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Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Bacon of the Month Club
I like it "Southern" Pre-cook it first (bake it in the oven to keep it flat). Then apply natural maple syrup and chopped pecans. Place under the broiler until crispy. You have NEVER had bacon until you try it this way. Yum!!
Holiday Dinner - Hits and Misses
I grew up and now live in "fly-over country", as the media call us. While I spent nearly 20 years away living in San Diego and Atlanta, we do holidays very traditional. While your menu sounds lovely, what a disappointment it would be in my family. For Christmas dinner "musts" on the table include: a ham from Heavenly Hams, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole (using french style greene beans), Rhodes Texas-style rolls, devil eggs, cranberry jelly (from the can, sliced), cannied sweet potatoes/yams. I know this might not be a very sophisticated menu, but there's nothing like tradition. We have our dinner on Christmas Eve and then eat left overs on Christmas day. We love making sandwiches from the rolls and ham. We get the honey mustard from Heavenly Ham for the sandwiches. This year my hubby and I went to a Christmas dinner at a friends house. They had grilled tenderloin, champagne risotto, corn souffle and I brought the green bean casserole. Everything was yummy, but it sure didn't feel like a Christmas dinner. ;o)
Serious Eats Fish Taco Crawl
Yeh, to get the BEST fish tacos and the original, you gotta go to RUBIO's in San Diego - many locations! The guys who started Rubio's brought fish tacos to California. They are the original and the best, IMO. Corn tortillas with cabbage - Rubio's has a fabulous white sauce that just MAKES their tacos. You can get the fish either beer battered or grilled for a healthier option. Rubio's fish tacos are served at the Padre's ballpark - gotta love it! No fish sticks here like at so many others. They are a fast food type restaurant but they offer beer, too.
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Holiday Libation: Balsamic Bloody Mary
My husband loves a good spicey Bloody Mary. I am going to surprise him with a pitcher of these as he watches football!
Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Bacon of the Month Club
I like it "Southern" Pre-cook it first (bake it in the oven to keep it flat). Then apply natural maple syrup and chopped pecans. Place under the broiler until crispy. You have NEVER had bacon until you try it this way. Yum!!
Holiday Dinner - Hits and Misses
I grew up and now live in "fly-over country", as the media call us. While I spent nearly 20 years away living in San Diego and Atlanta, we do holidays very traditional. While your menu sounds lovely, what a disappointment it would be in my family. For Christmas dinner "musts" on the table include: a ham from Heavenly Hams, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole (using french style greene beans), Rhodes Texas-style rolls, devil eggs, cranberry jelly (from the can, sliced), cannied sweet potatoes/yams. I know this might not be a very sophisticated menu, but there's nothing like tradition. We have our dinner on Christmas Eve and then eat left overs on Christmas day. We love making sandwiches from the rolls and ham. We get the honey mustard from Heavenly Ham for the sandwiches. This year my hubby and I went to a Christmas dinner at a friends house. They had grilled tenderloin, champagne risotto, corn souffle and I brought the green bean casserole. Everything was yummy, but it sure didn't feel like a Christmas dinner. ;o)
Serious Eats Fish Taco Crawl
Yeh, to get the BEST fish tacos and the original, you gotta go to RUBIO's in San Diego - many locations! The guys who started Rubio's brought fish tacos to California. They are the original and the best, IMO. Corn tortillas with cabbage - Rubio's has a fabulous white sauce that just MAKES their tacos. You can get the fish either beer battered or grilled for a healthier option. Rubio's fish tacos are served at the Padre's ballpark - gotta love it! No fish sticks here like at so many others. They are a fast food type restaurant but they offer beer, too.
where are the "must try" places to eat in the San Diego area?
I lived in San Diego for 10 years and there are SO many GREAT places to eat!! Not sure where you are, but many of these places have several locations:
RUBIO's Fish Tacos - THEY put Fish Tacos on the MAP! Oh my, great tacos. Whenever I'm anywhere where there's a Rubios, I'm there!! Better than Wahoo's who is a new comer to fish tacos. The two guys who started Rubio's began the fish taco craze in California. Don't knock 'em until you try 'em.
Pick Up Stix - a SoCal fast food chinese place that is FAB-U-lous. It's been voted #1 for years and years!
In and Out Burger - always fresh, family owned. You will become addicted to their burgers!
Sammy Wood-fired Pizzas - wow, great salads and pizzas. Awesome.
Pat & Oscar's - great breadsticks, wings and salads!! Yummy!
Seau's - fabulous sports restaurant in Mission Valley. I have friends who swear they have the best calamari in town.
Prego's in Mission Valley - OMG, great food! Just the best.
Jake's n Del Mar - a nicer resaurant with fabulous food!
Sally's on the Bay near the Grand Hyatt downtown San Diego, always great food.
Claim Jumpers in either Carlsbad or La Mesa is a great family restaurant. The portions are huge, the food just plain good. Kinda reminds me of Cracker Barrel restaurants.
George's at the Cove in La Jolla is wonderful. In nice weather, sit atop the roof. Go at lunch on a Sunday.
For special occasions, a MUST is the brunch at the Hotel Del on Coronado. It's $65/per person, but you have NEVER seen anything like it. Amazing food, amazing amounts of food, amazingly good. Yum, yum!
There are more, but this will get you started!
Serious Eats Fish Taco Crawl
Loco, I agree with you about Taco mesa, they make some of the best and really healthy mexican food around. It took me a little while to get used to the whole fish taco thing, I am a 9 year transplant from NY but now I love em to death!
I am very happy to see baja fish tacos on the list, they are awesome, I eat there once a week.
where are the "must try" places to eat in the San Diego area?
I haven't been to San Diego since the days when my budget forbade "fine dining" but two places come to mind. Of course In-n-Out Burger makes the world's best burgers and fries are always from fresh potatoes. Also there used to be a deli called D.Z. Akins. If your from the east it's the closest thing to "real New York Deli".
Serious Eats Fish Taco Crawl
well believe it or not, here in albany new york there is an amazing taco joint called BROS TACOS, fresh tortillas made every day, they make both baja fried fish and grilled fish tacos, two types of shrimp tacos, carne asada, chicken, etc, their site is brostacos.com
Serious Eats Fish Taco Crawl
Glad to see San Diego represented in the comments. We're closer to Mexico, and definitely closer to the fresh fish (we fish for yellowtail and albacore right off the Coronado Islands every year, and the Dorado (Mahi-Mahi) make it to San Diego first when the water temperature is warm).
Some great spots mentioned in the comments above - South Beach is really good, but I always go for some of their other dishes - like wahoo, thresher shark, or mahi-mahi platters.
Bay Park Fish Company is very good, as well as Taco Surf in Pacific Beach, Las Olas in Cardiff by the Sea, and the Del Mar Brigantine.
However, in my humble opinion, the best fish tacos that I've had in a U.S. restaurant are from Mariscos Mazatlan in Chula Vista (south San Diego County). This is the fish taco that you dream of!
That said, we have a house about 30 KM south of San Felipe in Baja. San Felipe is where Ralph Rubio of the Rubio's chain got the inspiration for his business. There are numerous taco stands that serve up great fish tacos there. You just need to be vigilant about food safety, but I've eaten many times at a couple of stands where all the asaderos are in town (by the arch), and the fish tacos are phenomenal!
Serious Eats Fish Taco Crawl
I was a vegetarian (eating the occasional fish) when i moved to LA and one day I discovered fish tacos. I spent the next 2 months eating exclusively fish tacos from every place i could find that made them. Being a new yorker, I had never heard of fish tacos, it was a very exciting time for me.
My favorites are Wahoo's and the Ahi burrito from Poquito mas...
Makes me miss LA again, you just can't get that kind of Mexican food in NYC.
Serious Eats Fish Taco Crawl
I love La Sirena, and actually my friend from high school worked there! Whoa, I'm impressed, amakat. You are a true Lagunian.
Taco Loco, of course. Their "special" brownies and blackened mushroom-tofu burgers are classic Taco Loco things, but the fish tacos, eh. They actually didn't do it for me. But they did have neat fillings like lobster and swordfish.
Serious Eats Fish Taco Crawl
Just got back from SoCal and had excellent fish tacos in East LA at a place called Baja Taco Ensenada. For $4.50 you got 2 crispy golden halibut tacos w/ shredded cabbage and crema, rice, breans and a drink of your choice (I opted for the delicious Horchata). An unbelievable deal.
Holiday Dinner - Hits and Misses
The suprise hit of my Christmas Eve (other than the lobsters of course) were Twin Shrimp. Two jumbo shrimp, curled around each other yin/yang style - add a little chopped garlic, chopped tomatoes, S&P and bread crumbs, drizzle with olive oil and bake for about 15-20 minutes in a hot oven. The shrimp turned out succulent with just the right tooth. The secret is the round shape - they cook evenly.
Serious Eats Fish Taco Crawl
The list is great! Totally made me reminisce about my younger days. Awesome.
growingupeating.blogspot.com
where are the "must try" places to eat in the San Diego area?
Thank you all for your help. They all sound wonderful. The Mimo's grilled goat cheese and proscuitto sounds delightful. We're definitely going to to Ramos House. We went to Sammy's in the Gaslamp a few weeks ago, and, you're right, WOW. Again, Thanks.
where are the "must try" places to eat in the San Diego area?
I have lived in SD for some time and never get to North County if I can help it so all of my reccs are in the city but worth the drive.
Breakfast try either Cody's in downtown La Jolla ( right off the water. You can walk off all that fabulous food. Get the scramble...it's amazing. The blue crab benedict with the parmesean grits was also great) Or head to the MIssion. Either location is really good but better parking and fewer bums in Hillcrest. Staff is super nice at all three places.
For Sushi my fav is Zen5 in PB just because they have a happy hour during the week (half off sake bombs), they play reggae and have tons of flat screens so the men don't complain they are missing the game. Another good one is Harne sushi in Old Town(um, they are not nice to tourists..guess they get too many, go casual but not too casual). Parking always sucks. Try going during the week and they have killer martinis.
For Dinner...I have yet to find a place in San Diego that is not a chain and less than $100 per person that is worth anything. I loved the choices that I had at Mr. A's but the snotty waiter really killed the experience. Wait there is an Italian place in North Park called Apertivo bad servide with heart(they have no idea) that the food makes up for
For Chinese...There is a fusion bistro on Orange in Coronado called Bistro D'Asia. Great food and off the water. Go take a walk by the dell after dinner.
For Great Sandwhiches.....Mimo's in Little Italy. Try the grilled goat chesse and proscuitto sandwhich. (2 women can split a sandwhich)They took if off the menu but will still make it if you ask.
For Dessert..well Extraordinary Desserts, duh. The downfall of most SD eateries is thier waitstaff but I can easily ignore them for a fantastic tart with a glass of Gwert.
Hope this helps
where are the "must try" places to eat in the San Diego area?
I'm going to assume you're in Coastal North County rather than inland... but there are some good ones around Escondido that I can give you if you're interested, especially Mexican joints:
* Market Restaurant & Bar in Del Mar -- fairly expensive
* Oceanaire Seafood Room in the Gaslamp Quarter -- fairly expensive
* Point Loma Seafoods -- super fresh, very affordable
* Hodad's in Ocean Beach -- burgers, cheap, fun, funky
* Mille Fleurs in Rancho Santa Fe -- very expensive, but awesome for special occasions
* El Indio Mexican Restaurant -- cheap, an area institution
I'm sure I've got others. I'll post 'em as they come to me.
Serious Eats Fish Taco Crawl
Good job! You nailed several of the best.
We eat at Wahoo's all the time. It never disappoints. But I take issue with the double-arches comparison. It's a counter service place, not fast food. They have lots of stuff besides fish tacos, including vegetarian items and meat, and all of it is super fresh, relatively healthful and very tasty. Try the chicken tortilla soup. MMMMmmmmmm...
Too bad you missed Taco Mesa, an OC micro chain that wins awards all the time for its counter-service eateries. I actually prefer the fish tacos at Wahoo's, but Taco Mesa's food is creative (it's got a California edge to it), and it's a lot closer to my house, so we go there, too.
Also good is Taco Loco in Laguna Beach. A true dive staffed with borderline service, but it's really tasty, open late, and practically on the beach. So how can you go wrong?
P.S., I'm so glad you didn't list Rubio's -- although it was once an excellent Baja-style fish taco (the fried kind you get in Ensenada), it's been many, many years since they were anything close to being good. Sadly, it's grown into a huge chain serving tiny pieces of poor quality fish that are mostly breading. And it's expensive for what you get. Too bad.
:-(
Holiday Dinner - Hits and Misses
Diana - your 'traditional' dinner sounds very much like ours! I love to cook new things, but the family only wants the food we grew up with on Christmas... the few times I tried to throw in my own touches (home made cranberry sauce instead of the canned stuff) it was met with 'this is good, but it's not the same'. sigh...
Holiday Dinner - Hits and Misses
My turkey tenderloin (seasoned with lemon, garlic, and fresh herbs) managed to come out way too salty. *sigh* I didn't even use very much salt at all.
But my chocolate chess pie (found on Gourmet) came out lovely! I added walnuts and did a cinnamon whipped cream on top. Delicious!
Serious Eats Fish Taco Crawl
La Sirena in Laguna Beach on Mermaid Street. Authentic, fresh, all sustainable ingredients.
Serious Eats Fish Taco Crawl
I have to second Tin Fish in SD too. We eat there everytime we're in town for the ComicCon.
Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Bacon of the Month Club
I like my bacon crisp.
Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Bacon of the Month Club
crispy om the outside but chewy on the inside.
Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Bacon of the Month Club
just a pinch on the crispy side
Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Bacon of the Month Club
Plentiful. Crispy or pliant, doesn't matter!
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My husband loves a good spicey Bloody Mary. I am going to surprise him with a pitcher of these as he watches football!