mmm-yoso – Page 37 – 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.

Takeout Revisits – Golden Island and Noble Chef

January 7, 2025 mmm-yoso Chinese BBQ, Chinese Restaurants

Just a couple of recent revisits for you.

Roast Duck from Golden Island:

We were taking JJ for one of his favorite things; a car ride. And for reason headed up to Mira Mesa. The Missus was wanting to have some roast duck, so we decided on just getting a half roast duck from Golden Island, which I last visited in January of 2022. Things have changed since then; the Manager, Michael now runs Diamond Palace in City Heights which I need to post on one of these days. So, while the Missus and JJ did some window shopping, I went in a placed a takeout order for a half roast duck ($19.99).

Golden Island Duck 01

And then we went off for a nice stroll with JJ returning to pick up our order about 20 minutes later.

The roast duck looked pretty good, good color, but I quickly noticed a couple of things, the usual nice fat layer on the bottom of the container was missing.

Golden Island Duck 02

As was the "fowl-ly" – five spice fragrance. The fat had nicely been rendered, the skin adequately textured, but this was mighty bland. The flesh was moist, not overly dry like recent versions, but again this was sorely lacking in flavor. I tried mixing up a concoction of duck fat, five spice, and the duck sauce, then basting in the air fryer, but all was for naught.

Golden Island Duck 03

Golden Island
10660 Camino Ruiz
San Diego, CA 92126

A few nights later, the Missus was wanting to do takeout from Noble Chef again, so we placed a takeout order for dinner. Yes, still following the instructions I got from "FOY" Candice years ago who said that dinner was when the owner cooks. And her advice has been pretty on point.

Noble Chef:

We took JJ, placed an order and like Golden Island, went for a walk returning to pick up our order. Man, Noble Chef was already packed at 530pm! We ordered three dishes.

Of course we had the Roast Duck. This was going to be interesting. On our last visit, which was for takeout the duck was not up to par. So, how would it fare this time?

Noble Chef Yet Again 01

Well, this was much better; the flesh more moist and while the fat had been nicely rendered, there was still a trace of it left making things nice and rich. Much better flavoring. I used the sauce and fat on the bottom of the container to baste and crisp up the skin in the air fryer which worked nicely.

The Missus was craving the Steamed Pork with Salted Fish, something She hadn't had in a while.

Noble Chef Yet Again 03

This was a huge portion. Hardly any salted fish, which left the dish somewhat lacking. It was really tough and chewy, a mere shadow of it's former self.

And of course, since we've gotten our air fryer we can now do the Salt and Pepper Pork Chops for takeout. Something I would never have considered before.

Noble Chef Yet Again 02

The pork chops were a bit thinner than last time, which made the "crisp to meat" ration better. The meat even stayed moist after doing the air fryer thing the next day with leftovers. Good salty (msg) – garlic – pepper flavors, with a touch of spiciness. A definite "keeper".

The Noble Chef
6159 Balboa Avenue
San Diego, CA 92111

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So, tell me my "FOYs"…any good takeout recently?

Bica

January 6, 2025 mmm-yoso Breakfast/Brunch, Caffeine Fix, Dog Friendly, Sandwiches

Recently, the Missus mentioned a place in Normal Heights that was pet friendly and supposedly made good coffee, named Bica. JJ enjoys riding in the car; but gets major FOMO. He does enjoy the walks, so recently I headed on up to Normal Heights and easily found street parking a couple blocks away from Bica, which is basically across the street from White Rice Bodega.

Bica 01

Indoors there's a counter for ordering; the Barista working there on both visits was very friendly.

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Prices aren't too bad either.

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There's a small menu of "tartines" – open face toasts and sandwiches. It was different on both visits.

I went and ordered a Cold Brew and Mushroom Tartine ($12), paid and walked over to the patio area.

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While the furnishings in the patio area were pretty packed in; it was not fully occupied and was quite nice and relaxing.

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The place just gave off a nice vibe and JJ did well, just hanging while I enjoyed my Cold Brew, which tasted lighter, but had a nice caffeine "kick".

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As for my Tartine; well, it looked lovely.

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Loved the bread. Wish there was more mushroom…more savory-earthiness would have been appreciated. A bit too much stracciatella cheese. A bit too much sour-acidity, but overall a decent breakfast.

JJ enjoyed his pre and post breakfast walk as well.

A few weeks later, the Missus decided to join us on another visit to Bica.

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I told the Missus to just order me a Cold Brew and order a sandwich for us to split. JJ and I then just headed over to the patio.

The Missus had gotten Herself a Cortado which She loved.

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As for the sandwich; well, I was surprised that She ordered a Cubano ($17)!

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Once again, we loved the bread, which was perfectly toasted, crusty and crisp, sturdy enough to hold up thru our entire meal.

The pork was tasty, as were all the individual parts. Though when taken as a whole, there was a bit too much pork in this for us. Of course, I'm sure all the swine lovers must love this. For us, proportion matters and more acidity and pungency would helped to balance things out.

The Missus loved the pickled veggies.

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We again enjoyed the vibe and walked JJ all the way to Kensington. Funny how people react differently when you have a pup in tow. Folks were wishing us a "good morning", several women stopped to pet JJ….and being the little ham that he is, we would roll on his back to get his tummy rubbed!

Overall, we enjoyed Bica. Heck, if they were in our 'hood we'd be regulars. Plus, the Missus enjoyed Her Cortado and we actually returned just for that a week later.

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I also noticed another place during our time in the neighborhood that we'd end up visiting and enjoying as well!

Stay tuned!

Bica
3569 Adams Ave.
San Diego, CA 92116
Current Hours:
Daily 630am – 4pm

Saying Goodbye to Lucky Wong of Lucky’s (Golden Phenix) Breakfast

January 4, 2025 mmm-yoso Breakfast/Brunch

I was saddened to have heard about Lucky's passing on 10 News on Thursday. Lucky Wong, the namesake of Lucky's Breakfast, which will always remain Lucky's Golden Phenix to me passed away on December 30th.

I wish I had one last chance to drop by and tell him how much I appreciated his kindness, sense of humor, and generosity. In fact, when I mentioned "During the middle of last month I headed up to North Park to grab a late breakfast from a place I hadn't been to in a year or so. Sadly, the place was closed….I'm not sure what's going on but will do an update once I get all the info." in my post on Rising Sun, it was Lucky's I was referring to. And then, in the middle of last month, I took this photo of Lucky's when having our Happy Hour at Finca.

Goodbye Lucky 01

About 30 minutes later, Lucky walked up to check the mail and was entering the building. The Missus told me that I should walk on over and see how things were with him. I told Her that I didn't want to bother him. Ah yes, regrets……

I've done only five posts on Lucky's over the years, starting from that first visit in 2008, though I've visited a couple of more times.

"CC" sent me a text yesterday about Lucky's passing. She had actually dropped by to pay her respects. Over the years, she's done a couple of posts (these days you'll find her on Instagram) on Lucky's, the last being in 2019.

Mary of This Tasty Life (who is also now on Instagram) has also done a couple of posts on Lucky's as well. As has Dennis, who has made his blog private.

That is the "Lucky effect"!

Not only were his breakfasts inexpensive, check out the prices at the end of 2023, when I last visited.

Luckys Rev 04

Remember, this is North Park, right? I once asked him why he kept his prices so low and he told me "everyone needs to eat breakfasts, young people, students, even old people like you!" I loved his sense of humor.

He loved to give health tips as only a Chinese Grandfather could. I once asked him for no butter on my toast. His response? "Are you a health nut? You gonna be old and look like me one day, do you want to stay that way forever?"

And then there's the line that Lucky would use on older women ordering coffee: "You too young for coffee, it will stunt your growth!"

When a gentleman insisted on decaf Lucky exclaimed: "why you decaf, it's full of chemicals, you're already looking like you have too much chemicals!"

Ah yes, Lucky's words of wisdom: "you need to butter your toast, it's good for your complexion!" I should wrote a book!

Reminiscing on my visits, I decided to drive on over so JJ and I could pay our respects.

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As several folks had already done.

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Lucky would often give out "gifts" especially during Christmas and New Year.

On one of my non-post visits one of the customers forgot his wallet and was told to come back next time and pay. Lucky would also often "round down" the amounts on checks.

He was a humble man and I still recall on one evening in 2012, the Missus and I were walking past Lucky's. We looked into Lucky's and saw him watching a portable television in the back of his restaurant.

You would always get Fortune Cookies with your check. Something that was probably left over from the days when Lucky's served Chinese food. This was my fortune on that day.

Luckys Rev 08

Lucky….we'll miss you! We were the "lucky ones" to have gotten to meet you.

Vernazza – Exploring the Town and Dinner at 5 Terre Bistrot

January 3, 2025 mmm-yoso Cinque Terre/Genoa, Liguria - Italy, Italian Restaurants, Italy, Seafood, Travel

We had really enjoyed exploring Milan, but it was time for us to head to our next stop. The Cinque Terre, five towns that hug the Ligurian coast had been on the Missus's "list" for years. In doing a bit research, I found that trains from Milan took only three hours to get to Monterosso, the largest and northernmost village. From there the local train service runs every 15-20 minutes or so to each village. The Cinque Terre is a very popular tourist destination, so I thought visiting during the early winter….after all, if we wanted beaches and such, we'd just head "home", right? I figured…quite correctly that the villages wouldn't be swamped.

Our train left Milano Centrale right on time at noon and we got into Monterosso a bit after three. From there, we found the local train which took 4 minutes to get to Vernazza, where we were staying. I decided on Vernazza after looking at all the wonderful photos, it just seemed like the right place. There basically one main street, Via Roma which heads downhill from the train stop.

As you can see, it was pretty quiet when we arrived. Our AirBnb was wonderful, the kitchen, the awesome bedroom, the views. But first, you needed to climb up a good amount of winding stairs…huff…huff…

And the flat was actually two floors with a kitchen on the bottom and the bedroom, bathroom, and a sitting room above.

All the stairs were worth it….just for the views.

You see the couple in the photo below? Well, they were from Australia. We'd end up seeing them almost 5-6 times during our stay. They were so nice and inspired us to travel "down under".

Later during our stay there would be a rather stormy evening and the waves would actually crash against our window.

Of course once settled, the Missus wanted to head on out. So now, it was back down those stairs. It seemed much busier as we headed to the main piazza and the harbor.

Vernazza is known for having the only natural harbor of the 5 villages, there's a breakwater and the waves were indeed breaking!

We would actually see waves breaking on the piazza later on! Folks sitting having drinks got soaked!

The pastel toned buildings, the green mountains….which house vineyards, make for a lovely backdrop.

Right past the waterfront buildings on the Piazza is the Church of St. Margaret.

Which was built in 1318! We took a quick look inside. Saint Margaret is the Patron Saint of Vernazza. And for an even more interesting story, check out this page.

The Missus really wanted to see a bit more of the town, so we, you got it, took more stairs from behind the church.

Where the views start getting really nice.

Then more stairs….

And somehow ended up at the beginning of Via Brigate Partigiane, where the walk begins to the cemetery, which we'd see the next day.

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We decided on taking a walk part of the way up anyway.

Where we could see the vineyards on terraces along the hillside. And get a good view of Doria Castle, which used to protect the village from pirates.

Another place we'd visit a bit later on during our stay.

It was so lovely. There were simple things, like this parked scooter that just seemed to be posed for a photograph…..like a two wheeled, Instagram ready, Vernazza "influencer".

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And the cats, which seemed totally unafraid of anything.

We'd see one scaring the crap out of a huge mutt in the Piazza the next evening! I guess you don't fool around with the felines here!

Of course all good things must come to an end….so it was back down all those steps. My poor knees!

We headed back to the flat and took a nice rest.

When dinner time came along, instead of heading down to the harbor and piazza, we decided on a place on Via Roma named 5 Terre Bistrot. While the street seemed fairly sedate.

The al fresco tables of the restaurant, which overlooked the pedestrian street were busy.

The menu is small, with a total of maybe 12 items, but I still needed a Negroni to help me make a decision. Plus, we hadn't done Aperitivo time on this day! Yikes, a mortal sin!

In end we had one antipasti, one primi, and one secondi.

We started with the Pulpo e Patate con Bottarga. I'd read that the combination of octopus and potatoes is a Ligurian specialty, so I thought we'd try it here. This version also featured cured mullet roe.

This version is in the form of a Tortino e Patate, a potato based pie. The pulpo was so tender, the potatoes nice and starchy, the cured mullet roe was very savory….an umami blast.

Of course this is Liguria, so I had to have the Trofie al Pesto.

My goodness, what's up with Ligurian Basil?!? This was bright and peppery, nice garlic, the pasta a bit over cooked, but still that pesto. I enjoyed the pesto so much, we had it I think the first 5 straight days in Liguria?

The secondi was Calamari. This version came with a Garbanzo cream, nice and nutty, dots of nice sour lemon jelly, and sweet and sour pickled onions.

The calamari was surprisingly tender, the breading added a nice textural contrast.

This was a nice meal to start our stay in Vernazza. From this point on, we'd be having seafood and pesto all the time! The service was friendly and relaxed; perhaps too much so. But we really enjoyed our meal.

5 Terre Bistrot
Via Roma 44
Vernazza, Italy

After dinner we took a stroll down to the busy, but not crowded harbor.

It was so relaxed….well compared to Milan where we'd been the night before, that it felt like we were on a different planet.

I was looking forward to a nice restful night. Especially since the Missus had a hike in mind for the next day!

Thanks for stopping by!

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai Revisited

January 2, 2025 mmm-yoso Japanese Restaurants, Ramen

Man, it was 41 degrees this morning in Bay Park! Yikes, my "San Diegan" bloodstream seemed frozen! Well, it was definitely ramen weather for me. My typical ramen choice to temper the cold climate would be one of the usual suspects. But, in the end, I wanted something different from the ubiquitous tonkotsu style ramen that seems to be everywhere. I hadn't been back to Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai since they first opened back in July of 2023 (I almost said "last year"…but it's now 2025!) so I thought it would be a good time to check them out again.

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai Rev 01

I arrived a bit after the 11am opening time and was surprised to note that only one table was occupied and the counter where I was seated was completely empty.

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai Rev 02

The two folks manning the dining area were very nice and I was handed a menu. I quickly noticed that there's a lunch special available.

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai Rev 03

Under the auspices of the lunch special, one could get a side of karaage for $2.80. So, I could get a small Kitikata Ramen for $13.95, the tamago was now $1.50….looking back, I noticed that it was $1.90 back in July of 2023. So, could there actually be something that is now more inexpensive?

I also noticed this sign….the place seems to enjoy having these little signs.

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai Rev 04

I had always found the noodles here a bit on the softer-mushy side, but now I could get it "katame" (firm), which seemed like a good option. I did find the broth to be on the saltier side of things, but decided to do only "one change at a time".

So, all of this for $18.25.

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai Rev 05

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai Rev 06 Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai Rev 07 The bowl was delivered nice and hot. The tamago was now provided on the side. The yolk was adequately soft, the marinade a bit weak….but of course…my pet peeve, these were ice cold….sigh.

The chashu had the "fat cap" I recalled; though was cut thicker than I remember. It was not as nicely marinated and was also a bit chewier then before.

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai Rev 08 Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai Rev 09 The broth seemed more full-bodies then on my previous visits and while still a bit on the saltier side, I found the added richness more enjoyable . It's still seems fairly straight forward in flavor, but I think that might be a good thing in this case.

The added firmness of the noodles really made a difference for me, as I found that the additional "pull" combined with the curliness which managed to really "pick up" the soup added to my enjoyment.

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai Rev 10

Well, at least to me, on this visit, it seemed like Kitakata had gotten better since I first visited.

Well, the ramen that is. As for the karaage.

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai Rev 11 Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai Rev 12a Unevenly coated, not crisp or crunchy enough for my taste, on the blander side. The flesh was fairly juicy and tender though. Not a big fan of the sesame like dressing provided either.

Still, I thought the Kitakata Ramen was good, an nice contrast to all the tonkotsu in San Diego. Though, looking at yet another sign; I guess they are making tonkotsu here as well? Which I'm probably NOT going to try.

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai Rev 13

Unless one of you, my great "FOYs" tell me it's worth my attention?

Like I mentioned, the two young people working were quite nice….though I'm not sure about the customer base? One couple kept calling them "hey! hey!", a guy in another group kept using the "come here finger" gesture….when they got what was requested, no one said "thank you"? What's going on these days?

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai Rev 14

Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai
7951 Othello Ave.
San Diego, CA 92111
Current Hours:
Mon-Thurs 11am – 3pm, 5pm – 9pm
Friday 11am – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm
Saturday 11am – 10pm
Sunday 11am – 9pm

Hope everyone had a wonderful New Year!

Happy New Year!

December 31, 2024 mmm-yoso Markets & Grocers, yoso-silly

Ah yes, another year passes and we turn the page to 2025!

Just like I've been doing every NYE morning since way back in 2005, I went to check out what was going on at the various Japanese markets. These days, it's mainly Nijiya that does Osechi.

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It seems that Mitsuwa does preorders and I'm not sure about Tokyo Central, which didn't have anything out when we visited.

I got some stuffs from Nijiya as well as Kinpira Renkon, Konasu Karashi, and Karashi Mentai Takana from Niitakaya, the Tsukemono stand in in Mitsuwa. It made for a nice lunch.

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NYE 2025 03

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Instead of having this as basic okazu, the Missus wanted a salad. So, I put one together.

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This was a nice lighter lunch. We would be having NYE dinner at Et Voila, taking JJ along. I'll get that post done in a bit.

While walking on Adams, we noticed a wedding taking place at the Adams Avenue Theatre. On New Years Eve???

Well, the groom ain't got no excuse for not remembering their anniversary date, right?

Anyway, as we upend the calendar for 2024, and turn the page to 2025, we'd like to wish everyone a wonderful, safe, and delici-yoso New Year!

NYE 2025 06

Happy New Year!

Banh Mi Bo Kho from Pho Lucky

December 30, 2024 mmm-yoso Vietnamese Restaurants

I was recently craving some Bo Kho…..something nice and beefy during the last cold spell. Of course, Pho Lucky came to mind as during the last few years, I preferred the Bo Kho to the Pho there. Of course, the place changed ownership in 2022 and when I visited there was no beef stew on the menu and the pho was mediocre. In doing a bit of research, I found that they had added the bo kho back on the menu. So, I decided it was time for me to return.

Pho Lucky Bo Kho 01

It was mid-morning when I arrived and though the parking lot was kinda crazy….I think the opening of Aldi in the strip mall has something to do with that.

I walked in and took a look at the posted menu and yes; there was Bo Kho on it, both the pho and the banh mi versions, priced at $13.95.

Pho Lucky Bo Kho 02a

So, I decided to check things out. I was waved to a table. I have to say, they've done a pretty nice job renovating the place.

Pho Lucky Bo Kho 03

My banh mi bo kho arrived pretty quickly.

Pho Lucky Bo Kho 04

Pho Lucky Bo Kho 05 Pho Lucky Bo Kho 06 This was a pretty large portion. I was a bit puzzled by the bean sprouts as I don't recall those being provided before? Not sure about all that stringy crunchy stuff and also that it was ice cold which dropped the temperature of the beef stew.

The stew was thinner than I recall, though fairly beefy and tangy, it didn't have as much black pepper as the what I'd had here under the previous ownership. I did enjoy adding the basil to the stew as it provided a nice layer of anise-citrus flavor. The cilantro also is a must. The carrots were long strips; almost like you'd buy in a bag at the grocer. It was also not cooked thru.

The banh mi was delivered nice and hot. It was light and yeasty and just perfect for sopping up the stew.

Pho Lucky Bo Kho 07 Pho Lucky Bo Kho 08 The crust was thin and crisp and that interior so airy! It might have been my favorite part of the meal!

The proteins were decent; the beef on the leaner side, but adequately tender. The tendon and connective tissue more tender than in the versions I've had here before. There seemed to be more meat than I recall as well.

Pho Lucky Bo Kho 09 Pho Lucky Bo Kho 10 All-in-all, not bad. Granted, it's a bit thinner, but the flavor was decent. It's better than I thought it would be and I'd gladly have this again. Though I will be on a search for better versions.

Pho Lucky
9326 Mira Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92126
Current Hours:
Daily 8am – 845pm

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Milan – Osteria Da Fortunata and a Stroll Around All Those Familiar Places

December 29, 2024 mmm-yoso Italian Restaurants, Italy, Milan, Travel

After our lovely Aperotivo, we walked around the corner to a place we'd passed on every evening. There was always a line. In the morning, when I would take a walk, I'd see the hard working Sfoglina making pasta by hand.

So, this is where we decided to have dinner. We went a bit early and there was still a short line but we got in after a ten minute wait.

Now, when I had done a bit of research, I found that Osteria Da Fortunata is based in Rome. So, I went with one of my favorite pastas; Strozzapreti, in a typical Roman style, that would Carbonara. The Missus ordered the Tagliolini Pomodoro Fresco.

The service was very friendly and warm; totally NOT like Rome at all.
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The pasta was a bit more doughy than I prefer; though the strozzapreti did a wonderful job of "holding on to" all the creamy-cheesy-savory sauce. I was surprised at the amount of pepper on this, but it really heightened the dish.

The texture of the Tagliolini all 'Ouvo (egg noodles) was just perfect. While a bit rustic looking, it had a wonderful stretch.

The sauce had a nice fruity-acidity.

While not a fancy meal, this was a nice, fairly inexpensive dinner, right in the heart of Brera, which the Missus enjoyed so much that She had me cancel reservations we had at Ratana on this evening. And like I said, we really liked the service.

Osteria Da Fortunata – Brera
Via Fiori Chiari 13
Milan, Italy

After dinner, we headed on out for a stroll, it was drizzling, but we enjoyed seeing all those now familiar places.

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The Duomo sure is lovely at night!

And the Missus enjoyed the lively, but not crazy streets of Brera.

It was interesting to walk those same streets in the morning. Such a contrast.

It was so peaceful and mellow…..

We had a light breakfast, then caught the metro to the huge Milano Centrale Train Station.

Next stop? Liguria…..

Milan – The Last Supper, Museo Pietà Rondanini, and Aperitivo at Cinq

December 28, 2024 mmm-yoso Cocktails, Italy, Milan, Travel

**** No food in this one; just a Masterpiece by Leonardo, an unfinished work by Michelangelo….oh, and a nice aperitivo….

We'd had a pretty busy morning exploring the Duomo di Milano. But, our afternoon was going to be pretty amazing as well. After having a nice self catering lunch at our apartment in Brera, we headed on out. Our next stop was about a 20 minute walk away.

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We arrived at Piazza di Santa Maria delle Grazie about 45 minutes before our assigned time and I went into the ticket office to exchange my voucher. There were actually folks trying to get tickets but they were told that everything is sold out for the three months and that it was better to buy it online!

So, what was so in demand as to be sold out for months? Well, it's to be found in what used to be the dining hall of this church.

To minimize exposure to humidity only 30 visitors are allowed in at a time for exactly 15 minutes.

Yes, it's the The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci.

The renowned work which depicts the final meal that Jesus shared with his apostles, at the moment when Jesus said “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”

You can see the shock, the confusion, the disbelief on the faces of the Apostles.

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Leonardo has Philip asking Jesus, “Lord, is it I?”

And then there is Judas, thirty pieces of silver in hand…..

The composition, the expression, the detail….the story being told in front of us.

It was just amazing to see this in person!

Not to be outdone, on the opposite wall is the Crucifixion by Giovanni Donato da Montorfano.

Pretty dramatic in it's own right. While the Last Supper took three years, this took three months.

On an interesting note, there are two images at the sides of the fresco that Leonardo added.

Our fifteen minutes was up in the blink of an eye.

We did take some time to check out the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie.

Which was built in the 15th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage Sight.

It is said that Donato Bramante designed the dome of the Church – Convent.

An interesting side note about the church. It is said that Milan was the most bombed city in Italy during World War II. On August 15, 1943 a bomb hit the church. To quote Monuments Man Deane Keller, "Leonardo's Last Supper may be in ruins." But the Last Supper would not be destroyed this way as a few months later the iconic masterpiece was found intact!

Once done, we headed back in the direction of our apartment, past busy Cardona Station.

As we passed the distinctive Sforza Castle.

Francesco Sforza, the Duke of Milan, built this castle in the 15th on the ruins of a fortress that dates back to the 14th century.

The distinctive tower was reconstructed in 1905. There was one museum I wanted to check out; the Museo Pietà Rondanini. In this relatively quiet space that dates back to the 16th century resides Michelangelo's last work. An unfinished "Pietà", the Rondanini Pietà, which Michelangelo was working on at the time of his death.

It's quite interesting to see as it provides an example of how Michelangelo created his sculptures.

Also on display is one of two busts of Michelangelo, based on his death commissioned by his nephew from Daniele da Volterra.

And also the funerary altar upon which the Pietà was placed until 2015.

Quite an interesting place to visit.

We then headed back to the apartment and took a break.

After our first evening in Brera, the Missus had me cancel the dinner reservations I had made for our last evening before heading to Liguria. She really enjoyed the area and just wanted to enjoy the neighborhood. We'd be passing thru Milan on our way back, but were staying only a single night in a total different area.

Another things we had taken to was Aperotivo time. So, before having dinner, we decided to do what so many Milanese do…it was time for an Aperotivo. During our dinner and Aperotivo the following evening at Rosso Brera, we had notice a steady flow of folks at the place next door named Cinc. So, we decided to try the place out.

We really enjoyed the folks here; they were quite friendly. My Negroni was very good, fairly stiff, great herbal-fruitiness.

A nice prep for our dinner!

Cinc
Via Marco Formentini 5
Milan, Italy

Of course, the question remained, where were we headed for dinner?

Stay tuned!

Pho Ban Mai Revisited – A Com-Tam-Plation Part 3

December 26, 2024 mmm-yoso Vietnamese Restaurants

So, after visiting two "old school" places for Com Tam Dac Biet – Nhu Y and Phuong Trang, the Missus wanted to try a "newer place". Well, after some "com-tam-plation" (yes, me and my "dad" jokes), Pho Ban Mai came to mind. I though it would be interesting since it had been over 7 years since my last visit! Yikes.

So, we headed on over. It was before 10am, so the place wasn't busy at all.

Pho Ban Mai Rev 01

We entered and waited to be seated…and waited….and waited. Finally, a young man, pointed to a table and marched away. This was pretty bad since the place had only one other table with folks on it. He seemed to want nothing to do with us and avoided customers at all costs during our visit. We looked over the menu using the QR code but the young lady working walked over to take our order. Not saying a word. Hmmm, is this the "Gen Z – Millennial" version of the pho shop "deal the menu and hover in silence"? Or perhaps it was just a "bad day"? At 945 in the morning…..

The Missus ordered the Com Tam Dac Biet, this was the most expensive thus far at $17.95. We'd had a decent version of the Banh Xeo here before, so I decided to try that again ($16).

Pho Ban Mai Rev 02 Pho Ban Mai Rev 03 While this might have been the smallest in terms of portion size thus far, it was the Missus's favorite to date. The broken rice was very fragrant and moist.

The strong points were the crisp bean surd with shrimp was crisp and very tasty and the nuoc mam while on the sweet side really helped things along. The steamed egg was moist and the pork flavor came thru nicely. The grilled pork was toothsome but a nice salty-savory-sweet; the chicken was fairly tender and held the same flavor.

The only weak point was the bi as the pork was sliced too thick and it was really cold.

Oh, and the Missus really enjoyed the pickled veggies.

As for Banh Xeo, which we had enjoyed on previous visits. Well, it was a disappointment.

Pho Ban Mai Rev 04 Pho Ban Mai Rev 05 While veggies and herbs were very fresh, the crepe was on the soggy side. The fillings were even worse; first off, there was barely any shrimp in this. What was present was a ton of raw bean sprouts. What shrimp there was tasted on the muddy side.

The nuoc mam and fresh herbs could not save this.

Kind of a bummer.

Pho Ban Mai Rev 06

Still, the Missus enjoyed the Com Tam, so hopefully I'll find something else on the menu to enjoy. Please let me know if you have any recommendations. Yes, I guess we'll return in spite of the price and (lack of) service, I asked to pay and a check was dropped at our table and no one came for payment. I ended up waiting at the cash register where the young lady used the mobile credit card reader. After all, the Missus wants Her Com Tam Dac Biet.

Pho Ban Mai Rev 07
Pho Ban Mai
8991 Mira Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92126
Current Hours:
Sun – Thurs 9am – 845pm
Fri – Sat 9am – 945pm