Cathy – Page 78

The 2011 San Diego County Fair-Part 3: Sensible Fair Food

May 27, 2012 Cathy Festivals & Events, What Cathy Eats!, yoso-silly

Yes, this is mmm-yoso!!! the blog about food which is usually written by one of three people (and occasionally by some other friends). Kirk is out somewhere in the world enjoying a vacation, ed (from Yuma) is also out enjoying this three day weekend and Cathy is catching up-on a post she thought about writing last July.

Hi. The title of this post is *not* a typo. There are two posts written about the 2011 San Diego County Fair and a third post to tie up loose ends was intended to be written…and, well, it never seemed to be the right time. This long weekend, when people are home celebrating Memorial Day and maybe thinking about the 2012 San Diego County Fair seems to be the right time to post. I wrote this because people asked me what I really eat when I go to the Fair.

Now, I have shown the decadent offerings at the Fair…

The truth is, The Mister and I try maybe one of the newer, decadent offerings, but don't make a day of eating all that stuff. For one, it would be expensive and second, I just don't deliberately stuff myself at any meal.

There are smarter choices offered and you can still eat different foods than your usual snacks while enjoying the exhibits on the Fairgrounds. The exhibits and contests are the "heart" of the Fair- why the Fair exists.

Albertsons, one of the Sponsors of the Fair, has had this booth for several years now:

The Albertson's Rejuvenation Station sells a variety of salads, fruits, nuts and more or less 'healthy' beverages.

There are also many booths with grilled food available-

…sometimes next to or within booths offering fried choices…You have to read the smaller print on some of the booths-or just look around:

There are at least ten vendors selling grilled turkey legs at the Fair, and at least another ten selling grilled corn.

Now, what do The Mister and I eat when we go to the County Fair? Well, we do try at least one of the "new" offerings each year, but when it is time for a meal,

The falafel burger and/or the artichoke sandwich from Roxy's is one purchase we make. It's great. Very large, on a wheat bun, topped with fresh, crisp vegetables and…I am not sure what makes it different, but it is. I've never been disappointed with either sandwich.

Also every year, we *must* stop here.

I can't make or buy a fresh cream puff like this- the shells are baked daily in the trailer. When you order, then the shells are filled with fresh whipped cream. Heaven.

One last view of the 2011 Fair- the view from the West.

The 2012 San Diego County Fair has had some exhibits judged and it's being set up…that's another post. It opens June 8. This is a link to the new foods that will be available at the 2012 San Diego County Fair.

I hope everyone is enjoying this weekend and the reason we celebrate Memorial Day. Thank you to those who Serve and Served.

Making “Ricotta” at home; Saturday snacking

May 26, 2012 Cathy Cooking, Recipes, What Cathy Eats!

Welcome back to mmm-yoso!!! It's a long weekend and Kirk is vacationing somewhere in the world, ed (from Yuma) is staycationing (in Yuma) and Cathy is staying at home and blogging today.

Hi. Thought I'd do a quick post about one of my latest food obsessions, fresh 'Ricotta' I make at home. Ricotta means "cooked again" and the name refers to the production process used by the professionals. Ricotta is technically not a cheese, because it is made by coagulating milk proteins, using the whey remaining from other cheese making; re-cooking and not using caseins, which define cheese.

My version is quicker and I don't use leftover whey, since cheesemaking at home would have to happen. I enjoy the taste as well as the texture-like thick sour cream, with a soft, grainy component.

Ricotta is used in many Italian dessert recipes as well as lasagna. This version does taste slightly, pleasantly sweet, in the sort of way cream is sweet. This recipe is pretty versatile and you can eat it with everything…like grains, eggs, olive oil, salad, vegetables, pasta, bread, a spoon…

The ingredients to make about a pound/cup and a half of Ricotta. 3 C whole milk, 1 C heavy cream, 1/2 tsp salt. I use sea salt because it doesn't taste as 'salty' to me. Also, 3 Tbs of fresh squeezed lemon juice will be needed, later.

Put those first three ingredients into a pan (do not use an aluminum or copper pan) and, if you have one, a candy thermometer can be clipped onto the pan also. Stir (with a wooden spoon) while heating. You can see the milk forming bubbles and coating the wooden spoon. At 190º, the mix will begin to boil and basically boil over. As soon as you see the mound of bubbles forming, it *IS* 190º and you need to move the pan immediately to a 'cool' burner so the bottom stops heating. Let the contents of the pan settle down a bit (one or two minutes). Now it will be time to add the 3 Tablespoons of lemon juice.

Here is a photo of lemons on a dwarf tree in my yard. They are not ready to pick yet. I didn't take a picture of the lemon or juice used for this batch of Ricotta.

As soon as you add three Tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, the hot milk starts to curdle. Stir a few (maybe three) times and let it continue to curdle and cool down.

After it cools down more (but is still warm, ten-15 minutes) and you can see more curds form, you can pour the mix through a cheesecloth lined strainer over a bowl. The creamy stuff in the cheesecloth is curds, the liquid that falls through is whey…curds and whey…Little Miss Muffet…it's coming full circle! Let this strain at least an hour.

You can place this into another container for serving on the table, if you have guests or for some reason would not finish the approximately one cup of creamy, delightful goodness.

Home made "Ricotta"

3C whole milk

1C heavy cream

1/2 tsp sea salt

3 Tbs fresh lemon juice

Mix first three ingredients in a non-reactive (not copper or aluminum) pan with a wooden spoon. Heat on medium , stirring constantly, until the contents reach 190º(the milk begins to boil). IMMEDIATELY move pan. Let cool for about one-two minutes, then add the fresh squeezed lemon juice. Stir gently, just to get curd formation. Leave pan alone for 15 minutes, until most curd formation has occurred. Strain through a cheescloth lined strainer into a bowl for at least one hour. This can be packed into an airtight container and refrigerated overnight. I don't know if it stays fresh for more than two days, since it is gone by then.

Sultan- a lunch or two

May 23, 2012 Cathy Turkish Food, What Cathy Eats!

Yes, this is mmm-yoso!!!, the blog o' food. Today, Cathy is playing the part usually played by Kirk, who is having a blissful time elsewhere. ed (from Yuma) is blissfully enjoying his downtime in Yuma.

Hi. Kirk usually posts about dinners at Sultan. (I've found at least five posts where he has mentioned meals there and that link is to the most recent meal.) As you have read, He and His Missus are elsewhere and since The Mister and I also eat here and I have photos of some light/lunch meals, here's another post.

I took this photo early one morning, as we were driving to Kaelin's Market for goodies. You'll never actually see the front parking places empty when the mall is open.

I don't think Kirk has posted a photo of the open kitchen. I snapped this when I had the chance. That photo montage above the window looks like it's from Kirk's posts about his Turkish vacation. Sultan is the only True Turkish Restaurant in San Diego County.

We always order a salad when we stop here. This is Koylu Salatasi salad (small, $4). Cucumber, tomato and parsley. The dressing is light : oil, vinegar and spices. This is refreshingly fresh.

We almost always also order Mercimek- ($3) made with red lentils, flour, butter and spices. This vegetarian soup is so darn good- deeply rich flavored. You would not think it is vegetarian.

This is the Veggie combo platter ($10). A bit of everything: Start from 11:00-Baba Ganouj (smoky), Hummus(garlicy and lemony), Patlican Salatasi(eggplant, onion, sweet pepper, tomato and parsley),Taze Fasulye (green beans, onions, carrots, sweet pepper and tomato), Tabuli (bulgur, parsley,tomato, onion, cucumber in a lemon-olive oil dressing), Haydari(yogurt, cucumber, dill and mint) and in the center to enjoy with everything if we didn't want to use bread, a roasted eggplant.

Falafel ($7). Made with fresh garbanzos, tomato, hot pepper, onion and served with the hummus/ baba ganouj/haydari from above. A very good version.

On another lunchtime visit…

As I mentioned, we almost always order the Mercimak ($3). It's that good.

This time, we chose the Tabuli salad (small, $4). It's also that good. Just enough bulgur wheat and always perfectly dressed.

Lahmacun ($3) The house made bread topped with a mix of ground beef, tomato, sweet pepper, tomato, parsley and spices. This is quite large, thin and very deeply flavored. The lemon, pickled onions, peppers and pickles are nice to add on, but tasting this as it hits the table, it's perfect.

Then there is this. From the appetizer menu. Simple. Peynirli Borek ($3) Feta, onion and spinach. Made fresh, on crispy still warm filo. This is a perfect food: taste, textures…

We always get tea at the end of every meal, even this meal of small appetizers.

Sultan Kebab and Baklava 131 Jamacha Road (At East Main and North Second), El Cajon 92019 Website (619)440-1901 Open 7 days 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

North East San Diego County Road Trip: Amerient-Country Cooking & Oriental Cuisine (Ramona) and a drive to Julian

May 21, 2012 Cathy American/New American Restaurants, Breakfast/Brunch, Chinese Restaurants, Road Trip, What Cathy Eats!

You are reading the blog named mmm-yoso!!! It’s about food. Not just a description of what, but also the where, sometimes the why and, occasionally how and who. Kirk usually takes care of those pronouns and sometimes ed(from Yuma) writes in a way outlining his posts using the interrogatives. Today, Cathy is using her grammar skills to share a day.

Hi. Last week, on a particularly foggy weekday morning, The Mister and I decided we’d like to take a drive North, to Julian. Originally we wanted to try Jeremy’s on The Hill, which ed (from Yuma) had posted about earlier this year, but on checking, realized it was not open for breakfast. However, figuring that people everywhere have to eat, we got in the car started the drive up Highway 67 and while on the lovely main street through Ramona, (cleverly named Main Street, just before it turns into Highway 78), I spotted this building, signage and decided this was where we should stop.

Perhaps you can’t read the signage on the building. I had heard of Amerient years ago but never had even noticed it when passing through town on my way to and from other errands.

We were greeted, seated and handed the leather bound combination menu. I noticed a lady in the corner booth rolling egg rolls and asked if I could order from the “oriental” part of the menu, even though it was barely 9 a.m., and was told that I could. (While we were there, several other people ordered other-than ‘country cooking’ items).

The wall decor and table condiments reflect both cuisines offered here.

The Mister decided on the Daily Special ($5.99, $2 off the regular menu price). On this day, it was Country Fried steak, which came with two eggs (poached), home fries (thin sliced and crispy fried)…

Here is a cross section view of the tender, lightly breaded, perfectly fried steak which was topped with a *very* nice, slightly peppery sausage gravy.

The Special also came with two GIANT pancakes, butter and heated maple syrup. On the right in the above photo, you can see a partial view basket of teas to select from($1.95)

My meal came with two fresh made egg rolls.

These were more meat than filler/no cabbage and really good; properly fried and not greasy. Actually, they were more like a good lumpia,now that I think about it. The neon red sweet-tart dipping sauce with a dot of hot mustard is something I rarely see or get to taste and it was a nice memory jog to my taste buds.

Here is a cross section of my order-Vegetable Egg Foo Young ($7.25). I crave mushrooms and was silly happy to get this giant platter of goodness, with the fresh, al dente cooked mushrooms, carrots, peas, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots and -that patty- a fluffy, mostly cabbage, onion and egg delight. Actually a perfect breakfast (the gravy was not salty). Every restaurant makes egg foo young differently and this version was particularly memorable.

We plan to return, because the Saturday evening special is Ma La chicken. Spicy!

Amerient Country Cooking and Oriental Cuisine 668 Main Street, Ramona, CA 92065 (760)789-6855 website

We got in the car and continued on through the fog on the winding two lane road to Julian and were able to park on the main street, again having the clever name of Main Street. I so enjoy not having to think much. Parking on Main Street is something you can’t do during apple-picking time in Autumn. It was kind of strange to see the town, sidewalks and parking places in an uncrowded state. We walked and checked out every menu and determined that the price point for a meal started at $8, not including beverage. It’s also pretty consistent that a slice of pie with ice cream will cost $5. None of the businesses offer coupons in the local free paper nor is trying to underpricce a neighboring restaurant.

We drove just West, (Main Street turns into Farmer Road) to the cemetery, and walked around.

It was foggy and misty and peaceful.

We started to drive South, and passed Jeremy’s,which is about three miles from the center of Julian, then stopped four miles later, in the town of Santa Ysabel. Usually we stop at Dudley’s Bakery, but it’s only open Thursday-Sunday. There is a sign in the window that Dudley’s items are sold in the small IGA market next door, but since the bread would not be baked-that-day-fresh, we walked across the parking lot to the Julian Pie Company.

where a cute door handle greets you…

Choices of fresh pie slices, cookies, donuts, carmel apples and a freezer of take and bake pies and no crowds or waiting made the choice overwhelming.

So, we got one apple cider donut (75¢) and a coffee ($1.50) and a pie to go. The apple cider donut is unique in flavor…made with apple cider instead of water, it has a nice, fresh apple flavor and the light coating of cinnamon sugar was complimentary and not overwhelming. A good snack.

The pie?

The small size chicken pie. Made with the crust used for all the fruit pies. A good sized (one pound) meal for two. Baking fresh at home was perfect a few days later. The filling is almost all chicken, along with vegetables and the sauce.

San Diego County is large and every area/city/road has something interesting to do and places to eat. I hope everyone can have an adventure someday soon.

SO…yesterday, ed (from Yuma) wrote about his vacation and today I wrote about my “staycation”…whose turn is it now?

Julian Pie Company 21976 Highway 79 Santa Ysabel, CA 92070 (760)765-2400 website

California’s Taco Shop (National City) Tostilocos!

May 19, 2012 Cathy Taco Shops, What Cathy Eats!

You have somehow found your way to mmm-yoso!!!, the food blog. Kirk and ed (from Yuma) don’t have a post for today, but Cathy does.

Hi. Since January, friends have been casually telling me about where they like to eat and what I should try if I go there. Usually these places are either close to where they live or close to where they work and a number of those places are taco shops. I seem to have accumulated a plethora of Taco Shop posts, all of which have really good food. Here is one.

Located in a nondescript strip mall on Highland Avenue in National City, the signage for California’s Taco Shop should catch your eye.

The interior is neat and clean and has seven tables. The menu is a bit more than standard (there is a clearer photo coming up). After we ordered, I was more interested in the pinball machine over there to the right.

Yes, it’s a World Cup (Copa Mundial) machine, made in Spain and very fun to play.

There are even some cool prizes you can win if you get a high score. We played two games while our order was being prepared.

Two Del Mar enchiladas ($4.34) from the a la carte part of the menu. These were excellent. You can see one of the very large fresh shrimp on the top right. The green sauce is exceptional.

The plain quesedilla ($2.40) is GIGANTIC and filled with a lot of cheese. The house made hot sauce is unusually good.

Here is a bit of a better photo of the menu. The description on the sign of ingredients for Tostilocos is pretty accurate, except on this day there was no jicama in the mix.

Tostilocos has been a Tijuana street food for about about ten years now. Sometimes called a fruit-nut-nacho-lard salad, Tostilocos is a meal you can eat with a fork while walking, since it is self contained. Chips, garnished and sauced…loco. Open a bag of some sort of ‘base’ (you can see the choices of Churritos®, Ruffles®, Takis® and Dulces(an extruded masa snack in the shape of a wheel with spokes) in addition to the ‘traditional’ unlisted Tostitos®.

By ‘traditional’, I mean salsa verde Tostitos®, the flavor sold only in Mexico, not the USA. The bag is cut open and the ingredients added.

From the sign above- Cueritos are pickled pork skin (usually sold in kilo size jars; there is no fat and the flavor has a bit of vinegar, the consistency is soft chewy, like gummy candies-it’s those strips of white that look like onion on the left side of the bag in photo below)-Pepino is a fruit that is a cross between cucumber and melon -Chacahuate are peanuts coated in a soy powder (you can buy them at Mexican markets) -chaca-chaca is tamarind candy pieces –Chamoy is a liquid condiment-it is salty, sweet, sour and spiced with chiles and also chile and lime juice are added to the ingredient mix.

The first bite might be startling- all the flavors hit all of your taste buds at once. Then the textures of crunchy chips, gummy cueritos, soft tamarind candy, pepino/cucumber soft crunch and peanuts are amazing and awakening. The second and further bites are pleasant and cause cravings for the unusal combination of flavors. It’s an amazing snack-and really, a meal. I do like the version here.

If you look at the sign next to the Tostilocos description- it indicates that Sinaloa Style pozole, sopes, tacos and tostadas are only available after 6 pm Friday to Sunday. That’s another post. This is a great taco shop that is far from common.

California’s Taco Shop 51 N. Highland Avenue National City 91950 (619)263-3000

25 Forty Bistro and Bakehouse (Old Town)-revisit for lunch

May 17, 2012 Cathy Bakery, Buffets, Desserts, European Restaurants, Los Angeles County, What Cathy Eats!

25Forty has closed. It will be missed

Well, you've found mmm-yoso!!! and we'd like to welcome you to our blog about food. Kirk usually blogs here and sometimes so does ed(from Yuma). Cathy usually chimes in about meals she has enjoyed when the guys are busy. Today, it's Cathy.

Hello again. I posted about a few lunches at 25Forty Bistro last year. 25Forty has changed since then; it's still open for Brunch and dinner on weekends, closed on Mondays and now is open for lunch on Thursday and Friday only. As part of that lunch offering, one of the menu choices is an all you can eat buffet at an affordable price of $8.

A few weeks ago, The Mister and I had some time and drove to Old Town for lunch here. The seating outside is the same, as are most of the tables inside, but along the back wall is a small buffet area.

We started lunch with iced tea and water. The water, as always, is brought out in glasses and with a large chilled bottle for refills at will. The iced tea is a good, strong brew.

The Mister ordered the All You can Eat buffet. As it was crowded, I did not want to get up to take a photo of the buffet area, but it is not large and on the tables looking like a nice buffet you'd have at a friend's home over the Holidays. This is a bit of everything available: cheeses, olives, pasta salad, salad with chicken, sliced ham, plain salad ) I do like the dressing here), rigatoni with meat sauce (very nice), roast pork (excellent) and mashed potatoes (perfect). The plate is very large and The Mister's second trip to the buffet area only brought back a bit more cheese and walnuts, which he said was his dessert…

I chose the $10 lunch combination, which includes a beverage, a baked dessert and either a salad or sandwich. As in my other post, I chose the steak salad, which I crave. The meat is so tender and perfectly seasoned and placed on top of balsamic dressed mixed greens. The heirloom tomato had wonderful flavor.

The selection of desserts was slightly overwhelming. I walked over to the counter and saw a selection of cupcakes as well as pastries. I noticed that people can order a coffee beverage to go (there were 'to go' cups stacked next to the espresso machine) as well as pastries and apparently lots of people do so. After a bit of time, I chose this Nutella® filled pastry.

As you can see, the pastry was fresh and flaky and filled with the chocolate-hazelnut spread. We shared this. It was a delightful end to this pleasant lunch. We walked around Old Town and "played tourist" before returning to the car. San Diego is a very nice place where we are fortunate to live.

25Forty Bistro and Bakery 2540 Congress Street San Diego 92110 (619)294-2540 Closed Monday. Website

Tea Station-revisit

May 16, 2012 Cathy Caffeine Fix, What Cathy Eats!

Welcome (back) to mmm-yoso!!! the food blog. Right now, Kirk is relaxing. As is ed(from Yuma). Cathy is blogging in a relaxed fashion.

Hello again. I blogged about Tea Station last year and it's a semi-regular stop for The Mister and I when we want to enjoy a relaxing talk along with a snack or light lunch. Wifi is available and some people are on computers, but for the most part, people are playing board games, card games or just talking and interacting at one of the numerous indoor and outdoor tables.

Tea Station is located in the mall across the street from 99Ranch Market.

This visit, we started out with Tea Eggs ($2.75) which are pretty simple to make at home, but I enjoy trying the the versions made by 'professionals'. Eggs are hard boiled then slightly cracked and placed back into the water which has had tea, soy and spices (like anise, cinnamon, black pepper or just five spice) placed and then simmered for about 20 minutes and then the eggs and tea mixture is placed in the refrigerator to steep for a day or so.

When the egg is finally peeled before eating, the tea mixture has seeped into the cracks,leaving a beautiful marble pattern. The whites of the egg usually take on the salty, savory flavor of the spices and the tea flavor seems to hit the yolk, or somehow enhances its flavor. Anyhow, I suppose I can do a post about making these at home. I enjoy the version here because the tea used is a fermented green, pu-erh tea, which I like. It looks like it is a black tea, but that's the color after fermenting. At home I use less expensive teas to make the tea eggs..and sometimes I don't even use tea- just spices and soy…I digress. I like the tea eggs here.

As on the last visit I blogged, we ordered the squid balls ($5.25). We did so again. These are a favorite…Squid somehow formed in a way that it doesn't fall apart and is solid. The lightly fried balls are rolled in a spicy salt blend (I think the green is seaweed). They are not greasy and don't have any breading. It's different and a really tasty snack.

The fried tofu ($5.25) is also a favorite of ours. Cubed soft tofu very lightly tossed in flour, fried and rolled in the same spicy salt mix. It's served with a thick teriyaki dipping sauce…which also compliments the squid.

Once again, we ordered a pot of the rose tea ($6.50), which was expertly steeped and wonderfully flavored with a marvelous rose aroma.

There are so many beverages you can order here, hot and cold, with or without milk, boba, combinations of flavors….and a good pot of tea is what they do and they do it so well.

I hope everyone had a nice day. Do take the time to sit and talk.

Tea Station 7315 Clairmont Mesa Boulevard San Diego 92111 (858) 268-8198 Website

Rocky Port Grill and Fish Market- El Cajon- a revisit

May 15, 2012 Cathy Mexican Restaurants, Seafood, What Cathy Eats!

Welcome to mmm-yoso!!! The part usually played by Kirk or ed(from Yuma) will be played by Cathy for the next bit of time.

Hi. It seems that I disappeared for most of this year, but it's time to share some meals I've been saving up in the cameraphone. I posted about Rocky Port earlier this year, when I was beginning my whole-fish as a meal binge and it has become a regular stop even if we don't order a whole fish. The seafood here is always fresh, tasty, and tender.

On Tuesdays, all tacos are $1 off, so the fish tacos are $1.50 all day…(yes, it does open at 10 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m. week days, and 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday)

Always, when you sit down, corn chips (the corn tortillas here are really good -layered- and make flaky corn chips), really good fresh salsa, cut limes and a bit of fresh-fresh fish ceviche is brought to the table.

On this visit, I ordered the Campechana Cocktail ($13.50). Shrimp, squid, scallops, octopus, clams and oyster, cooked in the lime and tomato juice, with cucumber and avocado mixed in. Catsup, crackers and selection of hot sauces add to the flavors of this tasty, fresh, tender and delightful large bowl of a meal. I crave it.

You can see two spoons with the cocktail. The Mister and I shared it, as well as sharing two fish tacos and two Gobernador tacos.

The Gobernador taco, a tortilla first 'lined' with melted cheese is then filled with a buttery saute of shrimp, bell pepper, onion and tomato…always a craving and at the regular price of $3.50, worth it…even a better deal on Tuesdays…The fish taco is quite largeand, again, fresh and fried properly in a light batter.

If the windows on the building somehow look familiar to you…remember Pizza Hut? …I hope everyone is having a good week.

Rocky Port Grill and Seafood Market 1771 N. Second Street El Cajon 92021 (619) 593-0637 Website

Los Pueblos Regional Cuisines of Mexico

March 3, 2012 Cathy Mexican Restaurants, What Cathy Eats!

Los Pueblos has closed. This fact makes me sad.

Welcome back to mmm-yoso. Cathy is writing today. Kirk and ed(from Yuma) are staring at the sky.

A funny thing happened a few days ago. Kirk started his post about Los Pueblos and so did I. We both had been going here, liking the food and wanted to share our meals with you. So, here now is my take on this really nice restaurant. (Los Pueblos is not a taco shop, but does serve tacos and burritos; it is a Mexican Food Restaurant that cooks fresh, local and sustainable with attention to the nuances of regional flavors, in a rustic manner . The food is prepared in a healthy way and tastes great.)

No lighted signage is up, yet.

There are photo slide shows of various regions of Mexico playing on the television and a nice musical accompaniment in the background.

The tortilla soup (large, $5.50) is made with a seasoned tomato broth and topped with Panela cheese. It's topped with avocado and Ancho chile. Tortilla strips are in the soup. Great -really great- flavor to this soup. It is filling and a very good vegetarian version.

The Yucatan Salad ($9). Pollo Asado Pibil (grilled chicken marinated in achiote, bitter orange and other spices). The salad has oranges, pineapple, red pepper, cilantro, onions and avocado. No dumbed down flavors here. Achiote is annatto, which has a peppery and nutmeg-y flavor to me and the bitter orange and other spices really compliment the chicken, which is very moist/not dry. This salad is quite large.

The chile relleno plate($6.99) was a chalkboard special the day we were here. It was served with the green rice (made with tomatillo, cilantro, California chile and other herbs and vegetables sauteed with the rice). Very nice flavor. The Black beans are made in a clay pot (a la olla) and vegetarian. Really good beans, lumpy and very flavorful. The relleno was filled with a very fresh Panela cheese. I want this again.

When we were almost finished and reading the menu, we noticed Cafe a la olla- coffee in a clay pot ($2.50) It's coffee made with cinnamon, clove, orange peel and piloncillo (unrefined/brown sugar; you may have seen small cone shaped brown sugar in the Produce section of your local grocery store; that's piloncillo). This was a perfect dessert. You can see it's a nicely gritty coffee, based on the sediment left on the sides of this cup…it is very good.

On another visit, we noticed $5 lunch specials. All come with fresh made chips. Again, deep corn flavor.

I ordered the two taco plate with chile poblano rajas (Poblano chile strips sauteed with onion, garlic and corn and finished with cream and cheese) as my lunch special. It came with the rice as well as the chips (for $1 more, you can order one of the house made aqua frescas; ask for a sample to decide- all the aguas are made from scratch, without corn syrup or preservatives.)

Here is what the rajas looks like. It is a good vegetarian sauce (and you can order it as a side for $3)

Here is the other taco. It didn't have tomato in it but was just as tasty. This is an example of the unevenness of food presentation Kirk mentioned in his post, but I am not complaining; I really like this kind of homemade assymetry.

The Mister ordered the carne asada plate ($11) with a side of mole Poblano ($3) and the mole coated the carne. This carne asada is marinated in Chipolte and is not at all like carne asada you can get from any taco shop around here. It is deep and smokey flavored, spicy – plays no games. The Mister wanted to try the mole which is made with over 30 ingredients and it was *good*…I could taste the chocolate, plantains, nuts and chile as well as the medley of spices. I could eat it by the spoonful without any meat…

The Cafe de la olla is now our 'regular' dessert here. We poured some into a smaller cup and added the coffee mate, which changed the flavor to make it creamier…almost a fancy ice cream flavor.

There are Hurraches (chewy soft corn masa shaped like a sandal with various toppings), Quesadillas "sincronizada"(two thick flour tortillas painted with red chile adobo and then cheese and fillings) as well as torta sandwiches on the menu. The primary meat selections are the carne asada marinated in Chipotle, the chicken pibil marinated in the bitter orange and Achiote and pork Adobado -a sun dried red chile BBQ sauce, which Kirk really liked and I have yet to taste-and soon.

Los Pueblos is a really good choice for quality, fresh, healthy cuisine. I hope it suceeds.

Los Pueblos 7081 Clairmont Mesa Boulevard San Diego 92111 (858) 834-7878

Lucky Seafood- a meal and a take home snack

March 2, 2012 Cathy Markets & Grocers, Seafood, Vietnamese Restaurants, What Cathy Eats!

mmm-yoso!!! is the name of the blog you are reading. A few friends write about food they eat, take photos and share meals with you. Kirk is too busy to write today and so is ed(from Yuma. That leaves Cathy, who is sharing a meal and a snack.

Hi. This is a short post. Kirk has written only one post devoted to Lucky Pho, yet Lucky is mentioned in about 24 of our mmm-yoso posts. The restaurant adjoining the grocery store is a favorite/regular spot for The Mister and I of all the pho places around this large county. This the place I recommend to anyone who asks me "where do you like to eat?"

On this cloudy, chilly morning, both of us wanted soup and we disagreed about the basic broth. So instead of messing up the kitchen, we each chose our own preference at Lucky.

The Mister chose Pho Tai ($6.50)…

and I chose the shrimp and krab ($6.50). It's made with different noodles and a very rich fish broth, which was what I was wanting. You'll notice there is mint on the plate of add ins- that's for the seafood soup, otherwise all the usual add ins of sprouts, jalapeno, basil and lime.

Of course we always get the Spring rolls here ($5.50). These are more meat than vegetable filled and always perfectly fried. Another great meal.

Since we were at a market, I started to think about the weekly shopping. There were too many people inside to take photos of the produce section, but the prices here are good and the vegetables and fruit are always fresh.