mmm-yoso – Page 191 – As in, yoso-silly, yoso-hungry, yoso-full, or best of all; mmm-delici-yoso!!!!! A San Diego based food and travel blog. An Ex-Pat Kama'aina and Friends explore food, restaurants, and travel from San Diego and points beyond.

Hunan Kitchen a.k.a. Noodle Hut a.k.a. Tǔjiā Xiāng Cài (土家湘菜)

June 12, 2018 mmm-yoso Chinese Restaurants

**** Hunan Kitchen has closed

I was driving around Convoy a few weeks back and noticed something about this sign.

And looking at the photos posted told me this wasn't the Noodle Hut I knew.

And then the electric sign scrolled down…….

Revealing "Hunan Kitchen". I took the photo home and the Missus translated it to Tǔjiā Xiāng Cài, basically Tujia Hunan Cuisine. Still, the addition of "Kitchen" to the name made me wonder……

And so, having some time for an actual lunch a few days later, Calvin and I hit up Hunan Kitchen a.k.a. Noodle Hut.

We were the first folks in the place. The same wood paneling and tables as the old Noodle Hut, but with signs of various dishes on the menu and of course, some chili pepper décor.

I instantly thought of Village Kitchen when I saw this on the menu.

This was going to be an interesting meal…….

First to arrive was the La Rou, Hunan Smoked Pork with Dried Radish.

The La Rou was a bit tougher, less smokey, but definitely spicier than VK's version. The dried radish was crunchy, but not hard and the dish wasn't too salty. I thought this was better than the version at VK.

And then, this.

So, think about the signature eggplant, preserved egg, and green chili dish at VK. Without the eggplant. The peppers were fairly tender and there was a large amount of pidan in this. It was also pretty darn spicy. The portion size of this dish was also deceptively large. We enjoyed it and it was the best dish of the day by far, but man, there was no way we could keep on eating this. I think my Hunan Chilli King days are behind me. Even the Missus thought this was quite spicy….though She had it the next day, when it was even hotter.

The Cumin Lamb was so-so.

Calvin's wife can't stand lamb so just about the only time he gets to eat it is with me. Too little cumin, in need of more onion and cilantro, though the lamb was tender enough. And strangely, for once, I wished the dish was more salty. I'd have loved a bit more color on the lamb as well.

Calvin was fascinated by the Baby Cuttlefish with Four Chilies.

This was quite one-dimensional in flavor. Yes, it was fairly spicy, but other than that, not much else to say. The cuttlefish was very rubbery and had no flavor. This was bean sprout city…..

The service was typical and we ended up with a bunch of leftovers.

A few weeks later we were both craving that century egg and green chili dish. So we returned. This time; I did all the ordering.

Starting with a favorite of the Missus; the Steamed Preserved Meat.

Usually, it's smoked pork, duck, and fish. Here it was pork, duck, and chicken, which made me wonder how dry this was going to be. It was however, quite good, very smoky, nice textures, chewy, but not tough. While not among the best version of this I've had, it was a notch above decent. The Missus loved the leftovers.

Of course, there was one basic reason we returned to Hunan Kitchen. The Pounded green Chilies and Century Egg. If anything, this was even better than on our previous visit.

It was even more tender and buttery, with more pidan.

Oh, and perhaps even more spicy. Man, I had the leftovers two days later and it was pretty darn hot.

Still, I think this dish is a winner, spicy, yes, but the texture of the preserved egg, the dish was nicely seasoned both times we had it. Typing this out makes me want it again. You get that nice endorphin high. Like I said….my tolerance must be pretty low these days.

We finished with the Mao Style Pork in Brown Sauce.

This was a decent, but not outstanding dish. This version of Hong Shao Rou was a bit lacking in complexity of flavor (no anise) and the pork was bit tough. It also lacked that nice glistening color I love in other versions of this dish. While I though it wasn't too spicy, eating the leftovers two days later had increased the intensity of the heat.

While not everything at Hunan Kitchen was a "keeper"; I actually enjoy the more rustic preparations and flavors here more than VK. As does the Missus….whose Father is from Hunan province and really enjoys more traditional, earthy preparations of Xiāng Cài. Still, while I'm thinking we need to head on back to the SGV for our Hunan fix; we'll be dropping by whatever the name of this place is once in a while.

Hunan Kitchen a.k.a. Noodle Hut a.k.a. Tǔjiā Xiāng Cài (土家湘菜)
4690 Convoy St
San Diego, CA 92111

And, if you're keeping score; back in 2011 this was Nam An, in 2014 Yunnan food was served at Jin's Pot, in 2015 Xi'an Kitchen, then in 2017 Noodle Hut, and now this place. Let's see if they have a bit more staying power.

Banh Mi Baguette Cafe

June 11, 2018 mmm-yoso Banh Mi, Sandwiches

**** Banh Mi Baguette Café has closed

Last fall, "MichealW" sent me an email telling me that Bale Sandwich & Deli had closed after a very short run and was now "Baguette Café". Then of course came the crazy fall and winter….and spring……so I wasn't able to visit until recently.

I'm not sure if the name is Baguette Café or Banh Mi Baguette Café…..and then there's the sign that says "by Cali Express". Hmmmm……

And the menu looks strikingly familiar.

I'm not sure if Cali Baguette Express runs this shop, or is it a "franchise" kind of thing….. But the young man working here was really nice and friendly.

I just went with the Dac Biet….good 'ol number 1. Still a bargain at $3.75.

As I walked out of the place, I gave the banh mi a little squeeze……and nothing…..it just kinda gave way. Not a good sign. I had visions of my last to the Mira Mesa Cali Baguette Express. And upon setting the banh mi free….well, I had verification. A pale, cold, doughy banh mi.

The sandwich was the signature 10" and there were thin slices of pork and cha lua.

What was just as annoying as the bread was how it was sliced. Just the top piece….so you either had to find a knife or take you chances tearing it apart. And when the cilantro and veggies aren't sliced, you get this.

Enjoyed the sneaky jalapeno and everything else was status quo…… But what happened to the crusty, light, and yeasty banh mi?

As I've been doing recently, here's what it used to be……back in 2015 at the Convoy location.

I've got to head back to the City Heights location of Cali Baguette Express to find out if the bread I've gotten on my last two visits are now the status quo. It's what used to make them stand above the rest. Hopefully it won't be "strike three".

Banh Mi Baguette Cafe
9005 Mira Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92126

Thanks for the heads up Micheal!

Parma – Trattoria Sorelle Picchi

June 7, 2018 mmm-yoso Emilia-Romagna, Italy, Italian Restaurants, Italy, Travel

After returning from visiting Castello di Torrechiara and Fontanellato we returned to the Agritourismo and rested up a bit.

As the afternoon sun faded, we decided it was time to head to Parma for dinner. We again found parking alongside the Parma River….as double bonus, because the next day was Easter, the parking pass was good for two days! Instead of heading into Parma like we did the previous day, the Missus decided we should just walk up Stradone de Martiri Della Liberta', just called the "Stradone". Interesting history here as this was the first Italian Boulevard designed in the French style. We hadn't been on this street before; it was side, tree-lined, with some very nice houses along the way.

At the East end of the street is this interesting structure…..it stood out since it seemed to be isolated in the middle of traffic.

This is the Casinetto Petitot, once a stylish cafe, designed by French born architect Ennemond Alexandre Petitot, who spent most of his career in the Province of Parma.

From here we took a left, past the Chiesa di San Pietro d'Alcantara and down some side streets. If we thought that seeing a non-Italian tourist was a rare sight before….now it looked all local.

It was a nice walk…..and we ended up on busy Strada della Republica again.

Even stopping back at the same cafe as the day before for a nice shot of espresso.

It was still a bit early for dinner, so we just wandered around a bit more……

And ended up back at Parma Cathedral.

There a nice open piazza in front of the Cathedral…..it was fun to sit and people watch for a bit. In contrast to Florence, things seemed so laid back here.

The Missus noticed that folks were going in and out of the cathedral.

So we decided to take a look.

The interior and the frescoes were quite dramatic.

From here it was back across Strada Giuseppe Mazzini and down the busy pedestrian Strada Farini. This lively street was Missus's favorite in central Parma. There are busy bars, restaurants, and shops.

Also on this street was a restaurant that was recommended to us named Trattoria Sorelle Picchi. We found the place which seemed really busy. Well, at least the outdoor eating area did. There's what seemed to be the kitchen, which could be viewed from the sidewalk.

There's a deli area and then the dining room, which, unlike the outdoor area, was quite empty when we arrived.

It did fill up quickly a few minutes after we were seated. At which time we noticed that there was an additional dining area downstairs. This was a deceivingly large trattoria!

Our Server was very nice, professional and attentive.

Of course we (I) started with the Culatello di Zibello, this one was aged 20 months. I loved how thin it was sliced.

Because of how thinly sliced and moist this was, it just melted away once it hit our tongue. Amazing……

This time it was the Missus who ordered the Cappelletti en Brodo.

First off, this capon broth was rich, chicken-ny, and not overly salty. It was really good. The pasta, stuffed with what seemed to be a meat-salumi mixture was excellent. The texture was amazing. I mentioned this to our Server who then brought back the menu and pointed out the names of the "Sfoglina" (the pasta makers) on the menu; Giuseppina and Luisella.

I ordered the "Trio de Tortelli".

First off, the ravioli like pasta was excellent, perfect pull, no hard spots, relatively doughy and springy at the same time. The erbette, which I believe is chard and ricotta had a nice milky-bitter-salty balance that was enjoyable. The Missus thought the "zucca" pumpkin tortelli was too sweet and I would probably agree with Her. The spalla (cured pork shoulder) in the green tortelli was nicely flavored and not too salty and the shaved Parmigiano Reggiano did help elevate it.

Overall, a very nice meal. We had really taken to the wonderful textures and flavors of the region. Things seemed so simple and yet the tastes and textures were quite amazing.

Trattoria Sorelle Picchi
Strada Luigi Carlo Farini 27/A
Parma, Italy

We had a nice walk back to the car…..through the part of Strada Farini that was more sedate.

It had been such a nice day and dinner just topped everything off.

Parma – Castello di Torrechiara, Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato, and Lunch at Ristorante Io Parmigianino (Fontanellato)

June 6, 2018 mmm-yoso Emilia-Romagna, Italy, Italian Restaurants, Italy, Travel

Our first morning in Parma was going to be about castles. Upon arriving at the Agritourismo, Adriano gave us a pamphlet with photos of various castles in them. After doing a bit of research that evening, it was determined that we should visit two of them.

The first being Castello di Torrechiara, located about 11 miles South of Parma, it stands on a hill overlooking the Parma Valley.

We parked our car at the foot of the hill and walked up the road. There was a slight drizzle, but that didn't diminish the wonderful view as we walked up to the castle.

The walk up to the gates seem a bit intimidating and forboding…..especially with no one else around on this morning. We had arrived just after 8am when the castle opened.

It does indeed look like a fortress on a hill.

And yet, once you walk upon the wall and porch, you start noticing things….like the magnificent views.

It is quite enchanting.

You start understanding that building this castle was a labor of love. In fact Pier Maria de Rossi built this castle, for the love of his life Bianca Pellegrini, a Noblewoman of Milan. Both were married…..

Once you enter the rooms and see the frescoes you really start understanding.

This is the "Golden Room", the bedroom of Pier Maria Rossi. Gold leaf once adorned the tiles on the wall.

The Room of the Jugglers.

Several other rooms have impressive frescoes……it's quite breathtaking.

It was quite impressive and quite a bit to take in.

It was still drizzling off and on as we walked back down the hill to the car.

We decided to head to the town of Fontanellato about 12 miles west of Parma.

We noticed that all the streets into the center of town were blocked off.

So we went ahead and found a parking lot right outside the town center.

We had actually stopped in Fontanellato to check out the castle; this one was built in the 13th century and featured a moat. But upon arriving in town we were immediately distracted by…..pirates?!?

And Food Trucks?

And Pop Music….American of course……coming from the castle? A quick look at the sign explained all.

"Castelo Street Food" it said….it was some kind of street fair.

We cracked up…….

We decided to just walk around a bit, then grab some lunch.

We weren't in Emilia-Romagna to eat burgers or fish and chips….food trucks were out. We passed by a few nice looking places, but just didn't "feel it".

Then down on of the side street from Rocca Sanvitale we saw a deli….which seemed to have some tables in the front….it also had a nice small menu. The woman behind the counter waved at us; so we walked in.

The shop had a nice little dining area in the back of the shop.

The menu was totally in Italian, but it had started getting pretty easy ordering. Since this looked to be selling a lot of salume, formaggi, and trays of pasta to locals….ordering was easy.

Salume Misto con Torta Fritta (12€).

All the salumi were good; but the Culatello di Zibelo was the star. I swear, there's a porky start, with a cheesy, mushroomy finish to it.

The torta fritta was a bit thicker and not as light as what we had the previous evening. It was however, super hot, and seemed to bring out the best in the prosciutto, culatello, and especially the fatty pancetta canusina.

The Missus had never bought into the combination of balsamic vinegar on Parmigiano Reggiano; but I couldn't help but order the Gustazione Parmigianno Reggiano (10€), which had 24/30/36 month old cheese.

While we both enjoyed the 30 month old the best; a balanced nutty-milky, the Missus isn't a big fan of the crunchy tyrosine (it's NOT SALT) crystals in aged Parmesan, She did enjoy the 36 month old cheese with the balsamic drizzle. Oh, and none of these cheese were salty…..that's what we found with Parmigiano Reggiano, it's not especially salty. This was a lot ofcheese and we ended up taking half of it with us to go.

The pasta en brodo (9,5€) here was Cappelletti….."little caps".

The broth here was a bit darker than what we had previously and not quite as rich. Nice chicken flavor though and the cheese filled pasta was lovely; milky, not overly milky. There's something about capon broth and these pastas that are so good.

The Missus got the Tortelli de Patate con Funghi Porcini (9€).

Porcini was really the way to go as mushroom and sauce was earthy and almost sweet. The potato filling was pretty much that…..filling; the texture of the pasta was a nice al dente, the grated parmesan added a nice milkiness to thing. This was quite filling.

The Missus enjoyed the Lambrusco….I was driving so I just had H2O. The two young ladies, one which seemed to be the woman behind the deli counter's daughter were very ncie.

A nice meal overall.

Io, Parmigianino
Via Guglielmo Marconi 21
Vicino Alla Rocca Sanvitale, Fontanellato, Italy

It's amazing…..a random spot…..another nice meal.

Kroran Uyghur Cuisine – A First Look

June 5, 2018 mmm-yoso Chinese Restaurants

**** Kroran has closed

I've had several inquiries regarding the opening of Kroran, one from "FOY Black Belt Jonez" and two via email (I heard ya' SomTommy). The place opened while we were away on vacation. So, on the weekend we returned, I decided to drop by. My visits were solo because, as I noted a few years back, the Missus isn't a big fan of Xinjiang Cuisine, unless it's as good as we had in Beijing. That's a rather tall order……..

I arrived on a Sunday. The place looked empty, but the restaurant was pretty busy.

There's a really nice guy who works here. He sat me quickly, a really sweet young lady was my Server….though things did take a while. But they have just opened after all, so I'll give that a pass. I believe the gentleman is Pakistani, the other front of house folks are a mix of Chinese and Middle Eastern ethnicity. I was told that the kitchen staff is from Xinjiang….which boded well.

Though a quick look at the menu was interesting…..there were a few classic Xinjiang type dishes, Laghman (lāmiàn), Chuanr (kebabs), Dàpánjī (Big Plate Chicken) and so forth. Somewhat puzzling was the addition of a bunch of Sichuan dishes and the lack of some of my favorite mutton preparations.

They were also out of a bunch of items…either it had been more busy than anticipated or the kitchen just wasn't ready for those dishes.

Not being physically able to put away Big Plate Chicken, I went with the Spicy Laghman. Supposedly the spicy version of the traditional hand pulled noodles of the region. Other than the noodles looking to have been chopped to smaller pieces, it looked good.

The texture of the noodles were pretty good as well, doughy, with a decent pull and chew. The flavoring though was way off; the beef was extremely salty and strangely dry. I expected tomato on the dish, but it was a bit too much…..and quite salty as well. And this had basically no spice….at least for me it didn't. The portion size was quite large.

Still, the texture of the lamian was pretty good. I made it a point to follow-up the next weekend. I invited some friends to join me, but got no takers. So it was me solo again.

The restaurant was even more busy this time around.

Same really nice folks working as well. Though as with the previous weekend, there were many things not available.

I started with the standard Uyghur Nan.

This was really dry and flavorless…..like it been sitting for a while.

I guess I was kind of expecting something closer to this…..

I really enjoy a good yang rou chuanr; so I figured the Lamb Kawab would have to be good, right?

First off; these arrived in like five minutes, so they were predictably cold. The texture wasn't bad; I expect some toothsomeness and this was fairly tender as a whole. I would have appreciated the meat being a bit more moist, more cumin, and while most are usually fairly salty, this was in need of more salt, and more seasoning as a whole.

For your reference…..

I also got just about the only item available (other than the nan) form the appetizer menu; the cold beef salad. Please note that the description mentions a "homemade chili sauce"……..

The beef shank was very beefy in flavor. It was as you can tell as dry as heck, though pretty tender. It did need much more in terms of seasoning to bring out the best in the product….like maybe more anise tones or even a "homemade chili sauce"?

So here's the deal. I like the nice gentleman and the young lady who work the front of house, the food is not terrible, but as I've mentioned before, as much as I like Xinjiang Cuisine, I'm not just "happy to have it". I'm going to give the place a "pass" for now. I'll drop by again in a few months.

Kroran Uyghur Cuisine
4310 Genesee Ave
San Diego, CA 92117
Hours:
Tues – Fri 11am – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm
Sat – Sun 11am – 10pm

Breakfast at Talavera Azul

June 4, 2018 mmm-yoso Breakfast/Brunch, Mexican Restaurants

The Missus is a big fan of Menudo Rojo; basically red menudo. Unfortunately, She hasn't found very many versions She likes in San Diego. If I mentioned a place; I have to go check it out first, then report back to Her. She was mentioning this to a colleague, who recommended a place in Downtown Chula Vista named Talavera Azul….this coworker also said the place had been featured on Food Network……that recommendation gave me pause….well, because I think some of the personalities have somewhat dubious taste. Anyway, I wasn't who I thought it was and heck, I did recall that "CC" had been there a few years ago. Plus, you know that I don't mind driving like 20 miles plus for breakfast on the weekends. The place was actually closer than Aqui Es Texcoco.

Both times we visited were just around 8 in the morning. And each time the place was almost full. On both occasions there was just one server working initially, with several others coming in over the next 20-30 minutes.

There was a wait on both visits, but it wasn't anything overly long…..

The Missus just wanted one thing…..

Which She got both times. On the first visit it was fantastic; just a tad of spice, mild offal flavor, the honeycomb tripe was crunchy but not hard. You knew there was tripe in this, but it wasn't super funky. The soup was steaming hot and the flavors melded together well, with some onions, a good amount of cilantro, a dash of oregano, and a squeeze of lime….it was quite good.

On the second visit, the broth wasn't as hot or rich, it lacked any chili flavor, though it was still decent. I'm hoping visit #1 is the norm. I'm sure we'll be back again soon.

Meanwhile, it seems that folks online rave about the chilaquiles. So on our first visit I got the Chilaquiles "Divorciados", that would be, with two different sauces; the mole and the green salsa.

They really do fry up those tortillas here….it was the texture of chips. The beans were really bland……. The breakfast potatoes could have used a bit more time griddled, with more color and a slight crispness to them.

The mole was too runny and overly sweet for my taste, the green salsa, which I believe is made with tomatillos was wonderful; just enough heat, tangy, really good.

Of course this was crowned off with a perfect easy over egg.

For the second visit…well, I wanted to try something else and went with the Nopales and Eggs.

Now this was much better. Especially the beans, which were perfectly seasoned….enough salt, a touch of heat….both creamy and rustic, very nice.

I love the texture of nopales and this was done well, the nopales were tender without being too mushy. There are some chilies in this…..green, so it seems like you're eating nopales…it was a nice surprise. The eggs were done decently….perhaps a bit on the dry side. And while I think it could have used tomatoes, this was perfectly fine with me.

Of course I had to have my Café de Olla….and I gotta say, it was quite consistent on both visits. Not overly sweetened, just enough of a cinnamon flavor….this might be my current favorite version of this coffee drink.

Based on that first visit, I'm guessing we'll be back for the Missus's Menudo fix.

Also, I noticed signs with "El Zarape" on it. It seems that these folks have bought the El Zarape on Adams Avenue. Also, of note; metered parking is free before 9am and the Menudo Rojo is only available on weekends.

Talavera Azul
365 3rd Ave
Chula Vista, CA 91910
Hours:
Mon – Sat 730am – 2pm
Sunday 8am – 2pm

Paris – Montmartre and Gontran Cherrier

June 3, 2018 mmm-yoso Bakery, Croissants, France, Paris, France, Sandwiches, Travel

On our second full day back in Paris; the Missus decided on getting a few things done. First, She wanted to see the view from Montmartre, the highest hill in the city, and then get some shopping done. So we headed off.

The morning was grey and drizzly, which didn't make viewing potential from Montmartre very high, but if there is one thing we've learned from travelling, it is you can't control the weather.

Even on a gloomy day like this one; Pont Alexandre III is quite picturesque.

It is considered one of the most beautiful bridges in the world and there are quite a few stories about it as well.

We headed past those familiar places.

Up to Rue Lazare and past Église de la Sainte-Trinité.

Up past place Pigalle. We somehow came upon a brick church.

This is Eglise Saint Jean de Montmartre. It looked a bit different than other churches we've come across in Paris and it started to drizzle. We took that as sign to stop and visit the church.

Created in the Art Nouveau style, there's a lot packed into this little church.

I really enjoyed the vivid stained glass…..

When we turned the corner we could see Sacre Coeur in the background along with the funicular tracks and stairs. This being the Missus….well, we took the stairs….all 300 of them.

I'm not sure why the Missus loves climbing those stairs so much.

Perhaps She is concerned about my cardiovascular well being?

Anyway, we did make it to the top…..

The view is still worth the climb even on a gloomy day as this.

And looking back at Sacre Coeur, it looked like there was the possibility of sun…..

The Missus decided not to go into the church, so instead we headed down the winding streets…passing tons of tourists and shop that seem to cater to them.

We did pass through a couple of squares that had little fairs going on.

And the Missus enjoyed doing some window shopping while we strolled down the hill.

And while we did enter a couple shops, the Missus refrained from buying anything….I believe She as saving Herself and my credit card for later on in the day.

One thing that did catch my eye was this windmill.

Apparently there were once a dozen or so of these windmills in Montmartre. Today there are two left. They are known as Le Moulin de la Galette and were built in the early 17th century. This one is viewable from Rue Lepic and stands above a restaurant that also bears the name Le Moulin de la Galette.

In the mid to late 1800's the area where the restaurant resides was turned into a Guinguette, basically a type of bar. The windmill and guinguette became the muse of many of the artists who spent their time here. Some familiar names like Renoir, Van Gogh (who had an apartment nearby), Toulouse-Lautrec, and Picasso among them. And, did you know that it was used on the cover of one of my favorite Rod Stewart albums?

I love stories like this.

We headed a bit further down the street and the Missus decided that we should get something light to eat. There was a Boulangerie on my list named Gontran Cherrier. There are multiple locations of this shop in Paris (including Japan, Singapore, and South Korea). This however, is Gontran Cherrier's original shop.

It was easy to pick out what we wanted….the Missus had decided to try at least half a dozen croissants in Paris, so this would be the first. We also got a sandwich; a veggie version. The miso bread would have to wait for another day.

The line moved fast; the service was efficient, and the folks quite nice.

The croissant could have used a bit more salt, but it was decently buttery, flakey, with a nice, very mild chew. This would end up being one of our favorites in Paris.

The sandwich was just what we needed….the baguette crusty, the cucumbers and tomatoes full of the flavor….the slight bitterness of the arugula helping to balance out the sweetness and mild briny flavor of the cucumber.

Gontran Cherrier
22 Rue Caulaincourt
Paris, France
(There are several other locations in Paris)

The Missus was now energized and ready to do Her "serious" shopping. We headed down the hill…….passing the (in)famous Moulin Rouge (lots on the windmills and the one on Moulin Rouge here)

We headed down Rue Blanche, taking note of the businesses along the way.

Of course the Missus wanted to stop by Galeries Lafayette to check out the Christmas Displays yet again.

A short while later we were back at Chanel Cambon. You pretty much get your own personal shopper here….while the Missus and the very nice young lady did their thing, I had a chance to watch the "interesting" customers.

Mission accomplished, the Missus could get back to the apartment fast enough……

She got what She wanted…….

And it was time for a nap.

Thanks for stopping by!

Parma – I Tre Siochett

June 1, 2018 mmm-yoso Emilia-Romagna, Italy, Italian Restaurants, Italy, Travel

After lunch at Osteria dei Sani in Sasso Marconi we headed to Parma. It was a rather uneventful drive. Figuring out the toll process was pretty easy. Since we had a car and central Parma is a restricted traffic (ZTL) zone; that is only vehicles with permits are allowed in the central area, I decided to book an Agritourismo….which turned out to be a mixed experience. Even at only a few miles outside Parma, it was a pain driving to the city, though we did manage to find parking….not in one of the pay lots, but alongside the Parma River (Torrente Parma). And then take a nice walk into town.

And while we didn't spend too much time in the city itself; except to eat and wander the streets. That's the Governor's Palace above.

We did take in some of the sights. That's the Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Steccata below.

The Monumento ai Caduti…..the war memorial.

And the large open space in front of Parma Cathedral which we'd visit again a bit later.

On this afternoon and evening, we were just trying to get our bearings and stretch our legs a bit after spending most of the day driving.

We headed back to what we considered the main street in the city; Strada Giuseppe Mazzini and just headed up the street where it suddenly became Strada della Republica.

We decided to stop for a coffee right before Chiesa di San Sepolcro.

You could tell that Parma wasn't a heavily American/English/Asian tourist destination. Some folks were quite surprised to see the Missus and I. My linguistic ability is basically nil, except for food, but folks in Parma were really warm, kind, and easy to smile. The woman working at this cafe; I believe it's called Provinciali was so nice. When we returned again the following day later for coffee she waved and smiled to us.

Our host at the Agritourismo, Adriano was super friendly, and even gave us a list of restaurants……..places he ate at. I Tre Siochett was outside of Central Parma, it looked fairly close to where we were staying….though we were warned, "it's not so easy to find in the dark". We did find it though…..

Just along a roadside….the place was hopping! The guys working here were very friendly. We were handed menus and I immediately ordered something from the menu…..the Italian menu mind you…..the guy looked shocked….we were immediately brought an English version of the menu and I still ordered the dish….more on that later.

Of course we had to have the Salume Misto, which was a bargain at 8 Euros!

The culatello and the prosciutto were very good; but it was the item on the left side of the plate we both loved…..our first experience with Ciccioli, all the wonderful fatty and scrap pieces of pork, so porky and delicious. Also, this was truly served the Emilio-Romagna way. With lovely, yeasty, light pockets of dough called "torta fritta".

Each version we had was a bit different. This one was light and crisp, not overly "lardy", with some decent salt. You open up the one end of the torta fritta and place your salumi in it and eat….at least this is how we were taught. I also saw folks eating two pieces of torta fritta with salumi between them like a sandwich. Regardless….this was heaven with salumi.

Every area within Emilia-Romagna seems to have their own type of stuffed pasta……and the best way to eat it is "en brodo" in a clear chicken based broth. In western Emilia-Romagna it's Anolini.

Usually the most expensive primi on the menu (it's all relative – this was 12 Euros); because of the amount of work needed to make the pasta, the payoff, like this version, was usually quite good. A bit of meat, cheese, or sometimes "Zucca" (pumpkin). Loved the texture of the pasta.

And then, there was the "Pesto di cavallo con pestata di capperi" (10 Euros). I ordered it from the Italian menu, then was immediately brought the English menu……just for clarification purposes and we still ordered it. Just so you know, cavallo is horse, and this is basically horse tartare. The really nice Server just wanted to make sure. Because as he said in English, "even Italiano…it is yes-no, yes-no, yes-no…." Which made the Missus and I crack up.

This was definitely a "yes"….served with a caper relish on the side….a squeeze of lemon…the finish is so clean, the flavor almost refreshing, with a slight sweetness. The acid and brininess adding character to the dish.

The Missus ordered the "cake" for dessert and holy-moly…..this is one serving of "cake"…..

The place was even more packed as we left. We loved the gracious, friendly service. This was a fun meal and folks here just put us a ease.

I Tri Siochett
Strada Comunale Farnese 74/A
Parma PR, Italy

Adriano was right when he said finding our way back via the side streets outside Parma in the dark was going to be interesting….even with a GPS. I think we took a couple of circles….the good thing about roundabouts is that if you miss your exit, you just take another loop. After what seemed like 45 minutes for a 15 minute drive, we ended up back at our room.

There was something about the cuisine of Emilia-Romagna that really seemed to suit us.

Revisit – Shann Xi Magic Kitchen (99 Ranch Market Food Court)

May 31, 2018 mmm-yoso Chinese Restaurants

**** This location of Shann Xi Magic Kitchen has closed.

My terrible revisit to Shan Xi Magic Kitchen had me wondering how it compared to the location in the rather desolate 99 Ranch Market on Balboa.

And I mean desolate….as in this was noon on a Sunday……..

Anyway, I went with the Yang Rou Pao Mo, which has gone up three dollars in price since the place opened. It's now $11.99.

The young lady working here fit right into the mold….she was more concerned about stuff on her smartphone than customers.

While being just mediocre, a bit too thin, lacking richness, this was much better than what I had at the Convoy location. The broth wasn't overly seasoned with white pepper, the lamb was nice and "muttony". Still not a fan of "paomo" in the states. In China it's leavened bread…..here it waxy, dumpling like dough. A few random pieces of tofu….a few strands of bean thread.

At least it wasn't as bad as this:

Still, not very good at all.

Shann Xi Magic Kitchen
5950 Balboa Ave (In the 99 Ranch Market Food Court)
San Diego, CA 92111

As for those wondering how this location of 99 Ranch Market survives……it looks like there's some attrition going on. Looks like Mr A Café has closed….

Sage Cafe-inside Barona Casino

May 29, 2018 Cathy American/New American Restaurants, What Cathy Eats!

mmm-yoso!!!, the food blog you are reading, has been around for more than 13 years. It's a compilation of meals enjoyed. Cathy is writing today; Kirk is relaxing after his vacation.

So, we have an out of town guest who has never been to a casino. It was lunchtime and the closest casino, Barona, came to mind. The Mister and I haven't been here in years and noticed how much things had changed. There's a hotel and more parking out front as well as in the covered garage. A sort of 'farm' theme is the exterior decor.
Look at the beautiful view East from the fourth floor of the garage.

I avoid taking photos of people and am pretty sure I couldn't take any of the casino floor, so just know it's beautiful, light filled, exciting and caters to just about any vice you may have, except for alcohol (the road to get here, Wildcat Canyon, has only one lane each way and up until a few years ago, no alcohol was allowed in the casino or any restaurant but now the Steakhouse does serve alcohol). There is a food court area as well as an All You Can Eat buffet and several restaurants at various price points.

The restaurant we headed to, Sage Cafe, is open 24 hours and basically right next to the hotel; the farthest point from the parking garage.
While perusing the menu, a basket of warm rolls and butter was brought to the table. The toasted ones were (a good, sour) sourdough and the brown ones were a soft yet chewy wheat. Both went well with the salted butter. One of our meal choices came with a choice of soup or wedge salad and this was great. The thin sliced onion and cucumbers as well as the tomato wedge and bits of Gorgonzola went well with the (iceberg) lettuce, which was tender and trimmed free of any hard, white leaves or parts.
One of the soup choices was green posole- pork and hominy filled, the tomatillo based soup was just so tasty, with a bit of chile heat creeping up at the end of each taste.
The chicken tortilla soup was also meaty and cheesy. Chicken, jack cheese, avocado and tortilla strips, along with a bit of chile heat, made this soup memorable.
The El Capitan French Dip ($9.95) with a side of onion rings (there was a choice of fresh fruit, fries or creamy slaw as well as the rings) was plentiful and had good quality beef. The warm French roll was soft and held up to a dip in the au jus. Those onion rings were quite perfect- the fry, the crisp, the whole onion slices…
The Sage Custom Cobb ($12.95) was presented in this non-traditional way.
The bacon, avocado, Gorgonzola, tomato and eggs in a formed mound made it a shame to have to split up and mix in. The 'custom' part? A choice of chicken breast, broiled salmon, New York steak, chilled shrimp or grilled tuna. As you can see, the grilled tuna was grilled to a nice medium-rare; a great choice. The mixed greens were plentiful and fresh and there were quite a few olives mixed throughout.
I only took one photo of "Mom's Fried Chicken" ($11.95) and it is a blurred, non-flattering photo. Just know the batter on this was very crispy and had a nice, light spice. The meat stayed tender and juicy even after the leftovers were chilled. In addition to the choice of soup or wedge salad, this meal came with both creamed corn and baked macaroni and cheese. Wow. The flavor of the sweet, fresh corn mixed with cream was so very, very decadent…as was the baked with sharp cheese macaroni.

We will return and try more of the menu.

Sage Cafe at Barona Resort and Casino 1932 Wildcat Canyon Road Lakeside Ca 92040 1-888-7BARONA open 24 hours website