Chains – Page 10

Episode Six. Week one-Tugboat Fish & Chips #18

October 6, 2006 Cathy Chains, What Cathy Eats!

mmm-yoso is on vacation. The part usually played by Kirk will be played by Cathy in the interim.

So, the San Diego County Fair is over and you have been good for what, three months, now? No fried olives or avocadoes on a stick, or deep fried Twinkies, Snickers, or asparagus. No batter fried Australian potatoes, 10 pound loaves of bread, or plate of pesto pasta ( a favorite of the Mister). The cinnamon rolls were great, again this year, as were the giant pickles, BBQ chicken and cream puffs. The San Diego County Fair, 5th largest in the US, is history.

The Ginsu knives are also history, along with the jewelry cleaner, mink oil for your hands, the eyeglass cleaner. You can’t find either of your "Incredible Mops" (if you bought one, you got the other free). The Russian nesting dolls are getting dusty, the healing crystals don’t heal. That belt buckle is someplace-you’ll find it in time to use as a Christmas gift. Hopefully you are still using the Bamix and Vitamix machines, at least once a week, if not daily, and that sewing/embroidery serger machine has been put to good use also. The pickled garlic was nice to eat, the soup mixes are somewhere in the back of the cupboard and that prize winning strawberry jam was *really* good. (OK, the photos were taken before the Fair opened, but the look is the same as when they had to break it down).

So, that craving has returned. Deep fried something. Tugboat Fish & Chips fits the bill. The location, in Lemon Grove, has been there for at least three years now…and it is officially know as Tugboat Fish & Chips #18. There are at least 17 others around the state. None in SD County as far as I can tell. There is no main website for the company: its "under Construction".

Here is the menu. Look carefully. The only items not fried are the coleslaw and the beverages.

Oh…. yeah.

So, it being Friday and all, and me in my "just in case" way of living, well fish and chips are the way to go. Those of us who grew up in the Midwest fondly remember ‘fish fry friday’ and this is as close as I can find out here without driving to Point Loma Seafoods.

This is the two piece meal ($6.39). The fish is Pollock, in good sized pieces, not the pre-formed cod stuff. The batter is more "London" style, not all beer batter/fluffy and cakey. In fact, the malt vinegar made the flavor of the crust improved and there were references to London as part of the decor, along with Beatles music being played as part of the "ambiance". Lots of fries served with each plate: generic, but not greasy or bad per se.

These are condiments on the table. The tartar sauce served is smooth, not chunky and very good. The cocktail sauce is mild but has a nice horseradish flavor.

The side order of fried oysters was pretty good ($ 2.99), they were juicy, but I know made from either jarred oysters or were frozen and already battered . The batter is made of cornmeal. Still, when I have a craving….

This is the fish and clam plate ($6.99). Clam strips, one piece of fish. Lots of food.

The coleslaw dressing had a touch of vinegar taste to it, like the Marzettis from a jar.

We have had the shrimp platter, the vegetable platter, the seafood platter, the fried mushrooms (you get five) and the fried zucchini. The scallops were not that thrilling.

The family who works there are very friendly and honest. The food is not bad, not greasy. The iced tea is brewed, not instant.

You can phone in an order and pick it up. Tugboat fulfills many cravings.

Tugboat Fish & Chips 8047 Broadway, Lemon Grove 91945

(619) 465-7060 Mon-Sat 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., closed Sunday

……………………………………………………………………………………….

Just a reminder- Oktoberfest in the Village of La Mesa started today. The food, entertainment and street sales of crafts will be going on Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday noon until 6 p.m. Admission is free. You can take the orange or green trolley line to get there.

Ch-Ch-Chain: Chipotle

January 4, 2006 mmm-yoso Chains, Mexican Restaurants

~~Chi-poodle~~, um, Chipotle is one of the "regular stops" for our office. To the extent that we’ve won a few "free lunches" for the office. You know how those work, you throw a business card in a glass jar, and they make a weekly drawing. And sometimes you do win! Chipotle is one of those "Fast Casual" chains, and subsidiary of McDonald’s Corporation, that serves modified "Mexican Food".

You can tell when a restaurant becomes a regular part of the work rotation when you give it a nickname. I’ve started calling Chipotle, "The Poodle", as in "Chi-poodle". Not to slight Chipotle, but if you like a salty, drenched in sour cream, burrito stuffed with rice and beans, and pay 6 bucks for it, Chipotle is your place.

One of the great things about Chipotle, especially for our office is that you can fax in your order by filling out one of these handy-dandy order sheets:

When I order form Chipotle, I’m strictly a vegetarian, yes, VEGETARIAN. I’ve tried all of the "meats", and really don’t care for them. So what I get is a Burrito "Bowl"(you can tell how much I love the tortillas here), with Black Beans, Corn Salsa, Hot Salsa, Sour Cream, Guacamole(extra $1.40), Cheese, and Chips(45 cents).

Can you imagine all of that in a Burrito, along with some "meat", sheesh! I mix everything together and use it as a "dip". The only thing is, that it costs me almost 7 bucks! To be perfectly honest, this veggie bowl is alot better then some other "Fast-Casual" offerings I’ve eaten.

I do enjoy the rather large portion of chips that have been flavored with a lime-salt. Nice and salty, and tastes rather good with the "Veggie-Bowl".

So I’m satisfied just to be able to fit in, at least I know I can order something from "The Poodle".

Question – The quickest way to turn me vegetarian?

The Answer – Keep ordering from all these "Fast-Casual" restaurants.

Chipotle – Coming to a neighborhood near you!

Ch-ch-chain: Popeye’s

November 1, 2005 mmm-yoso American/New American Restaurants, Chains

I think most of you know my Mutts, Frankie and Sammy:

Now why the silly look on Sammy’s face? well, he’s just heard his favorite word in the world; "Bubbles". You see, Sammy lives for his "Bubble Buddy" flavored bubbles; just mention the word and he’ll stick his head up "huh?" And run to the backdoor, panting, with his tongue hanging out, sometimes barking with a desperate "rawr-rawr-rawrrrr", or sometimes he’ll do all his "tricks", in order; down, sit, beg, shake hands, roll-over, give me 10. If we’re on a walk, he’ll grab his own leash and run home. It’s gotten to the point that we have to spell out, B-U-B-B-L-E-S whenever we talk, god forbid he learn to spell!

Now what the heck does Sammy have to do with Popeye’s Fried Chicken you may ask? Well, not to long ago, a friend of mine told me; "You know, Kirk, there’s not much that differentiates us from animals. Just a few thin strands of DNA." Well I’ve found the truth in this when it comes to Popeye’s:

We’ll be watching television, and the Missus would say; "Popeye’s?", and I’d run to the front door keys in hand, panting, tongue half hanging from my mouth, saying; "Ok, ok, let’s go."(rawr-rawr-rawrrrr?) If she doesn’t think that we should go, I start doing all of my tricks; mostly hints like "Popeye’s would reaaallly be good", and such. (Maybe rollover might work?) It’s a darn good thing that I can spell P-O-P-E-Y-E-‘S, though if she said it in Mandarin, I may not understand.

I’ll put up with alot for my Popeye’s; the ever shrinking pieces of chicken, the blase’ service, even the fact that they regularly run out of spicy pieces. But for us, Popeye’s is only for chicken nothing else. Frankly the sides, suck. The fries are usually soggy in a minute, the cole slaw tastes funny, the mash potatoes and gravy has bits of pan scum, and though the Missus likes the Red Beans and Rice. We once left them in the frig, and when opened the next morning a whole layer of white waxy saturated fat was revealed. The onion rings used to be good, until they changed them to something called "Onion Stix", that look like left over pieces of onions dipped in batter and fried.

Yes, it’s just chicken, nice and juicy, spicy, with a streak of spices running down the inside, crunchy on the outside, chicken:

It’s usually the Dark Meat(w/Tabasco) for me, and the Breast and Wings for the Missus and the Boyz. The next day, it’s the leftover pieces and some Musubi (onigiri). Prices? Well there’s always some deal going on; 13 pieces for $11.99, 9 pieces for $7.99, 15 pieces for your old used car or boat.

Oh, and don’t get on my case about making fried chicken. I do know how to make it. But after 10 hours of work, and a week of oncall, I ain’t going to get the kitchen all greasy!

Just give me Popeye’s. I guess, Sammy and I are alot "closer" then I thought, maybe he really is my son?

Popeye’s – They’re everywhere!

Hey, don’t forget about me…..

Ch-Ch-Chain: Rockin’ Baja Lobster

October 17, 2005 mmm-yoso Chains

*** Rockin’ Baja Lobster no longer offers the Buffet.

I’m sure you know of places like "Baja Lobster", a "Coastal Mexican Cantina & Grill" that’s really a theme chain restaurant in disguise. You’ve seen those commercials, drunken Gringos, dancing in a conga line to Kool and the Gang, or faux Mariachi Music. A good time to be had by all; the life of the party! This is probably the last place in the world you’d expect to find me; in a usually crowded, sometimes tourist filled destination, in the land of eternal Happy Hour! But there is something that I do enjoy about Baja Lobster, during the off-season, it’s pretty quiet, and there’s a $7.99 lunch buffet that has a Caesar Salad that I really enjoy.

Well, surprises of surprises, when we arrived the buffet is now $8.99. Well, we were here so might as well grab a bite anyway. Oh, and by the way, when is a Buffet not "pronto". As we entered we could smell the remains of last night’s "festivities", you see the scent of Lysol was still very strong. Obviously some person or persons probably had a bit too much "fun" last night! The dining area is a courtyard that’s been covered, sort of leaving everything in a state of terminal dusk, hey it’s always Happy Hour here right? There’s a waterfall with plastic and real crab shells and other sea creatures creating some nice "white noise".

Since I decided to not do the buffet, I looked over the menu and ordered the California Chicken Melt($7.50), and the Waitress informed me that I could go ahead and help myself to the salad bar. So I was in luck, I’d get my salad anyway!

The most interesting item at the salad bar, was a orange – brown – grey mass, looking for all the world like Hummus on steroids. It’s actually Honey- Chili Butter; which you can spread on some of the warm tortillas that are provided. The Caesar Salad was good, with the salty, creamy dressing, you could also distinctly taste the anchovy. We did detect a change in the dressing though; there used to a good amount of creamy cheese in the dressing, that component seemed to be missing. After a short wait my Chicken Sandwich arrived:

More appropriately, this should be called an Avocado Sandwich with a chicken garnish. I don’t think I’ve ever had so much avocado on a sandwich. It’s probably for the best, the chicken breast fillet was dry and tasteless, but the avocado and bacon were tasty. I enjoyed the fries, they were flavored with chili powder and tasted great with the Aioli, which I think was for the sandwich, but I used them for the fries. Overall, not a bad lunch.

You can still get a Caesar Salad if you want to($5.95):

Or even the buffet, and not have to worry about the Conga Line, or crowds – if you go for lunch……

‘Rockin’ Baja Lobster
3890 Twiggs St
San Diego, CA 92110

Ch-Ch-Chain: Fuddruckers – What the Fudd is this about?

September 8, 2005 mmm-yoso American/New American Restaurants, Burgers, Chains

Yes, yes, I know it's a "Chain" but after Sarah's post on Wahoo's on The Delicious Life, I thought I'd work on my backlog of these chain type establishments. Seeing as I now take my camera almost everywhere! Ch-ch-chain, Chain of Fools……

I've passed a few locations of Fuddruckers, but have always been hesitant to stop and check it out. Probably because the name is really somewhat unsavory in my opinion. After all the first part 'Fudd' rhymes with Mudd, Dudd, and for some reason the word "Rug" keeps popping up. As for the "ruckers" part, um, well, let's just "pass" on that one……

This location in Mission Valley used to be a Koo Koo Roo (I believe they're owned by the same parent company). As a matter of fact a friend of mine used to be a regular customer, I'm guessing one of the few customers! This same friend has recently converted to a Vegetarian lifestyle, loss of her patronage is what probably put this location of Koo Koo Roo out of business. Well anyway, I decided to give ~~Fudgepa,~~ um, Fuddruckers a try. After all they modestly claim to serve "The World's Greatest Hamburgers", yeah, right!

I entered and walked up to the counter and the very "chipper" Gal greeted me with "Welcome to, blah, blah, blah…" the rest was a blur, she spoke so fast she should be reading the "fine print" for those car commercials. Somehow, I managed to order the 1/2lb Swiss Melt ($5.65), and even made it a combo ($3.45). I paid, and sudden a cheer of "YAY!!!" was exclaimed by all the Employees, had me somewhat befuddled. Did they all just get raises, did the restaurant change it's name, are they happy that I actually paid for my food? Well no; it seems that if they ask you if this is your first visit, and you're foolish enough to answer yes, they give you some kind of cheer. Could I please return to planet Earth now?

Along with the receipt, I was given was this:

Yes, it was some kind of Atomic Coaster, there was a flashing red light, and everything! I figured if you were a bad customer, they'd press a button, and POOF! Your name is Fudd…. About that time another "chipper" Young Lady wearing a Fuddruckers uniform came by and introduced herself; "Hi, I'm blah, blah ,blah…" guess what, another auctioneer in training. I moved to another table and she followed, I moved to another table and she followed again. I was starting to get really afraid. I was being followed by a Fuddrucker! A few moments later my "coaster" flew off the table, all lights flashing – I guess my burger had reached "DefCon 1".

I went and picked up my burger and headed of to the dressing and condiment bar. There were at least a dozen different dressings, with at least three types of mustard! The good; well you can really "have it your way". The bad; if this is the "World's Best Burger" why would you have to drench it in BBQ sauce? I did like the condiment bar, though. And every thing's marked with clear signage, except where the damned straws are!!! Even my own personal "Fuddrucker" couldn't find it!

So the burger? Well as mentioned, I ordered a 1/2lb burger, but can you find it? I guess it's the old "before cooking" fine print. I did enjoy the mushrooms, and grilled onions. The burger was juicy, though kinda tough, and pretty much tasteless – that's why you get all those dressings! Nothing worse than an under seasoned burger. The fries were the wedge type and well seasoned with salt, pepper, and what looked like paprika. These tasted pretty good.

World's Greatest Hamburger? Not even close. Though the prices really aren't that bad. Ostrich, and other "exotic" burgers are offered, though, if my burger was tough, can you imagine how Buffalo or Ostrich would be? Also, maybe it's a product of my cynical attitude, but I have a real problem with a place that needs to put you into a "good mood" to prepare you for the food……

Fuddruckers coming to a failed strip mall business near you……

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31