Category: yoso-silly

Last week FOY Kat, of Our Adventures in Japan tagged me for a meme, called "10 Photos". I admit that I’m usually not very good with these "meme-things". And have probably unwittingly earned a spot on the "places where memes come to die" map. But since this was a very good FOY(Friend of Yoso), and the theme didn’t sound too difficult, I thought it would be a slam dunk. WRONG!

The rules were very straightforward:
1. Post 10 of your own favorite food shots.
2. Pass the opportunity on to others by leaving a message on their comments page just so they’re aware of it.

No problemo….until I had to actually choose only 10 photos. How the heck do I choose just 10 photos? It’s like choosing 10 of my favorite children! So being the good little soldier that I am, I started thinking up different little rules, only places outside the US, only places inside the US, only places in San Diego, only places in San Diego whose name ends in "Berto". Arrgh!  I finally came up with some guidelines for myself(boy, do I need structure or what?). Only photos of  stuff I really enjoyed, and only from the last 2 years or so. So, though I really enjoyed the photo of the The Sherry Soused Spinach, 8 Minute Eggs, and Hazelnuts from Park Kitchen in Portland:

I didn’t think it was the best item I had during that meal. (Notice how I’ve already managed to sneak extra photos in already?) So it was disqualified. This ended up being quite hard for me.  But I managed to pick a few.

So before my list, why don’t you take a gander at Kat’s 10 photos.

Here goes:

#10 – From the "did this really come out of my kitchen category?" Buta Kakuni:

#9 – From the "nothing tastes better wrapped in a leaf category". Nem Khao from Asia Cafe:

#8 – From the "it looks like it came from Lorena Bobitt’s new cookbook – Man(hood) meets grill" category. Hurts me just to think about it. De Nuong La Lot Mo Chai from Binh Dan Restaurant:

Not ba-a-a-a-ad at all!

#7 – My "MVP – Most Valuable Pescado". Cebiche Pescado from Astrid y Gaston in Miraflores(Lima):

#6 – From the "what’s a Loco like you doing in a place like this" category. The Hilo Style Loco from Leilani’s Cafe:

You know I just had to sneak a Loco Moco in didn’t you?

#5 – From the "so good my arteries stood still" category. Sisig from Ed’s Bistro(how we miss you, though my Cardiologist doesn’t).

#4 – From the "even though I don’t speak Spanish, I’m glad you understood me" category. Tacos from Tacos El Compita:

#3 – From the "swipe my meat" category. Prime Cap Ribeye from Tsuruhashi. Why "swipe my meat"? This photo has been used without permission 3 times.

#2 – From the "kabobs of my dreams" category. Lamb Kabobs from Chef Tony(RIP):

What’s better than some good "meat on a stick"?

#1 – From the "they must be using some highly addictive controlled substance" category. The Cold Sichuan Noodles from Ba Ren:

I dunno why, but I just "MUST" have this at least once a month, if not more often.

Looking at my short list, there sure seemed to be quite a few photos from places that have gone out of business, like Mei Jia Deli

And Thien Thanh

Sorry, just snuck in a few more photos…..it seems like I’m caught in a terminal, obsessive, death spiral….

MUST…STOP….NOW!

Whew, okay, so there you go. As for the tagging, if you feel the desire to keep this meme going, consider yourself tagged!

One last photo, ok? I readily admit, I really don’t know what the heck I’m doing when I take photos. It is just point and shoot(artistic composition? you’re better off trying to get me to breakdance – I wouldn’t know it if it hit me in the head). And all of these were taken with my little ol’ $200 Fuji:

I hope you enjoyed this. And WC, I know I still owe you the 5 Things About Me meme.

Thanks for the tag Kat!

Bale on Linda Vista is moving.

Last Sunday, I did my morning shopping at Vien Dong, and noticed that Bale had closed.

According to the sign, they will be moving to the area occupied by Dai Tan Market.

So today, while driving in the area, I drove into the parking lot of Dai Tan Market, and noticed that the place was still open. And no sign of Bale. Since it is already June; I’m wondering if something happened?

What is my favorite?

I recently received a very nice email from "TK", In the email I was asked what my favorite 8 posts were. You know, I have never even thought about that? Why 8? The Missus told me, "he must be Chinese". (Slap to the head) Yes, the number 8 is considered very lucky by the Chinese. Like my favorite watering hole back home. "8 Fat Fat 8". Thanks for the suggestion TK…..hey if you have any other ideas for a post, feel free, ok?

Unfortunately, choosing my favorite posts out of over 800 is quite a daunting task. Sort of like picking your favorite child. There are a handful of posts, like :

The Fried Pork Rectum post. BTW, that’s what it looks like to the right.

Or maybe even the Vegemite – Vege-might not post, or even the $50 Sandwich post. Maybe it was the Spam Katsu Curry. Which tasted really good, BTW.

Or something really silly like:

Young Duck Missing Parts? or even the Everything tastes better on a Banh Mi? Sometimes, the emails I receive make up most of the post, as in the case of the Bun Bo Hue Dossier.

So the 8 I came up with are:

8. Five Favorite Cookbooks Meme.

7. C is for Chicha, Chinchero, and Chicharroneria!

6. Return to Vien Dong Market

5. Maguro Unconfidential

4. A Very Special Dinner in Cusco

3. Can Cau Market

2. The Missus’s One Post – Yes, the Missus actually wrote 1 post!

1. "Sam Woo the Killer Whale"

So, do you remember any specific posts? I’d love to know!

How I love reading about Road Trips:

I don’t know what it is about me and road trips. Perhaps growing up on an Island, I’ve always been fascinated with the "song of the open road". I know I really enjoy reading Cathy’s posts from the road. Right now Michael who does the wonderful San Diego based food blog, Menu In Progress, is in the midst of a road trip. You can read about it here. He’s already hit one of the places I’ve had on my "list" for the longest time, Kreuz Market in Lockhart, Texas. And eagerly feeding on Tex-Mex, Michael has coined one of my favorite phrases of the year thus far:

"In addition to being a fan of the food traditions from the source, I am also an unapologetic fan of the various regional American incarnations of Mexican food."

You know, I almost missed it again this year. Last year it slipped my mind completely. For some reason, this year I thought it was May 27th. But I just happened to get into my time machine and took a peek at our first post; and gasp, it was dated May 26, 2005. So I rushed and made some rice, and just as I did in 2006, made a quick and dirty Spam Musubi.

Hmmm,  a larger candle means more melted wax to scrape off the musubi before I eat it…..

As always, thanks to each and everyone of you for visiting, commenting, the emails, and all of the wonderful recommendations that have poured in over the last 3 years. We’ve had a blast, and at last count have 850 posts, 13,ooo+ comments(though I think most of them are from me!), and over 460 different eating establishments, not including markets, fairs, etc. So it looks like it’s time for me to start returning to some of those places we haven’t posted on in a while.

I really never thought I’d be around this long.

One big mahalo to Cathy, Ed from Yuma, Vicky, mizducky, and Omar. One thing is for certain, without their help, there’s no way mmm-yoso would have lasted this long. I’m not sure how long, or how many posts I have left. And who knows, one of these days, I may even get around to "pretty-ing" things up  a bit…maybe even finally doing that custom banner I’ve been too darn lazy to do.  Until then, we’ll just keep rolling!

Thanks again everyone!

Just a random "potpourri" of stuffs……

The latest sign at Marukai:

The latest sign says February 1st for Marukai Market. I hope so.

Chilango’s Reopening?

When we first moved to San Diego, we visited Chilango’s in Hillcrest several times, and really enjoyed ourselves. I was getting a post ready, when I found out that the Owners of Chilango’s had hired some Itamae, and opened up what amounted to a Japanese Fast-Food restaurant. Today, during the usual trip, I noticed the sign was gone, and the Chilango’s sign was back up!

So is Chilango’s reopening? A second "I hope so" for this one.

The Bard of Banh Mi:

One of the FOY (Friends of Yoso) who often keeps me informed of his various adventures in Bun Bo Hue, and Banh Mi is Jon Oropeza, IT pro by day, writer by night. He recently sent me this, which tickled me….you can also find it here. I now proclaim Jon, the Bard of Banh Mi:

bánh mì gà

i surprise the woman
by ordering ‘bon-my-gah’
because that’s what I want
a chicken sandwich.

the alien lah-dah-lahs
of her man on his cell
yelling about a smogging –
‘la la la Test Only
do doe way Test Only,’
he’d say –
‘Test Only.’ ‘nah-no Test Only!’
‘gue go way you-win’ –

(my blabber transcription)

‘ – la lo mben Test Only.’
‘la mben do doe-lay’.

we think of languages discrete,
they’re melanges aren’t they?

French sandwiches and tenseless Khmer
like a grid shaking hands with a sphere.

in the rear their gorgeous
stick-figure daughter
wriggles on her chair
agog by my big bites into
Chicken, Gà, same
Viet-name and my

Thanks for sharing, and the dedication Jon. I forgot to ask, where the inspirational Banh Mi was from, so I took a photo of a Banh Mi Ga Nuong from Song Huong(now costs $2.50). I’m guessing it must be Song Huong?

Finally, a funny YouTube from Andy the ABC:

He even mentions mmm-yoso!!! Enjoy:

Thanks Andy! We love it! And one day we hope to be in Taiwan, though I’m not quite sure I’d have what you did…….

You never know what you’ll find on Imperial Avenue:

I was driving along a few weekends ago. I’d already grabbed some tacos from El Compita, but in the parking lot of the former El Comal, now called something like Casa el Pepe(2822 Imperial Ave), was some major Polo asada being grilled. If I hadn’t already grabbed some tacos, I’d have stopped. I did manage to snap a quick photo:

I’m hoping to check it out in the coming weeks……

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Is almost in the books. Looking back it’s been a pretty good one for new eats in San Diego. Here’s my fearsome foursome of new restaurants that opened this past year:

Early in the year Tsuruhashi opened up, and brought us some good yakiniku.

Tsuruhashi Japanese BBQ
3904 Convoy St
San Diego, CA 92111

In April Latin Chef opened up, serving up tasty Peruvian from a tiny shop in Pacific Beach:

The tasty Cebiches and Tiradito provided a delish segue for our trip to Peru. It was nice to see that Latin Chef’s Owner, Freddy, has now acquired the shop next door, doubling the restaurant’s floor space.

Latin Chef
1142 Garnet Ave
San Diego, CA 92109

During the summer, San Diego’s first Vietnamese Crawfish restaurant, Crab Hut opened.

I’m guessing business must be good, since a few months back a second Crawfish boil opened close by.

Crab Hut
4646 Convoy St
San Diego, CA 92111

And in early September, Mongolian Hot Pot finally made it’s way South, and Little Sheep opened up.

Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot & Grill
4718 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92117

Sounds like a pretty good year to me! So tell us, what were your favorite new restaurants that opened this past year?

"All of my dreams are fading fast…."

"Another year."

"Each time I think it’s gonna last……"

"It disappears."

Another Year – Ian Gomm