Sandwiches – Page 36

Tortas Y Mas – Chula Vista

December 15, 2009 mmm-yoso Mexican Restaurants, Sandwiches

**** Tortas y Mas has closed

On this past rainy weekend, the Missus decided She wanted some manju from Hogetsu Bakery, so I made the drive down to Chula Vista. Unfortunately, possibly due to the weather, when I arrived at Hogetsu at 10 am they weren't open yet. I waited about fifteen minutes, until my stomach told me to grab a bite to eat, and return later. Rather than the usual suspects, I decided to drive around a bit and find someplace I hadn't eaten yet…… so even while I was tempted, Tacos El Gordo was not an option. What I did notice was that the former La Torta location on H street had become Tortas Y Mas:

I didn't quite know what to expect from this tiny, sunny little restaurant.

I guess part of me expected La Torta "regurgitated" and indeed some of the menu was the "torta gringo style" theme, though there are burritos and even Alambres (think fajitas) on the menu. I quickly removed any thoughts of The Torta Factory from my mind.

The Owner, an energetic and very friendly gentleman named Silvio took my order. I went with one of my favorites, a Torta Milanesa ($7.25):

This Torta Milanesa came dressed without frijoles, but with a thin slice of ham and some cheddar cheese which gave it a nice zip. The avocado had a really nice flavor as well. The birote (roll) was very run of the mill, and not nearly as good as what I recently had at La Abejita.

I really enjoyed the potatoes, which truthfully could have been more crisp, but was much more aggressively seasoned with salt, pepper, and chili powder than what La Torta puts out. In fact, I finished the steaming potatoes before anything else.

The best part of the torta for me was the milanesa, beef very thinly sliced, lightly breaded, and fried to a crisp….. the edges were pleasurably crisp like bacon. It was also pretty tender…. I've had my share of gristle filled tough milanesa, so this was very nice.

For some reason, I ate all the potatoes, and could only manage half the sandwich. I asked if I could get my half sandwich wrapped to go, and was told with a smile, "oh yes, no problem". A few minutes later, I was handed a large styrofoam take out container. Surprised I told the gentleman that he didn't need to go through all the trouble, he could have just wrapped up the torta. His response? "I saw how much you enjoyed the potatoes, so I gave you a little more to take with you". How's that for nice……. if anything, just that gesture will have me back when I'm in the area……… Sometimes, simple acts like that can just make your day a bit sunnier, in spite of all the rain and cold.

So maybe next time, before you catch the trolley and you need something to tide you over…..

Tortas Y Mas
730 H Street
Chula Vista, CA 91910

Sandwich Emporium I & II

December 12, 2009 mmm-yoso Sandwiches

I think every neighborhood should have a “go to” sandwich shop. For us it’s Sandwich Emporium, which I posted on way back in May 2005. Over the years, we’ve been in the shop often enough to get to know the owners, twins John and Peter Le, and Peter’s lovely, warm, and friendly wife, Angela.

And without a doubt time does fly, I remember chatting with Peter and Angela one day, and suddenly realizing they’ve owned Sandwich Emporium for six years! On one visit, while waiting for the Missus’s sandwich, the “Triple Decker” on sourdough, no mustard, no mayo, no cheese, with sprouts and pickled jalapenos(that’s the nice thing about these neighborhood places, you get to know the folks, and they’ll make every effort to make what you want), I noticed that I hadn’t seen John in a while (thank God Peter wears glasses and the wedding band, or I’d have problems telling them apart). I was told that John had moved up North, and had opened a second branch of Sandwich Emporium…..

So one recent day, I headed up the “15” to Escondido, and the new Sandwich Emporium.

The shop, is pretty tiny, but the menu is basically the same, and it was nice to catch-up on things with John.

And the sandwiches are the same as well, like the Jersey Reuben, which is turkey, corn beef, with coleslaw (in place of sauerkraut – though I’ll on occasion I’ll ask for sauerkraut).

On nice and toasty rye, this is a good honest sandwich. Both messy and satisfying. You can get even more meat on your sandwich….. but I think those over-stuffed sandwiches have really taken things a bit far, and I’ve learned a nice lesson from Banh Mi and good Tortas, it’s all about things in proportion. Sure beats what comes out of most chains…..

There are usually weekly/monthly specials that are sometimes kinda interesting. One of my favorites is the “Gobbler” which I posted about here, though now they’ve included some gravy, which completes the sandwich for me.

On this day, I decided to try the CaliMelt:

The melted provolone and turkey went amazingly well with the avocado. As usual, I left satisfied.

As with most places, there are items that I enjoy more than others, but it’s the same with every place I’ve been to. After this post in December 2006, I received an email from someone who had checked out Sandwich Emporium, and was rather unhappy with my post…… to quote “What’s the big deal, it was priced right, and the service was good, the sandwich was tasty, but what’s the big deal?” To which I responded simply, “Dude, sounds like you enjoyed the sandwich, had good service, and thought the prices were reasonable. What was it that you expected?”

Some places make a big splash and grow quickly….. see Sab E Lee. Some like Sandwich Emporium take a bit more time. It doesn’t minimize how impressed I am with two guys buying the sandwich shop of their youth, and making a successful go of it.

Sandwich Emporium
3054 1/2 Clairemont Dr
San Diego, CA 92117

and

**** The Escondido Location of SE has closed

2750 Auto Parkway, Suite 18
Escondido, CA 92029

So tell me, what is your “go to” neighborhood sandwich shop?

You know, sometimes I think that John and Peter are everywhere(I guess they can cover twice the space). I once had the radio on in the morning, and to my surprise Peter and John were on! One night I’m watching the news, and whoa, Peter and John were on……

Scary…….

La Abejita

November 6, 2009 mmm-yoso Sandwiches

The area East of 7th street on "C" is not the most picturesque part of Downtown San Diego. Sure enough, there are abandoned buildings, and the trolley line goes right down C. Certain parts of the area do define the term "gritty". I found myself in the area a few months back, just kinda looking around, when I saw what looked like a trio of restaurants. to the right was Rolando's Taco Shop, a ubiquitous San Diego taco shop, many of which end in 'berto's. To the left was "Lui's Restaurant" which advertised five dollar specials, gyro's, and other fairly honest fare. For some reason, I looked into the tiny shop in the middle, a clean, and colorful shop which advertised "Fresh and Healthy Food", a sign that would usually have me walking in the opposite direction. But for some reason, the shop seemed to welcome me in.

The menu is simple, a couple of sandwiches, some salads, and a ton of juices and smoothies. There was one item that caught my attention, it was the Super Torta, which is what I ordered.

After a short wait my "Super Torta" ($6.49) arrived:

The sandwich itself, is as long as my forearm, and contains two shaved slices of ham, lettuce, tomato, onion, what tasted like mild Jack Cheese, pickled jalapenos, avocado, and thin slices of "Lomo" (Roast Pork). It was dressed with a light smear of mayo. The star of the entire production was the Birote (bolillo), which was toasted to a nice crustiness, I admit that I enjoy certain toasted sandwiches. The roll was also light and airy, and heck if I didn't have flashbacks of Banh Mi in Vietnam; it was that light.

If I would have this again, I'd tell them to put the jalapenos on the side. I love pickled jalapenos, but in this sandwich they overpowered all the mild ingredients. I'd prefer to use the jalapenos as my "pickles on the side" in this instance. In this world of over-stuffed sandwiches, I found this light, crusty sandwich to be just what I needed on this day……..

I guess in the future, I'll pay more heed to those places that say they serve "Fresh and Healthy" food. And I need to finds out where they get their Birote…….

La Abejita
817 C Street
San Diego, CA 92101

Open: Mon -Fri 8am – 3pm

Banh Mi…. from Cafe Chloe ???

October 7, 2009 mmm-yoso Banh Mi, European Restaurants, Sandwiches

**** Cafe Chloe has closed

I usually don't post on these type of restaurants (there are great food blogs, publications, and of course Chowhound to keep you abreast). But on our last visit to Cafe Chloe, I wasn't able to resist ordering something from the menu that I was itching to for a while…..

Located in East Village, this little Bistro has become a favorite of the Missus, and especially of Her "ladies who do lunch crowd").

And other than some rather normal blips in service(when you spend at least $50/60+ for lunch or$70+ for dinner for two, you tend to be a bit more picky), we have always had nice meals at Cafe Chloe. Most of the offerings seem both rich, and yet light at the same time. And of all the gratines, tartines, and amandines (yes, I know it's just a topping of almonds, but it just sounded right), the Missus adores the Meatloaf when it is offered as a daily special. Sorry to say, no meatloaf today.

Call us predictable, but we always start with basically the same two appetizers, well kinda, sorta, as you'll see. We always get the Charcuterie Du Jour – today it was a wonderfully rich, yet balanced Pork Rillette, a wonderful pork spread, appropriately sealed with a layer of fat on the top.

The mustards and pickles help to cut the richness. We're talking serious good here. No it won't assault your tastebuds with a ton of different flavors going everywhere, but it will make you go "mmmmm".

The Missus enjoys the Tarte Flambe, a classic flatbread, topped with a smear of crème fraîche, caramelized onions, and bacon…….. Need I say more????

Though I find the bread a bit on the thick side for a tarte, this is a nicely balanced offering. The bacon, thick sliced, is a far cry from the sodium loaded stuff you buy in packages. If anything, it was bit too mild for my tastes, but the Missus loves this, and orders it everytime. and of course, there are the mixed greens that seems to be on almost every plate…..

The Missus went with the Tartine du Jour – the open faced sandwich of the day. In this case it was a Curried Chicken Tartine:

Before grabbing a bite of this, I really didn't have my hopes up. It was however, very good, it looked over-dressed in mayo, but was not. A great combination of flavors and textures. And I really thought the bread was perfect for this, slightly nutty, with a mild hint of sweetness. I believe that Cafe Chloe gets their bread from Sadie RoseBaking Company, whose products I love. The pasta salad was dressed with a nice balsamic vinegar based concoction, but the pasta was hard and brittle. I guess I just expected a bit more.

So why am I doing a post on Cafe Chloe? Well there's something on the menu that I've been wanting to try……

Banh Mi??? In a French inspired Bistro….why not? I mean Banh Mi is undoubtedly French inspired, so why not…. it'll be like going "Back to the Future"!!! I love Banh Mi, and have probably eaten my share of them. And at least for me; it's a far cry from a French Baguette Sandwich to a Banh Mi, though I do think most things would taste better in a Banh Mi, even uni….umm oursins.

This was a case of the sum not being equal to its parts, and has probably been the only item I've been totally disappointed with at Cafe Chloe. Each item taken individually was good; I loved the crusty baguette, but it was too hard for a Banh Mi, in which the bread stars by being light, airy, and more flakey than crusty. The pate was nice, but very mild, and was totally lost in the sandwich. The Do Chua, the pickled vegetables which adds a crunch along with a palate cleansing flavor were replaced by a variety of greens. There were too many veggies in this, and the watercress and other greens were too bitter, and with the radishes, overwhelmed the entire sandwich, I couldn't even taste the aioli. There is always a nice savory component to a good Banh Mi which was missing here.

As if to really tell me to order something else next time, the Gaufrettes were burnt and bitter……

There's alot on the menu to enjoy at Cafe Chloe, steak frites, duck confit, the meatloaf the Missus will kill for. I'm sure we'll be back soon; the Missus would eat here a couple of times a week if She could. I won't be ordering the Banh Mi again, though……

Cafe Chloe
721 Ninth Ave
San Diego CA 92101

Pete’s Quality Meats

September 21, 2009 mmm-yoso Italian Restaurants, Sandwiches

**** Sadly Pete's has closed

I hadn't been to Pete's Meats in Little Italy for a very long time. In fact, Cathy, who posted on Pete's Meats last year has probably been there way more times than I. When we first moved to San Diego, I enjoyed Pete's for a nice simple Sausage Sandwich. Or for something even better, a Spitini Sandwich, basically a breaded veal roll, which was some awesome sandwich. I hadn't been to Pete's in at least five years, and was sad to notice the Spitini was no longer on the menu:

Other than the increased prices, and the removal of my beloved spitini, much looks the same.

The place has a real divey feel, and things are pretty much stuck in a rather pleasurable time warp. Pete's hearkens to a time before all of the condos and upscale restaurants made it's way to Little Italy. It oozes personality…..

You simply order, and they get to work on your sandwich. Since there was no spitini, I went with my other stand by the Italian Sausage Sandwich. The sausage is made inhouse, and I've picked bought the spicy sausage a few times in the past. It is prepared simply; cooked, in this case heated on the grill, topped with onions and peppers, and placed in a good roll. I believe they use Solunto's bread. It stands up real well.

On this visit, I think the sausage had spent a bit too much time "in the drawer" before reheating, and had seized a bit. It still tasted great, nice, mild, herbaceous flavor, but was kinda tough. Perhaps I shoulda just picked up a coupla sausages and some rolls from Solunto's……

On my next trip I decided to check out something I hadn't had before…… a Meatball Sandwich. The meatballs are kept simmering in a huge pot on one of the stove-tops. The sauce was much too runny, and mild for my taste…..

But those meatballs were melt in the mouth tender, and had good flavor. And combined with a good roll that added a nice contrast to the meatball, this was a good sandwich. Though I'd still take the Sausage Sandwich on a good day over this.

Pete's is one of those places that have stood the test of time, it is no frills, and I'm happy it has endured. The menu is gratefully simple, and you also have Pete, whose personality is worth an entire post of its own.

Pete's Quality Meat
1742 1/2 India St.
San Diego, Ca 92101

Sunday Sandwiches: Mona Lisa Italian Foods

September 6, 2009 mmm-yoso Markets & Grocers, Sandwiches

Going through my photos I was surprised at the amount of sandwiches we've been consuming lately. It's probably due to the weather, we don't really feel like cooking, and grabbing a sandwich on the way home from work fills the bill. Mona lisa works pretty well for us, since the Missus enjoys the Imported Prosciutto, and I stock up on San Marzano Tomatoes, while waiting for our sandwiches.

The usual drill is, grab a number and wait. When your number is called, place your order with the folks behind the counter. This is your chance to wander around the fairly crowded aisles and grab stuff you need.

I'll readily admit that I'm always afraid that I'll have a moment of motor disfunction which would end up in my wiping out the shelves of the tiny store.

I'll usually get the Deluxe ($6.75), which is comprised of Mortadella, Ham, Salami, and Provolone. We also always get our sandwiches sans mayo and mustard, which we feel gets in the way of all the other flavors.

We both think the sandwich does just fine with the Italian Dressing. Proportion-wise, I think this sandwich is set-up pretty well. Not over-stuffed, but put together well. The one thing we noticed, was the bread. I swear that Mona Lisa used to use a different Italian style bread, this was overly doughy, dry, with a crust that was hard and tough.

The Missus usually goes with the Imported Prosciutto, at $8.50, the most expensive sandwich on the menu.

The sandwich contains a nice amount of Prosciutto di Parma sliced paper thin. The imported Prosciutto at Mona Lisa is vastly superior to the domestic version, which has a strange, almost plastic-like taste. As mentioned before, the bread really wasn't up to par.

I recently made a return trip to Mona Lisa to pick up some prosciutto for a dinner of antipasti, and just wanted to see if the folks at Mona Lisa had run out of their usual rolls and had used a back-up source. I had initially thought of grabbing the Caprese Sandwich, but ended up ordering the Capicolla ($6.75):

Well the bread was the same, too doughy, tough crust. The Capicolla was fine, a bit milder than anticipated, and ended up being a bit bland overall.

I think we'll look at other options for sandwiches unless Mona Lisa changes their bread. We'll stick to getting the prosciutto and make our own sandwiches.

One last little story about Mona Lisa. A few years ago, when all the condos were being built in Little Italy, while waiting for my sandwich, two construction workers walked into Mona Lisa. One of the guys pulled his shirt up, over his rather considerable gut, forming a "basket" of sorts. The other guy started grabbing these premade little sandwiches stacked up on the side of the counter and placing them in the guys shirt. I hadn't even noticed all those little sandwiches! He turned around and unloaded his bounty onto the cashier counter. He had nineteen sandwiches…..the lady rang him up…..and it came out to less than twenty bucks! The little sandwiches were 99 cents each!

Curious I bought three……the sandwiches aren't very big…..

But two of them left me sufficiently satisfied. Two slices of meat, a slice of cheese, a smear of butter…….just like mom used to make.

I bought one recently and it's still just 99 cents. I'm thinking this is great for kids, or maybe if you're kinda "short" before payday….. I still wonder how many guys that construction dude fed with twenty bucks.

Mona Lisa Italian Foods
2061 India St
San Diego, CA 92101

Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:00-10:00
Friday & Saturday 9:00-11:00
Sunday 10:00-10:00

You can read Cathy's post on Mona Lisa here.

Everything Tastes Better in a Banh Mi, Right? Sunday Edition – Uni (Sea Urchin) and Egg Banh Mi

June 21, 2009 mmm-yoso Banh Mi, Cooking, Sandwiches, yoso-silly

If you've read my previous post, you'll recall my testing the limits of that phrase. I can't recall who told me that, but it has stuck in my head. This'll be a short post….'cause you know that you should be spending time with Dad on this Father's Day, not checking out some silly "Everything Tastes Better in a Banh Mi" post!

The Banh Mi itself looks fairly innocuous.

I became a big fan of Banh Mi Trung (Egg Banh Mi) during our visit to Vietnam….and I still crave it from time to time. While looking through the recipes in Izakaya: The Japanese Pub Cookbook, I came across a recipe for "Scrambled Eggs with Sea Urchin in Lobster Sauce". It really wasn't the recipe that hit me, but the photo. Along the side of the dish, was a baguette! In the sometimes strange way that my mind works, I thought this to be a great idea. I've had a wonderful "Oeufs Brouillés aux Oursins" (scrambled eggs with sea urchin), and even "Oeufs Brouilles Au Caviar D'Oursin" (scrambled eggs with caviar and sea urchin) a couple of times. Uni, egg, and Banh Mi sounded just wonderful. So why not?

My objective was to not "kill" the wonderful, unique, and delicate flavor of the Uni. I wanted everything to be in harmony, yet not boring. I guess you'd call it "fusion" without "con-fusion".

The bread I picked up from Paris Bakery.

In homage to the Vietnamese Banh Mi Trung, I added some Maggi to the eggs, because as we all know, "Maggi makes everything taste better"! And some sea salt.

For texture, and to balance out the richness, I used the ubiquitous Vietnamese pickled radish and carrots. In addition, instead of cilantro, I added some Kaiware (daikon sprouts). I think a touch of mayo might have been nice, but pate would have killed the sandwich.

There's not much more except for some photos:

Wow, this was "killer", I was amazed at how good this was. The pickles cut the richness, the sprouts added a bit of "spice" and bite, the Maggi added a nice "umami", and you could still taste the wonderful "soul of the ocean"! Not a cheap Banh Mi, but man was it good!

So no Kimchi and Peanut Butter Banh Mi this time around. But the saying still runs true; everything tastes better in a Banh Mi!

Pisa’s Chicago Deli

June 15, 2009 mmm-yoso Hot Dogs, Sandwiches

*** Pisa's has closed.

Recently some business found me in the Mission Gorge area around lunch time. I saw a storefront I hadn't noticed before. I think this used to be a location of Submarina or something like that.

And since I just can't seem to pass up a chance at a Chicago Dog, I just had to stop.

The interior does seem to scream "sandwich chain", but the menu is bit different.

And so I ordered….what else, a Chicago Dog ($3.49):

The good? The standard Chicago Dog roll-call indicated all the usual suspects were present; the dog is Vienna Beef, the roll is poppy seed, the sport peppers were nice and spicy, the neon green relish was in attendance, as was the celery salt and tomato slices.

The bad? The dog was "blanched" and flavorless, the poppy seed bun was heated in the microwave and gummy, and it didn't have enough celery salt. Barely passable at best……

A few weeks later, I found myself back in the area, and decided to give Pisa's another try. This time I went for the Chicago Style Italian Beef Sandwich ($6.49), which I requested "hot dipped":

Even though the beef was basically your standard roast beef, it was sliced fresh. The roll was a standard French Roll, which did fine. The young man working the counter even included a cup of the "broth", which tasted pretty much like the stuff you'd serve with a roast beef dip. I once had a version so full of oregano and garlic flavor…..this wasn't it, but neither was it terrible. The giardiniera was the appropriate "sport pepper" version, which I enjoy.

And though I don't really consider this a "real" Chicago Beef sandwich, it sure was a lot of food:

I also enjoyed the potato salad which was cold, with a nice vinegar flavor.

All in all, that beef sandwich sure was pretty hefty. The menu is different from the usual Subway and Quizno's, and the guys that work here were nice and friendly. So if you're in the area, and really need a Chicago Dog……..

Pisa's Chicago Deli
10450 Friar's Road
San Diego, CA 92120

K sandwiches for a quick dinner

May 2, 2009 Cathy Sandwiches, What Cathy Eats!

Welcome back to mmm-yoso!!!, the blog about food. Kirk is somewhere between San Diego and Guatemala, ed (from Yuma) is somewhere between San Diego and Yuma and Cathy is here now.

Hello again. The Mister had to work late the other night. I was hungry and did not want to cook. I told him to meet me at K Sandwich for dinner. I have posted about K and breakfast . Kirk has blogged aboutK sandwich as its own post as well as when He compares banh mi around town. It is on Linda Vista Road at Mesa College Drive.

So anyhow. The usual. We have to get a pate chaud ($1)

Crisp, light pastry surrounding ground pork, lightly seasoned. Never greasy, always good. It is sold in the lighted shelves next to the cash register.

I have to get hot milk coffee(cafe su da)(sua nong) $2.50. The Mister decided to try a lychee slushie ($2.45) .

I got my usual #24, the roast beef sandwich. ($3.89) On a fresh made croissant. The croissant is HUGE.

The roast beef is plentiful, but not too flavorful. There is white cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion and pickled jalapenos on the sandwich.

The Mister got the #12, BBQ Meat banh mi. ($2.75)

I don't know what this BBQ meat is, but we like to call it "Vietnamese Kielbasa" and let it go at that. it is good, sliced thick, has a slight garlic undertone and is served on the fresh bread with daikon, sliced carrot, cilantro and sliced fresh jalapeno.

A lot of food and beverage, $13.67 with tax. Good, fresh food.

I hope everyone is having a good weekend.

K Sandwiches 7604 Linda Vista Road (at Mesa College Drive) SD 92111 (858)278-8961

Was it hot enough for you today?

April 19, 2009 mmm-yoso Banh Mi, Chinese Restaurants, Sandwiches

Well was it? Man, I saw the thermometer hit 92 today, and we live in a very moderate part of San Diego! I don't know about you, but sometimes the heat really dampens my appetite. Can you imagine having this steaming bowl of Gyeran Jjim (steamed egg)……

I do know folks who enjoy having a nice hot bowl of soup during a heat wave (and love ice cream during the middle of winter), but I'm not one of them. Neither is the Missus. But the Missus has one thing going for Her….when She finds something She enjoys, She'll have it every day until the woman becomes sick and tired of it. I believe I've documented various obsessions pretty well. But this time, the Missus has got two going on at the same time! What's even more interesting is that both obsessions are sandwiches! And even though sammies originate in different parts of the world, they both happen to be vegetarian sandwiches.

In corner A, we have the Vegetarian Banh Mi from LV Sandwiches in Linda Vista:

I was told they make the faux Cha Lua inhouse. I must say, that unlike most Banh Mi Chay, this one has some flavor to it. And it can almost fool me……..

Unfortunately LV Sandwiches has now closed…..

LV Sandwiches and Restaurant
6925 Linda Vista Road
San Diego, CA 92111

In corner B, is the "Garden Delight" from Sandwich Emporium, our wonderful neighborhood sandwich shop. For some reason the Missus eschews cheese and mayo on this sandwich, but adds pickled jalapenos for a bit of a kick. (A side note, I like the BLAST, which is basically the same sandwich with bacon…)

She has eaten this sandwich on five or the last six days. The Missus has become a bit embarassed about John and Peter ordering the sandwich the minute they see Her. So guess who has to pick up Her sandwiches now???? I mean, I love sandwiches, and the crew at Sandwich Emporium, but 5 times in six days? And I've got a sneaking suspicion the Missus will make it six out of seven tomorrow….I hope they don't run out of sprouts or jalapenos!

Sandwich Emporium
3054 1/2 Clairemont Drive
San Diego,CA
619-275-1351

Meanwhile, I've got my own cure for a hot Sunday:

Yep, it's from you know where, and it sure hit the spot. Also, since Ba Ren has lowered prices, this dish is now only $4.59….cheaper than many sandwiches. I think I'll be eating this a lot more often…..

**** Ba Ren has closed

Ba Ren
4957 Diane Ave
San Diego, CA 92117

Of course this looks pretty good right now as well:

But that's a whole 'nother post(yes, another COMC post I'm sure)…..well, you can read about Cathy's visit here. Let's just say it lives up to it's name on the menu, "Vuelve ala Vida" – Back to life!

We hope everyone managed to keep cool and refreshed this weekend!