at Carlton Oaks Boulevard) Santee 92071 (619) 448-4242 menu

Alforon ‘revisit’ (SDSU area)

February 22, 2014 Cathy Lebanese Restaurants, What Cathy Eats!

Thank you for reading mmm-yoso!!! Our food blog shares meals enjoyed so that you too may somehow enjoy. Usually Kirk is writing, but he is otherwise occupied with researching and all that is part of researching. Ed(from Yuma) is otherwise occupied with his job as well as research. Cathy is preoccupied with so many things, but has also managed to take some photos of her meals and today is the one sharing.

Kirk, Ed(from Yuma) and I have enjoyed meals at Alforon, but Kirk is the one who has written all three of the posts mentioning this restaurant. I figure it's time for one of my recent visits to be shared.

Located on El Cajon Boulevard about two blocks West of College Avenue on the South side of the street, the inset row of building with the strange parking in front at an angle and then parallel to the sidewalk as well as on the street in front, Alforon has not changed in the past three or so years.

Nor has the bright interior, with the fancy oven that bakes goodness when you order, just behind the coved opening.

The shelf area has added condiments to the plasticware for people picking up orders to go.

The menu has stayed pretty much the same, with some price increases.

On this visit, The Mister and I ordered a small tabbouleh salad ($5.95). Freshly chopped parsley, tomato and onion mixed with olive oil and lemon and all mixed with bulghur, this is always refreshing and enough to share.

The freshly baked flatbread, topped with Zaatar (a spice mix of sumac, sesame and wild thyme) and cheese ($4.95) is something we are always happy eating. The delicate fresh slightly crisp bread topped with this mix is salty-savory and comforting.

Chicken tawook ($6.95) is something I have cravings for. You can see the abundance of shredded chicken topped with garlic paste and pickle bits and the flavors blend so well.

Here's a little cross section view; you can see how thin the fresh baked crust is.

Always fresh and always good. Comforting quality.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Alforon 5965 El Cajon Blvd San Diego 92115 (619) 269-9904 Website

Green Acre Campus Point (the ‘new’ location)

February 21, 2014 Cathy American/New American Restaurants, What Cathy Eats!

Thanks for dropping back to read mmm-yoso!!! Kirk is busy doing something very special which you will read about soon. Ed(from Yuma) is probably also doing something special. Cathy is writing about a place she thinks is special.

We all have favorite places where the food is always good and one of my personal favorites, which I've only written about twice (but have gone to for lunch three times in one week because I just like the food)is located in an office park just off of Genessee and West of the I-5. Sometime last year, another branch opened just off of Genessee and East of the I-5. (Take Genessee East and turn North at the second light, Campus Point Drive and go until it ends, up and into the parking lot). It's at the end of a street lined with many tall office buildings.

This is the view looking South from the parking lot- and that is the garden which supplies much of the food you will eat here.

When you park at the far end of the parking lot (where you will see most of the cars parked) this is your view from there-and down those stairs is your destination.

Green Acre- the Campus Pointe location (I know, the street is Campus Point, but for some reason the menus, online and on paper as well as hashtags and writings on Facebook, call the location Campus Pointe, with the silent and unnecessary 'e'. I'd like to think this is something deliberate as opposed to someone still not paying attention to details.) You may already notice much more outdoor seating than the Nautilus Campus location.

The interior is noticeably larger also. The rock wall is a beautiful idea.

It includes a very large and private (if you can call glass doors private) Conference/Meeting Room area.

As well as a pool table and (to the right in the above photo), a bar area.

There are also some trees growing inside and an upstairs meeting area as well as that living wall..

Another difference in this location is that in addition to a grab and go area, there is table service (!) When you ask for just water as your beverage, that glass bottle is brought out. (Iced tea is $2).

I met my friend, Mr. C, here for lunch in mid January. He works nearby and gets a 'tenants' discount on his purchases. Anyone from the general public can come here (and a new "Happy Hour" just started yesterday, which I must try out soon). Mr. C ordered the above Root Vegetable fries ($3) which are delicious and nicely fried and salted.

The 1/2 mushroom 'brick oven bar' ($6), which is cremeni mushrooms with garlic and truffle oil on a fresh baked flatbread is served with a fresh fresh picked salad which is lightly dressed.

Mr. C also ordered the "Crust Ocean"($10)- a cold sandwich on sourdough made with a stone crab-shrimp salad and a squeeze of lemon. Again, the fresh salad is included. I had a good bit of this sandwich and really like it.

When you walk in the far South door, there is a chalkboard listing daily specials. I brought The Mister back and liked everything I saw on this board.

So, ordering the Tuscan white bean soup (made with kale of course) was automatic (cup $3). This was *so* good, thick, hearty and deeply flavored.

The Seaburger sandwich ($9) was a mixed (tuna, cod and shrimp) ground patty which was grilled, still moist and the mix of flavors was quite nice. I didn't detect much in the way of spices, which made the seafood flavors shine. It was served on a slightly warm ciabatta bun, which was fresh and chewy. The side of quinoa salad was so very refreshing and good.

For some reason, The Mister really wanted to try the CBB&J-cashew butter, banana and fig jam on grilled brioche bread. A great medly of flavors, unexpected depth of flavors really, and the lightly grilled bread was very complimentary. The side salad came with the sandwich. ($5)

Here's what the sandwich looks like opened- a good slathering of tart-sweet fig jam, plenty of bananas and a nice amount of the cashew butter.

Since it was a chilly day, we also ordered a bowl of (grass fed beef) chili ($6). This is one of my favorite versions of chili. Thick with tomatoes and black beans, the meat flavor and spices stood out and was a perfect part of our leisurely lunch.

We walked over to the garden after eating before going up the stairs to the parking lot. Many fresh meals are growing here.

As I was getting ready to post this, I went to the Green Acre Facebook Page and see that just yesterday, Happy Hour started at this location, featuring discounts on wine and local craft beers and the menu has $4,$5 and $6 items from 3-6 pm on Thursday and Friday only (Green Acre usually closes at 3 pm daily, only serving breakfast and lunch). I will make an effort to research this, for your benefit…

Green Acre 10300 Campus Point Drive San Diego 92121 (858) 450-9907 Website Open M-W 7am-3 pm, Th-F 7 am-6 pm(3-6 pm is Happy Hour - Check Facebook for details of small bites and specials on wine and local craft beer)

Howard’s Lemon Grove Deli & Grill (Breakfast)

February 20, 2014 Cathy American/New American Restaurants, Breakfast/Brunch, Diner, What Cathy Eats!

mmm-yoso!!!, the food blog you are reading, is being posted today by Cathy. Kirk and Ed(from Yuma) are really, really busy-too busy to write.

Lately, The Mister and I have had to make time to share meals out. One day, we wanted to return to Howards, a Lemon Grove Diner, which has been here for decades. Our fondness for this place began on our first visit, after the San Diego County Fires of 2003, when we were driving around looking for a place to eat and find some normalcy in our ash filled world.

Located on Broadway (the main drag) on the West side of the street along the feeder road just a block North from the Lemon Grove Trolley stop, it's convenient. From this view of the front, you may notice the doorway is a bit stepped back- there are about eight tables outside, which are covered and in front of the door to the inside eating area.

You can see the deli/sandwich/grill menu on the wall back there. Many people call in orders to go, or walk in and wait for to go orders at lunchtime. But we were here for breakfast.

This is the breakfast menu, although there are about five items listed on the wall above the door inside.

I ordered the carne asada plate with over easy eggs ($9.25). This came with corn tortillas, rice, beans, salsa, avocado and chopped tomatoes. The eggs were perfectly cooked and the steak was plentiful and seasoned well and just plain good.

The Mister ordered the chicken fried steak plate($9.25). The coating was crunchy and not the least bit greasy and the meat was thick and juicy. This came with a from scratch country gravy, which was delicious. The Mister chose home fried potatoes as his side.

Poached eggs also came with this plate. As did rye toast.

All in all, this is a great local place that has withstood the test of time. I hope all of you have such a gem in your part of town.

Howards Lemon Grove Deli & Grill 7860 Broadway Lemon Grove, CA 91945 (619)464-2928 Mon-Sat 7-4, Sun 7-2

Junction Steakhouse and Sports Bar and Harvest Ranch Market (the market next door)

February 11, 2014 Cathy American/New American Restaurants, Burgers, Markets & Grocers, What Cathy Eats!

mmm-yoso!!! is the food blog you have somehow found or pulled from your 'top sites' or linked onto from your 'favorites'. It has posts mostly written by Kirk, who is busy today. Ed(from Yuma) also writes posts here and is also busy today. Cathy is writing even though she is busy today.

Driving in East County San Diego is always interesting. Since people tend to have a favorite place to eat that's close to home (as well as close to work), there's always someplace interesting everywhere. You may or may not notice the cowboy hat outline on the signage above the resturant door at Junction, but

perhaps will at least know it's in the same parking lot as Harvest Ranch Market, which I wrote a bit about almost four years ago.

If you read into this 2011 article about a popular East County restaurant's new ownership ( I haven't posted on Charcoal House, which shares the same parking lot as La Casa Blanca), you'll see that the owner of it also owns Junction, as well as the two Harvest Ranch Markets and Jonathon's Market in La Jolla. Of course this close proximity of the restaurant to this higher-end grocery store means you know where the restaurant's inventory is obtained.

Walking up to the door, you'll notice quite a few large posters along the walls between Junction and Harvest Ranch Market.

Walking in the door, you'll notice the extensive wine selection and this double fish tank.

This lunch hour, I ordered the soup/salad combo ($7.95). This (above) is the House Salad – it has mixed greens, strawberries, mandarin oranges, pecans, Feta cheese and is served with a strawberry vinaigrette.

Instead of soup, I ordered chili (because I seem to be doing that lately) and this was great. Because in addition to being supplied by a very nice market, Junction also has "Prime Rib Tuesday" as well as "Steak Lovers Saturday" and, well, sometimes there are leftover pieces of those meats…

which don't go to waste and are diced and part of this wonderful chili.

The Mister ordered a 1/2 lb cheeseburger (which on the menu is $9.45). He was asked how he wanted it cooked and what kind of cheese(He chose cheddar). He was also given the choice of fries or house made chips…

He had asked for it to be cooked medium rare, and it was cooked medium rare. Served on a toasted fresh bun.

A discount of $4.46 was applied to the bill, because it was lunchtime and during the week. Well worth it here.

Junction Steakhouse and Sports Bar 777 Jamacha Road El Cajon, 92019 (619) 588-5467 Website

After our meal, we walked down the way to check out Harvest Ranch Market.

As always, the grab and go, sandwich and bakery areas, deli, meats, fruits and vegetables as well as the aisles were neatly arranged with exquisite offerings. We purchased quite a few items for our evening dinner.

Harvest Ranch Market 759 Jamacha Road El Cajon 92019 (619)442-0355Website

Pangea Bakery Café-revisit (more than just a bakery!)

February 6, 2014 Cathy Bakery, Stuff, What Cathy Eats!

Pangea has closed

mmm-yoso!!! is the name of the blog. It's about food. Writers here are usually Kirk, Ed(from Yuma) and Cathy. Today, it's Cathy's post.

I started writing this post in November. Then things happened and even though The Mister and I have been to Pangea Bakery Cafe regularly, there have been some 'technical difficulties' regarding phones, cameras, computers, hinges and various other mechanical things and the final photos are recent. You'll have to take my word for it that there have been visits in the interim.

The weekend before Thanksgiving. Here we were. And what is that man doing on the front patio? With a grill next to him no less!

Notice the poster under the cash register…grilled items.

Notice signage in the store…

This was the menu in November. It has changed, but let me show you what we enjoyed that day.

The nice Young Man cooking held open the foil for moment as I snapped a photo. You'll see what this was…skewerS-that's a clue.

There were other items available- that's a Chinese sausage.

Condiments used for the various grilled items.

Yes! Grilled whole squid: the same as was being served at the First San Diego Night Market until it sold out within the first few hours…

This was HUGE (it cost $8) and tender, brushed lightly with a sweet teriyaki-like sauce before and while grilling. We took a good portion home and used it for dinner.

Of course we also bought some baked goods…

Here it was, leftover squid with the ham and cheese bread and squash. Ah, the balanced diet of the Holiday Season…

Here are some bakery items we've purchased- that's a ham and cheese baked in a bread and a cream filled almond pastry.

Here's the most recent menu…ever evolving and probably more refined(although on some of these chilly days, I'd like to have some soup).

The Thai peanut and lime chicken plate ($3.99 that day, regular $6.99 – and worth it at that price) is quite large. Fresh veggies stir fried with some of the rice, the bright flavors along with some crisped rice and cucumber and pickled onion… and the sauce had a nice kick…could taste coconut milk in the sauce-it was almost a curry…lemongrass more than lime flavors and a touch of heat that would creep up on you. This was very good.

We also shared the appetizer popcorn chicken ($3.99) which is served with the pretty cup of sriracha/teriyaki topped with black sesame seeds. Fresh, crispy and moist good size chicken pieces.

You can see this bowl was quite large and lined with baby lettuce, which could have absorbed any grease…but there wasn't any and so a mini salad was enjoyed at the end of this meal.

We've also enjoyed some day old pastries (half off; there's a small red mark on the packaging) and good cup of coffee for easy breakfasts here. That's the raisin walnut bread and a cherry filling in a soft Danish pastry.

It's going to be Valentine's Day soon!

Drop in and see what the menu will be on your visit…

Pangea Bakery Cafe 4689 Convoy Street, Suite 100 San Diego 92111 (858)560-0688 website

Whole Foods- Made to Order Poke Bowl

January 30, 2014 Cathy Markets & Grocers, What Cathy Eats!

mmm-yoso!!!, the food blog, is just that-a documentation of good, bad and ugly experiences, all eventually centering in on the central subject of food. Cathy is continuing this week of mediocrity with one of her recent experiences while Kirk and Ed(from Yuma) are out and about seeking something to write about. This is a short post.

The closest Whole Foods Market is 11 miles one way from home. The Mister and I don't shop there regularly, but stop in when we are in the area and do enjoy almost everything purchased there, because we buy things we can't find elsewhere and it's an interesting place.

We especially enjoy meals at the Whole Foods in store restaurants, usually before we go shopping. (I have a few more posts about those).

One day a few weeks ago, the signage in the seafood section of the store caught my eye. "Made -To-Order Poke Bowl $7.99" salmon or tuna. I had to.

Since the sliced fish was $20/lb, I knew the portion I'd be getting would be small. No problem- a snack for when we got home. You'll notice the display fish is plain/not in a marinade…

I placed my order and the nice lady working proceeded to fill a bowl with rice from a rice cooker behind the counter. She then scooped out three scoops of the tuna (a good portion), squeezed out a marinade on top of the tuna and rice and sprinkled it all with black sesame seeds, sealed and labeled the bowl and handed it to me.

It was quite heavy (and warm; fresh rice)…since the marinade/sauce had just been placed, we decided to wait until we got home to share this bowl as a snack.

Well. The poke flavorings/marinade never really stuck to the fish and it dripped straight to the rice, so the rice was seasoned with the sweet/tangy/sesame oil flavors and good on its own. The fish didn't pick up much of any flavors at all. It was fresh and good (and pretty plentiful), but the next time we were shopping, I just bought a handful size amount of the sliced fish, brought it home and made my favorite recipe. Lesson learned.

I hope your week has been better than mediocre.

Corner Sandwich & Cafe (Mira Mesa)

January 23, 2014 Cathy Breakfast/Brunch, Vietnamese Restaurants, What Cathy Eats!

Corner Sandwich & cafe has closed.

mmm-yoso!!! strives to show the various styles, ethnicities, preparation and just food consumed by Kirk, Ed(from Yuma) and Cathy, as well as a few other contributors to this food blog. Today, Cathy is showing and sharing another food adventure.

Driving through Mira Mesa one early morning, on the East end of the parking lot anchored by Seafood City, there is a McDonald's as well as this small storefront, which was open and buzzing before 9 a.m..

It has apparently been open for a few years and has a steady clientele, though an internet search shows only one blog post, ours, during a brief visit on a day of banh mi comparisons. ( The 2011 visit wasn't favorable)(New management began in 2012).

Not only will you notice the small-ish menu boards behind the cash register and along the adjacent wall (along with California Lottery Keno screens and a quite large Lotto Scratcher vending machine) but there is also a television (showing soccer games) as well as indoor and outdoor seating.

This additional set of menu addons, dated 2012, are still in effect.

Glasses filled halfway with hot tea were brought out to The Mister and I and the nice lady working brought a paper menu to the table. Everything was $5. Since I had no idea of the sizes of items, I asked for just one that we could share, pointing at the menu. She asked if we wanted a hot coffee or other beverage, but the tea was quite nice.

This was one of the best breakfast banh mi sandwiches I have ever had! The softly cooked, folded egg and warm pate-like meat, topped with fresh pickled radish, carrot, cucumber slices and cilantro, along with a few jalapeno slices, all on very fresh, soft warm and crunchy crusted bread was a perfect size and had wonderfully perfect, fresh flavors.

You can see some of the tea-filled glasses in this photo, along with some of the many people here, most of whom were sitting outside…

So glad we stopped here. Really a pretty unknown and wonderful place.

Corner Sandwich and Cafe 9005 Mira Mesa Blvd San Diego 92126 (858) 695-9566

Tropifruit (Fruiteria and sandwiches) (El Cajon)

January 16, 2014 Cathy Breakfast/Brunch, Fruiterias, Mexican Restaurants, Salads, Sandwiches, What Cathy Eats!

mmm-yoso!!! is the food blog, with writings about random foods consumed at random places sometimes surrounding random events. No such events to speak of in this post, though, sorry. (Cathy is writing.)

Well here we are. A new year. Some of you may have made resolutions to 'eat healthier' or maybe to 'try new things'. Those aren't resolutions to me, since I try to do those already (I also don't use drive thrus, try to only purchase organic milk, make an effort to clean for 15 minutes straight once a day, spend 15 minutes a week rearranging one drawer or shelf…different, attainable goals). So to maybe give you an idea of 'healthy' and 'new', perhaps this post will be an impetus.

Just on the other (West) side of Johnson Avenue from Parkway Plaza Mall is a small strip mall with a tire store, bank and Burger King. There's a Taco shop, a Thai Restaurant some other businesses and Tropifruit.

It's a fruiteria, one of many in San Diego, has been in this East County location for years and was recently re-decorated. We are so lucky to live here, with fresh fruits and vegetables available all year and I really try to buy local and enjoy what we have. (Here are two posts I've written about other currently open fruiterias. This is a link to one that is closed, but just to give you an idea.)

The menu has stayed the same since the remodel; breakfasts, sandwiches, smoothies, juices, waters, ices (raspados), fruits and salads. All fresh and in season, all made to order.

Here is a meal The Mister and I shared. (The photo shows an odd perspective, but that torta roll/bolillo really is HUGE.)

This is a small pico de gallo($5.50)- bite size cut up fruits and vegetables, topped with a squeeze of lime and spicy salt. The fruits included grapes, mango, watermelon and papaya; vegetables were jicama and cucumber. Spicy salt is Tajin (or a similar item), just chiles, lime and salt. This is always refreshing.This was the "Special Torta" ($6.50) which included both pork loin (lomo) and ham as well as lettuce, tomatoes, avocadoes and jalapeño strips on a freshly toasted bolillo roll.

A recent breakfast we enjoyed included mollettes ($5.99), a toasted wheat bolillo roll topped with refried beans and melted cows milk cheese (I think this was Monterey Jack or white cheddar; it was very creamy). This is very much a 'comfort food' item for me…creamy, warm, toasty crunch. The accompanying (quite large) side of fresh chopped tomatoes, onions and jalapeño goes just perfectly.

We also shared a small fruit salad ($5.75) Apples, bananas, grapes, strawberries, pineapple topped with cottage cheese (or plain yogurt), sunflower seeds, raisins and granola accompanied with a side of honey is a good, sweet treat any time of day.

Tropifruit 100% Natural Juice Bar 762 N. Johnson Avenue Suite 103 El Cajon 92020 (619)588-0303 M-F 7 am-8pm; Sat 8am-8pm, Sun 10am-6pm