Sbicca

I went to Sbicca for the first time this evening. Located in the heart of Del Mar, and with a great website touting fresh California-American cuisine, I had expectations. The atmosphere was good: nice decor, friendly and attentive staff. However, I order the menu was very meat heavy (which I totally respect, but don't indulge in). Okay, fine, my choices are limited. I ordered one of several delicious sounding salads, an appetizer, an entree, and a glass of wine.

The bread came, which was tasty (though could have been warmed). The wine was absolutely delicious. However, the salad was a little too simple (could have made it at home), the appetizer was bland (frilled artichoke... no flavor, and the ranch-style dipping sauce was totally overpowering), and the main course was not very imaginative - eggplant, pepper, tomato, on pasta. It was much better after I added a bunch of extra cheese to it.

Now, I can't rate this place on their meat. Maybe their meat is good, maybe it is not. Regardless, everyone (meat eater or not) should be able to enjoy a good meal of fine vegetables. Unfortunately Sbicca can't provide this.

Instead, go for a glass of wine and enjoy the view.

Sbicca
215 15th St
Del Mar, CA 92014
(858) 481-1001

Fairouz Mediterannean Restaurant



Fairouz is located on Midway Drive, in the Sports Arena area of San Diego. From the outside, it is an unassuming little shop. I spied it the other day in the non-descript strip mall where it is located. It is random happenstance that I was over in that area and hungry, and thought an independently owned Mediterranean mini-restaurant might have a few vegetarian options.

When I walked in I was delighted by what I discovered. The sights and smalls were sensory pleasure. They had a large buffet prepared for dinner, with items clearly marked if they were vegan or vegetarian.

The walls were covered with art work using bright colors and sharp lines to depict scenes that captured happiness and intrigue: archway covered streets, styled geometric flowers, lovely faces, wild landscapes of fields and trees. Display cases presented in various cases around the restaurant also showcase a variety of jewelry, both imported and made locally. Other decor is somewhat random and not or particular interest, but the artwork is the real gem of the environs.

The house white wine came in a large and very full carafe, and it complimented the meal perfectly. The buffet had probably forty items, including Lebanese lentil soup, saffron rice that soaks up the vegetable and meat dishes delightfully, hummus, Greek salad, eggplant, green vegetables - both cooked and salad, a plethora of meat dishes including chicken, lamb, and beef.

After two very large plates, a bowl of soup, and a small plate of dessert, I ended the meal feeling stuffed fat and happy. My favorite dish was Mousaka - a delicious combination of baked tender eggplant, fresh mixed vegetables and tomato sauce, baked in casserole with topping of a special béchamel sauce.

Desserts included tapioca pudding, a rose water flavored dairy pudding, baked sweet puddings and cakes, small cookies, and halwa.

The restaurant is owned by a family who came here from Jordan by way of Kuwait. The two brothers run the restaurant, one of them is the painter whose artwork is displayed. The father used to make the jewelry, but had turned to importing it in his later years. The family was warm and gracious, with prompt service and kind words. They have been in business 25 years.

Price is mid-range and good value. The buffet was $12.99 per person. I highly recommend this delightful discovery.

3166 Midway Dr # 102-103
San Diego, CA 92110
(619) 225-0308‎
alnashashibi.com

Rancho's Cocina



Rancho's is a fantastic, authentic in flavor, but healthier than the usual, Mexican food restaurant. They have an extensive menu with lots of vegetarian options, but also plenty of meat. You can get heart attack on plate, with lots of cheese and beef, or you can get a vege-licious vegan meal. Rancho's has it all!

One of the more disappointing menu items is, amazingly, the avocado enchilada. Any dish featuring avocado should be divine, but somehow this dish manages mediocrity. Know, however, that is the only dish I have ever felt disappointed by. Typically dishes range from expected to extraordinary.

The vegetarian tortilla soup is hands down my favorite menu item, a delicious steaming bowl of soup at a moderate price. Don't forget to try their home made horchata - so delicious and not too sweet like the pre-made kind. Also try their tostadas for a sample of the simple, fresh flavors of Mexico.

You can eat a great meal there for ten bucks or less, including a non-alcoholic beverage. They also have a decent selection of imported beers, fairly priced.

The decor is charming, with burlap sacks from coffee beans lining the ceiling, and various plants and natural materials abounding around the restaurant. The service varies, sometimes slow, sometimes fast, but the staff is always friendly and helpful.

Overall, a highly recommended stop for affordable, healthy, and tasty eats.

Also note that the North Park location has a Rancho's Market next to the restaurant.

Ocean Beach
1830 Sunset Cliffs Blvd
San Diego, CA 92107
(619) 226-7619

North Park
3910 30th St
San Diego, CA 92104
619.574.1288

Ritual Tavern

In the blossoming heart of North Park, another new restaurant (among the many) has recently opened. Ritual Tavern has reason to stand out among the up-and-coming North Park scene.

The owners, Michael Flores and Stacy know their food. They both have extensive experience in the many facets of the restaurant business, but more importantly they have a strong style and impeccable taste. The menu excludes the use of corn syrup and partially hydrogenated oils, and emphasizes fresh and local ingredients when possible.

The Ritual Tavern has a subtle gothic feel to it, evoking a sense of magic when you enter. This is a surprise from the outside, which looks, on the contrary, vaguely diner-like. The decor is rich and warm, making you wonder if outside it is a sunny San Diego afternoon or a blustery evening in London.

Of course the most important thing to mention is the food. While the menu is currently limited, plans to expand the options are scheduled as the Ritual only recently opened. Still, even with the current short list, they serve up dishes for a wide variety of tastes and needs, from the rich (and gluten-free) shepard's pie with Colorado lamb (after all, who eats lamb from anywhere else?) to the home made veggie burger that I warn you to NOT put ketchup on because you don't want to miss out on the delicious flavors! They also have fish and chips (what kind of tavern would be without this?), and of course a wide variety (and continually windening) of beers, wines, and other refreshments.

The Ritual emphasizes local fare, and this extends to their list of beers from San Diego breweries (like Ale Smith and Ballast Point). The wine list is also nice, though doesn't currently feature California wines. They even serve Mexican Coca-cola for being made closer to San Diego and featuring real can sugar!

The final note: Don't miss dessert! At the Ritual they truly serve the best for last (and it starts off pretty damn good). The strawberry shortcake is truly shortcake, and it is divine. The buttery cake crumbles in your mouth and pairs perfectly with the gelato they serve. The bread pudding is delectable, with a bourbon caramel sauce that takes it to another level compared to most bread puddings.

Ritual Tavern
4095 30th Street
San Diego, CA 92104
619-283-1618
http://www.ritualtavern.com/

SipZ

SipZ (stress the "Z"), is a vegetarian Asian-fusion restaurant in Kearny Mesa. The dishes are affordable, usually just under $10 for a full size entree, and they serve up a range os Asian dishes from sushi to curry to noodles to salads. They offer a number of "faux meat" dishes.

The sushi is very tasty, though the flavors of the different rolls don't seem to vary greatly. I love the wonton soup, mostly be cause it is nearly impossible to find vege wonton soup anywhere! You can't go wrong wit ha noodle dish in taste, but they can be a little greasy.

I took my boss and a couple colleagues there a few weeks ago, all of whom eat meat, and they were all impressed by the dishes! This from a group of men with whom the conversation focused on the last hunting trip one of them had taken! And he even got Boba Tea, to boot!

Two Locations:

5501 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92117
858-279-3747

9450 #114A Scranton Rd
San Diego, CA 92121
858-457-1103

www.SipZ.com

Stone Brewery

Chocolate and Beer Pairing
Monday, July 9th, 2007

Last Monday I attended the Chocolate and Beer Pairing event at Stone Brewery. I have been meaning to get up there for some time, to tour the brewery. It took a night of chocolate to actually get me to act on that thought...!

None the less, the event was fantastic. Each "pair" was introduced by the representatives of Stone and Chuao.

The CEO of Stone Brewery is well-spoken, clearly excited about beer and thoroughly knoweldgeable (he better be!). Not to mention, he's pretty darn cute!

The woman representing Chuao was a little less confident in her public speaking skills, and it showed. She didn't speak clearly about the qualities of the chocolates, instead ending all the choco-introductions with one-liners.

Here are the pairings we tried:

Stone Pale Ale with Melao salt butter caramel in milk chocolate.
Stone Smoked Porter with Candela macadamia praline in dark chocolate.
Stone IPA with Cinco de Mayo lemon tequila ganache in dark chocolate.
Arrogant Bastard Ale with Caracas dark bar with nuts.
Stone Ruination IPA with Picante spicy caramel.
Stone Vertical Epic Ale with Cardamon ganache dark chocolate.

The Picante Pair was my favorite (and it won by loudness of applause), and the Melao was my second fave (though by applause I think it was Cinco de Mayo, which was also a very good pair).

Interestingly, the pairings were created primarily for similarities in flavors, which surprised me. I would have guessed a more balancing approach, with the yin-yang thing going on. For example, the Stone IPA was very citrus-y, and they paired it with a very lemony caramel chocolate. They referred to this effect as "the flavor lock." I guess they know what they're doing because they really did go well together.

I am looking forward to many more adventures in beer in the future.

Pokez

Pokez Mexican and Vegetarian food is located in downtown San Diego. They are on the corner of 10th and E, and if you take 163 south it will turn into 10th and shoot you out past Pokez.

Pokez offers all the traditional Mexican dishes, but without the lard. They also offer a wide array of vegetarian style Mexican dishes, like their tortilla soup (sans chicken) - not to miss! The menu headlines are pretty standard: tortas, tostadas, soups, tacos, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, salads, sides, combos. But every heading offers seemingly endless possible combinations: Shrimp, Mahi Mahi, Jack or Cheddar Cheese, Bean, Potato, Tofu, Mushroom, Beef, Chicken, Corn, Carne or Pollo Asada, Mixed Veggie, tofu, vegan chorizo... You get the idea.

The atmosphere is nothing remarkable. It's an old diner converted into hipster style Mexican decor. But yet it suits the vibe of the place just perfectly: kind of grass-roots punk rock with a twist of granola healthy.

Perhaps best of all, you can enjoy a healthy, hearty, delicious, fresh, and high quality meal for an affordable price. You can stuff yourself silly for under $10.

Pokez
Mexican Restaurant and Vegetarian Cuisine
Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-9pm • Sat: 9am-7pm • Sun: 9am-7pm
947 ‘E’ Street, Downtown, San Diego, California
619-702-7160

Lei Lounge

The Lei Lounge in University Heights is a trendy new spot for drinks and tapas-style dinners. The setting is beautiful, with semi-private booths throughout an open air patio style establishment. In other words, basically the whole lounge is outdoors.

Their specialty is mixed drinks, with interesting, though trendy, drink specials like pomegranate martinis, blueberry martinis, and other sweet and fruity and tropical drinks. Their drinks are good, but they cost $7 and do NOT use top shelf liquor. Still, worth going in for a drink or two to enjoy the atmosphere.

The food menu is quite good, with an emphasis on seafood and traditional American dishes wit ha trendy flair. They serve seasoned sweet potato fries with balsamic vinegar, miniature kobe beef hamburgers, wasabi mashed potatoes, and crab anything-you-can-imagine. Like the drinks, the food is good, but not as great as the price implies. Also, you will receive much better service if you are a gay male, than if you are straight and/or female.

Overall, I'd say it is fun to check out, but not a place where I'd become a regular.

Lei Lounge is open 5-10pm daily. Plus they are open for brunch on Sundays. I was going to look up the times for that, but the website took so long I closed it out.

I don't recommend visiting their website; it is incredibly slow and frustrating. They have a bunch of lame pictures in the background that move, and their interface is difficult to use (like little "feathers" you have to click to scroll the menu up and down inside the browser window, instead of just scrolling the actual browser widow).

Lei Lounge
4622 Park Blvd.
San Diego, CA
619-813-2272
www.leilounge.com

Vegetarian Thai Restaurant in PB

Ivory Thai Cuisine in Pacific Beach has two locations, one on Garnet and one on Hornblend. Both offer all the usual Thai menu items, like Pad Thai, fresh spring rolls, Tom Yum soup, a variety of curry dishes, a plethora of noodle dishes, and much more. Both are inexpensive and tasty. Though they taste good, the quality of the ingredients is only average: dishes are typically rather oily. The lightest dishes are the soups, and because they feature more Asian vegetables and spices the ingredients seem to be fresher, too.

The locations are small and don't boast much ambiance, but the staff is very friendly and willing to accommodate most requests. They are especially kind to their senior patrons, always helping them into their chairs, etc.

The Hornblend location is soon converting into a vegetarian version of this typical Thai diner. (The Garnet location will retain full meat options). The emphasis will be on lighter, healthier fare, taking a corner standby up a notch. I look forward to trying the new presentation of this local standby. I hope the reincarnation of Thai will also emphasize a higher vegetable to noodle ratio.

Ivory Thai Cuisine
859 Hornblend St
San Diego, CA 92109
http://www.ivorythaicuisine.com/

Spread – revised


After my return to Spread the Restaurant for the first time in about a year, I am happy to report that changes have been made. Not that it wasn’t good to begin with (it was), but now it’s even better.

They have changed their serving style to be more in the tapas approach. Each dish is served individually, set in the middle of the table, and all diners try everything. The menu still changes daily, as the chef-owners shop for fresh produce to feature, as it is available and in season. The highlight of our night was the flowering herbs that were interspersed or sprinkled on top of almost every dish. Who doesn’t like to eat flowers? It’s what they serve in heaven, alongside the milk and honey.

We started with drinks, made with fresh squeezed juice and top shelf liquor. It was citrus season, so we had blood orange juice and oro blanco (AKA grapefruit) mixed with champagne and sweet potato vodka, respectively. Then we had a wilted spinach salad with an avocado vinaigrette and flowering herbs. Divine!

We then had a fresh, house made pasta with wild mushrooms and flowering herbs headlining. Third course was a potpie made with corn bread crouton as the crust, and again featuring wild mushroom and other in season vegetables. I don’t even like mushrooms, and this pie was amazing. For dessert, we had a creamed ricotta (delivered daily to Spread) with a caramelized fruit topping. It was simple, but it was out of this world!

The grand total for this 4-(small)-course meal with drinks: $35 a person (after tax and tip). You really can’t beat it. However, they did stop with their peanut butter samples, it seems. Still, I recommend going to Spread first chance you get for this divine and continually evolving restaurant.

Spread
2879 University Avenue
San Diego, California 92104
Tel. (619) 543-0406

Tuesday through Saturday evenings from 5:30pm-11pm
Sunday brunch 10am-3pm

Spread

This North Park restaurant, located on University Avenue just west of 30th next door to the remodeled theater and across from Clare de Lunes.

This is one of the few locavore restaurants that is also vegetarian. They use eggs and dairy, but not meat. The decor seems to be in transition; it began as a funky pop place, with plastic chairs and flatware, and live DJs on the weekends, even during brunch. They seem to be moving towards something more classic modern, with large square (ceramic) plates that are used to make beautiful food displays.

The food is inspired and fresh, with their daily menu changing as the seasons change. I most recommend the breakfasts, with a few staples like spicy Thai omelettes and almond French toast, and specials like purple potato breakfast tacos. Whatever you order, they serve water fro ma pitcher filled to the brim with the seasons finest fruits and herbs, from watermelon and rose petals to rosemary and citrus.

Did I mention that peanut and other nut butters are their specialty? They actually started out as a gourmet peanut butter company, selling exclusively at farmers markets. Now they include these gourmet nut butters in many of their recipes, like the chili lime peanut butter that makes their omelette spicy and Thai. And the almond butter that makes their French toast nutty.

While you wait for your meal they usually bring out a sampler plate with a nibble of several different flavors of the nut butters to try while you wait. They are fun and delicious, and it's great marketing because I inevitably buy one before leaving.

The prices for the menu are average, though the nut butter are a bit inflated. Overall, it is a highly recommended find in San Diego locavore dining.

Spread: 2879 University Avenue • San Diego, California 92104 • Tel. (619) 543-0406.

Cafe Japengo

Japengo used to be the hot La Jolla singles spot for Thursday night. And luckily it is not anymore, because that means I can enjoy going an ANY night of the week without fear of running into throngs of hoity-toities.

This Asian restaurant with a Japanese emphasis is located beneath the Hyatt La Jolla, just between the University Town Center mall and Interstate 5. There is a valet parking lot and attendant at the door, or you can usually find street parking on the street before turning into the lot.

Ask for a booth, the screens that divide the booths make for an intimate dining experience. Up to 5 can fit in a booth – they’ll pull a chair up on the end if you ask.

Pretty much everything on the menu is good. The sushi rolls are worth experimenting with and the new head chef has been concocting some interesting delights, like salted steak filets.

But the best part about dinner at Japengo isn’t dinner at all. It’s dessert. They offer several dessert samplers, which I recommend for the un-initiated. The chocolate sin boasts an array of the chocolate dessert, including a few items not for ordering a la carte, like a chocolate dream shot – creamy ice cream with chocolate and Bailey's in an icy shot glass. The larger dessert sampler also includes delights unavailable to order on their own, like the root beer float served in a martini glass.

Of course if you want to focus in, the chocolate lava cake is hands down the best flour-less chocolate cake I’ve had ANYWHERE, and the small one on the sampler doesn’t quite get the texture right. The assorted brulees are also delish, as are the gelatos (though not quite as grandiose). I recommend the tawny port to accompany dessert, especially if you are having anything chocolate.

Cafe Japengo 8960 University Center Lane, San Diego, CA 92122 Tel. 858.450.3355

Asian Progressive Dinner - La Jolla

Join my virtual self for a suggested night of La Jolla dining, making the rounds to FOUR La Jolla/UTC area Asian restaurants.

4:30pm start with drinks ($8-15) at

Zenbu
7660 Fay Ave., Ste. 1 La Jolla, CA 92037

5:15pm Then we'll have appetizers ($10-20) at

Roponngi
875 Prospect St (Cross Street: Bishop Lane)

7:00pm For main dish ($8-15/roll), we'll head over to

Sushi on the Rock
7734 Girard Avenue


And we'll finish off with dessert ($10-20) at

8:30 Japengo
8960 University Center Lane (at La Jolla Village Dr)


I've included approximate prices for the course suggested at each restaurant. If you choose to go on any day between Sunday and Thursday, Zenbu will have happy hour starting when they open at 4:30 with certain drinks on special. Also, Asian tapas are on happy hour at Roppongi from 4-6, which is why there isn't much time alloted at Zenbu. I assume this will make those stops significantly less.

The evening is part known deliciousness, and part adventure. Zenbu looks like it has a great bar and specialty drink and sake selection, although its prices in general are outrageously expensive (make this one a happy hour, for sure!). Roppongi's Asian tapas look intriguing, though they tend to change their menu often. Sushi on the Rock I know has excellent sushi, with lots of interesting vegetarian options, and Japengo has the best dessert menu in San Diego.

Spices Thai Café

Spices Thai Café has three locations in San Diego: Carmel Valley, Rancho Bernardo, and Mira Mesa. All offer a delicious meal at an affordable price. Entrees are very large and cost around $10. Appetizers and dessert are usually $5-7. They also have lunch specials that serve a soup, entrée, and drink for a very affordable price.

The décor in the Mira Mesa location is a little more polished: The walls are painted in pleasing natural tones, there are display cases with some beautiful artworks and crafts from Thailand, and there are several large statues of deities. In Carmel Valley, the inside has no special qualities. There are flowers on the tables and table clothes, and some painting, but the overall appearance is pretty blasé. They do have outdoor dining, particularly nice for a lunch when the sun is shining.

However, I don’t recommend Spices for the ambiance, I recommend it for the food. For the past three years I have considered Spices to be the best Thai restaurant in San Diego, and this was in large part because of their fresh spring rolls and peanut sauce. The peanut sauce comes warmed, and the spring rolls are made fresh with carrots, lettuce, sprouts, tofu or shrimp, basil, and mint.

Occasionally there must be someone different in the kitchen because once in a blue moon the carrots will be large cuts instead of shredded, and this is the completely wrong texture. Instead of a light, puff of deliciousness coated in peanut sauce, you have to crunch into a giant chunk of dense carrot. On top of that the large slice of carrot will cut the rice paper wrapping, causing the whole thing to fall apart in your hands. It is disappointing when this happens, but I can only remember one time when I had this experience.

The spring rolls are a must order, regardless of the slight risk of poorly cut carrots. Other favorites include their soups and noodle bowls. In particular I recommend the Yen Ta Fo noodles, a steaming bowl of spicy, thick tomato broth with a heaping pile of rice noodles, loads of fresh spinach, and large diced vegetables like zucchini, carrot, celery, and baby corn. But be careful when you order. They ask you how spicy you want it, on a scale of one to ten. I personally love spicy food, but I almost always order a “five,” and more often than not it makes my nose run and eyes water. And I enjoy every last drop of the dish.

Spices Thai Café
Mon -Fri 11:00am- 3:00pm
Mon -Fri 5:00pm-10:00pm
Sat -Sun 11:00am-10:00pm

6785 Mira Mesa Blvd. Ste. 143
San Diego, CA 92121
Tel: (858) 552-8845

3810 Valley Centre Dr Suite 903
San Diego, CA 92130
Tel: (858) 259-0889

16441 Bernardo Center Dr.
San Diego, CA 92128
Tel: (858) 674-4665

Veg-N-Out – San Diego’s Meat Free Eatery


Veg-N-Out is a newish restaurant in between South Park and North Park in the hip area that spreads out on the east side of Balboa Park as it meanders from North to South. The whole area surrounding balboa Park is lined with great options for dining, including Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Downtown, and Golden Hill spread from North to South along the West side of Balboa Park. Even though you may be overwhelmed with options in the urban center of San Diego, don’t dismiss this eatery just because it is meatless.

Of course Veg-N-Out is great for vegetarians. But meat eaters love this healthy, fast dining options as well. The menu is loaded with all varieties of burgers, from the Western Burger, that includes freshly made onion rings INSIDE the burger, to the Hawaiian Girl, which includes hot off the grill pineapple rings!

The burgers are made with two different patties: a Veg-N-Out home made grain patty, and a meaty patty that is made of soy protein. I suggest the meaty patty for anyone who might be skeptical of the meat-free burger. The meaty patty has a great smoky flavor and a chewier texture. I personally prefer the grain patty because it is lighter and nuttier in flavor.

The burgers arrive heaping with toppings, and everything they set on a plate is incredibly fresh. These burgers seriously look like the kind of burger you would see in a photo advertisement – crisp and fresh with little dew drops on the lettuce leaves, ripe red tomatoes, and steaming hot potato wedges. Did I mention that every burger comes with home made potato wedges or a side salad?



The menu has also expanded and improved since they first opened. Be sure to try their amazing starters as well. The delights include tempura avocado (divine!), freshly fried sweet potato wedges, and many others, including a soup of the day and side of the day. They even have home made dressings – the creamy tarragon goes great on a salad OR the potato wedges! Or pretty much anything else.

Jyoti Bihanga

Ahhhh… Perhaps my favorite restaurant in San Diego. Though I’ve been to fancier, ritzier (and more expensive) restaurants, none can replace the role of Jyoti Bihanga in my dining life.

I’m not sure what exactly it is about Jyoti Bihanga that I love so much. It is located in Normal Heights, one of the best neighborhoods in San Diego for wandering around and exploring the shops. Everywhere you go is filled with personality. There are bookstores with huge selections of used poetry, coffee shops filled with teen angst, and magic shops selling oils and potions.


Jyoti Bihanga, or JB as I affectionately call it, is housed in a beautiful corner building, built nearly a century ago, directly underneath the neon “Normal Heights” sign. The ceilings are high, painted light blue with clouds, and the windows are two-story arches that fill the space with natural light.

This vegetarian restaurant serves a variety of American and Indian dishes, including a curry of the day, a special of the day that usually features mock meat, soups and dessert of the day, and their regular menu.

The infinite blue salad is a good option for a filling salad with steamed vegetables in addition to fresh leafy greens. The sandwich menu includes the Buddha Burger, a homemade grain patty of above average quality on a wheat bun with fresh lettuces and tomato. They have a variety of wraps, my favorite being the Shiva wrap which is a wrap with the curry of the day rolled into one with a full on salad, served with their homemade chutney. But my all time favorite is their best-selling Neatloaf. Available in vegetarian and vegan versions (vegetarian is more full in flavor), it is a grain and cheese (if you have it) loaf topped with a homemade barbeque sauce and served with the most delicious mashed potatoes this side of the Mississippi.

Now I must warn the un-expecting: this restaurant is staffed entirely with followers of a guru of a somewhat obscure Hindi-based religion. The servers are friendly, but odd. Many speak English as a second language, and most seem a little spacey. Be sure to check out the picture of the guru hanging on the wall by the bathroom; he is lifting 300,000 pounds with one arm while he levitates. No, I’m kidding. But he is supposedly lifting some absurd amount of weight. If you’re lucky, they are sometimes showing videos of the same unbelievable feat.

There are sister restaurants across the country and even in Paris. I have been to a few and in the United States they seem to offer a similar fare, somewhere in between American and Indian, all with the infamous Neatloaf. However in Paris the food was as Parisian vegetarian is: bland. That aside, though, the San Diego branch offers a delicious, home-cooked, affordable meal with a beautiful atmosphere, in a funky neighborhood. Bon appetite!

Daily’s – A Healthy Dining Option Near UTC (University Town Center)

Across the I5 Freeway from La Jolla, hidden on the other side of Towne Center Drive, is a little café called Daily’s. Daily’s was started by a prominent San Diego cardiologist. And this restaurant is all about heart health: delicious food that’s good for your heart.

The menu offers a huge variety of sandwiches and wraps, everything from turkey to chicken to fresh veggies, many of which are vegetarian. There is also a lasagna of the day, a soup of the day, and daily specials that include a side salad or soup and a drink. All options are low in fat and high in fiber.

I tried the grilled panini sandwich with mozzarella, basil, and tomato. This came with a soup, and I chose minestrone. I had fresh brewed berry herbal tea and a blueberry smoothie to round it out. I also got to sample off my friend’s plate, and tried the grilled eggplant and zucchini sandwich. Both were delicious, although I thought the grilled veggie sandwich could have used a more flavorful sauce.

So next time you’re out shopping in La Jolla or at the mall, and want to find a healthy, quick option for lunch or dinner, cruise just a little bit east of the beach for this hidden gem.

UPDATE: Daily's is in the process of moving! New location posted soon...

Café 9-7-6

Café 9-7-6 in Pacific Beach offers much more than just a bite to eat. The menu is extensive, and offers options for vegetarian dining as well as heart healthy choices. Breakfast is served from early morning into the afternoon, as it should be for surfers hitting the daybreak breakers or for the rest of us on our lazy beach days. The breakfast menu is pretty normal: eggs, bagels, burritos, waffles, French toast, bowls. There are some local influences here giving props to the Mexican border just a few miles away, with items like Huevos Rancheros – eggs cooked in a Mexican salsa.

Lunch is served until 3pm, and after that the menu is limited. Bu the selections before 3pm are extensive, with salads, soups, sandwiches, pizza, and more Mexican options like quesadillas, tacos, and burritos. The lunch menu I have found to be hit or miss. The Spinach Burger is dish not to miss – fresh, unique, and totally delish. But the Spicy Eggplant Sandwich always seems to fall short of my expectations by skimping on the toppings.

There is always a barista (or two or three) on duty to make the extensive coffee and hot drink menu. The basics are covered, as well as a few regional specialties like Mexican Hot Chocolate, and of course the 9-7-6 specialties like the 9-7-6 (espresso, white chocolate, hazelnut, and milk), the Almond Joy (espresso, chocolate, coconut, almond, and milk), and many more. They serve locally mixed teas that are loose-leaf teas placed into a large bleach-free tea bag just before serving. The tea selection is extensive and unlike many coffee shops the baristas know how to make a good cup of tea. My favorite is the Cherry Sakura – a Japanese green tea with cheery flavor. Just don’t over brew it after you get to your table or it will become bitter.

Also of note is the newly refurbished décor, both inside and out. The café is inside an old house, with a huge patios dining area surrounded by flowers and many native plants. The wooden chairs outside have recently been repainted with a rainbow of bright colors. The inside has also been redone with new paint in bright pastels, and new counter that retains the same homey feeling, but more easily services the customers.

The walls have always been home to rotating art by local artists, and that is the same after the re-painting. In the hallways and restroom there is a permanent collection of old photographs of Pacific Beach, including one of the hosue that is no 9-7-6!

On a sunny day be sure to grab a table outside. If it’s chilly I recommend the sunny nook with booths inside, although it’s usually taken!


Cafe 976
976 Felspar Street (at Cass St)
San Diego, CA 92109
858-272-0976

Jack’s La Jolla

Jack’s has, of late, become the hottest place for singles in La Jolla on Thursday nights. And I made the mistake of venturing in unknowingly on one of those Thursday nights.

I have been to Jack’s before, and I enjoy the mixed crowd that can’t be easily characterized. The range of ages, styles, and even ethnicity is unexpected in La Jolla, but refreshing.

I used to go to Jack’s fairly regularly, and I have always enjoyed their food and drinks. They have an extensive menu, for a bar, and during dining hours they have three separate restaurants: The top floor "beach bar" serves steak and sushi, the mid level fine fining foom serves, well, fine dining, and the lower level bar serves California fusion. The presentation is artistic, the ingredients fresh, and the food is interesting in the way you would expect it to be. (Yes, that’s an ironic comment. Think organic salad greens with candied walnuts, blue cheese, and sliced pear. It’s a trendy dish that thinks it’s being original, but good none the less.)

However, since my days as a regular, Jack’s has changed. The crowds are upon the three leveled location, and it’s really too bad. Jack’s isn’t handling the stress very well. For example, during dining hours they have live music, a classy touch. Except here is the exchange that happened while we waited for our table:

One of the musicians: Excuse, why are you standing here? Are you waiting for a table?
One of us: Yes. We are.
One of the musicians: Oh, well, where’s the host?
One of us: I’m not sure. Around somewhere.
One of the musicians: Well, could you scoot back?

Now, even though the decor is attractive, with glass stairs, plush upholstery, just dim enough hanging lights, and expensive flooring, there isn’t a waiting area on the top level. So there was nowhere to “scoot” too. We backed up about an inch and a half, and the musician just had to live with it. This was all particularly striking because the musicians had a tip jar out.

After we were seated, which took less time than anticipated, about ten minutes, the fifth member of our party arrived. And the bouncers wouldn’t let him in. Apparently, in the ten minutes we had been waiting the entrance we used had been transformed into the VIP entrance, and our fifth diner was to wait in the ever growing line. I went down to fetch him, but the bouncers were busy letting in their friends (a very large group), a girl wearing a shirt that read “F*** ME IT’S MY BIRTHDAY,” and all of her friends. They finally said they would “take care of him,” but continued to check IDs of other people standing in line. Said friend was finally bored of waiting and annoyed at the power tripping bouncers and decided not to stay.



I returned to the table, amid the elegantly draped dining room. We cleared away the fifth plate. The food came: butternut squash, carmelized onions, apple bisque; salmon nigiri, a tropical sushi with beautiful presentation, and it was all quite good. That was the one thing that hadn’t changed. But by that point, it wasn’t really all that enjoyable.