What Cathy Eats! – Page 115

Episode 12/week two- Mrs. Rice’s Teriyaki Grill and Gourmet Wraps and Hawaiian BBQ

October 12, 2006 Cathy American/New American Restaurants, What Cathy Eats!

Mrs. Rice is closed.

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

Oooh boy, did I have a tough time trying to put a category on this one…Mrs. Rice's…It's right there on the southeast corner of Clairmont Mesa and 163…in the same parking lot with Golden City. We first tried it because Golden City was so crowded one afternoon. The menu says it is "Teriyaki Chicken, Gourmet Wraps and Hawaiian BBQ"…"a unique quick serve restaurant that specializes in fresh, healthy and delicious rice bowls and gourmet wraps". The word "healthy" is always bothersome to me. Usually it means "flavorless". But not at Mrs. Rice's!

Click here to see the website.

So, the Mister works near the 163/Clairmont Mesa/Balboa area and in the lobby at work, he saw this coupon page, and remembered we had tried Mrs. Rice's when it first opened and were not overly thrilled with it, but it wasn't bad..and now there were coupons! (Oh, and the Mister is really getting into this whole blogging thing too, trying to help me with ideas of places I should talk about ).

So, this is the regular menu.

and this is the new Hawaiian BBQ menu.

I do think Kirk could give a better eval of whether or not the Hawaiian menu is good, and besides, the coupon wasn't for those items…

So… the regular menu:

We tried the #12 (sweet and sour chicken and BBQ pork) $4.99. Lots of good rice. The sweet and sour chicken is a bit too sweet I think. (All the chicken is skinless here, by the way… part of that "healthy" way of cooking). The BBQ pork was excellent, especially dipped in the sauce that came with and the vegetables were steamed and still a bit crispy. Quite good, quite filling.

Ah, but the #7 (teriyaki chicken and teriyaki steak) $5.49…oh that steak…nice and tender, thick enough and sooo tasty (they only use USDA choice steaks). The teriyaki sauce was nice and not overly sweet..it went well with the chicken and the steak. Same veggies, and lots of good rice.

Mrs. Rice's does serve healthy (no shortening, butter, lard or MSG) food, makes their own sauces and salsas fresh daily, and the food always is fresh. The veggies are not over-steamed or mushy..and if someone is a rice addict out there (Hello Kirk), well, this is a good fix.

As it says on the ads: Always fresh! Always Great!

Mrs. Rice's 5375 Kearney Villa Road, #101 San Diego 92123

(858)278-0618 fax: (858) 278-9801

Mon-Fri 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (closed weekends…I bet that is when they do most of the catering)

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Just a reminder: The San Diego Asian Film Festival started tonight, and ChiliCheeseFries has his movie playing (Asian Stories Movie) this weekend. For more info: Click here.

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Episode Eleven/week two-The San Diego Chicken Pie Shop

October 11, 2006 Cathy American/New American Restaurants, What Cathy Eats!

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

Hi. Sometimes I *need* to eat food using chop sticks. Sometimes I *need* to eat food with some type of red, spicy sauce. Sometimes, it has to remind me of my childhood.

The San Diego Chicken Pie Shop has been around since 1938, moving from location to location but with the food remaining consistent….a kind of cross between school cafeteria food and what my mom used to make. Simple, hearty, tasty and economical.

When we went here in 1988, with my dad, the "Pie Dinner" was $3.10 and included the beverage…now it is $5.50 and does not include a beverage. My, how times have changed…but the food tastes exactly the same….and that is all that matters.

The top menu is the sit down restaurant one and the bottom menu is for the take out.

As part of my stating the obvious, the name is the Chicken Pie Shop. Get the chicken pie. The "Pie Dinner" at $5.50 is the best deal. We also opted for a cup of pea soup ($1.25)and a bowl of the "soup of the day"- Oriental Chicken-which was the regular in store made chicken soup with rice in it. ($1.50)( please…I said school cafeteria already…)

The chicken soup has celery, carrots, a bit of onion and bay leaf as seasoning in it. It seems to be a bit creamy, but that could be because of the added rice.

I really like the pea soup- chicken stock based with carrots added to the peas. It is quite unique, thick and flavorful. No ham.

So here it is- the pie dinner:

You get a hearty, chewy fresh made dinner roll, some really nice, finely chopped, fresh made basic cole slaw ( I usually add pepper to it), the pie, institutional mashed potatoes, some lovely congealing gravy and the vegetable of the day, in this case..mixed, previously frozen.

Is that, like, a Swanson’s frozen pot pie you ask…NO!

Look at the innards. Its chicken and gravy, no vegetables…oh and that crust is made fresh also…and the pie is kind of really large…

and also included in this $5.50 price tag is dessert…a slice of in store made pie.…oh the shortening crust…!

There is a "cream pie" of the day, in this case it was banana…I know on Tuesdays it is coconut cream other days have chocolate cream and pineapple cream….which is topped with yet more industrial "whipped topping"…and the "usual" pies of the day are two crusted (with sugar sprinkled on top) and fruit filled- The one the Mister chose was rhubarb, but they also have cherry and peach and I have seen pumpkin and lemon on occasion.

This restaurant takes cash ONLY, no credit cards, no ATM, no checks.

It is good, basic food, served quickly (if you order the chicken pie and then get up to go to the restroom, the food will be on the table by the time you get back) (the chicken liver meal takes the longest to cook and I do order it on occasion).

San Diego Chicken Pie Shop 2633 El Cajon Blvd. San Diego 92104 (619) 295-0156 fax in an order (619) 295-0216

10 a.m. -8 p.m. 7 days

Episode Ten/Week 2- Daphne’s

October 10, 2006 Cathy Chains, Greek Food, What Cathy Eats!

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

So, as I am getting hungry (again) and looking for something relatively inexpensive, I check my email (because in September, The Mister and I share birthdays seven days apart and I let everyone at my spam email address know this) and there are a few e-coupons with some good deals:
Rubios sent me a coupon for a free chips and guacamole with purchase (worth $1.99)
Sammys Woodfired sent me a coupon for a free "Messy Sundae" (worth $7.95, which I would never pay that much for, but we ate it anyhow)
Pat and Oscars sent some sort of two for one coupon, have until Oct 15 to use..
and then there was Daphne’s;

Yes, it is a chain. They call it "contemporary, casual, delicious Greek food". The owner, George Katakalidis, is a former San Diego Socker who also played for other Professional Indoor Soccer teams and also was the Captain of the National Youth Team of Canada. He was born in Greece and adapted the foods for Daphne’s to be Greek, but also consistent throughout the chain. There are presently 65 locations throughout California and Arizona. This is a photo of the one in Santee, next to the trolley station.

So, when you sign up on the Daphne’s website to be a VIP member of their e Club, you get a few benefits…one of those benefits is a monthly coupon for something…This month it was for the gyros pita, fries and beverage for $5.49 which is $6.99 as a lunch special or the sandwich by itself is regular $5.29. This is incentive for us to go. (No, I did not get any coupon for my birthday).

The pita is fresh, the gyros meat is moist, tender, sliced thin and plentiful. It comes with lettuce, tomato and tzatziki sauce, which is made with yogurt, cucumber and dill. It is a good, filling sandwich.

The menu is simple, also on the website and prices are consistent throughout the chain.

I usually get the vegetarian platter which has a nice spanakopita, falafel, dolmas and hummus and is served with a Greek salad, rice pilaf, tzatziki and pita bread. ($8.29)

Today the Mister wanted the Greek chicken salad with avgolemono soup ($6.49 at lunch).

The soup is creamy, rich with chicken stock and rice and with a good lemon overtone.

The salad is a plentiful Greek salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, red onions, cucumbers, pepperocini, feta cheese, kalmata olives and a home made Greek dressing. The marinated chicken placed on top is warm. It is served with more tzatziki and warm pita.

Daphne’s offers a "Fire Feta®" cheese, which we have tried. It costs 79¢ more and it just isn’t that thrilling and doesn’t add anything for either the Mister or I..but I see lots of people buying it.

You can always add rice pilaf to any salad for no extra charge here and it is good.

The eclub has its benefits in addition to the monthly coupons. You register with Daphne’s and can either get a card or give them your phone number each time you order and after you have ordered $200 of food, you get a coupon/gift card for $25. This is a good deal if maybe you are ordering a lot or go there regularly, maybe for an office.

Yes, it is a chain. Yes, you have probably seen it. Go and try it. The food is not bad and always fresh.

Daphne’s- 65 locations in California and Arizona

Check the website for specific locations.

Episode 9-Week2- Italia Ristorante

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

Italia has closed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Its worth the U-turns….

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

Cathy's Favorite pasta dish

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

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

Episode 8-Week 2 Carnitas Uruapan

October 8, 2006 Cathy Mexican Restaurants, What Cathy Eats!

Carnitas Uruapan closed in September 2011. It will be missed. It has relocated and is being run by former employees at 4233 Spring Street, La Mesa 92042 Here's a post

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

When I started blogging, yea all of seven days ago, the first comment I received was from Ted, who asked if I might possibly review Mexican restaurants in the San Diego area. "Ha!" I thought. Mexican restaurants…what is out there? what is good?…

Then I was reading the chowhound website and recalled seeing a lot of inquiries this summer from people who were going to be staying in downtown San Diego for some sort of convention or another and they, too were asking about 'good Mexican restaurants'.

Invariably, someone always mentioned "Carnitas Uruapan" for great carnitas, yet I have never seen a review. (Carnitas is essentially orange juice marinated pork, simmered in boiling oil, then braised in the oven to get a crispy crust.). So, since I am not doing much of anything, I felt it was necessary to at least show some photographs to the few people who do not know about Carnitas Uruapan. It is in Lemon Grove…waaaay out in East county (maybe 12 minutes from downtown, because you get stuck at lights getting out of downtown).

Looks innocuous, eh? Its a lot nicer than the old location, which did not have air conditioning. That location was taken over by Eminent Domain about 15 years ago.

We went here today, a Sunday, at 1 p.m. We were the only non-Hispanics in the place. This is a good sign.

Here is the menu, all three pages. You can click onto any of them and they will enlarge.

This is the main dinner menu and then there is the lunch menu.

If you have paid attention, the name of the place is CARNITAS Uruapan. Get the carnitas.

Carnitas for two: $12.90…we wanted guacamole also, $3.50

Doesn't look like much, you say? That is a pound of carnitas meat. You get three corn tortillas each, or two flour tortillas each. Here is what we made, and what was leftover:

I made a taco and then just a plate of beans, carnitas, guacamole, cilantro, onion and tomato. I used lots of carnitas.

The Mister made himself smaller burrito like servings on the flour tortillas.

After we each had two pretty large servings, this amount of meat was still left over. We did manage to finish it all though…but I wasn't hungry for dinner…

The "Sampler Platter" is $15.95 and includes about 1/3 lb carnitas, tamale, chile relleño, enchilada, a sopa, taco, rice and beans…lots of side stuff. Its good. Its all good. The carnitas here are great. The salsa is hot, fresh, the chips are made in house, the tortillas are fresh and warm when they get to your table, the beans are made with lard (wonder where they get it?), the cilantro and onions are plentiful and fresh and it is all brought to your table quickly with a smile. The only thing I don't like- the iced tea is instant, not brewed.

Carnitas Uruapan 8035 Broadway, Lemon Grove 91945

(619) 462-0704

Episode 7-Week One: Saturday musings and Mary’s

October 7, 2006 Cathy Cooking, Desserts, What Cathy Eats!

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

Ah, every day should be Saturday in the autumn. Today was a particularly good day, starting out with a simple breakfast:

Hmmm…..I wonder what Kirk and I have in common anyhow….

That is rye bread I got from Panera Bakery earlier in the week. Its really good and chewy, and still great a few days later, if toasted.

Anyhow, the Mister and I didn’t want to go in to Pacific Beach to watch the Saturday football game for a couple of reasons: 1. It started at about 1:30 p.m., and so we would have to get there early to get a good seat. 2. The particular game we were going to watch was going to be played on national TV….and 3. We also wanted to see how the baseball playoffs were going…can’t use that remote in a bar, even one with about 50 TV sets… So, we stayed at home and had lunch:

Home made pizza:

The crust is simple: 2 C bread flour, 1/2 C corn meal, 1 tsp dry yeast, 1 Tbs sugar, 1/2 tsp kosher salt, 2 Tbs olive oil, 1 C water. You know the drill: dissolve yeast, sugar in water, mix rest together..knead, let rise, let rise 2nd time. Makes about a 15 inch round. We put it on a pre-heated pizza stone and into the oven.

Toppings were fresh tomatoes (from the yard), fresh basil (from the yard), fresh mozzarella and shredded 4 cheese Mexican mix from Vons (Medium cheddar, Monterey Jack, Asadero and Queso Quesadilla). {Hey, I ate Spam for breakfast..I can put Mexican cheese on a pizza}. No olive oil or tomato sauce on the dough…baked in the oven until it was done. It was nice, crispy, chewy and filling.

Anyhow, we won the games and pretty soon it was time for dinner.

Beer can chicken!

Chicken, partial can of beer (take a big sip), fresh rosemary shoved into the beer can, place beer can/rosemary infusion into the chicken, and then set into the handy-dandy "Beer can chicken cooker" (sold at WalMart for $3.50, and at other places for $10) seasoned salt for the skin. Place on BBQ grill, using radiant heat (flames on one side, chicken on other side) The beer will eventually boil and steam inside the chicken and the result will be:

A beautifully roasted exterior and the interior will be very moist and flavorful.

You can use soda pop instead of beer, but be sure to used only sugared, not diet, soda pop….the chemical that makes diet stuff sweet tasting gets really weird when boiled.

Oh, as an aside, if anyone ever gives you one of those cute, 4 inch pots of rosemary shaped like a Christmas tree, and you decide to plant it in your back yard in San Diego…just know it *will* turn into a four foot by four foot bush/shrub that smells wonderful and will never die…

The chicken was served with rice pilaf, roasted squash (cut into quarters, innards scooped out, pat of butter on top, wrap in foil and put into the heat side of the grill). and beets. We needed some color on the plate; canned green beans or corn kernels would not make for a pretty picture.

Then it was 8 pm.

Mary’s is open 24/7. Tomorrow is Sunday. Mary’s has been in Santee forever. Look at the cool signage. It used to be called Zona’s Donuts, more than 20 years ago. Sometimes I still call it Zona’s, but it is Mary’s.

Mary’s sells *lots* of donuts on Sunday…so they make them the night before. Fresh, warm and lots of them..

I bought four.

This is what made it home. I *really* like fresh French Crullers.

Mary’s Donuts 9031 Mission Gorge Road, Santee 92071 (SE corner of the 125) (619) 448-4800 …always open…

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

October 6, 2006 Cathy Chains, What Cathy Eats!

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

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

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

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

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

Oh…. yeah.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tugboat Fish & Chips 8047 Broadway, Lemon Grove 91945

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

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

Episode five:week One-Vine Ripe Market and Cuisine

October 5, 2006 Cathy Markets & Grocers, Mediterranean Restaurants, What Cathy Eats!

Vine Ripe Market was closed in 2008 and re-opened January 1, 2010…updates soon. (Hint-fresh hot flatbread at the bakery when you walk in, hot foods, Boars Head meats and more…and the restaurant is great too!)

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

OK. Another day and I continue to blog. I like variety in my life and try not to repeat certain things, like the nationality of food I eat daily…burrito for breakfast, then veggies and cheese for lunch and then probably something best eaten with chopsticks for dinner…. you know… I do like fresh fruits and vegetables, and have a small garden for that, but I find myself stopping at whatever fresh produce place I can find, daily, looking for munchies when the garden is winding down. One of my regular stops is Vine Ripe, in La Mesa.

The "official" name I see on the flyers I get in the mail is "Vine Ripe International Market and Cuisine" and its website is very well put together. It shows the weekly specials, the daily specials AND allows you to sign up for a text message of the daily specials, as well as having the menu for the adjacent, wonderful restaurant which serves Halal meats and everything else fresh from the market it shares space with in the building.

I took a few photos inside the market. (You can click onto any of them and they enlarge).

This is part of the produce section. Lots of selection, good prices, daily specials AND always a shopping cart of marked down packaged veggies and fruits that are right on the edge of ripeness and will only last a day more.

Bulk feta cheeses (this is about half of what is available) and bulk olives (there are 12 tubs like this- these are Moroccan oil cured @ $2.69/lb)

Refrigerated cheeses-3 different brands of Halloumi…and an aisle of sauces, mustards, purees, pickled vegetables. The products sold here are from all over the world- Germany, Poland, Italy, Bulgaria, Greece. There are canned and jarred varieties of just about anything you can think of.

Then, in this aisle of mixes, there is this "Cheesecake Aid" stuff. I am unsure what kind of aid a cheesecake might require, but next time I make one and think I need aid, well, I know right where to look.

Apparently, there is a need for it.

These are the selection of frozen filo doughs.

Those are the frozen lamb heads, $1.29/lb.

The selection of Halal meats is all inclusive. People were milling about in the Meat Department and I didn't get a photo.

Now remember the name, its a Mediterranean market, not "Greek"…

The vegetarian plate- Spinach pie, falafel, hummus, tabbouleh, baba ghanouj and a feta cheese salad with pita bread. ($8.95) Excellent, fresh made everything and quite enough food. Its spinach pie, not spanakopita. The dough is more of a piroshki type and the filling is mostly fresh spinach and mild spices, no feta.

The gyros sandwich ($4.95)..not your typical. Its stuffed lavosh bread, gyros meat, a "graecian" sauce and greens- meaning lettuce and pickle..(you read that right-pickle).. Then the bread is grilled and the sandwich served with a salad. It is not huge, but it is quite enough food to make a meal, filling and wonderfully flavorful.

Oh, here is the menu, but you can also view it on the website.www.vineripemarket.com

Ah, Mediterranean food…dessert…

They make them all in the in-store bakery.

The menu includes lamb kafta, beef or chicken shawerma kabobs (shawerma is *sort* of more slouvlaki than gyros, as far as spices go), chicken and beef gyros, salmon, tilapia, trout, catfish and shrimp dishes.

Nothing is bad here. Really.

Vine Ripe Market 8191 Fletcher Parkway (at Jackson-same parking lot as Chili's and one parking lot north of the LM Costco) La Mesa 91942 (619) 462-9900

episode four/Week one-La Basil Thai

October 4, 2006 Cathy Thai Restaurants, What Cathy Eats!

***UPDATE*** La Basil at this location closed in June 2007. The La Jolla location is still open. Rumor is a new location in East County is in the works. Click onto website info at bottom of post for information.

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

Hi. So, the parting words to me from Kirk were "Oh- and make sure you do Basil Thai"…and I don't want to. I don't want everyone to know about this place. Its one of the really great hole-in-the-walls, run by a Thai family. The people who go there frequently know they have a gem…and anyone who goes to K Sandwiches has been right on top of it. (click onto the photo- you can see K Sandwiches on the left and right there, at the end of the parking lot, under the setting sun-those buildings right there…go ahead, walk on over)

There they are- my two best kept secrets, right on Mesa College Drive. We will go from left to right and I will talk about La Basil today.

Here is the menu, posted outside. Basically for the lunch specials, you choose your type of noodle, type of meat and type of sauce. If you get vegetarian, chicken or pork,its $5.99; beef or duck is $6.99, shrimp or calamari is $7.99, scallop is $8.99 and mixed seafood is $10.99.

Dinners have a similar style of ordering, with the most expensive entree on the menu being $12.95.

For dinner, there are appetizers, salads, noodles & rice, house curries, specialties and fish.

The thing is, there are 18 CHAIRS for 5 tables total inside and 10 CHAIRS for 4 tables outside, and really, if you were to sit at the tables using all of those chairs, there is no space for plates for all the people. Notice there are no condiments on the tables.

We ordered, had water placed and a basket of still sizzling shrimp chips were brought out to the table. Not oily, not too hot, but still sizzling with a nice shrimp flavor and oh so light and crispy.

Then the appetizer we ordered arrived, having been freshly made, Spring rolls ($4.95): rice paper stuffed with tofu, lettuce, bean sprouts, carrot, mint, cucumber, rice noodle served with a sweet/sour/hot sauce topped with chopped peanuts on the left and warmed, fresh made peanut sauce on the right. These were very fresh, with the right amount of crunch and the sauces complimented the flavors perfectly.

Then my most absolute favorite Thai dish arrived- Larb salad…made with beef! I have looked high and low for larb made with beef anywhere else in San Diego and have yet to find it. Seems its always made with chicken. Here, you get to choose: beef, chicken or pork. Larb is made with the minced meat, lime juice, chili, rice powder (gives it crunch) and mint and also served are cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, onions and shredded carrots. I asked for medium heat..not too much: I wanted to taste the flavors. It was just right. ($7.95)

We also got the chicken pad Thai this time. The pad Thai is kind of sweet tasting here and the noodles are fresh rice noodles, with a nice "bite" to them, but at lunchtime I like to get the pad see ew noodle, made with a thicker rice noodle, that seems to hold more of the sauce on it. (I also like the green curry on rice at lunch). Bean sprouts, scallion and egg along with chopped peanuts and the chicken and noodles. ($7.95)

This little placard was on the table, and we had ordered the rice with coconut ice cream once before, remembering it took about 10 minutes to come out, because they make it fresh, and it was busy. We ordered ahead of time. They were out of ice cream, so we asked for the custard.

Which was also made fresh. The rice is made with coconut milk, was still warm and wonderfully sticky. The custard was eggy and wonderfully fresh, with a skin just beginning to form on top. The price was $4.95.

All in all, the Mister and I really like La Basil. It does a brisk take out (but you don't call it in: i never have heard a phone ring when we were in there- you walk in, order and wait…they give you some shrimp chips to munch on… and enjoy the decor):

It is going to be Halloween soon, you know.

La Basil Thai Cuisine 7530 Mesa College Drive SD 92111

Mon-Fri 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.

Sat 12:00 p.m.-9:00p.m.

Did anyone notice the parsley on the dessert plate?

Addendum- October 12, 2006….I was reading the morning paper and saw a coupon for La Basil Thai in La Jolla. There was a website: La Basil dot com and I went to it, looked at the menu section and it is, apparently, a chain! The La Jolla prices are a dollar more than the prices at this location on Mesa College Drive. There is nothing on the menu here to indicate they had another location. …and I just don't hang around in La Jolla enough to know that there was a La Basil there. Sorry if anyone was confused.

Episode three-week one/Niban

October 3, 2006 Cathy Japanese Restaurants, What Cathy Eats!

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

Niban-fast, inexpensive, fresh, un-fancy, second best (?)Japanese and sushi.

So I don’t know much about the Japanese language except the Numbers one, two and three: ichi, ni, san…and so I use the Google Japanese translator and ichiban means "first", niban means "second" and sanban means "third". Then again, if you merely Google "niban" well, that is a brand name of a boric acid based granular bait used for pest control…I know I have seen restaurants named Ichiban…so to name yourself Niban, well, that takes …guts… on so many levels.

So yes, of course we eat here, regularly.

Its a simple system. You walk in, pay, then sit down. (If you are doing a "to go" order, you can sit at one of the chairs lining the front window). One of the people who works there takes your receipt, asks what you would like to drink (hot tea is free) (if you have paid for soda or beer, they ask you what kind you want) and they bring it to you and soon your order arrives.

The menu is simple:

and there are daily lunch specials written on a chalk board on the wall in front of you when you walk in, and other specials written on a chalkboard to the far right of the cash register (but also displayed in a glass case to your right as you walk in the door-you can see it from the front window right underneath this GIANT menu taped to the window.) Also, there is a monthly special, printed on a colored sheet of paper taped to the front window, a glass case straight ahead when you walk in the door and on the counter when you order. For October it is katsu curry-either chicken or shrimp, with salad and beverage for $5.50..regular $6.25 without beverage.

The specials are usually 75¢ to $1 off the regular price. There is a sushi bar with 7 (seven) seats total to the right and to the back of the cash register. If you want only that, you can walk in and sit down…paying when you leave. No photo; the people eating didn’t want to be in a picture.

But I like this display of plastic sushi and mirrors in the front window anyhow….

This is what we had in the last two visits:

The calamari appetizer- 5 pieces of squid steak breaded and fried. That sauce that looks like thousand island dressing..it isn’t…it has jalapeño in it…

The chicken katsu salad (regularly $3.50, sale price $2.75). I can eat this as a meal. Lettuce, chilled rice noodle, sliced carrots, sliced cucumbers and a ginger-garlic dressing served on the side. One whole piece of katsu chicken.

We got the sushi combo one night: 6 pieces nigiri and 2 hand rolls:$10.95

The hand rolls are regularly $3.50 each and are quite large. One was with crab meat and the other spicy tuna. All the fish was very fresh, tender, sliced thick enough and served on proper rice. Nothing outstanding, nothing bad, either. Below in this photo are the gyoza, served steamed or fried. ($2.95) Five handmade, thin skinned and filled with mostly pork with good ginger flavor as well as some water chestnut crunch. Very good.

On this visit, one of the daily specials was this bento box of chicken teriyaki, fried croquette (potato cake), salad, pickled bean sprouts, cold rice noodle and rice, served with miso soup. ($5.95 regular $6.75)

The chicken was mostly dark meat, the teriyaki sauce is good, not too thick or sweet. The croquette was excellent: crispy on the outside, and good mashed potato on the inside.

The October special, katsu curry.

We tried it with shrimp-you get three. If you get the chicken, you get 2 patties.

The curry tonight was not as thick as usual, but still tasty, with a nice "bite"..beef based, Japanese flavored, some chunks of beef (we have had more beef in it previously), potatoes, carrots and, according to the Mister, an inordinate amount of onions.

There is a TV on each side of the restaurant, none on the outside patio- but Players Bar and Grill is across the sidewalk and they have 4 television sets playing outside, for the smokers.

…and..my most favorite piece of decor:

The sushi clock!

All in all, Niban is good, fast and inexpensive…and has some sort of issues going on with self esteem, near as I can tell. Someday I’ll ask why they chose this name.

Niban 7081 Clairmont Mesa Blvd San Diego (858) 268-0465

Lunch Mon-Sat 11:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Dinner Sun-Thurs 5:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m., Fri and Sat 5 p.m.-10 p.m.