mmm-yoso – Page 114

Road Trip (During Covid-19) – Harmony, Cambria, and Dinner at Madeline’s

December 8, 2020 mmm-yoso American/New American Restaurants, French Restaurants, Memorable Meals, Paso Robles/Cambria/San Luis Obispo County, Road Trip, Travel, Wine Bars/Wineries

**** This is kind of a long one; so you might want to save it for when you more time to read.

We headed out from Morro Bay for Cambria where we'd be staying for two nights. But there was one stop to make. In doing my research for this trip, I'd come across a little town about 15 miles North of Morro Bay and 5 miles south of Cambria named Harmony. Population 18. Yep, you read that right, 18. At least that's what "Gladys the Town Cow" says.

Once upon a time the community was a dairy settlement; originally established by Swiss and Italian immigrants. There was a lot of competition which led to intense rivalries; which eventually resulted in a killing, you can read about it here, along with how a desire to restore peace, the town was named "Harmony". Eventually, the creameries closed down. For many years, the only business in the one street, one block town was the post office. Now, it has a winery, and is home to a small group of artisans who produce pottery and blown glass. It has a fun, funky feel to it. Along with the Gladys the cow; there's the "Holy Cow" to the right which celebrates the history of the town.

We spent about an hour in the town visiting the two businesses; the pottery shop and the glass works, purchasing a couple of gifts along the way.

There's also a Creamery and Dairy shop; basically an ice cream shop which was closed during our visit.

There's also a charming and plain adorable Chapel. After all; like the tag line goes for the Chapel's website goes: "Shouldn't every wedding begin in Harmony?"

You can read more about the venue here.

The little town was such a pleasant and fun surprise, we're glad we stopped by and will probably do it again in the future.

Harmony Pottery Works
2191 Old Creamery Rd.
Harmony, CA 93435
Hours:
Daily 10am – 5pm

Harmony Glassworks
2180 Old Creamery Rd.
Harmony, CA 93435
Hours:
Daily 9am – 5pm

After our visit we drove the short distance to Cambria. I'm not sure why I picked the village, but it turned out to be a wonderful stay. We were staying at the El Colibri Hotel & Spa, right on the otherside of Highway 1 from the village. The actual shopping area is made up of the East Village and the West Village which is separated by about a half mile. Since we were still quite early for check-in, we headed to the charming East Village to do some shopping.

We found parking and went about our way. When doing research on Cambria two things kept coming up; Linn's, which has a restaurant, café, a boutique/bookshop, and a gourmet goods store in town. And a Farmstand about 5 miles out of town. The second thing I read about were Olallieberries, a cross between Loganberries and Youngberries developed at Oregon State in 1949. Even though it was developed in Oregon, growing it there proved difficult and it is mainly grown in Central California. And Linn's is know for their Olalliberry Pies and preserves.

We ended up buying a bunch of preserves for friends and some "hot jelly" (to have with cheese).

We walked around a bit more; then headed to our hotel. While our room wasn't quite ready, I had a plan for our afternoon anyway. The El Colibri is located right at the South end of the Moonstone Beach Boardwalk; which is why I chose the place. And so we headed off and did the approximately three mile walk along the boardwalk. It was easy and picturesque.

Of course we had some "supervision" along the way.

We enjoyed the walk.

There were very few people along the way.

One of our lasting memories of Cambria are the benches; which we first started seeing along the Boardwalk.

This one is one of my favorites….for some reason; I just fine the location somewhat romantic.

As I guess many other folks do.

It was a nice little jaunt for the afternoon.

We got back to the hotel, checked in, freshened up….I check in at work to make sure things were going ok.

After relaxing for a bit we headed out to dinner. I'd picked a restaurant named Madeline's. First off, it was in walking distance. Second of all; the wine by the glass list looked really good. During the day, along with serving lunch, Madeline's is a wine shop until 5pm. I'd made reservations for outdoor dining at 530 pm. So, with the sun setting, we headed out, crossed over Highway 1, onto Main Street, pass the Gas Station….we were a bit early and the Missus wanted to do some shopping. Unfortunately, it seems like many of the shop were closed due to Covid-19.

We did stop in at a shop named Bali Gems. The owner was so nice; we chatted for almost a half hour. He told us that the stones found on Moonstone Beach aren't really Moonstones, but a combination of different minerals like agate, jasper, and such. He asked us where we'd be having dinner and when I mentioned Madeline's, I was told that it is the "best restaurant in town", and not like other "touristy" places. He also provided a nice little map for us. The Missus really wanted to buy something, but couldn't find anything to Her taste….maybe next time….

We got to Madeline's and were seated promptly at a nice table….everything was spaced out wonderfully and the heaters worked well. Our Server was a very nice fellow whose name I believe is Oscar. He was efficient, very knowledgeable, and had the perfect combination of professionalism and friendliness. As we often like to do; we ordered a bunch of appetizers making our own tasting menu.

The bread was nothing to write home about.

The Missus picked Her wine, though I waited until our first dish arrived; the Diver Scallops ($18).

The scallops were nicely seared, still wonderfully rare in the middle. The searing added a nice crispness that held out well. The beurre blanc wasn't too heavy with some nice acidity. I went ahead and ordered a Viognier which went quite well with this. Strange, the Missus had never had a Viognier before???? She loved it and because Madeline's is a wine shop; actually ordered a bottle to take with us……which She's enjoyed here at home.

The Spanish Octopus ($18) was cooked perfectly; tender, with the slightest pleasant toothsomeness.

Nice smokiness, the citrus tones came thru nicely to cut the saffron. By this time; I just trusted Oscar to pick a wine to match. He was awesome; he ended up picking wine that weren't on the "by the glass list"; but rather had been part of tastings that afternoon.

The only dish we didn't enjoy much was the Stuffed Quail ($16).

The lemon beurre blanc overwhelmed everything on the plate and while the wild mushroom stuffing had very nice earthy-nutty-mildly sweet tones; the quail was really dry and tough. Oh, but the wine chosen for us…..by this point, the Missus and I were just sharing a single glass that was picked for us.

Sorry to say I never got a shot at the acorn squash in the Fall Salad ($11), but the Missus assured me that it was quite good.

I really enjoyed the mild bitterness of the baby arugula, combined with the mild, almost spicy flavor of the Gorgonzola, and the balanced tartness of the pomegranate vinaigrette.

The Missus enjoyed Her Chocolate Truffle Mousse Cake ($11).

While I had a nice digestif to finish things off.

This was a nice meal. But, as is often the case, it's the staff and service that elevated the meal, into something memorable. We'll be back!

Madeline's Restaurant & Wine Tasting Room
788 Main St.
Cambria, CA 93428

Dry Pot to go from Sizzling Pot King

December 7, 2020 mmm-yoso Chinese Restaurants

**** Sizzling Pot King is now Zhang Liang Malatang

Funny how the term "out of sight, out of mind" really holds true. With the rather limited amount of driving we do these days; we tend to forget about places we enjoy. And with the pandemic raging on; we all need that little bit of enjoyment in life; whether you like art, movies, cooking, or eating, we need those moments. Last week, I asked the Missus why, in spite of the chilly weather, She hasn't wanted the dry pot from Sizzling Pot King. I got a wide eyed look and a laugh…..and guess what I went to pick-up for dinner?

I basically walked into the dining area; which looks like a fairly messy storage area these days. Placed my order, went back to the car and fifteen minutes later our dry pot to go was packed.

The large dry pot is now $32.99…..we've stuck with the combination we enjoy; numbing hot (mala), medium spice, tripe and pork intestine, with frozen tofu ($2.99) added. There's currently a 10% discount for cash transactions; but I paid the full price with a tip.

I did notice some differences when I opened the tray up at home.

The portion size seemed smaller. Indeed whereas a pan used to be three full meals for the Missus and I; this was just enough for two. Also, the cauliflower…..SPK used to use Fioretto, what we called Chinese Flowering Cauliflower, which has an amazing texture and nutty-sweetness, has now been replaced with regular broccoli.

Still, the Missus really enjoyed this…it was nice a numbing-hot…..we both got a nice little "buzz". The tripe was perfectly prepared, no off flavors with a nice crunchiness, and the intestine had a bit of chew and a wonderful, light funkiness. The "frozen" tofu seemed a bit soft for our taste….but the Missus scarfed it all up with no problem. She has a thing about the potato and mung bean sprouts in this as well.

Here's an old photo for comparison. I'd say it's even more spicy these days.

Still, the Missus really enjoyed this so much that She requested an encore, hoping that they'd be back to using cauliflower; but no such luck.

Regardless, we still enjoyed this, and like so much that is going on now, we're just thankful that the Missus and I can enjoy what we consider to be comfort food.

Sizzling Pot King
8058 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 279-0088
Current Hours:
Mon – Sat 11am – 10pm
Sunday 11am – 930pm

What has been giving you comfort during these difficult times?

Munich – Odeonsplatz, Max-Joseph-Platz, Hofgarten, and Dinner at Schiller Brau

December 5, 2020 mmm-yoso Beer, Gastropub, German Restaurants and Food, Germany, Munich, Travel

Yes, I'm trying to work thru my backlog of travel posts….so please bear with me.

After a caffeine break at Dallmayr, the Missus was ready to tackle the rest of our "stroll"….. right up the street is Max-Joseph-Platz, named after Maximilian I, the first king of Bavaria whose statue is the centerpiece of the square.

The square also houses the National Theatre and the Residenz, once the royal palace of the House of Wittelsbach which once ruled over large swatches of Europe; Bavaria, Sweden, Greece, Denmark, even the Holy Roman Empire!

We headed up to yet another huge square; Odeonsplatz. Which is crowned by the Feldherrnhalle ("Field Marshals' Hall"). But first there was something I wanted to see; a street named Viscardigasse. Notice the gold cobblestones in this pedestrian only street.

When Hitler came to power, he created a memorial to the "first matyrs of the Third Reich" in the Beer Hall Putsch. All Germans were required to do the Hitlergruss (Nazi Salute) upon entering the Odeonsplatz. Viscardigasse became an alternate route where people could avoid having to perform the salute. The street is also known as Drückebergergasse ("Shirker's Alley"). The cobblestones memorialize this act of civil disobedience.

The Odeonsplatz was created by the House of Wittelsbach. The Feldherrnhalle looked looked quite familiar to us.

The other structure that got our attention was the Theatinerkirche which was built in the latter half of the 17th century.

If we hadn't already done so much on this day, we'd have visited….but man, we'd already done quite a bit.

We walked pass the Residenz.

And the striking Bavarian Chancellery…..

To what was once the royal garden of the Wittelsbachs; the Hofgarten.

It's a striking, relaxing, and elegantly beautiful green space.

There was a wonderful pianist playing in the Pavilion of Diana; which is in the center of the park.

One of the enjoyable parts of this visit was coming across interesting memorials and landmarks. I was curious about that rather simple stone memorial above. I took a photo and looked it up when we got back to the apartment later that evening. I found out that this is the memorial to the Trümmerfrau ("Rubble Women") who helped to clear and reconstruct Germany and Austria after all the destruction of World War II. And while there's some disagreement about the amount of women and such; I still found it quite touching.

I also noticed the fountain to my right….which seemed to have Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf on it. Turns out; it's called the "Wolfsbrunnen" (Wolf Fountain) which was created in 1904 by sculptors Heinrich Düll and Georg Pezold.

From here we headed down the very busy and quite touristy street known as Platzl, with the required Starbucks, Hard Rock Café, and a place that was recommended to me by a couple of folks. A famous beer hall named Hofbräuhaus. It was quite busy….

And quite touristy; which is not a bad things since; well, we're tourists, right? But this was a bit much for us….it seemed like every cliché was in fine form here; the Tyrolean Hats? Check. Lederhosen? You bet? It was just kind of overwhelming for us….. I guess Augustiner-Keller is more our speed.

We decided to head on back to the apartment and figure out where to stop for dinner. The Missus had fun doing some shopping along the way.

We made our way back to the apartment and relaxed for a bit. We weren't super hungry and I basically wanted some snacks and a beer (or three). There was a brew pub that we kept passing everyday named Schiller Brau, located in the MK Hotel München City. It would turn out to be just what we needed after a fairly busy day.

I was quickly told that the special beers are brewed onsite……..and I got a Helles; the Missus Weissbier. I really enjoyed the lightly hoppy, hazy, full bodies Helles.

We started with the "trio of spreads".

Which came with a nice, slightly dense pretzel. We both loved the slightly funky "cheese spread" (Obatza) which had some onion and a bit of smokiness went really well with the pretzel. The apple lard spread (Griebenschmalz) was a bit on the lighter side, but fine. The potato salad was routine and filled out the trio.

One of the reasons we had dinner here was that the Missus saw that the place had a special for the evening……white asparagus. She was still thinking about how much She enjoyed what we had at Plachutta Wollzeile in Vienna.

This was prepared quite simply; which we believe was for the best as we could really enjoy the sweet-slightly bitter-vegetal flavors. The texture was firm but not chewy……simple is best sometimes, right? The potatoes were perfect in texture…and heck; we didn't even use the sauce.

As this was our last evening in Munich; I have sort of a tradition of having a beer (or two) back in our room/apartment. So, I went ahead an bought two bottles of the Helles. In what was a very nice gesture; our Server gave us two Schiller Brau bottle openers as a gift.

One of which I carry with me when we travel. It reminds me of the joys of traveling and all the amazing folks we've run across over the years. I was just looking at it wistfully earlier in the week. It's resting right now; but hopefully soon I can put it to use again.

Schiller Bräu
23 Schillerstrasse
80336 Münich, Germany

Thanks for stopping by!

It’s Fry-Day – Fried Banh Bao from T.P. Banh Bao 3

December 4, 2020 mmm-yoso Vietnamese Restaurants

As we head towards another set of stay at home orders in our county……well, maybe a fried food post would be some small (probably not) consolation.

A few weeks back; I decided to grab a snack (actually enough for lunch for me) for the skeleton crew we got working. It was rather early for lunch; like 930am….but heck; I get in at 5-515 these days so I'm ready for lunch by 10. I needed to clear my head a bit and perhaps some fried banh bao would do the trick?

The crew really enjoyed the last time I did takeout from TP Banh Bao; so I decided to head on back.

I really like the young lady who works here; she is so friendly, efficient, and very thoughtful. I got 2 fried "BB's" as I call them for each of the staff. As I finishing my order; the young lady asked if I just eanted to make it a complete box and order one of their newish "breakfast baos" – she recommended the "jalapeno-egg" version. Heck, she is so nice, so of course I got one.

I always love that they mark the box, so I don't have a "UFB" (unidentified fried bao) issue.

Here's a better photo.

So, the other 3 folks in the office got two fried bao each; one of my favorite; the pork and salted egg yolk, and one of the pork, sausage, and egg.

Even the folks who had no idea what the heck a "salted egg" was, enjoyed that version more.

"Is it just a boiled egg with salt?"

"Ummm, yes, that's right….that's the ticket."

There's something about the rich, salty-savory flavor that goes so well with the porkiness of the bao.

Also, my experience with the steamed bao's here are that they are on the gummy-mushy side and there a good amount of leakage. And no matter if it's banh bao or adult diapers (not that I have any first hand experience), leakage is "no bueno". Having them fried adds a nice textural constrast and I think it also reacts with the starch and sugars adding a layer of additional flavor.

Which was the problem with the jalapeno-egg banh bao.

The top portion was sort of fluffy; but the bottom was soggy and not up to the task of retaining all of that filling. The filling was decently flavored and I enjoyed the mild hit of heat from the jalapeno. This might actually be pretty good fried.

Man, after this I was pretty much (pun intended) "fried". I felt like I needed a shower…….I think two fried bao are pretty much the limit for me right now. The folks at work had no idea what the heck they were eating and they enjoyed it.

The service was great, everyone enjoyed things. I'll file this under "guilty pleasures". So, until next time….

T.P. Banh Bao 3
11271 Camino Ruiz
San Diego, CA 92126

Take care and be safe everyone!

Takeout from EE Nami (again)

December 1, 2020 mmm-yoso Japanese Restaurants

I can 't believe that I posted on EE Nami back in May and even did a revisit post. It just seems like so long ago.

I was craving decent tonkatsu after the rather unsatisfactory version from Zen Curry. I hadn't revisited EE Nami since the end of May. I know they had opened the outdoor dining area; JeffP told me that he had enjoyed the Izakaya menu. Me, well…..call me gun shy; I'm still not ready for that. So, I decided to just order from the abbreviated takeout menu on my way home to check on Frankie. After all, it was Tonkatsu that I was after, right?

As before the whole process was painless; my food as waiting hen I arrived, less than five minutes later I was in my car headed home.

On my previous visits; I had enjoyed the Pork Loin Katsu more than the Filet, so I stuck with that. I added rice and miso soup to make it a "set".

The portion of rice and shredded cabbage seemed a bit more than on previous takeout visits. The miso soup was even weaker than before though. The pickles did a nice job of cutting of accenting the meal; making sure that the fried loveliness of the tonkatsu wasn't "too much of a good thing".

Of course, this was all about the katsu…..

And while it might have seemed like the pork had been fried a bit too much at first glance this was quite good. The breading wasn't separating from the moist, pleasantly toothsome, porky, loin. It was crisp, the panko fairly light, not greasy in the least bit. I've become used to the slightly sweeter katsu sauce over time…I guess it has grown on me.

It really did "scratch that itch"…….

Like I mentioned before; once we get pass all of this; I'm looking forward to trying all of their other dishes.

EE Nami
4706 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92117
858-246-6903

Monday Meanderings – Sushi Hachi by Kimura Opening Dec 6th, Harland Brewing Coming to Morena, and Stehly Farms Morena is Closed

November 30, 2020 mmm-yoso Beer, Japanese Restaurants, Markets & Grocers, Vietnamese Restaurants

Funny, when it rains it pours; over the last week here are "stuffs" I saw while running errands and such.

Sushi Hachi by Kimura Opening Dec 6th:

While checking out Izakaya Sakura on Black Friday (they were closed), I noticed that Swab, ummmm Shabu World was being replaced by something called Sushi Hachi by Kimura.

I stopped and walked over. The sign said "Opening Soon" and taking a look at the menu gave me the impression that this is kind of fusiony sushi; with everything from Aburi Sushi, to various rolls, to nigiri….stuff like yuzu ceviche, truffle salmon carpaccio, tuna guacamole rolls, crispy rice……kinda interesting in a way.

And so, like I always say; "Google is my friend". I went ahead and did a quick Google search yesterday and found that Sushi Hachi is opening on December 6th. There's also a bio on Shuji Kimura, who owned and operated the SushiStop chain in LA. I'm guessing he probably sold the chain….you should look at SushiStop's menu….it looks reaaally familiar. Anyway, it seems that this is a family project that he's opening with his wife and three children.

3904 Convoy St #117
San Diego, CA 92111

Harland Brewing Coming to Morena:

I was actually told this by some friends and so I stopped by to take a look.

And yes, that's what the ABC notice says. This is in the fairly large spot that Benchmark Brewing was in for a hot second.

4112 Napier St
San Diego, CA 92110

Stehly Farms Morena is Closed:

On a recent visit to Zgara Greek Grill, I peered over and saw the "Available for Leas" sign in the window of the space Stehly Farms Market used to occupy.

Bummer….I wasn't a regular, but I'd drop by every now and then when I wanted or needed some good quality produce. Sad to see them go.

1231 Morena Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92110

I'm hoping everyone is safe. Things are getting a bit hairy out there, please take care, be considerate, it's times like these where our caring, compassion, and humanity should come thru. I pretty much keep the Missus and my work and non-trip/food related items separate from this blog. And I'm thinking you might wonder why I try to "gently" remind folks to be safe and take reasonable care.

Well, to not give away too much; both the Missus and I have skin in the game. I've been in healthcare since 1984 and the Missus is on the frontlines of this. I keep that photo of the Missus on my phone, as one of my Zoom backgrounds, as a screen saver, it is never far from my mind and my heart.

The last thing I would want is for this insidious virus to harm her or you.

So please, stay safe!

Beef Sate Egg Noodles “Dry” (Mì Bò Sa Tế Kho) to go From Tim Ky Noodle

November 29, 2020 mmm-yoso Vietnamese Restaurants

Man, leave it to 2020. For the umpteenth time, I was assigned an "urgent" request….this time on Tuesday afternoon before Thanksgiving, needed by Monday. So, while I did take Thanksgiving off, I worked over the weekend. Luckily, I was able to finish up by 11 during this weekend on most days (I start at around 515 am or so). I decided to head up to Mira Mesa for some takeout. My first option was strangely closed (more on that in a future post). So, I ended up at Tim Ky. During normal times, I'd have already been here at least once or twice; but because of the pandemic; well, I hadn't been to Tim Ky since last year!

It seemed like Tim Ky had as many tables set-up on the sidewalk and back parking lot as they used to have in their dining room!

I went in, placed my order and paid.

While waiting on the sidewalk I noticed that a group of "old-timers"….you know; the older Vietnamese Gentlemen who would usually hit up a coffee shop or bakery and hang out had commandeered the parking lot for their social outing. At least they all had masks on!

I ordered the Beef Sate Noodle "dry", which took about ten minutes and I headed home.

I opened things up and man, this looked like so much more food then I recalled.

Upon examination; I found that the rather large portion of egg noodles was clumped together. The normal reaction would be to pour hot water over it; but it wouldn't work this time around as there was some sauce mixed in with the noodles. So, I went ahead and got the broth….which didn't have as much "msg" as before and was rather light in the flavor department to a rolling boil and placed it in a bowl on the side.

I ended up using half the broth to do the typical "mix", with chopsticks and a spoon. While it was still quite "light" in terms of flavor, the beef was decently tender, there was a touch of pungency, and I ended up using the rest of the soup to finish things up. Not quite as good as what I have at the restaurant, but not terrible. I've truly had worse at various places over the years…..

So, a larger portion, a bit less flavor, a bit more work (that chili paste came in handy)…..for now…well…..I'll take it. After all, what choice do I have, right?

Tim Ky Noodle
9330 Mira Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92126
Hours:
Daily 9am – 830pm

Our Best Wishes This Thanksgiving

November 26, 2020 mmm-yoso Blog

Yes, I guess it would usually be one of those Happy Thanksgiving posts. But this year it's different.

No matter how we try to frame it; the pandemic has changed things.

We're keeping it simple this year; that's some Ham Hock and Bean soup; which turned out rather well.

While the Missus is working as usual this T-Day; I won't be having to cook for 80 people; because potlucks are (rightfully) not allowed at Her work.

So, I used my time to make some pozole…..I guess I need to get my act together and do a post on that…maybe this weekend.

Perhaps the best thing I can do is to extend our best wishes for everyone's good health on this Thanksgiving!

Be safe and take care, we'll get through this!

Takeout from Zen Curry

November 23, 2020 mmm-yoso Japanese Restaurants

Even though I was born and raised in Honolulu, I really do enjoy cooler weather….of course this is SoCal, so take that "cooler" weather comment with a grain of salt. I enjoy the hearty soups and dishes that come with this season; though this year, with the fear that Covid-19 outbreaks will worsen (the current data since we got back from our road trip agrees with this theory), has really dampened my enthusiasm.

Still, I had been craving some Japanese Curry for lunch. Since Hinotez is only doing dinner these days and Coco Ichibanya's opening delayed until next year according to Eater and "FOY" Elle. I decided to check on Zen Curry, since it had had been a while since my last visit.

There was an item on the online menu that caught my eye; the "Ono Combo" ($15.50) which included a fried egg and the item I thought Zen did best; the Spam® Katsu. I ordered online and picked up my order; which was on a table inside the restaurant when I arrived….no human contact at all.

Things came packed quite neatly.

I also ordered a side of Rakkyo (50 cents), since I thought correctly, that it would help to cut the spice and richness.

It took me less than 15 minutes to get home; everything was still hot; but I decided to heat up the curry a bit more, before combining things.

Things were pretty much the same in terms of flavors and how the items were prepped and served. The texture of the curry on the pasty side; what I now called "roux-inned"….pun intended. I got it at heat level five and it delivered. The curry was ever so lightly beefy. If not for the texture; this would be a decent curry.

The egg was sadly overcooked.

As with my previous experience with the tonkatsu; it was tasteless and tough. The Spam Katsu seemed a bit over fried, the breading a bit too hard, edging on bitter. Still, it was the best thing on the plate.

It's too bad….I had thought that perhaps Zen was still going thru their soft/grand opening period when I visited; but it looks like what I'd had before is the status quo.

Kind of a bummer, because I really want to support these small businesses. I'm sure I'll return some time in the future….just not for a while.

Zen Curry
7309 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92111
Current Hours:
Sun – Wed 11am – 8pm
Thurs – Sat 11am – 9pm

Sunday Stuffs: Ban Lao Cuisine Takes Over the Que Huong Space, if You’ve Ever Wondered What I Sound Like, and Other “stuffs”

November 22, 2020 mmm-yoso Lao Restaurants, Portland, Oregon, yoso-silly

Just some "stuffs" for Sunday.

Ban Lao Takes Over the Que Huong Spot:

After picking up lunch at Fredcels, since I hadn't been around City Heights since March, I decided to take a quick peek on University to see what was going on. I drove over the 15 freeway and to the corner of Marlborough and University; noticing that Cafe Dore had their doors open. I then took a quick look left and noticed that it seemed that Ban Lao's sign was gone. I was bummed…..I then took a turn into the parking lot and was even more shocked……you see Ban Lao had taken over the space where Que Huong used to be. Que Huong was gone! "CC" had told me that Que Huong had changed ownership a while back and that Jay and his sister no longer owned the place. But this was still quite sad since I'd been visiting here since 2005! Bummer……I'll miss my favorite fish sauce chicken wings and boneless chicken feet salad. After seeing this; I just decided to turn around and head back home.

RIP Que Huong.

Here's a link to something from 2012.

4134 University Ave
San Diego, CA 92105

Speaking of sad – I've been looking at posts I did from my Portland Trips:

So, this all started when I read in Portland Food and Drink that Cheese Bar was closing. Wondering what all this collateral damage was from Covid-19, etc. I started looking at all the places we visited during trips to Portland and I was shocked at how many places were recently permanently closed or soon closing. Not including those places that are still temporarily closed.

All Pok Pok locations

Tasty N 'Alder – This one really hurts since it was a favorite of the Missus and even inspired a copycat version of the Missus's favorite dish there.

You can find a list here.

Have you ever wondered what I "sound" like?:

Back at the beginning of October; I received an email from Kristy Totten at the UT:

"I host a podcast with Abby Hamblin about interesting people around San Diego and we were wondering if you'd come on our show this week or next."

Which caught me totally off guard. I'd always thought that I have done a pretty good job of flying under the radar. So naturally, the first thing I did was take a quick look at the Podcast; which is named Name Drop San Diego. I was and still am not quite certain why "FOY ChrisR" recommended me for the podcast. And after reading first the description:

"Name Drop San Diego is a weekly podcast from The San Diego Union-Tribune celebrating people who have shaped San Diego and been shaped by it. Join hosts Abby Hamblin and Kristy Totten each Tuesday as they get to know the people who make San Diego proud."

And looking at the line-up of folks who had already been on the podcast….frankly, I was thinking someone had made a mistake here…..

Still, I agreed to a phone call with Kristy and Abby, who were both so warm and friendly….setting me immediately at ease, I agreed.

Abby and Kristy made the whole process quite fun to be perfectly honest. I'm not sure how; but they worked some magic and made my rambling answers seem somewhat coherent. So kudos to them.

There were a couple of things that were somewhat funny. First, not being a big fan of my voice (though I will say; I got a great face for podcasting), I was surprised at how fast I speak. Second was a totally on the nose observation made by some of my close friends, each of whom said in a similar way that I'd totally fail the "lightning round" since there was just no way I could answer questions on food in a single word or sentence. I guess they know me well.

So, if after all this rambling you're still interested here's the link.

Kristy and Abby if you do read this post; thanks so much to the both of you for a wonderful experience. It was a pleasure.

And Chris, thanks….I think; for the recommendation.

And, I was also reminded of another one I did back in 2008 – here's the link from the wayback machine!

Thanks for stopping by!