mmm-yoso – Page 101

Marukai (San Diego) Updates

July 8, 2022 mmm-yoso Local Kine Stuffs in San Diego, Markets & Grocers

In the comments section of my most recent post on Iron Pig, "FOY" Som Tommy mentioned a recent visit to Marukai and some changes he noticed. I actually thought I'd posted on this several months back….but I guess not…..sigh…."senior momentitus". Anyway, I'm sure if you're a regular at Marukai you know all of this already.

Several years back Don Quixote bought Marukai (and recently Gelson's) and some changes were noticed. Since the pandemic started Marukai on the corner of Mercury and Balboa has shifted what was being sold in the buildings a bit; but the biggest change is that Marukai, at least this location no longer requires a membership. In fact, one of the employees who has been there since the beginning told me recently to go ahead and "throw away the membership card".

As for the shifting of things:

Marukai Living is now Marukai "Japanese Grocery".

Marukai Chg 01

This store now focuses on Japanese packaged and non-perishable food and snack items….heavy emphasis on the "snack".

Marukai Chg 02

This is where; but for one exception where you can get all your "local kine" stuffs.

Marukai Chg 04

8125 Balboa Ave.
San Diego, CA 92111

Still need housewares, makeup, electronics, or some kind of kawai moisturizing mask?

Well, all of that is now in the Tokyo Central & Main Store.

Marukai Chg 06

8111 Balboa Ave.
San Diego, CA 92111

Marukai Market has all the produce, deli, meats, frozen, and prepared foods.

Marukai Chg 07

Marukai Chg 08

And also alcohol……and if you just need that $120 melon….well, on this visit it was "just" $89.99!

Marukai Chg 13

The bentos here are cheaper than Nijiya or Mitsuwa, but aren't often brought out until 1130 or so…a bit late for my lunch.

Marukai Chg 12

And the exception for "local kine" stuffs mentioned above is that all the frozen items are in the market…….

Marukai Chg 10

Marukai Chg 11

There are items I can no longer get here…..I wanted to make my guava grilled chicken, which uses Hawaiian Sun Guava Concentrate; no moa'. And for a short time they had Parks Brand Kimchee Sauce which I use for one of my recipes, but no moa' dat either.

8151 Balboa Ave.
San Diego, CA 92111

So, there you go "ST"…..sorry I'm a bit late on this one.

Roadtrip (2022) – Ojai Rotie

July 7, 2022 mmm-yoso Lebanese Restaurants, Middle Eastern Restaurants/Cuisine, Road Trip, Travel, Ventura County

After lunch at Yume Japanese Burger Cafe we decided to take a short drive and headed east along Highway 150. The winding road headed uphill and we stopped at the Ojai Valley Lookout. From here you have a wonderful view of Ojai Valley and are surrounded on all sides by mountains.

We drove a bit further, before returning to Ojai to check in at our accommodation.

We showered, relaxed, and even took a short nap before heading out to dinner. Our dinner destination was a nice stroll away; Ojai Rotie.

Ojai Rotie describes themselves as being:

"Chef/Farmer driven, fast casual patio-restaurant offering French-Lebanese style rotisserie chicken".

The atmosphere is relaxed, the large patio is a wonderful place to eat on a warm summer's evening.

We had reservations and were shown to one of the tables. I then went into the main building and placed my order and paid at the counter. I was given a number and placed that on the table.

You then go to the small detached structure to order wine and beer.

The young man working asked me if I was from out of town (folks in Ojai are really friendly), and when I replied yes, he asked where I hailed from. When I mentioned San Diego, he told me he went to college in SD and we had a nice chat.

People watching was quite interesting. There seemed to be quite a few "locals" or at least regulars. I hadn't seen so many folks wearing Birkenstocks in one place…..also interesting choices of slippers. Folks seemed to wear shorts and many women wore flowing "new agey" dresses with dangling earrings to match.

Soon enough our order arrived at our table……

We had ordered the "Dippity Dips"……..

Three different "dips" with Manuoche; the typical Lebanese flatbread with a light sprinkling of Za'atar on it. The Bread was warm, slightly yeasty and very pleasant eating.

Our favorite of the three items was the White Bean Hummus; so beany and creamy.

This was delicious; though I think a touch of lemon would have taken this to another level.

The Muhamarah was pretty good.

This was much smoother and creamier than what we're used to; but it matched quite well with the Manuoche. The generous amount of pomegranate molasses made this a bit too sweet for our tastes; but it was still a nice dish.

I was looking forward to the Charred Eggplant, but it proved to be a bit disappointing.

While adequately creamy, this was missing the smoky-savory tones of a nicely charred/grilled eggplant. It was also lacking adequate salt for our tastes.

Still that White Bean Hummus was really good and the Missus has been asking me to make some.

Of course we had to try the rotisserie chicken and I'd heard good things about the pommes rotisserie. So we got a quarter chicken meal with the roasted potatoes and caramelized cauliflower as sides.

First off, we weren't big fans of the chicken which was on the dry side. The seasoning also seemed quite mild. The saving grace was the bold and piquant garlic paste, which was sooooo good, but stayed with us for the entire evening if you know what I mean. The roasted potatoes were cold, but we both enjoyed the lemon-aioli. The Missus really enjoyed the cauliflower which was generously seasoned and had some great "role players" in the form of pine nuts, golden raisins, and baby kale…..each adding in a layer of complexity.

We'd gladly eat here again. While sitting and watching the "regulars" get their orders we noticed that the house made sourdough bread and lamb kafta were popular and looked quite good.

We really enjoyed the vibe and setting.

And then there are the people…..we would really come to enjoy and appreciate the warm and friendly folks we ran into in Ojai.

For instance, that gentleman in the photo to my right. As he walked by, I noticed his t-shirt, which I really liked, so I took a photo of him. Apparently he saw me taking his photos and came on by and asked me if I liked his shirt and we had a short chat. His name is Dave and he is in charge of restoring and renovating the Ojai Playhouse. We had a really nice conversation and he headed off….only to return a few minutes later with a t-shirt for me!

Yes, it says "Ojai Psychic Friends Network" and I love the t-shirt….plus I got a nice story to tell about how generous folks are in Ojai. And how in the world did he know I was admiring his shirt? Psychic perhaps???

Thanks Dave!

Ojai Rotie
469 E Ojai Ave.
Ojai, CA 93023
Hours:
Wed – Thurs 4pm – 830pm
Fri – Sun 12pm – 3pm, 4pm – 9pm
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays

Roadtrip (2022) – Yume Japanese Burger Cafe (Ojai)

July 6, 2022 mmm-yoso Asian Fusion/Pacific Rim/Hawaii Style Fusion, Burgers, Travel, Ventura County

When we returned from our Zion – Monument Valley – Sedona trip, the Missus told me that She was "done with road trips" for a while. Though upon returning from our Scotland – Paris trip, the Missus said that She had "changed Her mind……maybe a road trip might be nice". Man, that didn't last long did it? The only condition; "please no National Park food…."

And so I planned a weekend trip during he long weekend….even though I wasn't sure about traveling during the weekend of the 4th, to a place I'd heard really nice things about; Ojai.

And in the end, we loved the vibe, the people, and we had some good meals in Ojai. I had read about the bohemian, new agey lifestyle in Ojai….the term "bucolic" is sprinkled freely in descriptions. Perhaps what they say about the calming spiritual vortex of this valley town is true? Regardless, to us, this is what Sedona should or used to be…..and with better food in our opinion.

Even though we arrived on the Friday before the 4th, we easily found parking in the heart of the town right past the very distinctive Post Office which sports a portico and bell tower and was designed to look like the bell tower of Havana Cathedral.

Since it was too early to check in at our accommodations we decided to do a bit of shopping. The Ojai Arcade built in 1917 houses many shops and restaurants. The Missus wasn't enthralled by most of what the shops carried though I'd say seeing all folks with bags from Rains and other shops…….well, that says something about the appeal of shopping in Ojai.

We would walk through and past the Arcade several times a day during our stay in Ojai, so I think of it as the heart of the village.

For a town with a population of under 8,000….though I'm sure there are many more visitors; Ojai has an interesting variety of restaurants featuring a variety cuisines that belies the population and demographics of the village. During our stay we ate Burmese and Lebanese….and to start things off; we ate a a Japanese Wagyu Burger shop named Yume.

The place seems small, but is actually made up of three dining areas, we decided just to sit at on of the two-tops in the front. Here you simple order at one of the stations and have a seat.

The Missus and I decided to share two items; starting with some BBQ Wagyu Fries ($9.50).

Basically fries topped with teriyaki beef, nori, and kewpie mayo. The beef was a bit on the chewy side, but nicely marinated if a bit too sweet. The nori helped to tame the sweetness down a bit. The fries were not up to the task and got soggy quickly.

I was tempted to try the Karaage Sandwich, but went with the Yume Classic Wagyu Burger ($13).

After all, who can resist that runny, sunny side up egg, which was nicely done. The patty had a nice beefiness to it and the brioche bun went well with the burger. The cabbage added a nice crunchy contrast to things, but the sauce was much too sweet. Both the Missus and I thought some pickles or tomato would have contributed a dose of acidity to help cut thru all that sweetness.

That said, this wasn't too bad at all. Prices weren't bad; though the perfunctory service was the most unfriendly we encountered in Ojai. Which kind of goes against all the kinda cutesy stuffs around the place.

Yume Japanese Burger Cafe
254 East Ojai Ave.
Ojai, CA 93023

Turo Turo Tuesday – Lisa’s Filipino Cuisine Revisited

July 5, 2022 mmm-yoso Filipino Restaurants, Sisig

I recently had to place an order for chicken wings from "you know where". Since all this Covid stuff started and now with the insane gas prices, I just don't seem to get on over to National City much. So, after placing my order, I walked on over to see if Lisa's was still in business and they were indeed. Since it was early around 930 in the morning , I walked on in to check out what they had available.

Lisas Rev 01

Much of the lunch type dishes were just coming out….good timing on my part. So, I decided to place to do some takeout. I told the woman what I wanted and could not believe how much food she was putting in my containers! And it came out to under $12 bucks with tax……..enough to feed two or maybe three people. Luckily, there were some other folks in the office I could share this with.

I got the Sisig (of course) and the Chicken Afritada which had just come out to the steam table.

Lisas Rev 02 Lisas Rev 03 How I managed to carry this from the car to my desk without sustaining a hernia I'll never know. I forgot to ask for "half rice" so I got a ton of nicely cooked, moist rice. What's the deal with the giant chunks of protein in turo turo dishes these days? There were like two half thighs, bone and all in the overwhelmed styrofoam container. The chicken was on the tough side and there was a shortage of veggies (i.e. carrots, bell peppers) except for one orphaned potato; that I usually expect in this dish. I guess of you want to max out your protein intake… As you can see, it was quite greasy, and super salty.

The seasoning for the sisig was pretty good; nice spice and good sour tones. When it comes to the "leftover lechon" versions of sisig, I enjoy the crisp pieces of skin, but this seemed quite soggy and mushy in terms of texture. Though the other folks; who have never had the stuff liked it.

Lisas Rev 04

Still, in this day and age, I guess I totally got what I paid for and then some, right?

Lisa's Filipino Cuisine
1210 E Plaza Blvd.
National City, CA 91950
Hours:
Daily 7am – 8pm

The Original Sab-E-Lee (Linda Vista) Sold and Becoming Zab Linda

June 30, 2022 mmm-yoso Thai Restaurants

**** You can read a post on Zab Linda here.

In my recent post on Da Kine's reopening in La Mesa, "FOYs" Junichi/Denver/Young mentioned that the Original Sab E Lee was undergoing an ownership and name change. And then yesterday I saw this post in the Eater San Diego. I went and dropped by on the way home and indeed there was a ABC ownership change notice and a banner with a new name on it….."Zab Linda".

TOSEL Change 01 TOSEL Change 02 This was indeed a sad moment for me. Even though I thought TOSEL wasn't quite the same since Koby sold SEL, the Rancho Penasquitos location opened, and TOSEL moved to this location. Still, I have some great memories of meals from Sab-E-Lee which quickly became part of our rotation. Over the years, the menu seemed to have moved from the wonderful Issan flavors and heat, to a more standard Thai menu.

The Sab-E-Lee empire kept me as a regular customer at Thai Papaya, where the Missus absolutely loved the Som Tom Kai Khem. Sadly, Thai Papaya shut down during the pandemic, closing in 2021. And was replaced by Sushi Yorimichi.

TOSEL was originally part of our takeout rotation at the beginning of the pandemic, but after a couple of not so good takeout revisits we started going elsewhere.

Still, having been a customer back in 2008 and even getting affirmation from folks I really respected, TOSEL holds a special place in my heart. And like other places that have closed during the pandemic, it seems like the end of an era.

TOSEL Change 03

On an interesting note; the Eater post states:

"Called Zab Linda, the new restaurant is also serving Thai food; Runowski shared that it will keep much of Sab-E-Lee’s menu."

And a couple of folks I know have told me that the initial transition has already occurred, so perhaps Zab Linda is in a soft transition mode.

Anyway, I'll drop by in a few weeks.

And thanks for all the wonderful meals and memories Sab-E-Lee!

6925 Linda Vista Road
San Diego, CA 92111

Dining in at Noble Chef

June 29, 2022 mmm-yoso Chinese BBQ, Chinese Restaurants

About a week after returning from Paris and Scotland the Missus was ready…..to finally dine in at Noble Chef, which had been a regular takeout spot for us during the pandemic. Of course having been thru the last 2+ years we didn't throw all caution to the wind. We got to Noble Chef at 430…….there are times when Noble Chef will only do BBQ from 230-430pm, so we wanted to be able to get all the dishes the Missus (and I) wanted.

Of course we got some Roast Duck. Actually, the first plate we got was terrible, the duck was room temperature and seemed rubbery, there was no sauce, and the skin was missing on some of the slices. We spoke to our Server, who took one look at the plate and replaced it.

NChef 01

This was much better; though I think the Missus has gotten used to eating roast duck using my toaster oven hack to crisp up the skin and heat up the flesh. The Missus thought this was just ok.

We both appreciated that the Gailan, in the Chinese Broccoli with Garlic was peeled and very tender.

NChef 02

The portion size was quite generous, though this was under seasoned. Still, peeling the gailan eliminated any fibrous textures from the dish.

The one dish I had been looking forward to eating when "dining in" was the Salt and Pepper Pork Chop. This dish just doesn't hold up real well for takeout.

NChef 03

While much better then when doing takeout, it was still not as crisp as I remember. The flavor was also on the milder side….though maybe it's a good thing not to have as much MSG??? Though to be perfectly honest, I would have loved to have it the way I remembered.

The Missus's favorite dish of the evening was the Salted Fish and Chicken with Eggplant.

NChef 04

While a bit short in the chicken department; the eggplant had held shape, but was so buttery in texture when consuming. Most of the salted fish was on the bottom of the dish, so a good mixing was necessary to enjoy that funky-porky-salty flavor.

And the Missus was enjoying things so much that I let Her have both of our desserts.

NChef 05

We really enjoyed just sitting and dining in at Noble Chef. Much like my good friend Candice recommended several years ago, the food at Noble Chef is better when dining in for dinner. As we were finishing up folks started arriving for their dinner….it was time for us to scoot. We're still a bit leery with regards to crowds and such, but this seemed so nice, almost normal….or perhaps the "new normal".

The Noble Chef
6159 Balboa Avenue
San Diego, CA 92111

Da Kine’s Reopens in La Mesa

June 27, 2022 mmm-yoso Local Kine Stuffs in San Diego, Plate Lunch

**** This location is closed and Nelson is currently only doing catering

I know a lot of folks have been waiting for Da Kine's to reopen in their new location in La Mesa. I need to thank "FOYs" KerriK and DerekR for keeping me in the loop and providing updated information for me. So finally, a couple of weeks back Kerri told me that Da Kine's was in soft opening mode. Now I needed to make some time to check them out and I finally managed to do so this past weekend.

I've noted my history with Da Kine's in previous posts and Nelson even mentioned the reason he "gave" the various locations and "trademark" of the restaurants to employees during a visit to the defunct Linda Vista location.

When it comes down to it; it seems that "Uncle Nelson" as I've heard folks calling him has a connection with ex-pat Kama'aina's of a certain generation and their "ohana". I will agree, that be it for better or worse, his plate lunches do take me back to "those days". Simple, no muss, no fuss, no pretense "high maka maka" grindz. Beneath that kind of gruff exterior there always seemed to be someone who cared about folks….I posted on Da Kine's helping to sponsor a concert by Kalapana back in 1999, when I was doing a consulting gig here in San Diego. I had already moved to LA and was feeling a bit homesick and that concert lifted my spirits.

So, it was good to see the sign up for Da Kine's when I arrived.

DK Ret 01

There were also folks lined up outside the door when I arrived, 10 minutes before the 11am opening time.. That photo above was taken as I left the place.

The interior seemed quite modern, a change from the rustic themes of his former locations. There's both table and bar seating, all backed with a wonderful mural….with Valley of the Temples and Mokoli'i (Chinaman's Hat) in it.

DK Ret 02

It does look a bit modern and hipster. I would have taken a better photo of the mural, but several tables were quickly taken by folks who ordered ahead of me….one of the guys got three cans of Hawaiian Sun for himself! And he opened all three cans at once when he got to his table……nothing worse than needing a "POG" fix, right?

The young man working the counter was very ncie; though I could see Nelson holding himself back from actually working the line as he was training his kitchen staff.

So Derek, they do have kalua pork on the menu….I know you enjoy Nelson's version; of course they have a loco moco……but I had a bit of a drive so I thought I'd give the Teri Chicken ($15) another try.

DK Ret 03 DK Ret 04 First off, the good…..man, I really enjoyed the mac salad here, just as good as what I'd had at the Linda Vista location. Nicely seasoned, liked the amount of black pepper, amazingly still chilled after the drive all the way to Bay Park, just enough mayo. I've had mushy rice at Da Kine's in the past, but today it was perfect. You could see every grain, but it was still moist and tender.

As for the chicken? Well, at least it wasn't overly salty, but it could have used a bit more color and a stronger marinade/sauce (if he's still just "dipping" his chicken). It was not as dry as what I'd had before though.

DK Ret 05

So, perhaps when I do drop by again, I'll dine in and get a loco moco or kalua pork; or maybe Kerri, you could let me know if Nelson's going to have chicken long rice and lau lau on the menu?

In the end, if only for sentimental reasons, it was good seeing Nelson running around the kitchen area in his shorts and sneakers, teaching the young one's how to scoop rice and stuffs.

DK Ret 06

And the folks in line were a lot younger as well…….a couple of them looked like they might not have been born when I made my first visit to Da Kine's back in 1999. So I guess Uncle Nelson is feeding a whole new generation.

Da Kine's
7436 University Ave.
La Mesa, CA 91942
Current Hours:
Tues – Sun 11am – 6pm

Sunday Sandwiches, the Online Ordering Edition – Tadian Cafe, Gourmet Artisan, and SuperNatural Sandwiches

June 26, 2022 mmm-yoso Sandwiches, yoso-silly

I'm not sure if you've been doing this; but over the last couple of months I've been thinking about how Covid has changed our lives and habits over the last couple of years….you know, masks, outdoor dining, checking for crowds, and so forth….. And one of the things that has really taken hold is online ordering. Now, I'm not a fan of those third party companies that upcharge you like crazy for using online ordering…in fact, I was going to order online from EE Nami, when I noticed that there's a $3 upcharge for ordering online! Add that to how prices have increased and gas and sheesh….in that case, I'll just call instead! But, as a whole I like the option of online ordering. It especially comes in handy for lunch.

So, I thought I'd do a bunch of revisits to places I've posted on before…..and order online. I did this over the last two weeks, always ordering between 1030-1115, early in the week; usually on a Monday or Tuesday.

So here goes.

Tadian Cafe:

One of those places that I didn't visit until we were in the middle of the pandemic. I've always ordered online from Tadian, so this was an easy drill. Plus they open at 9am from Monday to Friday. Sadly, they no longer have what had been my favorite sandwich there; the Chinese Sausage Sandwich.

SS Online Tad 01

Since I wasn't a big fan of what I'd had on my last takeout order; I went with the Thai Roast Beef on a toasted French Roll, add jalapenos. As has always been the case, my sandwich is ready right at the designated time.

SS Online Tad 02 SS Online Tad 03 The toasted roll makes all the difference since Tadian can sometimes over sauce/dress their sandwiches. Even though they say that "Thai peanut sauce" is on this sandwich; I tend to think of this as a pseudo Banh Mi because of the pickled carrots, cucumbers, and cilantro. The jalapenos are a must because the amount of bread can really tone down the flavors. Still, it's a pretty good sandwich.

The young lady who works at Tadian is also very nice…..and my package is usually waiting on the counter or just being placed on the counter when I arrive.

Tadian Cafe
5955 Mira Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92121

Gourmet Artisan:

Been going here since I noticed the place in the same stripmall as SuperNatural. Things have been a bit inconsistent over my visits, especially with the "parmesan garlic and truffle fries"….which at times did not have any of the above on it or have been really limp even when picking up on time. And these days there's a $3 upcharge if you want the fries. It used to be included.

SS Online GA 01

At first, I thought I'd order a burger, which I thought wasn't too bad on my last visit, but decided on the Prosciutto Sandwich instead….since this was going to be a "sandwiches" post. GA sends you texts in addition to a confirmation email. Though I'm not sold on getting a text telling me my sandwich is ready as I'm already walking to the shop at the designated time. Though everything was ready to go when I walked in. The guy working here is also quite friendly.

SS Online GA 02 SS Online GA 03 The fries were nicely friend and still crisp when I got back to the office. And there's garlic and parmesan….with a light drizzle of truffle oil on them. I do prefer the toasted French roll AG used to use before to the ciabatta, which doesn't seem to hold up quite as well. Granted, this isn't a super-stuffed sandwich, but I prefer proportion, and other than having too much mayo, this was fine. Though this was my least favorite sandwich….I guess I come here for the fries?

Gourmet Artisan
7094 Miramar Rd.
San Diego, CA 92121

SuperNatural Sandwiches:

**** SuperNatural Sandwiches has closed SS Online SS 01

Well, SuperNatural and me go way back to 2013 and the days in the now defunct San Diego Public Market. So, I was quite happy when they opened their first brick and mortar shop on Miramar, fairly close to my office.

Some interesting things about ordering online form SS……first, when placing your order, there's an automatic 40 minute wait; at least that's always what I've encountered. The thing being…..you'll then get get notified that your order is ready, usually in 15 minutes….so there's the fire drill of rushing to your car and heading to pick up your order. Not cool if you've got a call or planning to use that 40 minute window. And then, your order is behind the counter, so you have to wait in line…on this visit there were only two people ahead of me, but it adds to your time. Really, for me, it's not a big deal if I'm ordering a salad or some other sandwich than my favorite, the Siren.

SS Online SS 03

All that sauce will make the bread get kinda soggy.

Add to that some fries, which I really like when hot, but not so much when it gets cold….

SS Online SS 04

SS Online SS 02 SS Online SS 05 Well, you get the point, right? So maybe I just gotta order in person when getting the Siren and/or fries? You know, its been my experience with SuperNatural over the years, that they're usually ahead of the curve. So maybe they'll figure out some great process for their online ordering?

SuperNatural Sandwiches
7094 Miramar Rd
San Diego, CA 92121

So, now it's your turn.

Have you made online ordering a permanent process? And what are some of your favorites….just asking "for a friend" of course!

Roadtrip (During Covid) – Dinner at Kai and Caffeine Fix From WhereUBean Coffee (Phoenix)

June 23, 2022 mmm-yoso American/New American Restaurants, Caffeine Fix, Fine Dining, Memorable Meals, Native American, Phoenix/Scottsdale/Chandler/Central AZ, Road Trip, Travel

We could have easily just headed home upon leaving Sedona, but I had one more overnight stop in mind. On this road trip, I had decided to bookend our travels with some more upscale meals. On the way to Zion we stopped in Las Vegas for dinner at Partage. On the way back home, I decided we should spend a night at the Sheraton at Wild Horse Pass and have dinner at Kai Restaurant, the only AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star restaurant in Arizona. Beyond those accolades, I was fascinated by the menu which is described as having "distinct interpretations of Native American cuisine using fresh local ingredients for elevated dining." I thought it would be a nice end to our road trip.

Upon checking in to this rather posh resort, we relaxed in our room.

We had a nice view.

We got ready for dinner and left our room a bit early to do some shopping in the gift shop before heading off to the restaurant. With Covid measures in place, it seemed like reservations were staggered and until one third way through our meal, we were the only folks dining. The service, while discreet is definitely professional and polished; the Servers all knew our names, crumbs cleared off the table between every course, silverware changed, and still, the service wasn't hovering and did not feel stuffy in the least.

The decor is low-keyed, the walls festooned with the craft and artwork of the Pima and Maricopa Tribes and each menu has distinct artwork featured on it as well. I was told that the watercolor on my menu was of the Maricopa Butterfly Dance.

The meal is tasting menu only, with several choices for the "Birth", "Beginning", "The Journey", and the "Afterlife". We decided to share a wine pairing with dinner.

The Amuse was a very nice Sablefish wrapped in Basil Flower. The Olive Oil served with the bread was outstanding and we were told it was from Queen Creek Olive Mill.

As always, the Missus and I shared our course which would give us tastes of a good range of items.

The Escargot with Wild Mushroom was an interesting mix of textures, the truffle crema added some decadent touches to the dish. There was a bit more sweetness then I expected in this dish from the black garlic, bread, and the caramel goat cheese.

We both loved the "Pee-Posh Garden".

While it might have seemed to be a bit much when reading the ingredients on the menu, it was a symphony of textures and flavors, from the fermented white asparagus, to the crunchy and mildly sweet pecan "soil", to the pickled beets, nutty-sweet sunchoke puree, and buttery confit potatoes.

I'm sure you know if foie gras is on the menu, we'd be ordering it, even with a $20 supplement. The fois gras was nicely seared, the interior nice and smooth, rich, earthy, though the roasted and compressed apple was perhaps a bit on the sweeter end of the spectrum for us.

The Pork Cheek and Crisp Belly was nice and "swiney". Perfectly done; the Anasazi Bean adding a nice, sweet-earthiness to the dish.

The mains…ummm "Journey" were prepared well, if a bit on the "standard" side.

The "Kachk", black cod with fennel puree was cooked well, nice and creamy. We appreciated the fact that the fennel puree did not overwhelm the dish.

This could have used a bit more aggressive seasoning in our opinion.

Kai's signature dish is the Grilled Tenderloin of Tribal Buffalo was cooked to a perfect medium rare.

It is of course buffalo….thus a bit on the "toothsome" side. A bit milder in flavor than what I expected, the corn puree and saguaro syrup made this a bit sweeter than I like as well.

The cheese plate was quite routine.

Dessert was served with some fanfare…..

Both desserts were outstanding and not overly sweet.

The Chocolate and Queen Creek Olives.

The Mousse "stones" where wonderful, so decadent and creamy inside, with the "hidden" olive cake adding a touch of savoriness, and the lemon foam had just enough cirtus-acidity for the dish.

The Cactus Melange was also stellar.

That Nopales and Lime sabayon was outstanding and it's really hard to describe the taste of the nopales sherbet.

We loved the parting gift.

Definitely not a inexpensive dinner at almost $600 with tip.

Kai
5594 W Wild Horse Pass Blvd. (At the Sheraton Grand At Wild Horse Pass)
Phoenix, AZ 85226

After dinner we took a stroll around the property.

The next morning we headed home; stopping for coffee and a light breakfast at WhereUBean Coffee.

Nice, relaxed coffee stop; really friendly staff. When I grabbed a Earl Grey cake for the Missus, the guy working pointed me to the "Happy Little Accident" discounted slice….he must've known how much I paid for dinner the previous night!

The Missus got a pour over and I an Americano….

And soon enough we were on our way.

WhereUBean Coffee
4804 E Chandler Blvd.
Phoenix, AZ 85048

It had been a fun road trip:

Starting with our first visit to Las Vegas in over 8 years.

And then to Zion, Angels Landing, and a Ghost Town.

Moving on to Mystery and Monument Valleys.

And I even got to do my best Forrest Gump impression and "Stand on a Corner".

We even got our "selfie" moment at a sandstone arch.

Thanks for coming along!

Iron Pig – A Takeout Revisit

June 22, 2022 mmm-yoso BBQ, Chicken Wings, Salads

**** Iron Pig has closed

The recent warm weather had the Missus craving takeout from Iron Pig. So I dropped by, placed an order, and then went to do a quick visit to Trader Joe's. My takeout was ready when I returned to Iron Pig. I had found parking nearby and everything just seemed hunky dory.

On my last post, I noted that the wings were dry and tough. Unfortunately, these were basically the same.

Iron Pig TO 01_02

Large, meaty wings, but super dry and tough, and the large size meant that it was somewhat lacking in enough smokiness.

I also got the Rib Tips and specifically asked for sauce on the side. Sadly, this must have been lost in the translation.

Iron Pig TO 02_02

Over-sauced and very salty……

Our favorite menu item over the years is the Man Salad…make that the Gender Neutral Salad. Which looked mighty appetizing.

Iron Pig TO 03_02

Until we started eating….and started noticing something…hidden underneath all those fries and brisket.

All those brown and discolored greens. Sigh…….

I take no pleasure in typing this out and it's kind of sad to get a meal like this from a place that's been a favorite over the years. We understand that times are tough and are trying to support local businesses, but it seems like the appreciation is not being returned? Not quite sure what to make of this meal…..

Iron Pig Alehouse
1520 Garnet Ave
San Diego, CA 92109