mmm-yoso – Page 364 – 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.

It’s soup weather: Mien Trung, Ramen Yamadaya, Sushi Yaro, Roseville Cozinha

January 3, 2013 mmm-yoso Bun Bo Hue, Italian Restaurants, Japanese Restaurants, Ramen, Vietnamese Restaurants

Is it just me, or does it seem that the weather's a bit colder this year? Brrrrr……. It's obviously time for something like this.

Actually, it's been a hot comforting bowl of noodle soup that I've been craving. My mother nce told me that during the her pregnancy she constantly craved noodles and soup. It's no wonder I was practically screaming for saimin from the time the pediatrician slapped me on the behind!

I've been purposely passing by the local bank every morning. They have one of those clocks-slash-temperature displays. The other morning; I go to work early, it read 39 degrees! 39 degrees! I won't vouch for the accuracy of the temperature, or time (it always seems off 2-3 minutes), but it did seem mighty cold…..especially for us wimpy San Diegans. Still, it wasn't like the hail and frost in Cathy's neighborhood…..but more than enough for me to start hunting down noodle soup! Here are a few recent bowls.

Mien Trung:

When it gets cold and I need a little kick in the pants, I go to Mien Trung for a bracing bowl of Bun Bo Hue. I believe I've hit just about every place that serves BBH in the San Diego area, and Mien Trung comes out on top.

The bowls do vary on visits. Sometimes it's more spicy, there are times when I find they've gone a bit too far with the MSG. But as whole, it always hits the spot. On this day, it was the normal scalding hot that BBH should always be to take care of the shredded greens and herbs, the MSG level was rather low, the spiciness on medium low………

And it was just right for me……..

I was also lucky that I wore dark colors…..no visible little red dots after slurping up those noodles!

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

Ramen Yamadaya:

**** Ramen Yamadaya has closed

I had thoughts of going to Yakyudori for some ramen, but my last couple ramen visits haven't gone too well, and I wanted something a bit richer. It had been a while and since it wasn't a zillion degrees outside, I thought it was time for another visit. It's still fairly warm inside; great during winter, but I'm not too sure how things will be when summer rolls around.

Ordering for me was easy…well relatively, I do like the curry here, but it was a warming bowl of rick tonkotsu style ramen I was looking for. I'm not a big fan of the chashu here, but wanted to check it out again. I hedged my bets and went with the Kotteri Ramen, an extra "fatty", I like to use the word rich broth, with a side of kakuni pork. Slow cooked pork belly.

The broth had that nice tongue coating richness I enjoy….not greasy, but nice and rich. It also wasn't as salty as on previous visits. The noodles were too soft and mushy this time around….I'm toying with idea of getting them extra firn next time. The chashu is tragically tough, dry, and low on the flavor scale for me….better to go with the kakuni, which was unfortunately ice cold….guess I'll order the kakuni ramen, kotteri…..

I could go on a bit more….but I won't bore you with the minutae. It did the job, that's the main thing.

Ramen Yamadaya
4706 Clairement Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92117

Soki Soba at Sushi Yaro:

**** Sushi Yaro has closed

My buddy Sam has ramen and all kinds of other stuff on the menu now. For me, the best noodle soup he serves is the soki soba, an Okinawan noodle soup, served with "soki", simmered spare ribs.

The only other version I've had of this; at an Okinawan Restaurant on Oahu was a bit different and yet the same. The noodles there were wide noodles; here it's udon, but was cooked perfectly. The broth like this was dashi/kombu based. I enjoyed the spicy vinegar provided, it help to balance out the broth, which teetered on the high sodium end. There were two riblets here, though they had pretty much melted to pieces. Still, I was surprised that Sam did a pretty good job with this….I'll have it again.

Sushi Yaro
7905 Engineer Road
San Diego, CA 92111

Cioppino at Roseville Cozinha:

**** Roseville Cozinha has closed

The Missus said I should give stew some equal time. I think She meant I needed to mention the cioppino She enjoyed recently at Roseville Cozinha.

She loved it……..it had a nice zing to it, but wasn't too rich. Well flavored seafood based broth too. Nice fresh seafood.

She enjoyed the simple, pure flavors of the shrimp in this as well.

But that's not a soup or stew so I can't count it.

Roseville Cozinha
2750 Dewey Rd Suite 104 (Liberty Station)
San Diego, CA 92106

So tell me….what have you been eating to keep warm?

Happy New Year!

January 1, 2013 mmm-yoso Cooking, Japanese Restaurants, Markets & Grocers, Sushi and Sashimi

Don't know about you, but we've just finished doing the dishes of our New Year's dinner. Nothing fancy mind you, just me and the Missus.

I hope everyone had a most happy New Year!

Like most we've, well I've had a routine on New Year's Eve……I get up early then hit Nijiya, Marukai, and maybe Mitsuwa to see what was going on, something I've done just about every year since our first New Year post. As I've noted over the last couple of years, the variety and quantity of Osechi-ryori, the traditional Japanese New Year dishes has flagged. I'm sure that it will never totally disappear, but what's available has surely gone down over the last couple of years as old traditions fade and new ones replace them.

This year I had a shopping companion….the biggest change in our household over the last year is that the Missus has taken an interest in cooking and shopping……so it was great having a companion when browsing the aisles.

Though there were many temptations….

We decided not to do the time consuming typical Japanese dishes I'd usually make for New Year. Instead, we bought something I don't recall seeing at Marukai……some really nice Argentinian Red Shrimp…not the freezer burnt stuff from TJ's, but some really nice, almost sashimi grade stuff.

I ended up doing a simple salt bake…….

This was so simple. you didn't even season the shrimp…..just make sure not to overcook them. They go really quickly….like 8 minutes over a hot bed of salt in 500 degree oven.

The Missus was in heaven. We paired this with a shaved kale salad, I made some three oil noodles, and also a dish that had been created a couple of days before. Late the previous week, the Missus just wanted to eat fish each day…..so She kind of threw down the gauntlet so to speak and I had to come up with three different fish dishes on three consecutive days….I call it pulling a dish out of my rear end…so to speak. Anyway, one of the winners was a pan fried fish with a Oyster Sauce-Chinkiang Black Vinegar-Honey Glaze on top of mui bok choi.

The flavors were right in the Missus' Northern Chinese flavor ballpark – sour-salty-sweet…..

For dinner we picked up JohnL and headed to our favorite little neighborhood sushi joint.

Loved the "two way ika"……

It was a nice low-keyed evening. The Missus and I almost never go out on the eve, but decided that this would be a perfect new year eve curveball…….and we really enjoyed it.

Sushi Yaro
7905 Engineer Road
San Diego, CA 92111

Nothing fancy for New Year morning….well, at first glance it would seem so. The Missus had challenged me with coming up with zhōu like we had at Shanghai No.1. So this meant starting the night before….I changed up my porridge technique and soaked the rice the previous evening. The next morning while I got the zhōu started, I warmed some water and soaked 2 ounces of dried scallop. I shredded the scallop and added the strained soaking liquid to the porridge. Then made a very Taiwanese thin omelete of egg and prevserved turnip. After about an hour and a half, the porridge looked close….I added more water and turned up the heat to allow for the total breakdown of the rice….giving it an almost luxurious texture…..

Dried scallop congee…..

Of course I'm of Japanese ancestry, so I needed to have soba as my meal to enter the new year – toshi-koshi soba. I went with a version of Sansai Soba……of course I needed to have some egg with it, right?

Dinner was the other half of the Argentinian shrimp….salt baked of course.

Some salad, oven-blasted cauliflower, and another item whose recipe is coming up soon. Porcini crusted ono, with seared truffled polenta, and a porcini-cremini sauce.

So this is the way we started 2013!

I hope you all had a great New Year, and a most delici-yoso 2013!

Thanks for dropping by!

Memorable Meals of 2012

December 31, 2012 mmm-yoso Ethiopian/Eritrean Restaurants, Sushi and Sashimi, Travel, Tunisian Food, yoso-silly

Wow, man, another year has just flown by.

I usually don't do these end of year round-up type of posts….well, because we've usually done quite a bit during the year, and yes, it can be quite a bit of work. This year however, FOY (friend of yoso) Candice asked me to contribute something for end of the year round-up. This in turn made me take a look back.

I did come to the conclusion that I really didn't have a "best" meal, but several memorable experiences….and that's kind of what it's about for me. It can be the simplest of things, a great bowl of noodle soup, at just the right moment. It could be doing something new and different, or trying something new and different.

Eating something different, tasting something you haven't tried before, having a dish be your window into a different culture, place, or time…..that to me is priceless.

Or like dealing with Mr Piggy above, you have to overcome things in your attempt to succeed. In the end, it wasn't about the destination, but the journey….and of course proving to my friends that I'm willing to spontaneously com-bust for some pork.

The setting can be a backyard, graciously donated by a friend's mom, knowing that the potential exists of being totally decimated by flaming pork. Or something as wonderful as a stand by the roadside, grill smoking, pelts of sheep slaughtered that day proudly hanging, a sign of freshness and of popularity…..who needs 10,000,000 served? We've slaughtered and grilled three whole sheep today and have sold out!

I'm still thinking that once one of those television travel/dining personalities bites into the tender olive wood grilled lamb from these stands in Tunisia, it's going to blow up.

Well, maybe not……

It's also about learning things….like the "other white meat" seems like filet mignon compared to "dromidaire".

Anyway, I did have a couple of very memorable meals during the past year……..

But strangely, I haven't posted on any of them yet!!!

Two of them are from our long trip this year.

We enjoyed the first meal at Le Golfe in La Marsa, a suburb of Tunis, that we returned the next day!

In between beach side homes on the Mediterranean, you couldn't beat the scenery.

Except for maybe the food!

Like th seches grille – baby cuttlefish grilled over olive wood.

Or freshly caught Mediterranean Bluefin Tuna Carpaccio!

We also finally found our favorite little restaurant in Istanbul…….we ate there three times! We escaped the clutches of Kumkapi and found this place…..

On our first visit, all the customers were men…..everyone was a regular it seems.

Items were served in the style of meyhanes…..giant trays of mezes brought forth and you selected. You could still order off the menu too. I saw something that every table had and decided we needed it too. The Missus was a bit apprehensive….but after one taste was sold. One of our new "desert island dishes" Çiğ köfte.

It's raw ground lamb mixed with bulghur and herbs….you wrap it in lettuce with a couple of mint leaves…..oh man!

The third occurred at the end of the year, when I finally managed to get into one of the more enigmatic sushi shops in San Diego. If you know your sushi here in San Diego, you know of this place.

It's not quite like what most folks think.

I'll get to these three posts in the New Year I'm sure!

The fourth meal has a special place in my heart. In September of this past year, Candice and I received emails inviting us to dinner in remembrance of Naomi Wise, who sadly, and suddenly passed away on December 15, 2011. Though I had only met her once, she did have an unforgettable effect on me.

I did have some reservations about attending because I'd never really been a part of her "posse" and didn't want to intrude on such an intimate moment. But I also knew that Sang ("Sam"), who really worked hard to put together this dinner, was such a warm and friendly individual. When I attended it became clear; this was a small intimate dinner of folks who have been touched by Naomi Wise, whether in person, or through her years of writing the dining column for the Reader.

The meal was an excellent, unpretentious, but well put together family style meal at AR Valentien. Chef Kara Snyder did a great job.

There was one particular moment during that evening that I recall clearly. We were eating on the balcony and the fog had moved in. We were seated as the first course started to arrive. Distracted by the menu card, a drop of condensation hit me, getting my attention, in the background the "Hawaiian Lullabye" by the Brother Cazimero started playing…. at A R Valentien!

"Where I live there are rainbows
With life in laughter of morning
And starry nights
Where I live there are rainbows
With flowers full of color
And birds filled with song
I can smile when it's raining
Touch the warmth of the sun
I hear children laughing
In this place that I love"

It was a wonderful evening of conversation and memories! It was great meeting all the folks who attended, some of them members of Naomi's posse:

The Lynnester
Scottish Sue
Sheila
Sam
Cheryl
Robin
"pre-Raphaelite" Jennifer
Teresa

And the other folks who I got to meet:

Ed
Lisa
Katy
Mary
Marcie
Greg
Marcie
Greg (yes, two Gregs and Marcies!)

And of course my buddy Candice.

Sang, I don't know if you read our blog, but I'd just like to say thanks! I was honored to be invited…..you did such a great job!

So I guess that's it, this year is wrapped up. See you next year……….

Meals with Friends: Mariscos Godoy, Luce, and Roseville Cozinha

December 27, 2012 mmm-yoso American/New American Restaurants, Chicken Wings, Mexican Restaurants, Pizza, Pubs and Pub Grub, Seafood

As you can tell; I’m trying to get all these round-up type posts done before the end of the year. Of course, this is the time of year when folks get together and celebrate….here are a couple of “meals with friends” we’ve had recently.

Mariscos Godoy:

**** Mariscos Godoy has closed

What better place for a festive time with a group right? Mariscos Godoy is a great place to just get together and grub with friends….unless of course, there’s a major soccer game on…or when one of the bands are playing, which makes conversation impossible. On this night, we got both…..and the band even had a tuba player! yikes…..

Still, as you can see, we didn’t leave hungry……..

And I even forgot to take a photo of the pulpo…..

Mariscos Godoy
651 Palomar St
Chula Vista, CA 91911

Luce’s (again):

My buddy JohnL has moved back into the neighborhood. We decided to grab some drinks and felt that Luce was close by. Plus, I was really unimpressed with the food on our last visit. Well, at least the charcuterie board was decent…..

The wings on the other hand were totally one note in flavor….sweet, with not much else going for it.

The fries were ok….a bit mushy and dry, but flavored decently.

I like the friendly service and the small, but good beer list (and a mule or two). But is Bay Park so starved for a place like this, that there would be lines waiting outside on a cold evening? Well, I probably just answered my own question.

Luce Bar & Kitchen
1959 Morena Blvd
San Diego, CA 92110

Roseville Cozinha:

**** Roseville Cozinha has closed

One great thing about having a group gathered for a meal is that you get to try a bunch of things. We decided on a porcine party post mortem and Peter thought the newly opened Roseville Cozinha would be just the place.

There’s a a beautiful wood fired oven in the place and I think they are still fine tuning and getting the hang of beast. My favorite items were the “local Salumi Plate” and the Salt Cod Fritters. Roseville tips its hat to the Portuguese and Italian fishing communities which formed the backbone of the Point Loma area. I benefited with some nice bacalao fritters.

Compare this salumi with what Luce’s serves…..the price is pretty close as well. This wins hands down.

The wood oven roasted shrimp must have been good…..I never got a shot at it!

Ervilhas Stew…….good thing the Missus wasn’t here….that egg would have never lasted 5 seconds on the table.

Of course you need some greens……

My favorite pizza was the “Chef’s Special” a fresh clam pizza……

Fennel and sausage…..

Wild Mushroom…..

What a meal…….what a great time with good friends!

Roseville Cozinha
2750 Dewey Rd Suite 104 (Liberty Station)
San Diego, CA 92106

Recently Consumed……

December 26, 2012 mmm-yoso Cooking

We've been eating at home quite a bit recently……here are some of what we made.

Didn't know what to make for dinner…ended up buying some Italian Sausages and making a very basic sausage and peppers.

I do the thing where a brown the sausages over medium low heat and then cook the peppers and onions in the rendered fat. Surprisingly, the Missus enjoyed this and I ended up making it as one the dishes for Her Xmas potluck.

We had that alongside one of my favorite things….oven blasted brussel sprouts.

I love those leaves that fall off and get crisped up like chips…..I'm surprised that they haven't packaged that yet! Or maybe someone has and I just don't know about it.

Leftover sausage and peppers means a fritatta.

Alongside roasted baby white potatoes……

As you can tell, the oven is getting a bunch of work…..

Loved the oven roasted baby eggplant…..

How about some oven roasted cauliflower????

I've been making that pepper-tomato-harissa-cumin shakshuka thing. Here's a flat-iron steak seasoned with cumin-salt-pepper-paprika-granulated garlic-oregano, on top of the salsa/sauce.

There had been a a couple of packages of tempeh in the fridge that the Missus bought….tempeh…..sigh…. I went ahead and smoked it for the Missus, which She told me tastes really good. I'll take Her word for it. She decided to take what was left of the "shakshuka thing" and mix that with shaved vegetable and roasted kabocha, sauteed, with an egg cracked in the middle finished in the oven.

She's really into that "Ottolenghi look", huh?

I'm thinking slicing the smoked tempeh thin and frying it….bacon style…maybe….well…maybe not.

I saw some wild Mexican 41-50 white shrimp at Catalina Offshore. It might be small for many uses; but I think it's perfect for Gambas al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp).

So there you go….been cooking at home quite a bit lately….have you?

Merry Christmas

December 24, 2012 mmm-yoso Japanese Restaurants, yoso-silly

Well, it's another Christmas almost in the books folks…….

Where does time go? I recently received an email from someone who had started reading our little blog as a sophomore in high school…….he's now a college senior! I don't know what to say……

The whole gang here at mmm-yoso would like to wish each and everyone of you a happy, healthy, and delicious holiday season!

And now for some gratuitous food photos. The Missus has to work this Christmas Eve so I was on my own…….

Thanks for dropping by!

The Elephant in the Room-Donut Shops

December 23, 2012 Cathy Bakery, Desserts, What Cathy Eats!

You are reading mmm-yoso!!!, a blog about food. Kirk and ed (from Yuma) are busy with things right now and Cathy is blogging today because she is caught up with things.

You know how when you are told not to do or think something, it turns out the only thing you want to do is dwell about that something-the elephant in the room? Well, almost two years ago, everyone around me seemed to become overly aware of their glucose levels, carbohydrate intake and 'eating healthy'. Ever since then, I went from eating one donut a year to stopping at any place with "Donut" and/or "Bakery" in its signage at least once a week. This post is a compendium of some of my favorite Donut shops in different parts of San Diego County.

Let's start in the center – Mira Mesa.

This is the only 'generic' strip mall Donut Shop where I go out of my way to stop – If you've been to Lucky Seafood at the NE corner of Mira Mesa Boulevard at Black Mountain Road, that's where you've seen Donut Stop. It's open from 4:30 a.m. until 10 p.m., in case you have a craving.

What I really like from here are the whipped cream filled donut holes: Little light puffs of angel breath. They call them 'cream puffs' but the dough is soft, not crispy and they are topped with just a dusting of powdered sugar. The raised glazed donut is an automatic purchase and always nice. Simple, not crazy sweet and perfect.

Donut Stop 9330 Mira Mesa Blvd San Diego 92126 (858)271-8751

When we head to West to Pacific Beach, Linda's Donuts, on the NW corner of Grand at Lamont, doesn't look very fancy…

It's small inside, but just like Donut Stop, the donuts are constantly being made and there is something ready to eat- even at 10 p.m..

The Boston Creme and French Cruller. Both here are made perfectly. They are 'normal' sized donuts and the Bavarian is quite heavy with filling. If I lived closer, the cruller, with its soft layered interior and crispy light exterior, would be my morning ritual.

Linda's Donuts 1888 Grand Avenue San Diego 92109 (619) 274-4004

Now, heading South-

All the way in Imperial Beach, at the spot where Palm Avenue turns into Highway 75 (the Silver Strand) at 7th Street. In your mind's eye, you can see the signage here used to be "Stardust Donuts" "Fresh"… My friend, "caninecologne" introduced me to Stardust -or at least she tried to; they were closed that one day and have random hours, but now when I am in the area, I make an effort to stop here, in case they are open.

The thing to get here is a cinnamon roll. Again- a 'normal size' with light glaze, not "County Fair" huge with dripping frosting- and a buttermilk stick cake donut are perfect to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Stardust Donut Shop 698 Hwy 75 Imperial Beach 91932 (619) 424-6200

Heading North on the 15, to Escondido, take the Centre City exit then jump onto Escondido Boulevard to the South West corner of Ninth…

Peterson's Donut Corner. Open 24/7 (except it's closed from Christmas Day until January 3rd). Form three lines and you can see the selection walking on the outside of the building, through all the windows…

There is outdoor seating and pretty much always a line of people ordering, even in the heat of Summer.

On this day, we got the maple frosted Vienna Kreme, another Cruller and an apple spice cake donut (the flavored cake donuts are different each day). The Vienna Kreme donut is HUGE as are all the filled donuts here. There is always a great variety (blueberry…just get something blueberry) and I don't think the kitchen ever closes.

Peterson's Donut Corner 903 S. Escondido Boulevard, Escondido 92025 (760) 745-7774

Then there is "my" Donut Shop- the one I can walk to (although walking home is uphill)- also open 24/7 (including Christmas Day).

Mary's, on the South West block of Mission Gorge Road at Fanita, one block East of the 125…if you've been to Santee, you've seen it.

There's a small eat in area, the walls are plastered with photos of patrons.

The filled donut holes here are covered in powdered sugar and need coffee to cut the sweetness. The French Cruller is just light and crispy with an eggy interior and …perfect. It really is one of my cravings.

Mary's Donuts 9031 Mission Gorge Road Santee 92071 (619) 448-4800

I hope everyone is having a good weekend. Take some time to enjoy a treat before those New Year Resolutions kick in!

Sometimes it just doesn’t work out: Ottolenghi’s Marinated Sweet & Sour Fish

December 20, 2012 mmm-yoso Cookbooks, Cooking, yoso-silly

Not everything we make, even if it's made exactly as the recipe is written works out, or is even to our taste. Of course, I've mentioned how much we enjoy Yotam Ottolenghi's cookbooks as evidenced in previous posts. The dude has some great vegetarian recipes and also seems to have a serious egg fetish. And you know me….I love my drippy eggs, right?

On the other hand, I've been a bit leary of the meat and especially fish recipes in his latest book, Jerusalem. But the Missus was taken with the Marinated Sweet & Sour Fish recipe from the book.. It had all the great ingredients we enjoy…the peppers, the harissa, coriander seeds, garlic, tomatoes……

And I took the Missus to Catalina Offshore getting some really nice halibut…..

I did think the recipe bit odd. You basically saute all the vegetables. Then fry the fish in an egg batter, then place the fish in the ragout to finish in the oven. For me, it really got odd when the book recommended you eat this the next day…..at room temperature. I mean, you've created a pretty hard barrier, via the egg batter….would any of the flavor permeate the fish which is simply seasoned with salt? It was strange enough that I followed the recipe to the letter….even doing the steps I usually change around from the book, like not blooming, in this case, the curry powder in oil for more flavor. I even held off and used only two cloves of garlic, crushed. I will say that the dish really did look like the photo in the book.

With nothing to really do the next day; I just made a simple tomato-lettuce salad with a white balsamic vinaigrette and roasted some baby eggplant and small white potatoes in the oven.

The dish was nothing if not bright and vibrant looking.

Man….compared to other dishes I've made from the book; this was pretty bland. The batter from the fish had become mushy….really not a great texture. The flavor of the vegetables was all over the map….a combo sour-curry-coriander, not bad, but just kind of weak.

So no recipe on this one……

I do always say to adjust recipes to your taste, his time I didn't. Get the book though….try out the recipe, just because we didn't care for the flavors doesn't mean you won't like it. I will say, that I found this to be a bit fussy, with maybe too many steps.

The one great thing…..I managed to show the Missus what I like when buying fish…the sheen, etc…. Catalina Offshore has often been problematic because of their hours. But now, the Missus enjoys dropping by and picking up fish for dinner.

Remember that shakshuka recipe from the same book (adjusted a bit of course)? Well, I made the peppers and tomato portion as before. Then seasoned some nice halibut with salt, pepper, smoked paprika, oregano, granulated garlic, then finally some cumin powder to tie it to the vegetable concoction and used it as a relish or salsa if you will. I'm thinking the recipe above might have been great done this way.

This was a really nice dinner……..

Pan fried halibut on spicy red bell pepper-tomato relish, with some shaved kale and purple cabbage salad and oven roasted potatoes and eggplant. It's amazing what you can make on a weeknight if you have a plan!

I hope everyone is having a great week!

Midweek Meanderings: Coming Soon – The Original Sab E Lee in Rancho Penasquitos, Baraka Market and Restaurant, and yes we’re stalking North Park Produce in Clairemont

December 19, 2012 mmm-yoso Markets & Grocers, Thai Restaurants

The Original Sab E Lee Opening in Rancho Penasquitos:

On December 11th, "KevinK" commented about Sab E Lee opening in PQ on this post. So the very next day I dropped by The Original Sab E Lee and asked…..and was told that yes, they were opening, probably within two weeks. I asked for an address….and cracked up when they couldn't remember it! All they told me was that it was in a strip mall near Twin Trails Drive. So of course we drove up there this past weekend to find out exactly where…… it's here:

Right next to Penasquitos Pets…. I was told that the menu will be the same as TOSEL, the restaurant will be much larger, about 50 seats. No need to worry, TOSEL on Ulric is not going anywhere.

13223 Black Mountain Rd.
San Diego, CA 92129

Baraka Market and Restaurant:

We drove by the long empty space that used to house United Oriental Food Market on El Cajon Boulevard and saw some activity and even a sign.

I believe "baraka" means blessed or something along those lines in Arabic…..not quite sure. But we'll have to just wait and see what's up.

It's great to finally have something in that spot.

5349 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92115

And yes, we're stalking North Park Produce in Clairemont:

We stopped by the NPP in Poway, since we'd never been there (a later post). The really friendly woman behind the deli counter told me that NPP was opening on the 16th….last Sunday. But Sunday came and no dice. We've been waiting since we first noticed the sign in September for this place to open. We were at the North Park location of NPP and they told us "in ten days……"

We've been checking the place out every time we drive by….which is pretty much daily. Sheesh….I'm starting to feel like I'm stalking the place.

4220 Balboa Ave.
San Diego, CA 92117

Big Island: Village Burger – Kamuela (Waimea)

December 18, 2012 mmm-yoso Burgers, Hawai'i - The Big Island

I'm kinda taking thing out of sequence for this one…….after a night's rest in Kona, we headed out to Hilo. We did stop at the Keauhou Saturday's Farmer's Market, but I'll include that in a future post (you'll see why), where I managed to grab some breakfast. We rolled into one of my favorite little towns on the Big Island, Waimea….which my friends and I always call Kamuela. It a farming community with a lot of heart. I almost took a job there in the mid-nineties….I wonder how things would be if I did? Anyway, my good friend's family had a plot in the town…aka an empty lot that needed upkeep from time to time. So we'd escape to Kamuela….have beers at the Parker Ranch Broiler, which is now in a new location…..

I'd been looking forward to checking out the town and we arrived at a shade after 10am. It seemed like a busy Saturday, malls on each side of the street had major Craft Fairs going on. The Missus really enjoyed the farming village vibe……. Parker Ranch, founded in 1847, years before most of the cattle ranches were established in the Southwest, and once upon a time, the largest family owned ranch in the United States (it's now run by a trust), calls the area home. So it's major cattle country. You can literally walk into Foodland and see grass fed beef sold cheaper then the usual corn fed stuff!

Like I said, the Missus was taken by the town…….

I'm thinking the Missus will want to spend at least a night here next time we're around…..

As for lunch….well I had one place in mind. Ever since I read this post on James Rubio's Big Island Grinds, I've been wanting to check out Village Burger.

Located in the Parker Ranch Center, Village Burger features pasture raised beef and locallysourced ingredients…..they actually even told us where they got the very delicious and ripe tomatoes we had on our burgers. I was a bit surprised when I heard the owner is Edwin Goto; not a household name, but if you ever watched the old series Great Chefs of Hawaii, you might recognize the name…. So now it's burgers eh?

The little shop is attached to the food court in the shopping center, perhaps a bit odd, but kind of neat in a way. The process was very much standard fast-foodish.

I just wanted ot taste the local beef, so I went with the straight-forward "Hawaii Rancher's Beef" Burger ($7.50). No mayo……..

First off….the burger was done just as ordered….no "shibai" about "we only serve our burgers yada…yada…" only to get a over cooked hockey puck. It was super moist and tender, though I expected a bit more beefiness. I ended up getting some whole grain mustard from the condiment counter which really brought the flavor up. The brioche was up to the task, with just a hint of sweetness….loved the flavor of the ripe tomato. This was just a nice burger……

The Missus went with the Hamakua Mushroom Burger; not cheap at nine bucks. It came on a yeasty roll.

They didn't mess with this too much, as the earthy flavors of the mushroom came through. It was well seasoned as well. There really wasn't much obvious binder in this, as it really looked like the previously cooked mushrooms, and there was quite a bit of it, was loosely bound, then placed in a burger ring and dusted with flour, corn/potato starch to create a crust…adding to things by providing a textural counter-point.

I thought the basic burger was well priced, perhaps the mushroom burger was on the pricey side, but to the Missus it was well worth it.

Maybe Edwin Goto isn't doing James Beard Foundation dinners anymore. But he sure has a winner in this place and he seems to be enjoying it. More power to him.

Village Burger
67-1185 Mamalahoa Hwy
Kamuela, HI 96743

Hours:
Mon-Sat 1030am – 8pm
Sun 1030am – 6pm