yoso-silly – Page 12

Soup Weather, the Old Standbys Episode – Mien Trung and Santouka. Plus, a Little Quiz at the End

March 9, 2020 mmm-yoso Bun Bo Hue, Ramen, yoso-silly

Well, that spot of warm weather didn't last very long, did it? To be perfectly honest; I enjoy cooler weather since it means I can hit up my old standbys. Like these two. I'll keep the post short; cause I've done so many posts on these two places.

Mien Trung:

Ok, I think I have at least a dozen posts on Mien Trung…..going way back to 2006! They seemed to have hit a rough spot for a while; but this last bowl was the best I've had in a while.

The Bun Bo Hue really hit the spot; the broth didn't have too much msg, there was a decent spice, nice lemongrass tones; the noodles were cooked to a perfect slipperiness. And to add to the joy of a nice bowl of bun bo hue; I got little red dots all over my shirt…..oh well, it was definitely worth it.

Mien Trung Restaurant
7530 Mesa College Dr
San Diego, CA 92111

Santouka:

Funny thing; my first visit to Sanoutka when they first opened in San Diego in 2008 was auspicious. But over the years they've righted the ship and is a favorite of the Missus……let me beat that dead horse again; to the point that the Missus just had to visit the flagship shop in Asahikawa…in winter!

The funniest thing to the Missus is; that "even in Japan, Santouka's boiled eggs are terrible…." So there's some consistency for ya'. For us; it the Shio Toroniku style all the way. Rich, hot tonkotsu broth; noodles with a good chewy-crunch to them, pork cheek that tastes great with a short dunk in the broth……

Santouka Ramen
4240 Kearny Mesa Rd(In the Mitsuwa Marketplace)
San Diego, CA 92111

And as a little bonus:

So, I was cleaning out some old photos, deleting most of them; when I came by a couple of oldies, but goodies…..places that are gone but not forgotten, at least by me.

So, can you guess the first two?

That's an easy one, right?

Here's a place that didn't last very long; but I really enjoyed……..

Boy do I miss this place…..

Now here's one that lasted for even a shorter time….but man, we really enjoyed the place when it was around.

Did you get all three???

Happy Monday everyone!

Merry Christmas

December 24, 2019 mmm-yoso yoso-silly

Well, it's been a bit of wet Christmas for us here in San Diego! But heck, at least it kinda feels like winter.

And as we've done every Xmas eve since 2005 we'd like to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and Holiday Season.

With a few photos from Christmas in France…..and of course the Christmas Tree at Galleries Lafayette.

Hope everyone is safe and happy during the Christmas season.

I'm sure Frankie wishes everyone has a wonderful Xmas….and of course, for more snacks!

Merry Christmas from the gang here at mmm-yoso!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

November 28, 2019 Cathy yoso-silly

It is finally THE day.

Maybe you are busy preparing your home and a meal to welcome family and/or friends or are just preparing a side dish to take along to a feast elsewhere or maybe you are busy getting ready to go to work or just relaxing at home alone. This last Thursday of the month is a day to reflect, give thanks and the 'official' beginning of a busy holiday season.

While Kirk is off in foreign lands, enjoying wonderful meals with His Missus, Cathy and The Mister have already prepared two complete turkey-centric Thanksgiving meals since October and also aren't going to have a 'traditional' meal today.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at mmm-yoso!!!

Sunday Stuffs – the “My ‘Hood Edition: It’s Chef Jun Sushi and Kappo, Breakfast at Bay Park Coffee, and Spam at Poseidon Project

November 10, 2019 mmm-yoso Breakfast/Brunch, Japanese Restaurants, Pizza, yoso-silly

So, here's a few updates and other "stuffs" in our neighborhood.

It's really Chef Jun Sushi and Kappo:

So, as "Friend of Yoso FOY" Derek, mentions in the comments of my earlier post; Chef Jun is a Sushi and supposedly "kappo", which I'm assuming really stretches the definition, style restaurant. So says the sign which I saw this past Saturday.

Okay……I'm not sure why I feel kind of disappointed……

4033 Avati Dr
San Diego, CA 92117

Breakfast at Bay Park Coffee:

So, Noel from Bay Park Coffee apparently reads this blog….and gave me a bit of grief about my post. Which I stand by. The croissant from Bread and Cie, works best when the lack of butter, salt, and sweetness is supplanted with eggs, ham, and cheese. The flakiness of said "faux croissant" works well with this.

And is a nice breakfast sandwich.

Though, like I told Noel…."I'll know when you've got some influence when I see a Spam, egg, and cheese croissant"…..

Bay Park Coffee
4130 Napier St
San Diego, CA 92110

And Speaking of Spam….and Pizza – the Poseidon Project:

So, I don't really mention the Poseidon Project much. But, over the last couple of years, they've become my "pau hana time" choice…..I usually visit twice a week. About two years ago, they added a pizza oven and have been making pizzas.

While the woodfired pies there won't make me forget Tribute or even Bruno's, it's a nice neighborhood place. And then there's a pie called the "hot honey", that has a sweet and (very) mildly spicy sauce that's made with soppressata. I felt that it would really taste great with Spam®. Nate, the owner always wrinkled his nose at the thought of Spam®. But, Chris one of the pizza guys, made us a pie……..we provided the Spam® singles……

Man, this was good…..the salty-savory, well caramelized Spam® (Chris – you are the man!), with the mildly sweet-spicy hot honey….. Even Nate, who hadn't ever had Spam® before thought it "was pretty good"….in other words….it was delici-yoso…..

And of course…..no bogus pineapple…….

Poseidon Project
4126 Napier St
San Diego, CA 92110

Happy Halloween

October 31, 2019 mmm-yoso yoso-silly

We wish everyone a safe and fun Halloween…..

Hope everyone has a great time and aren't too, ummm, "bushed" tomorrow.

Or, ahem…."down in the dumps"…..

I still haven't found any Halloween "decoration" as disturbing as "How Bad Do You Need to Go?" Which was right outside Olive Hill Farm in Los Olivos….sheesh, an olive oil tasting room. Insert, olive oil as a constipation remedy joke here……

Anyway, Happy Halloween from our busy little bee!

My Apologies for Delays in Posts

October 22, 2019 mmm-yoso yoso-silly

So, we lost our Internet access over the last two nights…..well, actually mostly last night. The most wonderful technician came in and fixed things up late this afternoon….after testing and crawling through our circa 1950 crawlspace. He was a great guy, not originally from the states, but I got to ask him a bit about his home, a place we're thinking about travelling to soon.

That's the wonder of travel….and the places we've been; and the honor I've had of being able to share that with folks who read our blog.

And of course, all the great meals……

And yet, as much as I enjoy doing posts……while the Missus was just tortured not being able to get Her Netflix or YouTube; I enjoyed just relaxing and reading something from my backlog of books. Just like old times.

And then today, a former coworker; JillV contacted me, who I'd always encouraged to travel….who now is creating her own company and is moving to Europe! There are few things more gratifying than that.

You know, my desire is not to be an "influencer"…..I'm not looking to make money from this blog……as Cathy always says, "we eat and then write about it". Be it good or bad…..

I look at the blog as my little food and travel diary……of places I've been…..

And things, sometimes amazing, sometimes not, that I've had pleasure of eating……

And……as always, I need to thank you for stopping by!

Now that our connectivity issues are resolved; I'll have something for you all tomorrow!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday Stuffs – Saigon Restaurant Replacing Yum Cha Cafe, Chicken Charlie’s (Balboa) Closes, and the One Chip Challenge 2019

October 20, 2019 mmm-yoso American/New American Restaurants, Vietnamese Restaurants, yoso-silly

Been kinda busy over the last month or so. I finally had a chance to drive around a bit and noticed a couple of things for a leisurely Sunday post.

Saigon Restaurant Replacing Yum Cha Café:

I noticed some new signage up when I drove by Thuan Phat Market.

Hmmm….is it "that" Saigon Restaurant? This will be interesting.

Well, at least somethings happening in this spot. It's been over two years since Yum Cha Cafe closed.

6933 Linda Vista Road
San Diego, CA 92111

Chicken Charlie's FryBQ (Balboa) Closes:

I had to drop by the bank and noticed that it looked like equipment and furnishings in Chicken Charlie's were shrink wrapped. So, I parked the car and walked over.

Even though the outdoor tables and chairs are still in place; Chicken Charlie's is closed.

You can still go to the Rancho Bernardo location as a, sorry, can't help it…..bypass if you need to get your fix.

5407 Balboa Ave
San Diego, CA 92111

And finally……

Just like last year; "Alle" wanted me to do the One-Chip Challenge.

And, just when I thought it couldn't be hotter than last year…..well, let me tell you……this had me fooled as it wasn't too bad for the first 15 seconds or so. Then it got really, burning, searing hot……like I just ate a porcupine. The heat lasted even longer this year….I got the hiccups, my scalp itched, all normal reactions on my part. Admittedly, I don't use any "props", no gloves and such…so it wasn't a particularly good move when I rubbed my face with my hands with the powder from the chip on them. Oh well, it wasn't as bad as when I worked with Ghost Peppers and didn't wash my hands well…..then took out my contact lenses a bit later.

This chip made the Triple Atomic Wings seem like ice cream.

Well, I'm done until next year…..

Hope everyone had a great weekend, thanks for dropping by!

Today’s Cheese Board and then Dinner

April 27, 2019 mmm-yoso Cheese, Cooking, yoso-silly

I've got a bit of a backlog of posts…..but have been kinda tired.

So, it's just a photo of today's cheese board.

Smoked duck breast and some Foie Gras Pate we picked up in Riquewihr, France. As for the cheeses? Well, right to left; Picco Affine Germain from France, Queso Leonora from Spain, Foxglove from Tulip Tree Creamery in Indiana, and the very popular Red Hawk from Cowgirl Creamery, potent and funky.

For dinner; cumin crusted skirt steak with harissa kale.

Hope you're having a great weekend! Be back tomorrow.

Spring Is Finally Here – Seven Grand and Revisits to Tiger! Tiger! and Et Voila!

March 22, 2019 mmm-yoso French Restaurants, Gastropub, Pubs and Pub Grub, yoso-silly

After what seemed like a very cold (again with the "by San Diego standards" disclaimer) and wet winter; it seems like Spring might be here. The Missus got off early from work today and since I go in at 6am; I decided to leave a bit early as well.

We headed up to North Park; parked the car, and hit up a couple of places. Two of which I've posted on numerous times….so maybe you might just want to grab your favorite beverage and hit the TV or enjoy the weather or do something else.

If not; here's the rundown with minimal verbiage.

Seven Grand:

We've been here a couple of times. The Missus loves the vibe and ambiance. Everytime we've visited; the folks here were really awesome and knew their whiskey.

Plus, they carry the Missus's favorite label, Kavalan, from, of all places Taiwan. And they do half pours….

More on how we came across Kavalan (it was in Paris!) in a future post.

Seven Grand
3054 University Ave
San Diego, CA 92104

We then headed up 30th Street and around the corner at ECB to…..

Tiger! Tiger!:

**** Tiger! Tiger! has closed

Of course. We decided to just get the half charcuterie board.

Which always seems to be more than enough.

Tiger! Tiger!
3025 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92104

Then further down 30th to Adams and of course….

Et Voila!:

We hadn't been here since New Year's eve. So with a Huckleberry Bourbon under my belt.

We finished up our Happy Hour with a couple of old standbys.

Et Voilà!
3015 Adams Ave
San Diego, CA 92116

Happy Friday!

Youtiao at McDonalds? Well, sort of…..

March 19, 2019 mmm-yoso Chains, yoso-silly

I thought I'd break all this "serious" food stuffs with something kinda interesting….or perhaps funny. On Monday, "YZ" quickly came on over to my desk when she got into the office. Apparently, there was a subject in WeChat that was blowing up. It was strangely about youtiao……but not just any youtiao; but youtiao here in San Diego, and at all of things, McDonalds! Or to be more precise; the way YZ and the Missus say it "Màidāngláo" branches on the West Coast! Folks were lining up for the stuff and doing things like…..

Making jiangbing guozi???? Here's some of the posts on WeChat.

Anyway, YZ explained what was going on. I thought it was so funny…..that I actually went to McDonalds. I occasionally will drive-thru MickeyD's for a diet coke, but hadn't walked into a store in ages. But there I was at a quarter to six in the morning.

The deal was getting a new breakfast item called "Donut Sticks" without the cinnamon sugar. It's pretty cheap; I got two dozen for a bit over four bucks.

I gave almost all of it away….of course some of it to "YZ", but Calvin, and JeffP who bit into one and started laughing. I mean, just look at it.

Man, looks familiar doesn't it……well, at least a miniature version of one.

So, how was it? Well, when hot it was crisp, fairly light, on the oily side….but it did smell like youtiao. It losses texture quickly and is missing the yeasty-"alum" taste of the stuff we had in China. But, let me tell you; this might be as good as anything you'd get here in San Diego.

The real test will be when I'm able to talk the Missus into trying this…..

Stay tuned…..