yoso-silly – Page 12

Have a Safe and Merry Christmas

December 24, 2020 mmm-yoso yoso-silly

Yes, I know….I try to do one of these every year. But this year is a bit different.

Because of….well, you know why…

The Missus and I have been driving looking at Christmas lights a couple of times a week this year. Because, well we need it. We always talk about taking Sammy and Frankie to look at the lights every year…..and we do miss Sammy so much.

I'm not sure if it's my imagination; but there seems to be much more decorating this year…..perhaps because folks have time on their hands at home or maybe they need to have their spirits lifted. Regardless, we have really appreciated our drives.

Our favorite area is Jamar Drive and Lana Drive in Clairemont……it seems like every house on those streets has something going on. It also seemed like we stopped whenever we saw one of the folks who lived in the home and thanked them from our car.

It's quite amazing and wonderful; you can see a KUSI news video from Youtube here.

I know it's rather late; but if you do have the chance…….

And we here at mmm-yoso want to wish you a safe and happy Christmas Holiday. We hope everyone is doing ok under the circumstances and look forward to a time when we're past this.

Take Care!

Sunday Stuffs: Ban Lao Cuisine Takes Over the Que Huong Space, if You’ve Ever Wondered What I Sound Like, and Other “stuffs”

November 22, 2020 mmm-yoso Lao Restaurants, Portland, Oregon, yoso-silly

Just some "stuffs" for Sunday.

Ban Lao Takes Over the Que Huong Spot:

After picking up lunch at Fredcels, since I hadn't been around City Heights since March, I decided to take a quick peek on University to see what was going on. I drove over the 15 freeway and to the corner of Marlborough and University; noticing that Cafe Dore had their doors open. I then took a quick look left and noticed that it seemed that Ban Lao's sign was gone. I was bummed…..I then took a turn into the parking lot and was even more shocked……you see Ban Lao had taken over the space where Que Huong used to be. Que Huong was gone! "CC" had told me that Que Huong had changed ownership a while back and that Jay and his sister no longer owned the place. But this was still quite sad since I'd been visiting here since 2005! Bummer……I'll miss my favorite fish sauce chicken wings and boneless chicken feet salad. After seeing this; I just decided to turn around and head back home.

RIP Que Huong.

Here's a link to something from 2012.

4134 University Ave
San Diego, CA 92105

Speaking of sad – I've been looking at posts I did from my Portland Trips:

So, this all started when I read in Portland Food and Drink that Cheese Bar was closing. Wondering what all this collateral damage was from Covid-19, etc. I started looking at all the places we visited during trips to Portland and I was shocked at how many places were recently permanently closed or soon closing. Not including those places that are still temporarily closed.

All Pok Pok locations

Tasty N 'Alder – This one really hurts since it was a favorite of the Missus and even inspired a copycat version of the Missus's favorite dish there.

You can find a list here.

Have you ever wondered what I "sound" like?:

Back at the beginning of October; I received an email from Kristy Totten at the UT:

"I host a podcast with Abby Hamblin about interesting people around San Diego and we were wondering if you'd come on our show this week or next."

Which caught me totally off guard. I'd always thought that I have done a pretty good job of flying under the radar. So naturally, the first thing I did was take a quick look at the Podcast; which is named Name Drop San Diego. I was and still am not quite certain why "FOY ChrisR" recommended me for the podcast. And after reading first the description:

"Name Drop San Diego is a weekly podcast from The San Diego Union-Tribune celebrating people who have shaped San Diego and been shaped by it. Join hosts Abby Hamblin and Kristy Totten each Tuesday as they get to know the people who make San Diego proud."

And looking at the line-up of folks who had already been on the podcast….frankly, I was thinking someone had made a mistake here…..

Still, I agreed to a phone call with Kristy and Abby, who were both so warm and friendly….setting me immediately at ease, I agreed.

Abby and Kristy made the whole process quite fun to be perfectly honest. I'm not sure how; but they worked some magic and made my rambling answers seem somewhat coherent. So kudos to them.

There were a couple of things that were somewhat funny. First, not being a big fan of my voice (though I will say; I got a great face for podcasting), I was surprised at how fast I speak. Second was a totally on the nose observation made by some of my close friends, each of whom said in a similar way that I'd totally fail the "lightning round" since there was just no way I could answer questions on food in a single word or sentence. I guess they know me well.

So, if after all this rambling you're still interested here's the link.

Kristy and Abby if you do read this post; thanks so much to the both of you for a wonderful experience. It was a pleasure.

And Chris, thanks….I think; for the recommendation.

And, I was also reminded of another one I did back in 2008 – here's the link from the wayback machine!

Thanks for stopping by!

Midweek Meanderings – Catching Up with Dennis of A Radiused Corner and Recently Consumed

October 14, 2020 mmm-yoso Cooking, yoso-silly

Just a few items for your Wednesday consumption.

Catching Up With Dennis:

I've had a at least half a dozen emails and comments asking me if I'd heard from Dennis of A Radiused Corner. Dennis and I trade emails every so often and if he'd kindly just let folks who enjoy (and miss) his blog knows what's being going on and how he's doing. And of course, being the great guy he his, he was more than happy to answer a few questions…..

And so without further ado; here it is:

It's been a while since you've posted, so what's been going on with Dennis of A Radiused Corner?

Hi Kirk! Getting a promotion a few years back probably contributed the biggest to the damper on blogging. I still regularly photo document my meals (which is pretty normal these days but back then was considered peculiar if your friends found out…). I visit my family every other year in Japan and still enjoy visiting nostalgia inducing joints and quirky shops. Looking back I guess I always appreciated most the intangibles of meal experiences.(?)

I recall running into you a couple of times at Nijiya before the pandemic hit and haven't seen you in a bit, how has life been during these times? Where, if any places have you been frequenting for groceries, take-out, and dining in?

I visit Nijiya occasionally to buy my preferred brand of dashi shoyu, tofu and bonito flakes. As much as I'd like to support my local businesses I actually haven't been eating out at all and been making simple meals at home. (A good excuse to finally use those fancy knives I've accrued over the years, lol.) I think with all my family being in Japan I'm extra cautious to not get sick.

For all the folks, like me who read, enjoyed, and followed A Radiused Corner, should we hold out hope that you'll surprise us with another post one of these days? Or do you have another platform on Social Media where we can see what's going on with you?

I may just pick it back up right where I left off one of these days. Definitely have a backlog of content. I'm more active on Instagram now which a few of my food blogger friends follow but it's actually a personal account that I don't share with the public at the moment.

And finally, anything you want me to pass along to fans of A Radiused Corner?

Yikes, fans?? I'm blushing. Popularity or monetization was never my goal for the blog (if you can tell by its odd name). I think I wanted an outlet for all the photos I'd take, and maybe try to get better at writing at the same time. I still cringe at my ramblings on especially early posts. I don't plan to take the blog down though, warts and all. Cherish the friends I made through it, including you Kirk!

Thanks for the update Dennis! And yes, we do miss your posts and whenever you're ready to start posting again we'll be here!

And to end things up; here are a couple of things I made this past weekend, before this heatwave…….

Here's the porcini ravioli from Trader Joe's with a Porcini-Cremini Sauce:

And I just got my order from Salumi Chicago and the Missus was craving Padrons with Chorizo…….I just subbed out Shishito Peppers instead.

Happy hump day!

A Taste of “Home” for Sunday Lunch

September 27, 2020 mmm-yoso Cooking, Local Kine Stuffs in San Diego, yoso-silly

I'm kinda surprised at how busy I can be on a typical weekend morning.

For example; today, after waking Frankie, taking him for a short walk:

1 – Make food for Frankie and his Cousin Auggie – basically 9 pounds of simmered chicken thighs, carrots, sweet potato, and quinoa (yes, F is a hipster I guess). Freeze. Enough for about two weeks.

2 – Meanwhile; finish off making duck confit in the oven. (I made the duck fat yesterday and cured the duck overnight) We've got a heat wave coming this week; so I'm not going to want to have that oven on.

3 – Go grocery shopping

4 – The Missus requested Niku Tofu; so I made that

5 – Make a batch of Ume Dressing

6 – Put together the Missus's salad for Her lunch tomorrow

7 – Put duck into storage pan and wait to cool – this'll keep for months

8 – Clean

Whew; it ain't even eleven yet and I'm bushed.

I really wanted some comfort food……so I made this for lunch.

I'd been missing "home"….the untold toll of Covid-19 is the mental side of things…..no normalcy, we're not able to do many things that were part of our usual way of life. I think not being able to travel has been especially taxing, beyond all the days of work, inability to head out for dinner, the social distancing, the exhausting politicization of the pandemic.

I didn't really expect this to be good….it was an impulse buy when I went to pick-up poke for the Missus at Hawaiian Fresh Seafood Fish Market…but seeing the Chili Pepper Water…I just had to get that…..and so why not grab the laulau and kalua pork?

And it did the trick….especially the fragrance of the luau (taro) leaves…..just the aroma takes me home and back to when, still in high school, I was working (full time by the age of 16). My manager, took me under her wing, and sort of adopted me, they were part of a large family….in fact, my Mom knew the family; the Kukahiko's from growing up in Honolua! Carol would take me to family gatherings in Waianae….introducing me as her "Japanese son". She was quite a character…..all her nieces and nephews called her "Auntie Tita". Food was the best part of these gatherings; at least for me, and they had one of these huge, round metal, steamer things that looked like a buoy. All full of bombucha home made laulau….the best I've ever had. I could put away five jumbo laulau! A little 112 pound Japanese kid!

So, while there was no salted fish in the lau lau, but there was a nugget of fatty pork – in this case pork belly. It was fine…….just the aroma was worth the price, as was the condiment of choice.

And soon after, I was ready to join Frankie as the "Kanak Attack" settled in……

The power of food and our memories of it……..

We hope that in spite of these challenging times, that you are safe and in good health!

The Turkey Day Any Day from Gourmet Bagger and Meet the “Bomb Squad”

July 26, 2020 mmm-yoso Sandwiches, yoso-silly

I recently had to expand my "Covid-19 range" again. Apparently, the Missus had a package to pick up at the post office on Midway….with postage due? Anyway, this one was just by a few blocks. I decided to grab something for lunch nearby and called the Gourmet Bagger since it was just blocks from the Post Office.

They were pretty busy when I arrived, but folks were waiting outside for their orders and there were good, well spaced markings for the line to order.

My order was ready when I reached the window. I paid and left for the post office.

Back in the comments of my original post in 2018, "Derek R" recommended something called the "thanksgiving sandwich"; and I do have soft spot for turkey sandwiches with stuffing and just a touch of cranberry sauce and even gravy. So, I got the Turkey Day Any Day ($8.39).

Which is served in a French Roll, just like the Cheesesteak and Grinder. It came with a pretty hefty cookie as well.

The bread was light and yeasty, which definitely added positively to the sandwich. I thought there was a decent amount of standard issue, though moist thinly sliced turkey which did well in this framework. Sadly, I really couldn't taste the stuffing (I do like the version of this that Sandwich Emporium does) and the cranberry sauce wasn't evenly spread making some bites way to sweet and others with no cranberry sauce in it. I'd have also loved some gravy substitute with this sandwich…..weird I know….but it always takes me back to the open faced turkey sandwiches of my youth.

Not a bad sandwich, good service, I'll be back to try something else from the menu the next time I have pick stuff up from the Post Office for the Missus again.

Thanks for the rec DerekR!

The Gourmet Bagger
3357 Rosecrans St
San Diego, CA 92110
Covid-19 Hours:
Mon – Sat 1030am – 330pm
Sunday 11am – 3pm

So, I did make it to the Post Office, got to the counter (this is the location that used to have the "mystery doorway" where you had to ring a bell for pick-ups before Covid-19), and gave the nice woman my slip. She retrieved the package and told me that it had no postage and strangely no return address? I paid the postage and brought the parcel home. I turned it a bit and it sounded like there were some metallic rattling noises.

The Missus sent me a text and asked me to open the parcel. Hmmm…..this was kinda weird…perhaps our current pandemic has made me overly suspicious? I told the Missus that I'd take it to the back yard and open it. The Missus told me to wear gloves.

Just as I was ready to cut through the tape, the Missus told me to "hurry and wear some face protection just in case". Just in case! Just in case???? So, I quickly just grabbed stuff and threw this together. I'll admit, it ain't my best look.

The text conversation with the Missus was even more funny.

The Missus: "You look ready for a bomb"

Me: "Ummm, I don't think I'm bomb proof….more like fart proof"

My friends said that I reminded them of a character from Star Wars. Well, I'm thinking these times are making us all a bit nuts….so perhaps you'll get a chuckle out of this.

Oh, and what was in the parcel? Some snacks and candy the Missus ordered from a company…..shipping was supposed to be free! Well, I guess it was….for them! What kind of Mickey Mouse operation doesn't even have a return shipping label? So unprofessional…..

Oh well, another story for "the books".

Hope you had a great weekend!

Sunday Stuffs – Convoy’s “Tent City”, Frankie Makes 17, and Other “Stuffs”

July 19, 2020 mmm-yoso yoso-silly

This past weekend, on my way to do my shopping….it was a bit later than usual because of work; I decided to check out what was going on in Kearny Mesa with regards to outdoor dining….I call it Convoy's Tent City. Things moved quickly when San Diego started allowing restaurants to move outdoors without a permit and I heard Convoy really picked things up. So, I just decided to check things out as I went shopping. Pardon the photos – they were all taken with my iPhone while driving.

My first stop was Marukai and when driving down Kearny Villa Road on my way to Nijiya; it wasn't long before I started seeing things…this is Tajima on Mercury.

Upon getting to the parking lot of Nijiya; I got to see Woomiok's al fresco dining area; which was pretty well set-up with good social distancing.

The next strip mall over had Bistro Kaz….

Koubou…..

And Izakaya Sakura……though it was too early for customers.

However, Old Fashioned Pancake House was doing some major business…..

And then I went for a quick look at "that" strip mall, the one that Eater mentioned….you know the one, right? The almost unanimous winner of worst parking lot on Convoy.

O'Briens looked set-up.

And man, RakiRaki seemed to take up like a third of the parking lot; but the spacing looked good.

Which is why I was somewhat disconcerted when a good friend of mine told me that RakiRaki was filling up this corner area and not really using the large widely spaced area until the corner was filled. It looks like there's less circulation and spacing……

Hmmmm…….

On Friday late afternoon I went to Sprouts. When I arrived a police vehicle pulled in…..when I got to the register I saw what was happening. There was a guy who was refusing to wear a mask in Sprouts. Sigh…… If you follow me on Twitter you already know what I saw.

Anyway, the staff at Sprouts and the officers were so very patient and professional. Sprouts even offered to provide a mask for the guy….who initially refused. Finally the officers got through to the guy, Sprouts provided a mask and even opened a register specifically for him. Of course as soon as he walked out the door he threw the mask on the ground. One of the officers made him come back and pick it up. I'm mentioning this; not to shame the guy….even though you can figure out what I think. Rather, I want to highlight the patience and professionalism of the staff at Sprouts and the Officers involved.

Frankie Makes 17!

This is kinda late; but on June 23rd, Frankie made 17! I went to buy him a balloon on the way home. When I chose the balloon, the folks asked me if I just wanted one single balloon. When I mentioned it was for our dog who just made 17, they gave me a discount!

Like I always say; there are more good people in the world then bad.

Frankie doesn't get around like he used to…..stairs and stuff are difficult, he's partially blind, a good walk for him is one block these days. But, he still eats like a champ and loves his snacks.

And….since I think a photo of food is needed….here's dinner tonight.

Take care and be safe everyone!

mmm-yoso makes 15.

May 26, 2020 mmm-yoso Cocktails, yoso-silly

I was just organizing some photos this last weekend when I suddenly realized that our little blog was turning 15! And by coincidence; this is post 4,350 – we got more posts than Pete Rose has hits!

Sheesh….15……who'd have thought when I pressed "Publish" for that first post in 2005, that we'd still be doing this fifteen years later.

Granted, this is somewhat bittersweet for us. With Covid-19 changing the way we live, socialize, work, and eat. Also, there's a reason I haven't done a "bloggaversary" post since 2009. We're usually travelling during this time of the year. Except, you know….this year has been different.

So, anyway I'd like to propose a toast to all of you; who have read, emailed, taken the time to comment on our little blog over the years! We've been honored to have been given the privilege of sharing our meals and travels with all of you.

Thank you again from the bottom of our hungry little hearts. And who knows, maybe I will get to 5,000 posts?

And, I'm kinda wondering, when did you start reading?

Thanks again! Take Care!

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!!!