As in, yoso-silly, yoso-hungry, yoso-full, or best of all; mmm-delici-yoso!!!!! A San Diego based food and travel blog. An Ex-Pat Kama'aina and Friends explore food, restaurants, and travel from San Diego and points beyond.
Today, mmm-yoso!!! is being written by Cathy. Kirk and His Missus are busy researching future posts, elsewhere.
My most recent Casa Blanca post was written in 2017. It's time for an update. This family owned, longtime (since 2007) restaurant has withstood the test of time and of Covid-19. Warm chips and fresh made salsa are brought out while you are perusing the menu. The Mister (once again) ordered the Mexican Scampi ($15.95). Butterflied shrimp sautéed in butter, wine, chili powder and garlic served with Mexican (veggie) rice. Plump shrimp, flavorful sauce and rice. Always satisfying. As with my post in 2014 (and 2017)., a cup of the Rancho Pinto Bean Soup was ordered ($4.95; a bowl is $8.95). This meat filled (bacon, sausage chorizo) bean soup really is a craving for me and always is satisfying. A Coctele Del Mar ($13.95) with shrimp (no octopus was available this day, or I would have ordered the combination of seafoods) was a bright, fresh and flavorful, satisfying meal. The plump, large shrimp are served in a lime juice based sauce filled with fresh chopped cucumbers, onion, tomato and cilantro which is topped with avocado.
This local Mexican restaurant serves a very nice brunch and has a Monday-Friday lunch menu.
La Casa Blanca 9570 Murray Drive La Mesa, CA 91942 (619) 466-2912 Website Open Mon-Sat 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
We left Zion fairly early in the morning. I was looking forward to our next stop; Monument Valley…after all, my late Mom was a big time Western fan, and I recognized photos from Monument Valley as scenes from some of her favorite Westerns. Plus, Monument Valley, located in both Arizona and Utah and on the Navajo Nation Reservation is not quite as heavily visited as other places we've been to.
We headed out the East exit of Zion National Park, down the 89 thru Kanab. We decided to stop in Page, which we were somewhat familiar with, to grab some provisions and for a coffee break. We took a short stop at the Glen Canyon Dam Bridge before heading into Page.
A nice little stop to stretch our legs…..
In Page we stopped to fuel up and then at the Safeway for water and a couple of other items; then drove over to LP Espresso for our caffeine fix.
Part espresso/coffee bar, part wine/beer pub, the young ladies were very friendly, though our Espresso and my Cold Brew (???) took a while.
There's not much choice for decent coffee in Page……so we took what we could get.
LP Espresso 612 North Navajo Drive Page, AZ 86040
From here we headed down the 98, then to the 160 East. At the point where we needed to take the 163 (no, not THAT 163) North to get to Monument Valley is the town of Kayenta, which is part of the Navajo Nation. I had marked off a place to grab lunch, Amigo Cafe, mainly because I wanted some Fry Bread.
The restaurant is located past the usual fast-food suspects, right as you take the left onto highway 163.
All the tables were cleaned super well, all employees (and customers we saw) wore masks. The staff was friendly and warm.
The Missus got Pork Posole with Fry Bread ($10).
Which was on the bland side and really needed more porkiness and seasoning. The base also needed more chili paste as this was lacking in the fruity-smokiness of dried Guajillo and Ancho chilies. The Fry Bread was light, crisp, and yeasty, reminding the Missus of youtiao.
She was also provided with some pretty plain guacamole and chips.
I got the "Navajo Taco" ($11).
Basically Fry Bread (think of it as a unsweetened funnel cake if you will) with a smear of refried beans, shredded lettuce, onion, and tomato. A side of Spanish rice was also provided. Very Ameri-Mex toppings.
Well, the fry bread was a bit oily, but yeasty, and I got to try it out.
The folks working seemed to know all the other customers, so I'm guessing quite a few locals eat here. The service was very nice and efficient and I thought prices were quite reasonable.
Amigo Cafe US Hwy 163 Kayenta, AZ 86033
From Kayenta you head up Highway 163 and then take a right on Indian Route 42 right after crossing the border to Utah. Taking the right on the roundabout takes you right back into Arizona, take a left, you're in Utah….straight ahead is Mexican Hat. Many folks stay at Goulding's Lodge down Monument Valley Road. But I decided that we should stay in the only hotel in Monument Valley; the View Hotel. There's only one entrance to Monument Valley, you drive up to the booth and pay the entrance fee, $20 per vehicle. We got to the hotel; which was also under Covid restrictions, so the restaurant was closed and so forth, a bit early. So of course the Missus wanted to "stretch Her legs"……. There are two hikes in the area; the Wildcat Trail and the Lee Cly trail, a 2 mile loop that we took. These are the only two hikes you could take without a Navajo guide. The trail starts just East of the hotel.
And yes, Monument Valley was every bit as beautiful as I thought.
From the left to the right; the "West Mitten", the "East Mitten", and "Merrick Butte".
A wonderful, pretty easy hike to the South of the hotel.
Upon completing the hike our room was ready. The View has hotel rooms, cabins, and a camping area. I took a top floor room for both this view at dusk.
And the night sky…..it was so totally dark, we saw so many falling stars……
Because of Covid, the hotel restaurant was closed, but bag meals, basically brown bag sandwiches and chips were provided. We were enjoying the view so much that we really didn't fdeel like driving out for dinner. Also, no alcohol can be sold on the Navajo Nation.
We walked over to the gift shop before picking up our sack meal. We really liked the gift shop and ended up buying some certified Navajo items as gifts.
It was so quiet, we slept so soundly, and got up before sunrise the next morning, because we wanted to see this.
Beautiful, isn't it?
We had a full day planned out with a Navajo guide and were really looking forward to that!
Thanks for stopping by!
Postscript (04/18/2022) – this one is for FOY Junichi who said he enjoys the Westerns filmed in Monument Valley:
I was quite excited to hear the news that Michelin recognized Tacos Tuetano was opening in Old Town. For me, this marks what could possibly be a long overdue revitalization of Old Town eateries for locals. I had visited the location in San Ysidro once, but hadn't returned in ages before they moved and shuttered.
I/we have visited Tuetano about a dozen times since they've opened in Old Town and this post is long overdue.
I guess that one of the reasons I've taken so long on this post is that every couple of visits there's something new.
First was the addition of Mar Rustico; a Mariscos Place.
Then the shops in the back; of which we haven't partaken yet.
During the last two visits; the wine shop next door has opened, but were closed during our visits.
Also, the ordering can be confusing….on certain days you would have to go down the side of the dining area to order the birria and tuetano, then to Mar Rustica counter to get Mariscos, then off to the drink station to order drinks. The last couple of times we've gone on slow days (i.e. Monday) and at off hours and would then order from the drinks counter. You get a one of those buzzer things and sometimes you pick up your order and sometimes they'll bring it to you……
It's interesting when you do order from all three places and try to get things in a cohesive manner.
We love the al fresco dining when the weather is pleasant….though it's not as much fun when it is chilly or windy. Of course this is San Diego…….
I think the one thing that really got my attention having been to the San Ysidro location were the prices; at the old location a birria taco + bone marrow was $6.75. Here…well, it's $11….call it the Old Town mark-up if you will.
Since we've tried a bunch of items here; I thought I'd list out our picks and pans…..
Favorites:
During the recent cooler weather, I would usually order the consomme with birria ($9) with a side of bone marrow ($7). This is not your side order-after thought birria consomme as there's a good amount of birria in the nicely flavored broth. Also a good quantity of onions and cilantro and the broth is well seasoned with a pleasant amount of acidity. My drill consists of picking out the bone marrow and using that to top the tacos I make with the nicely soaked birria and then pouring all the rendered beef fat/marrow liquid into the soup. Be still my heart…literally. I will say the on one occasion I had a bone with less than a teaspoon of marrow in it and when Tuetano first opened the birria had a tendency to be on the tough side. But not on recent visits.
The Missus loves the Smoked Marlin Burrito ($16), though they've often out of it.
The wonderfully smoked fish is moist and seasoned nicely and we've never experienced any "off flavors". The Missus loves that the tortillas have been nicely griddled on the comal. As you can tell; these aren't huge, but they are mighty tasty with a squeeze of lime.
And of course the reason most people come here….the Birria Tuetano ($11).
Yes, $11 is pretty steep, but when it's good, it's very good. I will say, I've had this a few times when the birria was too tough, but recently it seems they've got things right. A nice bit of spice, onions and cilantro to cut the richness, and bone marrow to add that decadent beefy-richness back in…a squeeze of lime. The Missus likes the simple chili de arbol "salsa", but it detracts from the enjoyment to me.
It doesn't get much better than this….
Decent:
If I'm hungry I'll get the Birria Torta…..the price differs depending on the day; I've had it for $18 and for $16……
The bollilo roll on both occasions was toasted perfectly and held up for the entire meal. That griddled queso, while being a bit mild in flavor was a nice touch. The birria in the torta is on the drier and chewier side. The pickled onions adds pungency and there's always a ton of cilantro to add even more citrusy-pungent tones to the torta. On one occasion, I added in a side of bone marrow a rich – buttery addition to the torta.
We tried the Quesa-Taco once and thought it was ok.
The birria was dry and too chewy on this visit; though we loved the griddled tortilla with the cheese to protect it from getting soggy. I guess we missed the bone marrow? Or maybe we just should have ordered a side of it with this?
Pans:
The two items we didn't care for came from Mar Rustica. We tried both twice.
The Ceviche ($21) was very inconsistent. While it always looked good; once it was super salty and had too much lime juice; the fish was over marinated and rubbery. And once it lacked enough lime and was really bland.
The Fish Tacos were even more disappointing. For $16 for two tacos de pescado we expect perfection. On both occasions the fish was over-fried. As you see below.
The fish had dried out on both visits. Not sure what fish they were using on one of the visits but it tasted fairly muddy. Not very good and you can get better elsewhere for half the price or less.
As you can tell; there are items we keep coming back for at Tuetano. Though there can be some "unevenness" at times and you're paying the "Old Town premium", when it's good it is quite good. And though we've had better Tuetano in Mexico….that consomme with a side of marrow is quite nice on a chilly day.
And we hope that this is just the beginning for Old Town.
Parking can be a bit of a challenge, though because of that and since we don't want crowds were usually go during the week and at off hours.
Tuetano Taqueria/Mar Rustico 2548 Congress St. San Diego, CA 92110 Hours: Sun – Wed 11am – 7pm Thurs – Sat 11am – 8pm
Man, when was the last time I typed that out? Well, it had been quite a long time since we "really" travelled, I mean the domestic road trips were fun, but we missed travelling internationally. So, back in November, when it looked like Delta was waning, we started making plans….nothing too far mind you; in fact we planned to visit the last place we visited outside the US, back in February of 2020…..man, it seems like a decade ago.
And then Omicron came along…….sigh. So, we had a decision to make……
In the end, with both the Missus and I fully vaccinated and boosted, having no pre-existing conditions, we decided to go ahead. I had also heard from our good friend "Alle" that folks in Mexico were really compliant with regards to wearing masks….and she wasn't kidding….almost everyone wore KN95s too! They even wore the masks outdoors…….the only folks not wearing masks were….well…..you know from where. We had temperature checks before entering most shops; were asked to sanitize….there were a few exceptions and I'll note my observations in future posts. In fact, when entering one of the restaurants were were misted with……..vinegar!?!?!
Anyway, we really enjoyed our trip.
We got to revisit some favorites of ours…..
And are slowly working our way thru the "list" of places we want to check out…..
We hired a private driver for take us to our next destination……where checking out at least one rooftop restaurant/bar is a must. And you can clearly see why.
And such colorful streets…..
We were the only folks staying at our 6 room B&B, which we really enjoyed.
And had some pretty darn good food as well.
Our third and final stop was our favorite……
We actually took a private walking tour which was the highlight of our trip.
Where we learned some history about this fine city…….
And our favorite restaurant of this trip was here as well……we loved it so much that we returned on our last evening…….
The overall travelling experience felt somewhat surreal at times; though we appreciated the warm and friendly people and the Covid precautions as well. We felt safe during our stay.
Yes, "Viva la Vida"….but also care about your fellow man, have compassion, respect……..
**** Just summing up our last trip before the pandemic to CDMX.
It was quite apparent that during our visits to CDMX we hadn't addressed one important "food group"…..tacos! And so, before our trip I set about trying to create a nice "taco crawl" of sorts…which ended up stretching into two days. So here's a brief summary.
We started off at the farthest stretches from where we were staying….to an interesting (at that time) concept called El Auténtico Pato Manila.
The place was quite busy….though we were both amused and confused by the name and what was on the menu.
On one hand you had the name…"Manila"…on the other hand; you had a statue of Chairman Mao…..
And the place was known for their "pato" – duck tacos served in a flour tortilla, in place of the usual pancake….
With hoisin sauce to say the least……not quite sure…..but this really didn't hit the spot. The proteins were dry….not sure what I expected; but it wasn't this.
El Auténtico Pato Manila Culiacan 91 06100 Ciudad de México
Next we moved up a couple of blocks and got an outside table at Taquería El Califa.
Which seemed quite popular.
This would end up being our favorite for the evening…great service and heck, they don't mess around when you order a side of avocado.
The Al Pastor was crisp and flavorful and I ordered the bistek "campechano" which came topped with chicharrons……
Our favorite place by far.
Taquería El Califa Altata 22 06170 Ciudad de México
The next stop I picked because of it supposed "historical" significance….you see; El Tizoncito claims to have invented Tacos Al Pastor….it sure is quite busy to say the least.
We sat next to an amazing young man (like 6 years old) and his dad…..the kid was game for anything and I admired him….for he was from the Midwest US but was just willing to try it all!
The Al Pastor was disappointing though; tough and lacking in caramelization and quite bland overall.
El Tizoncito Tamaulipas 122 06140 Ciudad de México
Our last stop was one that I'd read much about, Taqueria el Greco…..which served what they call "Arab-style" tacos. It's quite popular as you can see in the photos, though we did fins a table inside the small restaurant.
The Missus went with a typical taco of grilled steak…i.e. carne asada; while I went with a "Doneraky" (spit roasted) style taco in Arabian Bread (sort of like a pita).
The Missus's taco fared better than mine; which I thought was quite bland, overshadowed by the cheese and avocado.
Taqueria El Greco Michoacán 54 06100 Ciudad de México
From here we headed back to our hotel and called it a night.
The next morning we headed out to stretch our legs…coming across a "bike day" on Avenida Mazatlan.
After taking care of a couple of things; we headed off to a taco shop a couple of blocks from where we were staying……Tacos Don Juan
We had passed this place during one of our walks in the area and I wanted to check them out.
Both the Arrachera-Tocino and the Chuleta Ahumada were quite good. Very solid, delicious tacos.
A solid no frills neighborhood spot – we'll be back.
Tacos Don Juan Calle Juan Escutia 35 06140 Ciudad de México
From here we walked on over to Parque Mexico….it's always a fun walk and on this day they had a dog adoption program going on.
After which we stopped at Volador Café for a caffeine fix.
They sure love their pooches in CDMX.
Volador Café Amsterdam 135 06100 Ciudad de México
As I often have said; there's something about his area in CDMX that reminds me of Europe.
When dinner time arrived; I had yet another taco shop in mind….but first we returned to a place close by; Temporal, for a Suerte de Dragon (Lucky Dragon) and some Gulf Crab Sopes…..just so we'd have enough energy to make it to dinner…right?
Restaurante Temporal Saltillo 1 06140 Ciudad de México
It was a bit of a walk to to El Farolito, which I had seen the night before.
The place seemed quite popular with the locals…..
Maybe because the Al Pastor is roasting right in the dining area?
We sat at the counter and had some cerveza and al pastor and buche tacos……which were quite good.,
El Farolito Altata 19 06100 Ciudad de México
Funny thing is…..El Califa is right across the street….hmmm….maybe next time….
And then we had a nice stroll back to our room….we had an early flight the next day. We thought we'd be back to CDMX in no time at all and then the pandemic hit…..so, until we're back again!
Thanks for hanging in there for this rather onerous post!
Here's another (hopefully) quick post (abbreviated) on our last trip before Covid struck from back in February, 2020.
The Missus decided that She wanted to do some "exploring" the day after visiting visiting Teotihuacan, so of course I had to plan something out. Of course I wanted to start out with something to eat, so we headed to La Casa de Toño…..because the Missus wanted some Pozole at the Zona Rosa location.
So, basically, I'll equate this to something like a Denny's….a chain that's very popular. The Missus wasn't enamored with the pozole….there are several choices in terms of meat available….She stayed safe with Maciza….while I went full "cabeza de cerdo" (pig's head) which turned out to be the better choice.
This was pretty mild in terms of porkiness…at least it made the Missus appreciate the pozole I make.
La Casa de Toño (Many locations in CDMX) Londres 144 06600 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
From here we headed to our next stop…..
The Mercado de Artesanías La Ciudadela.
Which…my goodness, had a huge selection of items you never knew you needed….
Man, there sprawling alleyways and shops……I ended up needing a break after a while.
Luckily we found a cafe….and a cafe de olla came to the rescue.
Lest you think this marketplace is for tourists, I've been told that many local come here to shop for various items though I never did ask what those items specifically were.
We also took a walk thru Ciudadela Park across the street.
And saw this group practicing ballroom style dancing.
It was so sweet and charming. Notice the fellow dancing by himself? I'm wondering what the story might be behind that?
We enjoyed the green spaces in the city.
The next stop was purely for me….the Mercado de San Juan.
I always enjoy visiting these markets when I travel. There's always something interesting.
The "Chinatown" street, Dolores (which I've posted on before) is just a about a block away, so we headed up the street.
From here, I had an interesting place I wanted the Missus to see….the Museo del Calzado….yep, the footwear museum.
Up a discreet stairway is an interesting collection of footwear…from the historic…to, well, the famous.
It's a fun stop whether you have a "foot/shoe" fetish or not.
Museo del Calzado"The Borcegui" Calle de Bolívar 27 Mexico City, 06000 Mexico
Right down the block was another interesting sight….an Ottoman Clock – the Reloj Otomano.
The next stop was a recommendation of an acquaintance who said it was his favorite "bakery in the world".
Pastelería Ideal is located a few blocks away and is easy to identify…..just look for the towering cakes in the window.
You can't miss it! And the throngs of folks shopping for their favorite pastry. Everyone is in sugar heaven!
I was instructed to head to the second floor…..
Where there was a "showroom" of sorts for cakes. I cracked up as each cake was labeled with how much it weighed? Just in case you wanted that 10 kilogram panda cake!
Pastelería Ideal República de Uruguay 74 06000 Ciudad de México
Boy, after inhaling all that sugar. I needed something to wake me up! Luckily, I had a cafe on my "list" that was just a few blocks away named Cafe Jekemir.
Which proved to be just what we needed.
Cafe Jekemir Calle Regina 7 Mexico City 06000 Mexico
In spite of the caffeine I was bushed….so we called an Uber and headed back to Condesa for a short nap….which would come in handy since we'd end up walking quite a bit for the dinner I had planned.
mmm-yoso!!!welcomes you back to our little blog. Kirk and His Missus both have days off from work at the same time-so it's vacation time for them and Cathy is writing a few posts.
In October, I wrote about Las Morelianas and the various carnitas as well as seafood choices available at this longtime (since 1997) family owned, locally operated restaurant. At the bottom of the post, I added the breakfast menu, mentioning we would return. Here's that post.
It opens at 7 a.m.. When we walked in around 7:30, two men were eating, at separate tables and talking to each other. There was menudo and beer involved. A 'regular' (carnitas and seafood) menu was brought out. I had to ask for the Dasayunos Menu (breakfast). We each asked for Americano (regular) coffee. ($2.50, or $3.99 as an add on to any meal for coffee plus fresh squeezed orange juice or fresh fruit).
Powdered creamer and sugar packets were the condiments accompanying. This is one serving of the fresh fruit that arrives with the $3.99 add on to any entree. There is a little fruiteria in the back of the eating area, there are juices, licuados, aqua frescas available all day. The Mister ordered chilaquiles with chicharron prensado ($10.99). Pressed fried carnitas are easily made here at the 'meat side' of the kitchen. Fresh chips, rice and beans as well as a variety of cheeses and toppings with a healthy amount of the prensado. A wonderful savory breakfast. I always look for molletes on the menu at Mexican restaurants ($5.99). The simple, open faced bean and cheese sandwich on a fresh bolillo roll is made a bit fancier here with a choice of meat. I decided to try the chorizo, which is another really tasty unique meld of flavors.
I mentioned it was empty when we walked in. When we were leaving, around 8:45, not a single table was empty indoors and only a few tables remained empty outside. The juke box was blaring with traditional music. More people were ordering beer, menudo, carnitas and seafood. Yet, the parking lot was not packed. People from the neighborhood enjoy weekend breakfast and socializing here.
Las Morelianas/La Bahia 2121 Imperial Avenue San Diego (619)239-6284 website Open Mon-Sat 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun 7 a.m.-9 p.m.
The Missus sure is enjoying the recent cooler weather; She's going for all of Her "greatest hits", Bun Rieu, Moomiok, Menya Ultra, and this past weekend it was the Cabeza en su Jugo from De Cabeza. Other than visits to De Cabeza, I haven't spent any time in Chula Vista….but to please the Missus! Well, that's a different story. I hadn't been back to De Cabeza since April and I was happy to see Jesus hard at work when I arrived.
There were tables at each end of the restaurant with customers….so it seems they are spacing things out rather well. Jesus greeted me with a big smile saying; "welcome back……it has been a while, it's so good to see you!" What a great guy. We managed to chat for a bit while I placed my order. I actually placed an order for two portions of cabeza en su jugo…..I'd be dropping one off at the Missus's work and I'd have my own portion for lunch.
Our dolsot and butane stove are coming in real handy right now. I have a tortilla warmer that I can use in the microwave….it does a pretty good job reheating tortillas and even pitas.
You know, the deep bovine-beefiness, the hearty stock, cut by lime and pungent onions and cilantro is so nice. Steaming hot, it just has that "aaaah" (or is it "moooo") effect. It's just plain wonderful and comforting on a chilly day.
If you want to read descriptions in more detail; check out my previousposts on De Cabeza.
I know the pandemic has been hard on all of us; it's changed the way we work, eat, travel, and live….all aspects of life have been affected. We are so thankful for places like De Cabeza that serve up food that comforts us.
And I am so thankful for all the "Friends of Yoso" who have kept visiting and commenting during these times. We hope all of you are well!
De Cabeza 1043 Broadway Chula Vista, CA 91911 (619) 349-2505 Hours: Daily 8am – 8pm
mmm-yoso!!! is where you have stopped in your scrolling. Welcome (back). Cathy is writing today; Kirk is not.
I posted about this Sherman Heights mainstay (since 1997) first in 2014 and again in 2017. It's a great restaurant.There always has been an outdoor patio, which has now expanded to have some temporary canopy covers on the other side of the side/parking lot entrance. Once you are seated, a menu is brought out. There are two kitchen areas (and parts of the menu)- the Las Morelianas (Carnitas side) will catch your eye first. This carnitas quesadilla ($8.99) is quite a meal in itself. The large flour tortilla (you can also have this on a corn tortilla for $3.99) is filled with fresh shredded carnitas and cheese then griddled to a light crisp. It comes with guacamole and a small salad and is large enough to share, except you might want it all to yourself. So good.
The Enchiladas Suizas plate ($11.99) includes rice, beans and three enchiladas stuffed with the surtido (mixed shredded pork) and topped with a mildly spicy tomatillo based sauce which is made with Swiss cheese. Wonderfully unique and quite a meal. The other side of the door into the kitchen has the La Bahia (seafood) menu and display. You can order something simple like a fish ceviche tostada ($6.99). Freshly prepared with fish, tomatoes and cilantro, the lime soaked ceviche topped with avocado is craveable. The ceviche is served on its own plate with tostadas on the side; a proper way to serve this dish. You could get all crazy and order chicharron de pescado ($12.99). Fried fish filets. Many. Plump and flavor filled. Lightly breaded and fried and served with house made guacamole. Great to share or have as a meal. Then again, you could be healthy and order an Ensalada Plancha Pescado ($8.99). Grilled fish on top of mixed lettuces, tomato, cucumber and avocado.
Always a great place to stop. Breakfasts are also available.
Las Morelianas/La Bahia 2121 Imperial Avenue San Diego (619)239-6284 website Open Mon-Sat 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun 7 a.m.-9 p.m.
We usually order a large aquas fresca ($3.50) made at the fruiteria area in the back of the restaurant (next to the juke box) when we first sit down. Pepino (cucumber and spinach) is our favorite.
This past weekend was the Little Italy Art Walk….a great event to be sure, but I felt kinda sad…..you see for the last couple of months the Little Italy Mercato has become a routine for me. I would grab some coffee and park on Ivy Street…..you know, we aren't able to get back to Paris, where I'm able to shed pounds just doing the the Flâneur thing, so every little bit of walking helps.
And then I'll just walk up Kettner or India and do the opposite back to the car. It's been quite fun for me……after all there's a lot to see.
In fact, the first time I saw the statue of Frankie Laine in front of Nonna, it brought a smile to my face. As I mentioned in an earlier post my late Mom enjoyed country music….and I grew up to the sounds of Rawhide and Mule Train playing on the record player….in Kaimuki of all places. More about Frankie Laine in San Diego can be found here.
Often times, I'd arrive a bit early and would just walk along the streets.
On one visit, I was taken with the houses on State Street that are from a different time in San Diego's history….it reminded me of our walk in Pacific Grove.
And of course, Little Italy would not be complete without a Catholic Church and Our Lady of the Rosary truly fits the bill. It just looks like it belongs here. I haven't been in the church yet…..but perhaps I'll be invited to a wedding soon!
And it's interesting to see how Little Italy has pivoted to outdoor dining with parklets and such.
And of course, it's always interesting to see how long the line for Morning Glory will be……
I do hope they are checking out the market after their breakfast/brunch…..
And there's always something to keep you entertained.
But, of course I'm here to shop. And after almost three months I've got my favorites.
My favorite is this one – Indian Summer Farms.
It's a one man show, the proprietor, Andrew is so kind, friendly, and gracious. And he has some really great chard, kale, shishito, radishes, and whatever else comes out of his farm in Ramona. The Missus also loves the eggs he sells which he says comes from his neighbor.
I'm sure you want to know what I've been getting the last couple of months…..well, in a previous post I mentioned that the Missus had started to enjoy gooseberries….
Dragon Tongue Beans are so delicious…..it is stringless, sweet, easy to sauté, and if I recall in season until mid-November.
Shishito of course…..
And oh man; purple okra….so sweet and tender, you can eat them raw. While the Missus loves them roasted, She'll eat them dipped in hummus…..
Of course there's all the prepared food and similar vendors….though for us, it's been a mixed bag. On one visit I went ahead and picked up pozole from this stand.
It was pretty good….pozole blanco. The pork was much better than the chicken version.
It's mildly "porky", has a nice velvety texture…. while not quite as rich as "homemade", it's still really nice overall.
Until, of course, the Missus demanded that I make pozole blanco…….which you have to understand is to Her taste. You might want to try this out. It also feeds the "cabbage versus lettuce" thing which I'll go into at a later time.
As a bonus, whenever I see the sign, there's a certain beat that goes off in my head….to the tune of "My Sharona"……"Da da da da dum dum….my pozole!"
I know the Little Italy Mercato is also going strong on Wednesdays, but have only been to the Saturday Farmers Market, so will only list that time for now.
Little Italy Mercato Saturday 8am – 2pm
I seem to notice something new on every visit. And sometimes, it seems like Little Italy is trying to communicate with me……
Warm chips and fresh made salsa are brought out while you are perusing the menu.
The Mister (once again) ordered the Mexican Scampi ($15.95). Butterflied shrimp sautéed in butter, wine, chili powder and garlic served with Mexican (veggie) rice. Plump shrimp, flavorful sauce and rice. Always satisfying. 
As with my post in 2014 (and 2017)., a cup of the Rancho Pinto Bean Soup was ordered ($4.95; a bowl is $8.95).
This meat filled (bacon, sausage chorizo) bean soup really is a craving for me and always is satisfying.
A Coctele Del Mar ($13.95) with shrimp (no octopus was available this day, or I would have ordered the combination of seafoods) was a bright, fresh and flavorful, satisfying meal. The plump, large shrimp are served in a lime juice based sauce filled with fresh chopped cucumbers, onion, tomato and cilantro which is topped with avocado. 
