Italian Restaurants – Page 10

Ch Ch Chain/Franchise-Red Brick Pizza. Healthy and good.

February 15, 2007 Cathy Italian Restaurants, What Cathy Eats!

Red Brick Pizza has closed.

mmm-yoso is not on vacation. Cathy is back to blogging about what she eats.

Hi. You do know, I am merely researching everything in sight, for your sake. Sometimes The Mister and I go to Starbucks and get some beverage and sit and read for a while. There is a Red Brick Pizza in the same mall as one of numerous Starbucks on Clairmont Mesa Boulevard. This one is near the Registrar of Voters Office (one block east of it). I will admit we have been curious. There were coupons online, so…that clinched it for us. (click here for lots of coupons)

So, the concept is the old brick oven to cook pizza dough…and the Red Brick people have superheated the oven ( I would bet with ceramics) so that it will cook the dough at 1000° in 3 minutes… hmmmm…fascinating. I love the concept of superconductivity. We decided to try a medium Chopped Italian salad ($6.49), which included artichoke hearts as well as salami, mozzarella, olives, tomatoes, pepperocinis, Parmesan and croutons. The lettuce was mostly Romaine and stayed crispy. There was a lot of cheese and meat on the salad. Easily it is for two people and could be a meal in itself. The dressing was a very good Italian.

The Mister decided to try a Fhazani™…a creation of the Red Brick Pizza people. Its a Fire roasted gourmet Italian sandwich basically the fire roasted pizza dough, cooked with toppings and then stuffed with fresh lettuce, tomatoes and served with salad dressings (Italian and a Ranch) on the side…so you can top or dip. ($6.50)
As you can see, its cut in half and seems quite large. The Mister got just the basic cheese Fhazani™, so we could see how it was.
From this view of the open dough, you can see it was stuffed quite well. It was very different, the hot and cold and fresh dough. It was quite good. Unique and tasty.

The best part about Red Brick Pizza is…the Italian ode to dessert- Gelato. They have a selection of about 50 gelato flavors and make 12 different ones fresh a day. This is a one serving cup ($2.60) but with two flavors in it- coconut and green apple.
Both flavors were *so wonderfully* concentrated and rich. I know I will stop in here in the summer just got a cup, if nothing else.

They sell "Party Paccos ™- party packs: A Sides Pacco™ is $9 and has 28 bite size appetizers (Breadsticks, mozzarella breadsticks, and Fire Roast Toast™); The Pizza Pacco™ is five nine inch pizzas with any one topping cut into 20 slices and costs $30; The Salad Pacco™ is a choice of any two chopped medium size salads for $12; The Fhazani Pacco™ is a choice of five Fhazani™'s cut into 20 pieces and the Gelato Pacco™- $12 for fresh packed gelato. All of these Paccos™ serve 6 to 8 people

The "Italian party!" which includes the Sides Pacco, the Salad Pacco, your choice of Fhazani™ or Pizza Pacco and the Gelato Pacco for $60 seems like a great bargain (especially with the gelato)

Red Brick Pizza,website, numerous locations.

Giovanni’s- Good Italian food

February 3, 2007 Cathy Italian Restaurants, Pizza, What Cathy Eats!

The part usually played by Kirk is once again being played by Cathy.

Hi. You have probably seen Giovanni’s, either on Clairmont Mesa or on Balboa and hopefully you have gone in. The Mister and I used to go to one or the other location on Football Saturdays to watch Our Team play college football, but alas, both places got to be too crowded with alumni, who all seem to have moved to Southern California after having spent one too many winter/snow seasons in the Great Lake State and so now out alumni now meet here on Saturdays between September and November and, ideally on January 1st.

So, anyhow… We used to meet here. This is the Giovanni’s on Clairmont Mesa, right next to the Registrar of Voters office. The menu is fairly extensive, with pizzas, sandwiches, salads, appetizers, pastas. They also serve breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday also, which was good when a football game started at noon on the east coast….although there were many times we had pizza or a sandwich for breakfast…along with whatever beer was on special…ah, when we were young, and didn’t sometimes have to work on a weekend…

So, on this day, The Mister and I wanted just a little bit to eat. We got the calamari appetizer ($5.75)

Light and crispy, lightly seasoned breading. The calamari rings were tender and not all rubbery. We also got the small antipasti salad ($6.75). That is a low bowl it’s served in, so there is a *lot* of lettuce, (romaine and iceberg) as well as olives, tomatoes, three meats and a really good provolone. Alas, they were out of anchovies that day, but, I lived. The dressing is a standard Italian and good.

We decided to share a cheese calzone. ..Its only $4.50…kind of looks small on the plate….but… it’s got a *very* thin, delicate crust…with good, sweet and olive oil flavors…and it’s FILLED with ricotta, provolone and Parmesan, as well as a small (just right) amount of the home made (i.e. chunky with tomatoes, onions, bay leaf and olive oil) marinara.

All in all, Giovanni’s has very good to excellent food, is large enough to accommodate large parties (and does, regularly…lots of after-soccer groups of teens and pre-teens meet here; there are video games in the back room) and is informal enough for a quick ‘date’ with someone for lunch…or breakfast on the weekend.

Giovanni’s 9353 Clairmont Mesa Boulevard San Diego 92111 (858) 279-6700 and 6133 Balboa Avenue (858) 278-9191

Tommy’s Italian Ristorante

November 30, 2006 Cathy Italian Restaurants, Pizza, What Cathy Eats!

mmm-yoso is not on vacation. Its just Cathy blogging today.

Hi. There is this place in El Cajon, on 2nd at Persimmon. Its been there for 30 years now, always owned by an Italian family.

The style of cooking here is Sicilian, which is to say, there are Greek, Arabic as well as Italian influences to the food…kind of like Puerto Rico is a US Territory and you would not say that Puerto Rican food is “American food”, Sicilian food is not totally Italian…Sicily is an island off the tip of the “boot”, therefore south of Naples and pretty much rivals Naples with flavors…using sardines and local seafood in a lot of the dishes as well as fresh (buffalo) mozzarella. Caponata (eggplant salad) is also a regional specialty.

Since we had eaten all we could for our Thanksgiving Day, the Mister and I decided some good, basic Italian was in order…nothing fancy.

We got the large antipasti salad …(Oh, and a side of anchovies for me). The salad was a nice antipasti, with mostly iceberg lettuce, lots of olives(The Mister *hates* olives, so all for me), a good Genoa salami and mortadella and a very nice provolone, topped with oil, vinegar and dried oregano. This was the large size ($9.95) and we had plenty to take home for tomorrow. If you get this salad as a “to go”, it comes in a small pizza box and there is even more lettuce.

The large cheese pizza arrived (we had a coupon for $3 off a large pizza..we did take home half of this and it made for a great breakfast and snack the next day).
I know, it kind of looks like its not done; the cheese isn’t burnt or bubbly…
but , as you can see from this cross section, its kind of all cheese and not much sauce, which is how I usually ask for it at some places where the sauce is too strong in flavor…here, the sauce is mostly chopped (canned, with a great flavor) tomatoes, oregano and olive oil..what The Mister and I consider “proper” pizza sauce (we spent some time in Italy many years ago).

There is a small Deli inside with a pretty good selection of Italian meats and cheeses, as well as other items imported from Italy. It doesn’t have the smell of a more authentic deli, Like Filippi’s in Little Italy…probably because there aren’t any dried salted fish here. The deli is a good source if you are in East County and don’t want to drive downtown. There are three different imported Panettones available for Christmas on sale now: Original, one with milk chocolate baked into the dough (the dough is part white and sort of striped with chocolate”sticks”) and one made with Limoncello cream…(lemon liqueur)…

Stop by if you are in the neighborhood; you’ll leave satisfied and happy.

Here are some pages from the rather large menu.

Tommy’s Italian Ristorante and Deli 1190 Second Avenue, El Cajon (619) 440-2676

Episode 9-Week2- Italia Ristorante

October 9, 2006 Cathy Italian Restaurants, What Cathy Eats!

Italia has closed

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

Happy Columbus Day! In honor of all of my Italian friends, today we can all be a little Italian…and will go to one of our favorite places not in Little Italy, Italia Ristorante, in Santee.

I must confess, I have an ulterior motive, besides really liking this place. There is a *lot* of construction going on on Mission Gorge Road and the left turn lane onto Carlton Hills is closed until January at least. All of the businesses in this area have seen a tremendous drop in foot traffic since the street has been narrowed. I do not want Italia to close.

The Mister and I have been to Italy. We liked the food. We like quality Italian food wherever we go. Italia has it. This is the whole menu. Fairly simple, quite elegant. Quality ingredients prepared fresh for you. We started out with the traditional "first date" appetizer- fried calamari. Lightly breaded rings and tentacles served with a fresh, warm marinara that is mostly crushed tomatoes and basil. ($7.95)

Then we shared the medium antipasto salad ($7.95) which had mortadella, salami, provolone, olives, marinated cauliflower, celery, carrots and red peppers, pepperocini and romaine lettuce. The side of anchovies is for me. (something else besides onions the Mister will not touch)

We ordered only one main course, knowing it was a large portion, and that came with either soup or salad. We got the minestrone soup, made with large chunks of celery, carrots, zucchini and had kidney beans also, all in a rich tomato broth.

The main course arrived, freshly made for us. Tortellini carbonara. Cheese tortellini, ham and mushrooms in a creamy Parmesan sauce. This sauce has garlic in it..and butter…and cream and its just wonderful! I have tried to make the sauce at home but cannot emulate it…I don't keep heavy cream around the house…

Italia Ristorante 8918 Carlton Hills Blvd (next to Al's Sports Shop at Mission Gorge) Santee 92071 (619) 449-7960

Open seven days a week, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Its worth the U-turns….

and when you leave, take a right onto Mission Gorge and just past the first light, at Fanita, on your left is Mary's Donuts…I told you about them in Episode 7…open 24/7…you won't need dessert after you eat at Italia, but for breakfast tomorrow…

Cathy's Favorite pasta dish

Cut 1/4 lb bacon into little pieces and cook until clear in a stick of butter. Heat 1 cup milk in small saucepan and add bacon and butter. Add 2 Tbs wine vinegar. This will turn the milk to cheese. Simmer for about 15 minutes until the sauce cooks smooth.

Boil your favorite pasta al dente (1 lb), drain (do not rinse) and return to pan. Immediately toss in two whipped eggs, the above sauce and 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan or Romano cheese, salt and pepper. Toss and serve.

Taste of Italy Hillcrest

December 11, 2005 mmm-yoso Italian Restaurants, Sandwiches

When we first moved to San Diego in ’01, Taste of Italy in Hillcrest was a part of our rotation.

Not for the Pasta(ok), or Pizzas(borderline lousy), but for the Sandwiches, especially the Chicken Pomodoro Sandwich. The sandwich was excellent, served on a crusty toasted roll, with moist chicken, and provolone cheese, in a slightly spicy tomato, garlic(lots of garlic), and basil, sauce. It was Delici-yoso!!! And priced right, $5.95. After about a year, the price was raised to $7.95, and fries were added. We still thought that the prices were ok. But after about six months the price was increased to $8.95, and we had hit our limit. And so Taste of Italy had dropped off our radar, until last week, when we decided to pay a visit to Taste of Italy in Hillcrest for lunch. Even though it was 1120, there was no one in the restaurant. As we walked in we kinda just waited around, no one even attempted to seat us! How very odd! Finally, someone dressed in "Kitchen Whites" motioned to us, to have a seat. Meanwhile several people were milling behind the counter and just ignored us. We sat, and in a few minutes, a Young Lady, walked up to us, and kinda did nothing….after telepathy ordering failed, we had to ask for our menus, which we finally got:

And Holy Crap, the sandwiches were now 10 bucks! But since we were here, we had committed to this meal, and who knows, maybe the sandwiches were a whole lot better! Next funny thing; the Gal came up and asked us if we were ready to order, which we were. But she then grabbed the menus and walked away without taking our order. How very strange….. She came back about a minute later with an ordering pad and we proceeded to order. We were asked if we wanted soup or salad, and I thought, "hey, adding soup or salad, and raising the price maybe ain’t so bad". So we placed our order. Another odd thing; at about this time we noticed that we didn’t have any napkins or silver, and none had been delivered. We mentioned this to the Gal when she brought our water. Soon our salads arrived; I ordered mine with Balsamic Dressing:

When the salads arrived, I asked for napkins. The Gal apologized and said that the Server for the lunch shift had not come in yet(it was noon), and She’s the Cashier(I guess there’s no cross training). But at least she brought us water. After several minutes I got up and walked up to the counter and asked the Gal for napkins, she gave me a stack of 10 – I guess she wanted to make sure that we didn’t run out of napkins! Back to the food; the dressing waaaay to sour, but the worst thing about the salad, was that there was a rather deep pool of water at the bottom of the bowl, the greens had not been drained properly. When we were through(notice I didn’t say finished) with our salads, the Young Lady came up to use and oddly asked if we were ready for our sandwiches. I thought that was odd, until I heard and realized that she was telling the kitchen to start firing up our sandwiches! She then came back and cleared the salad bowls. So after another rather long pause our sandwiches arrived. The Missus had ordered the long awaited Chicken Pomodoro Sandwich($10):

First thing I asked, was where are the "Italian Chips", the menu clearly states that all sandwiches come with chips. Well, we come to find out, that it’s a choice of soup, salad, or chips, even though the menu doesn’t say that. Oh, and the sandwich was fairly terrible. The former sauce, had been replaced with some mushy sauteed tomatoes, of which only the skin was left, the garlic taste was lacking, there was very little basil. And worse of all they put mayo on this sandwich, which really made everything taste terrible. The chicken was very dry and tough. And still no silver, so anything that fell out we would have to pick up with our hands and eat, but we usually just let them lie in state on the plate.

I ordered the Salsiccia Sandwich($10):

This was an Italian Sausage Sandwich with sauteed onions and peppers in a Pinot Grigio Arrabiatta sauce. Looks pretty good doesn’t it? Well the other half of the sandwich looked like this:

All of the sauteed veggies were placed on one half of the sandwich. Which would have been no problem since I could just move them myself; IF I HAD GOTTEN AT LEAST A FORK!!!!! But I guess they think using our fingers would just suit us….. This sandwich was not bad, the arrabiatta sauce was quite tasty, and the bread was well toasted, and the peppers and onions were well flavored. But the sausage was really not very good, and quite dry to boot. At the end of this so called "meal" we didn’t even get our check; the Missus went up to the counter to ask for and pay our bill. I pity the ONE other table that was there. I wonder what happened with their lunch. I did see one of the Gentlemen actually walk to the counter and get water for the others at the table. Seems like the Taste of Italy had become a self-service institution.

I retrospect this was almost so pathetic as to be funny. I know that the Young Lady is the "Cashier", but apparently common sense was on Holiday. So what happens when your Server doesn’t show? In places I worked, the Manager takes over, or someone is called in. Or maybe, God forbid, she was the Manager!!!!! I almost told the Young Lady not to quit Her day job, but then I realized, it was Lunch, and this could possibly be her "day job". In the end Taste of Italy, became a waste of time and money. We won’t be back.

So here’s the info for ~~Waste~~ Taste of Italy:

Taste of Italy Hillcrest
1013 University Avenue
San Diego, CA 92103