Category: Blog

JJ would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!

Hope everyone has a joyous time! And keeps dry and safe!

“Whaddya mean dey is no Santa Paws! I just meet him!”

Merry Christmas everyone!

JJ would like to wish everyone the most lovely Valentine's Day! Of course, I was wishing to get a decent photo of JJ with the cute shirt his Auntie "Alle" got him, but sometimes….well, that's not going to happen.

So, I'll just have to take what I can get!

We just got back from Santa Barbara…yep, JJ has already done two road trips…. and saw this cute "VD" display.

Though JJ was more interested in getting some royalties for use of his name!

Anyway, we'd like to wish everyone a most "delici-yoso" Valentine's Day!

Oh my, how I hate doing these type of posts. But the recent earthquake in Hualien is such sad and devastating news. To think, we arrived in Hualien on 04/04/2023….exactly a year ago today. Taiwan really left an indelible mark on us; we loved our time there, the food was great, but it was the people we loved the most.

I really am at a loss for words, so I'll just post this.

You know, I hate doing these type of posts. But the scope of the tragedy is horrific. And, I'm not sure that you know this, but my Mom was born and raised on Maui. She was born in Lahaina and graduated from Lahainaluna High School. My Grandfather, from Fukushima Japan first set foot on American soil in Lahaina. My Grandmother, a picture bride arrived sometime after. They both lived their entire lives on Maui, they never left. They were the last of my maternal side of the family living there. 

Just reading about the loss of life and destruction has been heart wrenching. Reading about the Hongwanji that my Mom belonged to and would always tell me about attending the Bon Dances there burning down……looking on the maps and seeing the last apartment my Jichan lived in when my Ba-ba was taken to Kula Sanitarium had burned to the ground. And of course there's the Banyan Tree, a place my Mom would always take me when we visited. I still have photos……from film cameras….some in black and white of me playing around the tree.

Here's a photo from when the Missus and I last visited.

This hits close to home for me.

I don't have family remaining on the Valley Isle, but I've heard from FOY RonR who is ok. And also a couple of other folks I know. Thankfully, they are also fine, if a bit shaken.

As for that Banyan Tree, well at last check it was scorched but still standing. My hopes are that the devastation and destruction is soon totally resolved and that the people of Maui can start rebuilding. I am so sad at the loss of life, even wondering in this day and age how this could have happened so suddenly.

I wasn't sure that I'd be able to express the true heart wrenching sadness I feel and I realize that I am not up to that. So thanks for accommodating the ramblings of an ineloquent, inarticulate, straight talking, Sansei from Hawaii.

I think FOY BarbaraP who contacted me asking about family and such "back home" wrote it best:

A couple of things I've seen recently.

Kumo is Still Not Open – Or Are They?:

**** You can read my post on Kumo here.

During a recent visit to Sue's Korean Kitchen (post coming up), I noticed that Kumo, the Japanese Sando Shop that was supposed to open in Summer of 2021 still hasn't opened. Last I heard they were supposed to open in "spring" of 2022 due to permitting issues. Their website says "end of January"…..well call me a cynic, but it doesn't say what year? And it's already the end of February.

Strange, I'm wondering if they'll ever open.

6755 Mira Mesa Blvd.
Suite 108
San Diego, CA 92121

Ssong's Hot Dog and Urban Bubble Coming to Kearny Mesa:

Notice this while driving on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard.

Ssong's is one of those Korean Hot Dog franchises that are popping up everywhere. I believe the first US location was in Maryland.

Of course more Korean style Hot Dogs and Boba is what we need in the area, right?

Anyway, the place looks like it's pretty close to opening.

8055 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92111

Mariscos El Cata Coming to Old Town:

Remember Yum Yum Africa, the restaurant in Old Town that seemed to have never opened? Well, I saw some new signage up in that location the other day.

Looks like this will be a Mariscos place named El Cata. A quick search reveals this Facebook page. Looks like this is an offshoot from a restaurant in Tijuana and the photos looks promising.

Here's hoping things work out. 

2543 Congress St.
San Diego, CA 92110

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday!

 

Sorry about the lack of posts. I'm certain that many of you have been encountering 503 errors when trying to access our humble little blog.

This has been going on for two weeks. This past weekend Typepad moved to a new server. Unfortunately there are now even more problems. The foremost being the inability to upload photos to posts.

In case you're wondering; here are the links to the Twitter posts -I would do screenshots, but of course I can't upload images.

1583747089292369920

1585364937140236288

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And then of course, there's more "fun" instore:

"Typepad will be conducting additional maintenance this coming weekend to address lingering issues as part of the continued migration to the new data center."

I'm still eating and taking photos of food and hopefully will be back posting soon!

I'll respond to comments when I'm able. Sorry to say that I'm not receiving comments and notifications (i.e. my Help Ticket updates) until sometimes 12 hours after the comments posted.

Wish me luck!

Here are a couple of places I've seen while driving around during the last couple of weeks.

Ju-ichi Taking Over the Sushi Yaro Spot:

I was quite sad when I found out that Sushi Yaro was closing at the end of last year. While driving on Engineer Road I noticed an Application for Ownership Change in the window so I went to check things out.

   It seems that a a business named "Ju-ichi" was taking over the location. I did a quick check and found that Ju-ichi is currently a catering company that specializes in "Sushi Boards"; something they called "Charcuterie of the Sea".Currrently located in what seems to be a ghost kitchen in Old Town. According to that article; they are set to open in May.

7905 Engineer Road
San Diego, CA 92111

Kusina Replacing Boss Bird (Miramar): 

**** You can find a post on Kusina here.

I had heard that Boss Bird Kitchen had relocated to La Mesa a while back; but was surprised to see some new signage up in the old Miramar location rather quickly.

   For a place named "Kusina". According to their Facebook site, they are already in soft opening mode – looking at the menu; it seems Filipino, Asian-Pacific Rim focused. 

I think we've kinda been down that road here before with Sarap and Gaya Gaya. This will be the fifth restaurant in this spot since 2017……

7580 Miramar Rd
San Diego, CA 92126

Tora Tora Replacing Sandwich Emporium (Mira Mesa):

During a takeout visit to Max's (post upcoming), I drove over to what used to be the Mira Mesa location of Sandwich Emporium. Looks like it'll be a nigiri concept named "Tora Tora"……now really, I know that Tora" means Tiger in Japanese….but being from Hawaii, it also has a deeper personal meaning to me. I'll just leave it at that.

I heard that this was a new concept by the owner of Ototo. 

8155 Mira Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92126

And one more…….

I also took a quick peek to see what was going on at what is supposed to be the new location of Golden Chopsticks.

Well…..I guess we'll have to wait a bit longer for our Salt and Pepper Chickens wings……

Just a quick thank you to everyone for taking the time out to read and even comment on our posts. We are so very thankful for that in these times. 

The Missus is busy at work the next couple of days; so I made a nice dinner for Her last night….I know, it's not traditional and all, but She enjoyed it.

I wonder how all of you are doing and hope you are all safe and well.

I took this photo this morning after running some early morning errands and realized how thankful I am to live where we do, to still be in good health, and to still be able to enjoy life.

Thanks everyone from the bottom of our hearts!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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!

Is a question I've gotten in a few comments and to my surprise in a couple of emails as well.

In some ways, it was quite nice knowing that at least a few folks like those travel posts…….I never quite knew if people actually did. Thanks especially to "Kerri" who made my day with a lovely email.

There are/were a couple of reasons why I've held off on doing those posts.

The first being, that I wasn't sure how all this travel stuff would come across….folks not being able to go anywhere right now. Having to cancel our planned trips really drove home how sad and depressing being unable to travel right now is. But one sentence in Kerri's  email – "Love your blog, can't wait to hear the stories because we can't go anywhere right now." Really changed my mind about that.

Secondly, when doing my travel posts, I try to "get things right" as much as possible. So this means those posts actually take 2-3 times as long as my basic "stream of consciousness" restaurant/cooking posts. Things have been pretty busy for me, though I've now had three full days off since mid-February and my weekend work now comprises of just a couple of hours. So, I'll soon have more time.

And I do enjoy doing those posts, whether it's a place that is well known, iconic, a landmark.

Or places a little less known…..

And oh my, the history!

I've had the honor of sharing those places with you……

I've had the privilege of visiting places that a young, poor kid from Honolulu could only dream about.

One that never left the state of Hawaii until the age of 30, crazy huh?

And the Missus always has some interesting adventures in mind……

So let me get my act together as things are starting to somewhat "normalize"…….

 

I often consider my blog posts as sort of entries in my own personal diary of food and travel experiences……

And I thank you for visiting and sharing in them with us!