Sandwiches – Page 12

Breakfasts and Brunch Sandwiches from Bay Park Coffee – and the “Uncle Kirk” Phenomenon

April 5, 2021 mmm-yoso Breakfast/Brunch, Caffeine Fix, Sandwiches, yoso-silly

While I'm not the biggest fan of working from home (more on that in a future post); during the times that the Missus is working days it does allow me to watch Frankie. It also gives me an opportunity to support my favorite neighborhood places. Heading to the office around 5am had become quite a chore as the only places open for a cup o' joe during that time is the local Starbucks and 7/11….now if this was 7/11 in Japan that would be a different story. But, if I'm working from home, I can go ahead and grab some coffee from one of the various neighborhood places, Clairemont Coffee opens at 6 (I really need to do a post one of these days), Birdrock, which I save for the coffee snob, ummmm, the Missus and usually deliver Her pour over to work on weekends. And then there's Bay Park Coffee, which opens at 730 Mon- Sat and at 8 on Sundays…..which was kind of a bummer before; but these days; with so many people working from home….perhaps not so much.

And BPC has done a nice job with the outdoor set-up; which transitions to al fresco dining for Poseidon Project at night.

On a nice San Diego day, I'll see folks on their laptops doing work…..just like they used to do indoors before in the parklet.

My usual, as I noted before is the cold brew……I'll often drop by between meetings/calls for a "pick me up" and sometimes grab something simple to eat.

And of course, like I mentioned in a earlier post, there's "Bruddah Noel" who I've come to know…….he even introduced me to his wife who is from Japan. And all the wonderfully friendly and smiling faces of the folks who work there.

I will also sometimes avail myself of an item from the "kitchen" menu; though those items aren't served until after 8am. The items on the menu comes in handy when I have meetings around lunch and need to grab something to eat as BPC is a tad over five minutes away for me.

So here's a rundown of items I've tried during the pandemic.

I mentioned in my earlier post of not being a fan of the croissants; which are from Bread and Cie as it lacks the full butter-light saltiness and is more crisp than flakey….you know, the things we like in a croissant. Still, I have tried some of the items again. And even though the eggs and cheese will help camouflage the deficiencies, it's still leaves something to be desired in my opinion.

And my verdict stands….perhaps folks will like these, it's just not for me.

BPC also now offers "sides" of egg, potatoes, and cheese……so you can get a fairly filling breakfast; of say…avocado toast (BPC loves their avocados) with a side of scrambled eggs.

You may find the item I enjoy the most (to date) from BPC kind of strange……it's the Veggie Bagel Sandwich. I will get the plain bagel; which is from Nomad Donuts….I gotta check out their brick and mortar shop one of these days.

The bagel has a light heft to it; mild yeastiness, a slight saltiness, a mild hint of sweet; but it's just the texture I enjoy with the greens, pickled onions…….light acidity from the tomatoes, creaminess from the avocado and they usually have a nice restrained hand with the cream cheese.

I have tried other versions of the bagel sandwiches; Bruddah Noel had me try his "favorite"…….

Which had ham, cheese, a huge portion of egg, pesto, and was just way too much……

I also tried the Lox version.

Which was not bad, though not something I'd have on a regular basis.

And then there's the "Uncle Kirk" thing. Noel started calling me "Uncle Kirk" early on….which cracks me up, it's a well known term of endearment back home….. though my good friends, who are quite a bit younger than me (and not from Hawaii) started calling me that years ago; so it doesn't bother me at all. Though I'm not sure what the motivating factor is? Perhaps I'm like the crazy uncle everyone needs in their lives? Of course, these same people would not dare call the Missus "Auntie"……

So, now even a couple of folks at BPC call me that as well…..and once in a while, I'll even get a "little surprise" like on the cup of cold brew to the right.

Once as Noel called out "Uncle Kirk" when my cold brew was ready, one of the women waiting for her order asked me; "is he your nephew?" To which I answered in a stage whisper, "ssshhh, he's illegitimate and twice removed….."

Well, if you'll indulge me one last story……my good friend "XJ" got married a couple of years back and requested that "Uncle Kirk" officiate their wedding. I was at first hesitant……quite terrified; but there was no way I could turn down such an honor. And things did turn out ok.

Though I've never told them; it's one of the high points of my life as I felt so privileged to participate.

Anyway, a couple of weeks later, I'm walking thru the parking lot at 99 Ranch Market when I hear, "Hi Uncle Kirk!!!!" and see a middle aged couple waving to me from an automobile. At first I didn't recognize the couple….then as I approached the vehicle…well, it was the Groom's Parents…….I had been introduced to them as "Uncle Kirk" and that's the way they knew me.

Life, ain't it amazing?

Bay Park Coffee
4130 Napier St
San Diego, CA 92110
(619) 275-4000
Current Hours:
Mon – Sat 730am – 2pm
Sunday 8am – 2pm
Sandwiches served:
Mon – Thurs 8am – 1130am
Fri – Sun 8am – 1pm

Sunday Sandwiches – Gourmet Artisan, Tadian Cafe, and Rubicon Deli (UTC)

March 28, 2021 mmm-yoso Sandwiches

And suddenly, temperatures are in the 80's……….so, it's probably an apt time to do a bunch of sandwich revisits. These are fairly close to the office so are a good option for lunch, it's easy to either do online or call in an order and a couple of them also open early which makes it convenient while I coordinate picking up lunch between meetings.

Gourmet Artisan:

The place in this post that I actually visited in the days "BC" (that's "Before Covid"). On this day I placed my order online and just before I headed over I got a text telling me they had changed their hours which hadn't yet been updated on their website. So, I waited a bit before picking up my Ham and Brie Panini.

I used to enjoy the thin cut parmesan-garlic-truffle fries here back in the day. However, in the fall of 2019, it seemed they had stopped doing their fries that way And during my last visit in August of last year, it seemed like at least the garlic-parmesan was back in the game; though the fries were undercooked and soggy. So…….I was wondering where that wheel of "fries roulette" would stop on this day. Well, sadly, it looks like the thin cut fries were out, replaced by really soggy fries, but at least it had parmesan sprinkled on it.

The bread in the sandwich hadn't been toasted enough for my taste; though I do enjoy the milky-salty-porky combination of brie and ham. I also like the garlic aioli used on this sandwich and was happy that it was used with some restraint this time around.

As it stands though; things seem a bit inconsistent here and I'll probably give it a rest for a while.

Gourmet Artisan Fine Sandwiches
7094 Miramar Road
San Diego, CA 92121
(858) 860-5814

Tadian Cafe:

I'd had some pretty decent sandwiches from Tadian Cafe last year and thought it was time for a revisit. Especially since I had meetings form 11 until 2 and Tadian opens at 9. Plus, their online ordering is straightforward and on each visit my order was waiting for me when I arrived. Like those previous visits everything went quite smoothly.

This time I ordered the "Peppered Roast Beef" ($8.50), which of course was waiting nicely wrapped when I arrived.

Interesting sandwich; I liked how well toasted the roll was.

It just had a bit too much sauce on it for my taste….especially compared to the amount of roast beef.

That tzatziki-ish sauce, combined with the avocado just made things much too mushy. Though I did enjoy the nice heat brought on by the jalapenos. If I order this again, I tell them to leave off the sauce.

Tadian Cafe
5955 Mira Mesa Blvd. Suite K
San Diego, CA 92121
(858) 453-5740
Current Hours:
Mon – Fri 9am – 3pm

Rubicon Deli:

Ever since my first couple of visits, Rubicon has become a favorite of mine. The problem being, the sandwiches are a bit too much for me…..also, if I'm ordering a sandwich to share with the Missus; She's got to have Her favorite. So……I just basically wait until those days when I'm really hungry; or will save half the sandwich for lunch the next day.

My favorite is the the "Super Mario" on Garlic Cheese Bread with Crispy Onions ($9.79 + .75 for crispy onions).

I really love the combination of textures and flavors this sandwich has; from the crunchy and cheesy bread, to the slightly sweet tones of red pepper tapenade, the sour-sweetness of the balsamic glaze, along with the peppery tones of the arugula. Asiago adds a nice nutty-milkiness to things. It's the sum of the ingredients in terms of taste and texture that I like about this sandwich.

And like Tadian; the online ordering process is a breeze.

I think of this as more of a treat as I usually am not able to finish it all.

Rubicon Deli (UTC Location)
4130 La Jolla Village Drive – Suite 104
San Diego, CA 92037
(858) 877-9911
Current Hours
Open Daily – 10am – 730pm

Ok, so there you go. Hope everyone had a safe weekend! Take Care!

Kim’s Deli

February 16, 2021 mmm-yoso Asian Fusion/Pacific Rim/Hawaii Style Fusion, Korean Restaurants, Sandwiches

In previous posts I've mentioned the phrase "Google is your friend". Here's another example…..I went ahead and Googled "Teriyaki Beef Sandwich" and was surprised at one of the results. It was fairly close to the office, named Kim's Deli….which seemed like one of those little business park sandwich shops. Looking over the menu, I was fascinated and based on the name, well, it immediately reminded me of The Sandwich Place. I went ahead and drove on over finding the shop in (of course) a business park at the end of a cul-de-sac.

I entered and headed over to the social distancing marks….I was the only person in the place. Soon enough, a very nice Korean woman came over and I ordered the Teriyaki Beef sandwich, priced nicely at $7.

I went ahead and drove back to the office and opened my sandwich.

This was actually not bad for the price. The beef, while obviously reheated in a microwave was more tender than what I expected and while a bit on the sweeter side, nicely marinated and not overly salty. It's actually better than TSP's. The bread was standard issue a bit crumbly, but yeasty. I'm not sure about the provolone cheese on this, the jury's out…..I'll try it again and see. There was a bit too much mayo, but this was a decent sandwich….especially for seven bucks.

While waiting for my sandwich; I noticed that there were some poke bowls (sorry, not for me) and a Bulgogi Bowl ($9) available. The woman working told me it was available every day. So, a week later, I called in my order, which was ready for pick up when I arrived.

I was quite surprised at the heftiness of my package and when opened was surprised at the quantity of food.

I cracked up when I opened my "box" up….as this was bit more than a "bowl"; but beyond that, the plate totally reminded me of something I would get from a lunchwagon back in my hanabuddah days or if they added in some, say namul and kimchi, it would look like one of the "local kine" (I always say local style meat and three) Korean takeout places.

Nothing fancy here; the japchae was straightforward; on the salty side and mostly just noodles.

The Bulgogi was the same meat as the teriyaki; but more tender this time and fairly well marinated.

Again, no frills, straightforward.

I mean, really, what do you expect at this price point?

The green salad was fine, fresh, with a sesame dressing.

The extra sauce for the bulgogi tasted like Yoshida's.

The rice was plentiful, but on the dry side.

No complaints really; I felt I got what I paid for…….

After this visit; I decided that I needed to try a deli sandwich to just complete the set. I called in an order for the Green Chili Roast Beef ($7). Again I called in my order which was ready for pick-up when I arrived.

As you can see; the sandwich used a standard issue telera style roll; though it was a bit more substantial than some I've had.

This one fell a bit short for me; mainly because I wished for a bit less lettuce and more roast beef. The slice of green chili only covered half the sandwich as well. There was quit a bit of avocado in this though. It was on the bland side overall.

Kim's seems to be a good place for hard working folks to get decent food at a good price.

Folks who are regular readers of our little blog know that I have a definite affection for these family owned, mom-and-pop places. Nothing fancy here; just decent food at good prices and on many days….well, that just fits the bill.

Kim's Deli
8515 Arjons Drive
San Diego, CA 92126
(858) 566-0370
Hours:
Mon – Fri 7am – 2pm
Closed on Saturdays and Sundays

Times “BC” (Before Covid) – Remember Brunches? Tribute Pizza, Nate’s Garden Grill, and Dan Diegos

January 21, 2021 mmm-yoso American/New American Restaurants, Breakfast/Brunch, Pizza, Sandwiches, yoso-silly

The Missus and I aren't real breakfast/brunch kinda folks……especially the pancake/omelette/etc…… A simple croissant will often do. I know, the "most important meal of the day" and all that stuff. Still, breakfast will often make the Missus feel tired, lazy, and sluggish….so there's not much of that going on in our household. However, when we do want to have brunch (and then probably head back home for a nap) we enjoy something that's not quite conventional as you will soon see.

At the end of 2019 and during the beginning of 2020 I was starting to work on a collection of these brunches….and then Covid-19 hit. And who knows when we'll be happily munching and brunching away next? I was just going to delete these photos…..but since these places are still open for takeout; I thought why not just go ahead and do a "COMC" (Clearing Out the Memory Card) kind of post.

So here goes:

Tribute Pizza:

A favorite of the Missus had started serving brunch and we thought we'd try it out. And we really enjoyed it….this was our favorite of the four.

The Missus loved that kale with pesto, that I started making a similar item that's a staple for the Missus's lunches. (Photo on the right)

We really enjoyed this brunch. We haven't been to Tribute since the pandemic started, but will hopefully rectify things soon.

I'm hoping when the pandemic is resolved they start up brunch again.

Tribute Pizza
3077 N Park Way
San Diego, CA 92104
(619) 450-4505
Takeout Hours:
Mon – Wed 4pm – 8pm
Thurs     4pm – 9pm
Friday    1pm – 9pm
Saturday 12pm – 9pm
Sunday    12pm – 8pm

Nate's Garden Grill:

I've enjoyed my breakfasts at Nate's.

I think I mostly enjoy the vibe and setting…..

The brunches have always been quite rustic and hearty.

And I believe they are doing brunch for takeout on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am – 3pm

Nate's Garden Grill
3120 Euclid Ave
San Diego, CA 92105
(619) 546-7700
Takeout Hours:
Wed – Fri 1130am – 8pm
Saturday 9am – 3pm, 4pm – 8pm
Sunday 9am – 3pm
Currently Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays

Dan Diegos:

And here's one from my 'hood. I hadn't been in a while.

Man, this was soooo much food…..

And that huge bowl of gravy went straight to my arteries.

So, of course the fruit bowl made me feel much better……right?

Really nice folks here. More about diner/pub grub and portions….but every once in a while….

No longer serving brunch, but open for takeout.

Dan Diegos Pub
2415 Morena Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92110
Current Takeout Hours:
Mon – Thurs 330pm – 930pm
Fri – Sun 1pm – 930pm

So there you go….one from the memory card. Who knows when we'll be brunching again. And even though it's never been a priority for us…..I do miss it.

Munich to Stuttgart – Leberkäse From Metzgerei Schnieder (You know, it tastes like…..)

December 12, 2020 mmm-yoso German Restaurants and Food, Germany, Sandwiches, Travel

I'm sure I've mentioned this before. I love traveling by train; whether it's Japan (amazing) or Europe; or even the US I could easily spend an entire day on a train. The Missus though, does not have the same belief, though She does humor me. So, when I was in the planning stage for our visit to Munich, of course our final destination for the trip was Paris, I found that the "fast train" times from Munich to Paris timed in at a bit over 5 1/2 hours. The Missus does not want to spend more than 4 hours on a train, so I had to come up with a plan. Doing a bit of research; I found that train times for Munich to Stuttgart was about 2 1/2 hours and Stuttgart to Paris clocked in at a tad over 3 hours. After doing a bit of research; it seemed like Stuttgart might be a nice place to spend an evening. And so it came to be.

We were staying a short stroll from Munich Central Train Station and also staying right across the street from the Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof.

Our ride was uneventful and our room was ready when we arrived. We freshened up and, you know the Missus we headed out. The pedestrian only Königstrasse was literally outside our door. The shopping area consisted of mostly chain stores; you know H&M, Zara, and something called TK Maxx? We stopped in a food store and the Missus was immediately engulfed in Haribo products, which She enjoys.

The Missus was less than amused when I mentioned forgetting to tell Her that Haribo was founded in Germany. Anyway, it was a bit of over stimulation which caused purchasing paralysis and the Missus eventually lost focus and just bought a couple of items. So at least for the moment "Meine brieftasche wurde gerettet".

At the end of the street is a large and lovely square, Schlossplatz, the palace square.

It was a lovely day and this being the end of May (2019), folks were taking advantage of the lovely weather.

On one side of the square resides the Neues Schloss ("New Palace").

Along with other historic buildings like the Kunstgebäude ("Art Building").

Other historic buildings, a lot of green spaces and some interesting memorials.

That's the Memorial to Victims of Nazis above and the Mercury Pillar below.

By this time; the Missus and I wanted something small to eat. It was mid-afternoon and we just needed something to hold us until dinner. A block away from the Schlossplatz is the Markthalle (Market Hall), so I suggested we take a look there.

And while it was fun oogling the produce…..we spent an inordinate amount of time looking at white asparagus…..

Right at the other end of the Market Hall is another pedestrian street; Hirschstrasse. And as we strolled down the street, I saw this shop.

While the Missus had a seat; I decided to take a look. And though I wasn't able to read the menu…..

I saw a few things I was interested in and I think the friendly woman working got a kick out of me trying to figure things out. In the end, I got the Missus a Spam ummm, Leberkässemmel (remember the "sir…please no not say Spam….please……"). This was quite good; even better than what we had in Munich.

That roll was yeasty and crusty; the formed meat was fairly tender, and yes, it tasted like a cross between bologna and "you know what"…..

I enjoyed hat I had ordered even more; Paprika Leberkäse, which along with the good roll, was crisp around the edges.

Loved the pickles and red peppers that was studded in the meat. There was a slight smokiness to this as well. Really cheap (like 2 Euroes each) and (more than) enough to hold us until dinner.

Metzgerei Schneider
Hirschstrasse 8
Stuttgart, Germany

Hunger sated, we headed off back in the direction we had come from. The afternoon would soon be heading into evening and we still wanted to do a bit more shopping and exploring.

Thanks for stopping by!

Phuong Nga Bakery and Cafe Opens in Clairemont Mesa

December 9, 2020 mmm-yoso Banh Mi, Sandwiches, Vietnamese Restaurants

**** Phuong Nga Bakery and Cafe is now Banh Mi Express

During my last takeout visit from La Miche, I slowly pulled out of the parking lot taking a look across the street. Banh Mi Bakery and Café had been closed since……I dunno; March? And I was wondering what was going on with the spot. To my surprise there was a new sign up…..I did a double and triple take and then returned the following week to check the place out.

The name looked quite familiar, could it be???

So, on the way home to check on Frankie I stopped by and the place was open. The bakery cases left over from Banh Mi Bakery and Café now sit empty….though the now ubiquitous social distancing floor sign is there.

Of course, before I even ordered was, "is this place affiliated with Phuong Nga in City Heights?" To which the young man working said, "yes, same owners as the place next to Vien Dong Market."

I quickly looked over the menu….and sorry to say no Bun Rieu or Banh Cuon. Here it's all about the Banh Mi and Goi Cuon, with some rice dishes thrown in.

The young man told me that the bread for the banh mi is made on the site; much like it was for Banh Mi Bakery and Café. So, I just went ahead and ordered the "Special" (aka Dac Biet – $5.59). The bag with my sandwich felt pretty hefty.

And while in these photos the banh mi looks pretty much like most others; it was stuffed.

The bread was a lot crustier and a bit more dense than typical banh mi; but not in a bad way. These folks love their jalapenos as the two long, fairly thick slices span the length of the bread. Tons of pickled daikon and carrot as well. I didn't care much for the super thick stems of the cilantro.

Of course you're wondering about the filling, right? Well lookie here…..there's a double layer of everything.

It was, perhaps, a bit too much meat. But I did enjoy the thick layer of funky-earthy pate and would have just enjoyed the banh mi with that. This is quite a bargain for five bucks and change. And it really wasn't a gringo/fusion banh mi.

So, of course I decided to return and get the Banh Mi with Cha Lua and Pate.

The banh mi this time around was a bite lighter, though still crusty, but less chewy, making for a better sandwich.

Man, check out those huge slices of jalapeno. There's no "banh mi jalapeno roulette" going on here….it's literally in your face.

I was actually a bit disappointed in this sandwich as this time around; there was barely a smear of pate. Cha Lua, the pork roll was mild in flavor and a good smear of pate really helps to lift things.

The cilantro was better this time; no tough stems. There's still a generous amount of pickled veggies……but with not enough pate and the mild cha lua, things were really thrown out of balance. Like I always say, a good banh mi is about proportion….ratios are so important. It wasn't a bad banh mi by any means; but it's not something I'd return for.

I decided on one last visit to try other items on the menu. Since the other locations of Phuong Nga are known for their Banh Cuon; I thought I'd order the Tau Hu Ky; the bean curd skin wrapped shrimp paste on rice. I also ordered a couple of Goi Cuon Tom Thit; the basic shrimp and pork spring rolls. Again the bag felt pretty heavy. And upon bringing out the Com Tau Hu Ky…..

My first thought was, "man, that's a lot of rice". Which was a bit of an understatement as I could barely finish half of it.

Part of it probably had to do with the five small slices of bean curd wrapped shrimp paste; which was on the bland side. The nuoc mam cham was a bit too sweet as well. On the positive side; the bean curd skin had held up fairly well and was still crisp.

And then of course; that egg….which was actually my favorite item.

As is the m.o. with the banh mi; there were two thick and long slices of jalapeno and a ton of pickled veggies. So, I guess you can eat the rest of the rice with that?

As for the spring rolls. Well, these were some of the heftiest I've ever dealt with. It should have come with a warning sign, "contents under pressure".

Being huge and thick however is not the best thing when it comes to spring rolls.

As with banh mi, goi cuon depends on ratios and proportion as well. If this spring roll did actually explode; you would have been hit with "lettuce shrapnel" as it was basically one giant salad with some bun, perhaps a single leaf of mint. The pork and the very bland, overcooked shrimp was just window dressing in this case. The wrapper seemed more sticky than usual…perhaps it was trying to fend off all that lettuce?

In the end; I did enjoy that first banh mi; even if it was on the hefty side; the bread on my second visit was really good….there are places in San Diego who make their own banh mi and one of them especially makes a mealy-crumbly bread. That egg was so good….I wish they made a banh mi op la; a fried egg banh mi…maybe I'll ask next time. On my last visit, an older Vietnamese gentleman ordered three banh mi…….all grilled beef; so maybe I need to try that next. The prices are good, the portion sizes as well. So there's reason for me to return…..especially if they load on the pate like they did with that first sandwich.

Now….if they'd start serving Bun Rieu………one can always dream, can't they?

Phuong Nga Bakery and Cafe
9353 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. Suite H1
San Diego, CA 92123

Takeout Revisit to Chicago Fire Grill

November 16, 2020 mmm-yoso Hot Dogs, Sandwiches

I can tell that the pandemic is raging on, just by the fact that I've already done Covid-19 takeout posts on Chicago Fire Grill and SuperNatural Sandwiches……and now I'm circling back! Anyway, here goes.

Chicago Fire Grill:

I had ben wondering how George was doing; so I decided to get some takeout from Chicago Fire Grill. I tried calling in my order, but no one picked up. After trying a few times, I naturally thought the worst, so I headed on over.

Well, I shouldn't have worried…..the place was busier than before the pandemic. The two tables outside were full, there were three people waiting for takeout….and to tell you the truth; I'm really not used seeing this many people in one place these days and felt kind of weird. Everyone was well spaced and those not eating were wearing masks.

As for George, he was obviously too busy for any words of wisdom on this day. So, I just got my Chicago Dog and headed out. I think this is kind of bargain at 6 bucks.

Over the last couple of visits, I was glad that they were back using poppy seed rolls….a good Chicago Dog should always be enrobed in one. Didn't care for the unwieldy wedge of tomato; it should have been thinner sliced and longer to cover more of the dog. No other complaints about the dog, which had a decent snap, the radioactive green relish, a good amount of onions. Though when it comes to it; I could have used more celery salt this time around.

A pretty good deal for six bucks these days….I mean, you can barely get an order of siu mai for that price nowadays, right?

Chicago Fire Grill
8935 Towne Centre Dr.
San Diego, CA 92122
Phone number
(858) 622-0224
Open Daily 11am – 9pm

Golden Bagel Cafe (El Cajon)

November 11, 2020 Cathy Bakery, Breakfast/Brunch, Sandwiches, What Cathy Eats!

After 23 years, Golden Bagel Cafe has closed, a great loss. It will be missed. Cheers Deli remains open (but does not have bagels).

mmm-yoso!!! is being written by Cathy today; Kirk is still on a vacation with His Missus.

The Mister and I have tried to avoid patronizing chain businesses during this time of COVID-19 and lockdown. The Golden Bagel, located at the intersection of Navajo and Fletcher Parkway, in El Cajon (right on the border of La Mesa) is locally owned and prides itself on fresh made, preservative free items. It is a sister store of Cheers Deli which has been in business for 20+ years and is located about a mile west. (I know, I have to do a post)
Stepping inside, the selection of bagels (25 flavors) is good in the early morning. There are a variety of beverages available (although many opt for the Starbucks next door). There is plenty of out front seating. Here's a quick sampling of some of our breakfasts here.
Pumpernickel bagel with cream cheese ($2.99) You can taste the rye flour in this bagel and it is so very fresh and bright. On the right here is a bialy- a baked bread (the bagels here are water boiled) topped with poppy seeds and onion. A lighter, softer (yet chewy) bread, I like the differences between a bialy and a bagel. Toasted and buttered is a wonderful treat. The cheese topped bagel is also a favorite (with butter, $1.99).
Ham and cheddar with avocado and tomato on an everything, open face. ($8.99 plus $1 for the avocado=$9.99; we went for it). There is a choice of cheeses, the avocado made this kind of perfect. Open face, warm and melted- shareable! (The open face sandwiches cost more than a regular bagel sandwich. You can see each half is substantial).

The open face smoked salmon ($11.99) (of course on pumpernickel) . Pacific Northwest Smoked salmon (lox), cream cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, red onion, dill and capers (and a slice of a really good pickle). Quality as well as quantity; more than enough to share.

There are wraps, focaccia, pizza melts, salads…a nice menu. Always nice people work here. We had always passed by and are so glad we have finally stopped (and stopped in again and again!)

Golden Bagel Cafe 2744 Fletcher Parkway El Cajon 92020 Open Mon-Sat 6 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun 7 a.m.-3 p.m. (619) 464-2243 Website

Sunday Sandwiches – Tadian Cafe

September 20, 2020 mmm-yoso Asian Fusion/Pacific Rim/Hawaii Style Fusion, Sandwiches

I noticed this little shop on my way to Hawaiian Fresh Seafood a couple of weeks back. There used to be a little sandwich shop named Café Seven; that I visited last year, but never returned.

It was now named Tadian Café….interesting name. I wondered if the owners were Filipino….you see; back in Hawaii, I used to work with a fellow whose family was from the Province in the Phillipines bearing that name……we used to joke about a specific mountain in that province that had quite an "interesting" name.

After looking thru the online menu; I noticed things like smoothies, Teriyaki Plates, Broken Rice, among the sandwiches….there was a distinct fusion aspect to the menu……which, while particularly not enticing to me, made me a bit curious about the place.

So, I placed an online order and headed over to the Tadian Café. My order was ready and on the counter when I arrived….I was in and out in less than 2 minutes. The young lady prepping food was very pleasant and quite sweet.

And I headed back with my Chinese Sausage Sandwich ($7.99), which nicely priced. There are options for sandwiches online….I basically just wanted my bread toasted.

I quickly read the label on my bag which said "Tadian – Vietnamese Cuisine and Sandwiches"….which cleared up some of what I had in mi Cabeza….

This was a decent sandwich for the price and my favorite of the three that I've had from Tadian. The standard issue "French Roll" was somewhat airy; if a bit too dense to consider a banh mi. The lup cheong had been toasted and had what a pleasant chew to it….it might be a bit too tough for some; but I especially enjoyed this with the creamy avocado……lup cheong and avocado, who knew? The pickled jalapenos, you know, the type you buy at the Mexican market in a can, added acidity, a mild spice, and helped bring things together. Lettuce, tomato, onion, rounded out the sandwich, with the mayo adding richness, but being otherise unobtrusive.

Not a bad sandwich at all.

While taking a quick peek at the photo menu behind the counter, I noticed an interesting sandwich; which I don't recall seeing anywhere before – a Thai Roast Beef ($8.50). So, the next time I had a chance, I ordered one, adding sprouts (50 cents) and thinking it might need some heat, jalapenos.

This time my sandwich was waiting for me on the shelf right inside the shop.

I'm glad I got the jalapenos as even though this was a fairly hefty sandwich; this really didn't impress me in terms of "Thai" flavors….yes, there was some sweet and savory-salty flavors; but it would have been pretty run-of-the-mill and in need of some "zip" and more assertive flavors.

The roll was nicely toasted and somewhat crusty as well; which certainly helped things.

I also noticed a pack of LKK Sweet Chili Sauce and crushed red peppers in my bag. Perhaps I was supposed to add my own flavors?

This past week; I decided to grab a sandwich on the way home to check on Frankie. On my last visit, the young lady recommended the "Pastrami Bomb" ($8.99); so I decided to order it – on toasted sourdough.

When I got home I opened things up – it was a decent sized sandwich.

You can tell what my problem was with this, right? The bread hadn't been toasted enough and it had way too much honey-mustard……..the bread was saturated as was the pastrami. I'm game to try this again; but will definitely ask for them to go easy on the honey-mustard mayo, since the pastrami tasted fine outside the sandwich and I think it would have been quite good evenly dressed.

I did however, get a tidbit of information on this visit. I asked the young lady about the meaning of the name and was told that in Vietnamese it means something like "let's go and eat"…..I'm sure one of my "FOYs" will let me know if that is true or not.

So basically, there's an interesting range of sandwiches at Tadian; from Grill Cheeses and interesting variations on standards and a bunch of stuff on the menu with an Asian/Vietnamese flair. As most of my regular readers know; I have an affection for these independent, family-owned sandwich shops. The young lady working is so sweet and my sandwiches have always been ready for pick-up when I arrive, I'll definitely return.

Tadian Cafe
5955 Mira Mesa Blvd. Suite K
San Diego, CA 92121
Current Hours:
Mon – Fri 9am – 2pm

Takeout from Gourmet Artisan

August 30, 2020 mmm-yoso Burgers, Sandwiches

Back in June, after I called and got a strange message from A Sandwich A'Fare and before I ended up going to the Philadelphia Sandwich Company, I called Gourmet Artisan and got an "voicemail full" message….which seemed kind of ominous. Were they closed temporarily, or permanently, or what? On a recent takeout revisit to SuperNatural Sandwiches, I noticed that Gourmet Artisan was open. So, a few days later, I decided to call….and I got a real person answering and placed an order for takeout.

I went with the Prosciutto Sandwich ($12). Upon opening the box at my desk I was rewarded with the distinct fragrance of parmesan and garlic from the fries; which made me quite happy as on my last visit it seemed that they had stopped with the parmesan, garlic, and truffle oil on the fries.

On the not-so-good side; the fries hadn't been fried enough and were really pale and of course, quite soggy.

The ciabatta could have been more toasted and was too chewy and doughy and over-powered the unevenly made sandwich. Enjoyed the peppery arugula; but everything else just fell flat.

There was one interesting thing that I noticed during my visit. There were three orders before me….each of them ordered burgers. Hmmm…..

So, a few weeks later; I decided to order a burger…..man, when was the last time I had a burger? What the heck is wrong with me?

I ordered the Tex-Mex Burger ($12). And, I was really happy to note that this time around, the fries were crisp and had a good amount of Parmesan and garlic.

The burger was not bad; I enjoyed the brioche style bun; which was not quite up to the task, but really just displayed how moist the burger was. The patty was fairly lean, but had a pleasant beefiness, was decently seasoned, and was not bad at all. It was perhaps a tad on the mealy side in terms of texture, but was perfectly serviceable.

The fries, while not quite to level of what it used to be….lacking in truffle flavor, was nicely fried, and far from bland with a good amount of Parmesan.

I actually enjoyed the milky, melted Swiss cheese and a the sneaky jalapenos on this….heck, I may have another burger next time.

Gourmet Artisan Fine Sandwiches
7094 Miramar Road
San Diego, CA 92121
(858) 860-5814
Current Hours:
Mon – Fri 1030am – 215pm