What Cathy Eats! – Page 73

2013 Rose Parade Float Road Test-and breakfast at Euro Pane Bakery (Pasadena)

October 28, 2012 Cathy Bakery, Breakfast/Brunch, Festivals & Events, Los Angeles County, Road Trip, What Cathy Eats!

mmm-yoso!!! is a food blog. Kirk, ed (from Yuma) and Cathy do things and eat, just like you. Today Cathy is writing about why, where and what she had for breakfast.

As you (may) know, The Mister and I grew up back East watching the Rose Parade from our snow covered homes on January 1 (or 2nd, if the 1st was a Sunday) for most of our childhood. At some point, we were able to fulfill one of our "when I grow up" goals. We have volunteered decorating floats for a few years now and know that the parade does not happen overnight. Planning for next year starts almost as soon as the parade ends. One of many steps is the "road test" of the floats. I've posted about the July and the August road tests from this year and skipped writing a post in September, but did, once again, wake at 4 a.m. (so the dogs could all be let out) before leaving our home in East County so as to be on Raymond Street in Pasadena at 7 a.m. to view the floats. We did it all over again on Saturday. So, here are some photos of the September and October road testing..and our breakfast.

The Banner Float-the first one you'll see, showing the Theme of the 2013 parade. It will have so many different items to match and contrast all the colors painted on here as guidelines.

The LAX float was just a shell of rebar in August. That's the new Tom Bradley Terminal, which will open in March.

The HGTV float last time was kind of difficult to picture, but now, all the different home styles are clear.

This little guy, in his own home, will be on the "camera" side of the float.

So those were the 'completed' floats from September.

After we saw all the road testing, once again, we stopped at Lucky Boy and pretty much ordered what apparently has become our "usual". I didn't think you'd be interested in another post, especially containing the same meal…

But I did think you might be interested in seeing a September road test of the rebar-only floats and the resulting October completed floats…

All we knew about this float was that it was the Farmers Insurance Group entry in the parade. It looks like some sort of centerpiece or that something will be featured on the top of the vessel.

It turns out that one lucky couple will be getting married on this float during the parade! (There was a contest to pick the couple, entries ended October 14). The people are on the float to test how it moves/turns with weight, as there will be people riding on the float during the parade.

In September, seeing this…

pulling this, with our only clue being this was the RFD-TV float, had us guessing what was what (other than we knew the front item was a tractor).

Amber waves of grain- so surprised to see such a beautiful result.

Here's the "camera" view…

The Donate Life float appears to be one long mobius ribbon forming hearts along the float. The riders will all be recipients or families of organ donors, as always.

<–This is a closer look at the float, while the riders were exiting on a fire drill.

There was only one 'bare' float being tested and I'll save it for next time. (Hint: Honda)

After this early day, we headed out to seek breakfast 'somewhere on Colorado Boulevard'.

and since it was before 9 a.m., only had to look where we saw vehicles parked…and Euro Pane Bakery looked like a nice place.

Not very large inside (I counted 12 two person tables, and one that could seat eight). When we arrived, only five tables were occupied.

The two photos show all of the display cases and breads available (those are very large macarons in the photo above). Of course, I didn't want any sweets, and chose a slice of spinach quiche:

It came with a currant filled eggy roll… fresh-soft and lightly chewy, which went well with the unsalted butter.

The quiche is very spinach-y, without addition of other flavorings (i.e., no onion or nutmeg). The custard part of the quiche was smooth and eggy, like flan (there was an opposite of a custard:spinach ratio in the pieces near the edge). The crust was light and flaky…and gosh, so fresh.

The Mister saw this item on the counter and asked what it was and the nice Lady said "ham and cheese". Turns out there was also bacon, onions and carrot inside this fresh, crispy crust. It was very much like an Alsace Onion Tart (or the Tarte d'Alsace sold at Trader Joe's), but rolled and inside a crust. The onion was a carmelized sweet and inoffensive (The Mister only eats onions if they are battered and fried or in French onion soup and he did eat some of these, although a nice stack was on the side of the plate when we traded.).

Both items were heated-in an oven in back-for us and brought out to our table. Heating made the flavors even better. I neglected to take the receipt and only know that these two items plus one coffee cost a bit less than $13. I must say the quality was there and the sandwich menu board looked extremely interesting…and now I wish I had grabbed a sweet, or a loaf of bread…

Euro Pane Bakery 950 East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 107 Pasadena, CA 91106 (626) 577-1828

Pangea Bakery Cafe

October 24, 2012 Cathy Bakery, Stuff, What Cathy Eats!

Pangea has closed.

Welcome (back) to mmm-yoso!!!, a food blog. Kirk, ed (from Yuma) and Cathy usually share their adventures in eating here. Your being able to vicariously experience is a bonus. Cathy is writing today.

Well. The Mister and I were some of the first people to go to Pangea Bakery Cafe when it opened, in about May of 2011. We went here a few times and I was ready to post and looked around on the interweb and it seemed that just about every San Diego blogger had done a post. So I put the photos in a very special place. Finding some of them brought back some memories and since The Mister and I chose this for one of our eight days of birthday snack stops, more recent photos should make this post complete.

Located on Convoy Street, just south of Engineer Road, right next to Tea Garden the visible storefront has a small driveway where you can park for 15 minutes if you are just running in to pick up a snack. Otherwise, passing through the gauntlet of cars leads to a small parking lot. The one way parking lot exits onto Brinell Street, which usually has plenty of parking (depending on the day and time you are there) and since the lot is small, the walk isn't bad.

When the store first opened, the display racks of baked goods were pushed up against the walls and a small center island contained breads and trays. This Taiwanese bakery is filled with an ever changing variety of baked goods.

The display racks have now been brought inward and tables and chairs line the glass walls

and the center table now mostly holds day old baked goods. In this above photo, you can see a heated glass display case on the coffee/check out counter in the background.

On the other side of the cash register counter are refrigerated cases.

On the inner display racks are trays with individually wrapped selections. The above are garlic knots. Buttery…

Although, from this 2011 photo, you can see that items were not always individually wrapped.

There are trays stacked at the end of the cases are so you can place your selections separately without crushing any of the delicate pastries.

Above is what we ordered on our very first visit. There was a paper sign at the register after we had selected the sweets we wanted, offering pan fried dumplings and a choice of beverage for $2.49. Beverage choices were coffee, tea and hot soy milk. We chose the soy and also a coffee (there is (and was) an extensive list of espresso drinks available).

Above is a cross section of the dumpling. It was wonderful, crispy and not gummy, filled with ground pork, cabbage, carrots cooked in sesame oil. At some point, they stopped offering the beverage special, as well as the dumplings. You can still order a hot soy milk, but it isn't listed on the menu.

Here's a cross section of a cheese filled pastry.

Above is a photo of our birthday snack- at 12 o'clock is a red bean paste filled pastry, the item at 2 o'clock is pineapple filled and in the 6 o'clock position is a hot cheese pastry which came from the heated case on the countertop, next to the register. Fresh, still warm and all very good. Sometimes there is more of a pizza in the hot tray; it's good.

Above is a little snack/meal we brought home the other day. The 11 o'clock item is another red ben paste filled goodie, in the 5 o'clock position is a three pack of almond puff pastry…and that item placed at 1 o'clock

is a quite large loaf of ham and cheese bread. We can get 3 nice slices from this bread and always grab it when it's available.

The prices here are reasonable (the puff pastry was $1.25 and the cheese bread was $2.50). There is a lot of seating and it's a nice place to share a snack and talk.

Pangea Bakery Cafe 4689 Convoy Street, Suite 100 San Diego 92111 (858)560-0688 website

Miramar Fish Market & Seafood Grill-Chula Vista

October 23, 2012 Cathy Mexican Restaurants, Seafood, What Cathy Eats!

Miramar Fish Market & Seafood Grill is closed

Well, you have stumbled upon mmm-yoso!!!, the food blog. Kirk and ed(from Yuma) are just too busy to blog today, so Cathy is sharing a few virtual meals with you.

Well, I've found another place to satisfy my cravings. It's kind of a drive from East County, yet only five or six signal lights from either freeway exit, and worth it.

This rather plain façade in a newer mall on the East side of Broadway, one signal light South of Palomar in Chula Vista, may have been a place I would not necessarily stop. However, friend and fellow blogger caninecologne was kind enough to send me a 'Get One Free' coupon in June and one day, when The Mister and I were going to be driving South, I grabbed the coupon…you know, just in case I would be hungry.

The clean interior and fresh smelling fish display was inviting.

As were the photos of some of the meal choices, in addition to the rather large menu which was handed to us when we sat down.

The variety of hot sauces on the table, as well as the jarred condiments(limes, pickled red onions, a mild, chunky salsa and a smooth, fresh made chili based hot sauce) brought out with fresh corn chips was just a peek into the flavors we would soon experience.

On our first visit, we decided to share a fish tostada ($2.50) and our waitress was kind enough to just bring the ceviche on the plate and we supplemented it with the corn chips. This ceviche is available in the fish counter, is very fresh and really good.

The Mister ordered a "House Special", Filete de la Casa ($10.95)- a grilled fish topped with large sauteed shrimp, grilled mushrooms and vegetables. This was so fresh and perfectly flavored. It was served with tortillas, rice, beans and salad.

We were also served some seafood soup before our meals came out. As you can see, filled with fish and shrimp and in a rich broth.

I had ordered the Cabrilla Sarandeado ($11.99) A whole sand bass, split, covered with a mayonnaise/salsa mix and grilled….served on this GIANT (larger than the 15 inch laptop I am writing on right now) foil covered tray, along with the same sides and additionally grilled onions and jalapeños. So fresh and so very tasty.

So, a few weeks later, it was my birthday day and I knew what I wanted. This meal started with a pulpo (octopus) tostada ($3.50). There is a whole section of the menu with just octopus dishes- always fresh, since they seem to go through it quickly.

This is the medium Botaña ($9.95)- seafood combination snack/appetizer, but I made it my main course. Because it is huge. Octopus, half moon scallops, shrimp, sea snails. Fresh, just 'cooked' in lime juice accompanied by cucumber, avocado and topped with a nice chile salt.

The Mister chose the Empanizado filete ($9.95). Breaded and fried, this was a *very* large piece of fish, quite meaty and perfectly fried. It was served with the usual sides and was really good, crispy and didn't get soggy. Magic bread crumbs!

Just a few weeks ago, fellow bloggers and friends, Carol, caninecologne and I met up for a "C3 Bloggers Food Crawl" and our first stop was…yep…Miramar Fish Market. We each got a hearty cup of the seafood soup to start our meal. I am pretty sure it is the Seven Seas Soup, since this time there was octopus in the mix. I am going to order a bowl of this the next time; perfect in this chilly Autumn weather.

Here's an overhead of our meal selections, which we shared…the Culichi shrimp (at 1:00)($10.95)-I've been trying this cheese and poblano pepper sauce every time I get the chance. The version here has a nice kcik of heat from the poblanos. It's very satisfying…and the shrimp here are so large and not overcooked, providing a nice vessel for the sauce. The item at 11:00 is another "House Special"- the Filete Relleño ($11.95) another good sized fillet, grilled and 'stuffed with seafood' as well as topped with shrimp and a wonderful creamy sauce (you could say it was a Mornay, but there was no cheese… so, a white sauce that was creamy and well flavored on its own).

The third item, a large mixed seafood cocktail ($9.95) was so large and absolutely filled with shrimp and scallops in a wonderful tomato/lime sauce filled with onion/cilantro/cucumber and topped with a beautiful fanned avocado half.

Every meal here has been absolutely fresh and wonderful and enjoyed with either the Mister or friends and I want to eventually try the whole menu…

Miramar Fish Market & Seafood Grill 1655 Broadway Ave, Suite 12 Chula Vista 91911 (619)425-5504 Website

Tip Top Meats- a breakfast revisit

October 22, 2012 Cathy Breakfast/Brunch, German Restaurants and Food, Markets & Grocers, What Cathy Eats!

Welcome back to mmm-yoso!!! the blog with percolating posts. Today, Kirk and ed(from Yuma) are busy and Cathy is posting about a North County restaurant inside a grocery store.

Well, another year has passed and The Mister and I celebrated our eight days of birthday with many meals. (Our birthdays are seven days apart, and celebrating on the day of and on the day of makes it eight days when we deliberately do something a bit out of the ordinary.) For one breakfast, we drove to Carlsbad and Tip Top Meats, a German grocery store, which has a nice restaurant inside.
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Yes, I've written only one post on Tip Top, coincidentally a birthday breakfast, even though we have enjoyed many lunches and dinners here. Vicky also wrote a post, which included some other menu items.

There is a small list of some meal items, located at the entrance.

Once inside, the grocery store is overflowing with various German and European sundries, condiments and side dishes. The vast meat counters are filled with a wide array of fresh meat choices-

-as well as smoked meats. We passed this area quickly, as there was no line at the cash register for the restaurant, ordered, paid and chose a place to sit.

The condiments on each table include mustard choices along with the usual catsup, Tapatio and A-1.

Soon, our meals were brought to us. The Mister ordered the Big John Breakfast ($7.98) Three eggs (over easy), potatoes and all you want meat. This first meat selection was the breakfast sausage and bacon.

Later, Polish sausage and Bratwurst were choices. (Ham, the other meat choice, wasn't ordered this day)

I decided to go all out and ordered the steak and eggs ($8.98) Two eggs, poached, and a Delmonico cut of steak, cooked rare-medium. Of course, we each asked for rye toast.

Very nicely poached eggs…the yolk was fresh, velvety,wonderful.

You can see the rare cooked,very tender cut of dry grilled steak in this photo. A perfect breakfast!

On the way out, we stopped at my favorite aisle, all licorice…my weakness…so many choices, all good.

Tip Top Meats 6118 Paseo del Norte Carlsbad 92011 (760)438-2620 Website

Summer is almost over-even in San Diego. Meals change.

September 16, 2012 Cathy Stuff, What Cathy Eats!

mmm-yoso!!! is the food blog you are reading. Kirk and ed (from Yuma) are still busy this weekend, so Cathy is continuing to blog.

Despite this crazy hot weather we've had the past few weeks, the clock tells me that days are getting shorter. Waking at 6 a.m. with darkness broken only by the light of the moon (if there is a moon) and the sun not peeking over the horizon for another half hour or so means the chill I am enjoying only for another hour now will be the norm in a few weeks. A look at the calendar reminds me that menus will be changing. I thought I'd post about some meals and/or snacks enjoyed over some of the warm Summer days.

One June day when I was volunteering, I chose the Pesto Chicken box lunch, thinking it would merely be the least offensive choice.

This was the most surprising, delicious flavor combination and sandwich I have had in a very long time. Not only was the chicken a full grilled breast half, served with lettuce, tomato and a mild cheese along with the pesto, but a grilled red pepper completed the flavor points. I learned to roast peppers over an open flame at home, pop the peppers into a plastic bag to steam and easily peel off that skin and have peppers available in the fridge to satisfy cravings and use on sandwiches made at home.

Starbucks re-released their green coffee based beverages called Refreshers (originally San Diego was a test market in the Summer of 2010), the Cool Lime and Very Berry Hibiscus flavors are available in packets and cans or can be made for you in the store- fresh mint leaves compliment the lime and small berries are in the very berry flavor. Neither has a hint of coffee flavor or bitterness, and neither is overly sweet…they are refreshing Refreshers, but I think they will again go off the menu when other seasonal beverages are back in the rotation.

Cold noodle plates, like this Hiyashi from Yakyudori Yakitori, will be leaving menus soon. So simple, refreshing and filled with flavor. I always wait to see the signage on the walls of Japanese restaurants announcing the return of cold noodles. Must get one last meal of these in before they disappear.

These most creatively delightfully flavored, thick and crunchy Lays potato chips, made in Canada and given to me from caninecologne after her vacation there this past summer are but a mere memory and now on my list when I will be able to visit Canada later this year.

This ingredient list shows you how creative the meld of flavors are to make the chips 'merely' ketchup flavor. Radish concentrate, dehydrated garlic, black current concentrate? Who would've thought?

The small shave ice bowl at Big Joy Family Bakery is only purchased one time a year, even though it is available all the time. The shaved ice is topped with a very good vanilla ice cream, sweetened condensed milk, small mochi and sweet bean powder, surrounded by fresh fruit (pineapple, strawberry, kiwi and banana) for less than $5 makes this an affordable treat.

I hope everyone made it through this hot (but not not humid) weekend and Summer. Another week begins and Autumn will be here on Friday!

Delicias a la Lena- Oaxacan (El Cajon)

September 15, 2012 Cathy Mexican Restaurants, What Cathy Eats!

Hello. You have somehow navigated your way to mmm-yoso!!!, a food blog. Kirk as well as ed(from Yuma) are both busy with those end of Summer things and today Cathy writing and sharing another local wonderful eatery.

Well. I've mentioned before that everyone has a 'favorite' taco shop, close to home and close to work. People tell me about their favorite place and favorite items sold there. There's a long story as to how The Mister and I found Lena's; know we had this adventure on our own. The condensed version is we walked into the Liquor Store next to Kaelin's Mi Pueblo Market that had the words "carne asada" on the door, thinking they made tacos, found out they were selling carne asada in a freezer next to bags of ice cubes, asked the clerk if he knew of a place to buy some good ready to eat food and he directed us here:

Garcias Puebla Mercado. It's been here since 1995(I'll do the math for you: 17 years).We ordered two burritos, each weighed almost two pounds (there was a scale at the checkout). While we were waiting, we looked around the small store, saw many people coming in, picking up hot tortillas out of the wooden box on the floor, noticed ready made carne and chicken asada, signs for carnitas meals on Wednesday as well as barbacoa and birria meal specials on Friday, house made mole, salsas, hot carrots and fascinating other items. When we did go to the front to pay, the nice lady told us for really good food -Oaxacan Style- to go to the shop just across the street, about a half block North. Both the store and the shop are family owned and run.

Now, in this crowded strip mall, at the very North end, there is an orange and yellow striped taco shop; that's *not* where you want to go.

This is where you want to be. Notice the grill out front. Every day around 2 p.m., mesquite grilled chicken is ready.

For $10.99, you get a dozen hot tortillas, rice, black beans (nicely flavored, mostly whole and without lard), a choice of red or green salsa (I do like both; house made and a blend of complex flavors) and quite a large chicken. The chicken has that delightful mesquite smoked flavor, even the next day.

When you go inside the small restaurant, a large 99¢ menu is above the cash register,

as well as the 'regular' menu above the kitchen area. Order, pay and have a seat. The food will be brought out to you. There are five tables, 16 chairs. Small, clean and friendly.

On one of our visits, we ordered two each of the carnitas and carne asada tacos ($1 each). You can see the tacos were quite full with the meat, guacamole, cilantro, onions and Cotija cheese and both the red and green salsas were brought out. The fresh corn tortillas, which are from Garcia's across the street, are thick, layered and so very fresh.
Also, we tried the 'less than $1 menu', choosing a quesedilla and memelita – a small memela, a toasted masa cake , with a choice of red or green sauce) topped with more Cotija cheese.

The quesedilla, though small, was quite filled with melty white cheese- Oaxaca cheese.

One of my favorite items here-from the 'regular' menu, #17, a gordita ($1.99). This is a fresh made masa cake with a few black beans in the mix, fried then cut, filled on the top and bottom with those luscious black beans, a lot of shredded creamy Oxaca cheese, crema, lettuce and tomatoes. Crunchy, fresh, and something I never expected.

On one visit, we ordered a $1.99 memela (this time topped with red sauce; much larger than the 99¢ version, although I don't have a reference point in this photo to show you the sense of scale) and a 99¢ Tlacoyo (an oval shaped baked masa, filled with a layer of black beans, topped with a choice of sauce and Cotija cheese)

You can see the thin layer of beans in this cross section view; this simple 99¢ snack is just perfect. It's larger counterpart on the regular menu, the Tlayuda ($6.99), includes a choice of meats and is more than a meal for me.

We noticed "Tostilocos $2.99" sign in the front window and tried the version here. It's a vegetarian version- no cueritos. Good to satisfy a crunchy, salty, tamarind, spicy chamoy craving. (here's a link to my post about my favorite Tostilocos)

Here's a photo of another gordita ordered; you can see the fried then sliced crispy 'bun'. The other item is another tlacoyo, this time topped with the red sauce.

From the regular menu, #14 Mole negro ($5.99). We have been on the lookout for great home made mole ever since Los Pueblos had closed in May. We found it. Lena told us that it takes three women (all relatives) all day to make the mole used here and sold in the small market across the street. You can taste the variety of spices and so many flavors with every bite. The chicken leg had the smoky mesquite flavor which complimented the sauce. The enchiladas are also topped with this mole.

So many items all made from scratch, just like at home. Another great find in El Cajon.

Lenas is not your average Mexican restaurant, not a taco shop. At all.

Delicias a la Lena 1398 East Main Street (between Sultan Baklava and Kaelin's Market, other side of Main Street) El Cajon 92021 (619)590-1138

Garcias Puebla Mercado 1354 East Main Street 92021 (619)590-1416

A Plethora of Tomatoes-easy and quick meal

September 14, 2012 Cathy Cooking, Stuff, What Cathy Eats!

Hello. You have found the blog mmm-yoso!!! -it's about food. On this hot day, Kirk and ed (from Yuma) are doing things other than blogging. Cathy is your blogger du jour.

It's getting close to Autumn and our garden, which started from seed, has begun to ripen at an alarming rate. We planted a few different varieties of tomatoes:

These French cherry tomatoes have produced more than 25 stems like this one.

These are Genovese tomatoes, before changing color; six hidden in this maze of leaves. The plants are taller than me!

We planted strawberries in three hanging pots this year, and picked whenever we wanted a snack.

Sweet peppers and Purple German tomatoes (that's how the seed packet was labeled) are in a total of five regular and hanging pots in our front yard.

These are Japanese Momotoro tomatoes. A 6 inch plant was being sold for $1.99 in front of Nijiya Market in April. The plant is now more than 7 feet tall and has produced 24 of these extra large-egg size tomatoes.

We've also planted eggplant, yellow squash, green beans and peas which have already been picked and enjoyed.

There are also eight more ears of corn which will be ready this weekend. Fortunately, we spaced the planting of those. We also planted basil, dill, sage, tarragon and mint which are regularly used when we cook. There are also 6 artichoke plants and 3 cardoon which have not done much but produce silvery leaves.

For a long while, we'd have two or three tomatoes ripe and ready to eat each morning. Then it got to about six a day…then last Monday morning, and almost every day since, this happened:

The International Tomato Festival began: French, Italian, German and Japanese tomatoes, ripe and ready to eat each morning. What to do?

Some shredded Mozzarella, a bit of onion, basil and tarragon are always used. This recipe can vary depending on what else is available.

You can make this with no added ingredients, starting out with olive oil and onion along with the tomatoes in the pan…

Or put some olive oil in a hot pan with the onion and tomatoes (and in this case spinach, sometimes chopped peppers, sometimes squash) and leave on medium heat, uncovered.

The above photo is what the only tomatoes look like when they have cooked down, after about ten minutes on medium.

I remove some of the juice, making small 'wells' in the tomatoes, and put an egg in each well. Cover the pan.

After about a minute (and less than two minutes) the eggs are almost cooked.

Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the eggs (you can also put fresh herbs on top now) and cover the pan. Turn off the heat. The cheese will melt and eggs will finish cooking.

Pretty easy and the results are wonderful. The concentrated tomato flavor is simple and complex at the same time. We've had variations of this recipe for breakfast, lunch and dinner and it never gets old.

I hope everyone is having a good weekend. Stay cool!

Point Loma Seafoods-It’s the same, but better.

August 1, 2012 Cathy Seafood, What Cathy Eats!

Thanks for visiting mmm-yoso!!! Today, it seems Kirk and ed(from Yuma) just don't have anything to write about, so Cathy will be the blogger du jour.

Seafood is bountiful in this Southern California county and Point Loma Seafoods has been a regular stop for The Mister and I for many years. I have posted about a few of those visits. This San Diego Institution (since 1963) recently underwent a major remodel, adding much needed seating, a larger refrigerated display area and some small menu changes. The remodel re-opened in about April of this year and we have been here several times already.

The parking situation seems to be a little bit better, but there are rarely empty spots unless you get here close to opening or during a lull in the afternoon.

There is open seating upstairs and enclosed seating just below along the side of the building.

The selection of fresh seafood is very good; I could not take a photo of the overall expanse of the ordering/waiting area nor of the smoked fish counter,because there were too many people milling about.

One of the changes is that now you can take a number and order then pay first. This had been a problem before, because PLSF only took cash or checks, which would sometimes take people by surprise. With this remodel, PLSF has joined the 21st century and now takes credit cards.

The biggest change in the menu is the "Small Bites" section- you can order a seafood (4 pieces of squid or 2 pieces of fish or 4 shrimp or 2 crab cakes) and either fries or coleslaw for $7.42. I do crave the slaw from here; it's creamy and crispy and whatever seasonongs are used are alwys the right amounts; no need to add salt or pepper. Of course, this meant we could try the onion rings ($3.48)-these onion rings are made to order; not frozen and not 'perfect'. The cornmeal batter is not greasy and nicely crisp, leaving the onions closer to fresh and not mushy.

The regular fish(cod) and chips plate is $11.13 and the amount of fries on it is enough for us to share. I am just a person of habit and really like the simple preparation of fish: it seems this is always my order here.

This is a shrimp sandwich ($8.35) The shrimp are also lightly breaded and crispy. As all the sandwiches here, it's served on fresh, soft sourdough with the wonderful PLSF home made tartar sauce.

The combination salad ($14.85)- Dungeness crab and Bay shrimp, served with a "Louie" dressing. Always good, always fresh. Half salads are also offered now, for $2 less. I haven't purchased the smaller version so am unsure if the plate is smaller or just the toppings. I know I never can finish one of the salads and usually end up taking some home.

The view from upstairs is nice and open, and the downstairs eating area is now enclosed, with real windows. PLSF always a nice place for a meal.

Point Loma Seafoods 2805 Emerson (at Scott) San Diego 92016 (619)223-1109 Summer hours: M-Sat 9-8, Sun 10-8. Website Link to Menu

TJ Oyster Bar- great seafood, but no oysters, in Bonita

July 30, 2012 Cathy Mexican Restaurants, Seafood, What Cathy Eats!

Yes, you have found mmm-yoso!!!, the food blog. Kirk has stuff to do, ed (from Yuma) has places to go and Cathy is blogging about a place to eat.

I mentioned in a prior post that in December I had met up with fellow food bloggers and friends, canine cologne, Dennis and Carol, for a food crawl around South County- Chula Vista and Bonita. Of the many places we stopped at that day, our first was here-where I took this photo of the exterior. In December.

As I tend to be cautious about writing about any place until I have returned a few times, all the food in this post was consumed at this location, in a small mall on the same block just West of the McDonald's near Otay Lakes Road on Bonita road.

However, I do know the small storefront will be moving soon to just East of the McDonald's (and the Vons) in this same block very soon. The new location looks a lot larger. In any case, the food here is excellent and the lines out the door may be diminished with the new building.

In December, we sat at the front counter, which consists of six stools, to enjoy some tastes of what is offered at this primarily seafood Mexican restaurant.

We shared a large coctele and fish tacos. Everything was fresh and tasty and I wanted more, but in retrospect was glad we kept along on our crawl, because this was just the first of so many new-to-me places that day.

The fish taco was beer battered, not heavy and the fish was light, flaky and tasty. The coctele-

had plenty of octopus in it (there were no oysters that day, despite the name of the place) and a very refreshing tomato-lime-cilantro sauce that the seafood was melding in.

I had to return with The Mister a few times.

One day we went, before crowds showed up and shared a fish ceviche tostada ($2.75) and a shrimp ceviche tostada ($3.50). Each of the ceviches were made to order and so crispy-fresh tasting. The respective seafoods were citrus-tangy and you could still taste the respective 'meats'. I have returned just for ceviche, which is really nice on these hot Summer days.

Of course we realized at some point that the fish tacos are 99¢ every day and ordered two on another visit. We basically drive by and if there is a parking space, we stop, otherwise we haven't, because the parking lot is an indicator of available table space. I think the seating capacity inside is about 20.

I had been curious about the "Pescadilla" part of the menu and on another visit, we ordered the $7.50 Mariscos/Seafood Pescadilla. It's a quesedilla, filled with sauteed seafood. Buttery, garlicy sauteed seafood. Served with rice, this is way more than a meal for one. Very rich, very filling, and now a regular order.

As of now, at the current location, the menu is on the wall and the cash register, where you order and pay, is right in front of you when you walk in the door. I hope the menu and quality of food at the new location stays the same.

TJ Oyster Bar 4246 Bonita Road 91902 (619)267-4577

Valley Foods Mediterranean Market- Eat in the store, shop in the store(revisit)

July 29, 2012 Cathy Markets & Grocers, Mediterranean Restaurants, What Cathy Eats!

Welcome(back) to our food blog. Kirk, ed (from Yuma) and Cathy usually blog in this space. Today, it's Cathy's turn.

Hi again. I've posted about Valley Foods, a small grocery store in El Cajon, run by a group of refugees from Iraq, two times now. It's turned into a regular stop for The Mister and I, for both a quick lunch and a place to do some interesting shopping.

When you walk in, just to the left are six tables and steam trays, with a price list above the trays. You order, pay and have a seat. (There are three cash registers straight ahead when you walk in)

The steam tray area is always interesting. The weekly specials, with even better prices, are listed in the area below the trays.

One day, we tried the lamb shank meal ($7.99) We were asked which rice we wanted to go with the shank and chose this one, which had bulgur and vermicelli. Then the nice lady put some scoops of a tomato and onion sauce on the grain mix before putting the large and moist lamb shank on top of it all.

We were also asked which soup we wanted to go with and chose this spinach-tomato soup, which was really good.

Another day, we chose the fried fish filet meal (also $7.99). This was tilapia, lightly breaded with corn meal and place on saffron rice. This came with the Iraq salad- chopped cucumber and tomatoes in a simple olive oil and lemon dressing and steamed vegetables. The squeeze bottles of pink liquid on the tables, the only condiment other than salt and pepper, is red wine vinegar. I use that with the vegetables as well as the rice after eating about half of it 'plain'.

The masgoof-prepared whole tilapia ($6.99) is in the steam table just like this and this is what you get. The whole fish, split and grilled with a whole onion and a whole tomato, also grilled. Usually one of us goes into the store and buys a piece of bread to go with this filling, simple meal.

The kabobs are always fresh and moist. They used to be 99¢ each, but in July the price changed to $1.15 for the chicken and $1.25 for the beef. Very much worth it. Even if you order just one, you get a side of sliced raw onion topped with sumac in the tray.

Here is a cross section photo of the kabobs. You can see some of the herbs which are mixed with the ground meats before grilling. I really like the kabobs here, not only moist, but so flavorful- and large. If we order five, we end up taking two home for dinner.

The chicken schawarma plate ($7.95). I mentioned in one of my other posts about the spits in the back cooking schawarma. This is an easy way to get more than a sandwich. The moist, grilled meat is a hefty portion and comes with lettuce, tomato, house made pickles and house made hummus and a small, hot piece of flat bread, which is made in the store.

As mentioned, we are here to shop also. Walking just past the steam trays is a glass case selling a few lunch meats, like all beef Mortadella, many types of olives, some pickled vegetables and various Feta cheeses. Right next to that case is this open case, selling grab and go items. A few are the same as offered on the steam trays, at the same prices.

Right across from that open refrigerator is this case, which has salads, the house made hummus, house made eggplant dip (that's what they call it, it is not labeled as baba ganoosh) and -the reason I am here at least once a week- house made yoghurt. Each is sold by the pound and I crave the yogurt. It is unlike any yoghurt I have ever tasted. There is a definite 'burned' or smoke flavor to it, along with an initial 'tang' that I just love.

Then there is the texture. You can see the 'skin' that was formed on top of this first scoop taken from the container. The yogurt is thick but not smooth. I always buy a container when here. The price is about $2.59/pound; worth it.

Along the back wall, just next to the open grab and go foods is the bakery. There are fresh sammoon rolls sold in bins just past this area (small, 11¢ each, large 30¢ each). At the end of this sweets display area you may get lucky and see a line of people standing and looking through that door right there. That's where the bread oven is located. If there isn't any fresh bread cooling, then someone is stretching and pulling dough, placing it on the rounded, flat pillow-like paddle and bending over, slapping the bread onto the wall of the hot oven and in less than a minute, grabbing it with long tongs after asking you how many and "white or wheat?" (If there is no line, there is a bell on top of the counter that you can ring to get the Baker's attention)

In a few seconds, the large, hot bread is folded and placed in a paper bag and handed to you. This is a large paper bag and the bread is folded twice.

Here is an unfolded white bread on the stove at home. It covers both right burners, the center burner and part of the left burners-18-ish inches around.

Oh. One piece is 99 cents.

Here is a photo of the wheat bread with a small container of the house made eggplant dip- which also has that smoke flavor-showing a size comparison.

Anyhow, in addition to these prepared foods, the store has a few aisles of basics, a small meat department and even smaller fish selection and a small vegetable department, some bulk bins of grains and sweets. It's a nice, not fancy, local place and I hope everyone has the chance to shop like this near their home.

I hope you are having a good week!

Valley Foods 1275 East Main Street El Cajon 92021 (619) 749-8355 Website