mmm-yoso!!!

Sunday Soups and Stews

Well, you've found mmm-yoso!!! the food blog.  Here's a post written by Cathy.  The other folks who write here are busy today...

Those of us who live in San Diego County have endured mornings of frost covered plants and vehicles as well as chilly, windy days for the past few weeks.  The weather today should be considerably warmer, thank goodness.

On those cold days when The Mister and I have gone out to eat, it seems the food choices have had a similar theme of being served hot and in a bowl.  Here's a summary.

The Pho Tai at Lucky Pho is always a favorite.  Thinly sliced raw beef is placed onto the top of bowl of long simmered, flavor filled, hot beef stock as it is brought to the table, cooking as it sinks or gets pushed into the stock/noodle/onion mix.  The plate of add ins always contains a piece or two of sawtooth herb in addition to the bean sprouts, basil, jalpeño and lime wedges. One of our favorite restaurants.

Pho Lucky (inside Lucky Seafood) 9326 Mira Mesa Blvd. 92126 (858) 586-7979  

We have been going to the Sam Woo restaurant a lot lately, usually buying breakfast or lunch specials before shopping at 99Ranch market across the hall. One cold day we chose the bowl of seafood tofu egg drop soup as our meal...the broth is very flavorful and the bowl is large enough for us to share.

Sam Woo BBQ 7330 Clairmont Mesa Blvd 92111 (858) 505-9888

Another of The Mister's 'regular' choices at Chopstix is the mabo ramen.  Nicely cooked fresh ramen noodles topped with ground pork and tofu in the spicy/salty/sweet sauce that is mabo. Another favorite. 

Chopstix 4633 Convoy Street 92111 (858) 569-9171

The chicken curry, in the steam tray area at K Sandwich was an automatic choice for a chilly day.  The version here is magical, with the creamy, gently spicy, flavorful curry sauce covering chicken and potato pieces.  When you get it to eat inside the store, it's served in this low glass bowl with fresh bread.

K Sandwiches 7604 Linda Vista Road San Diego 92111 (858) 278-8961

Typically, Taco Shops serve more than tacos. If the signage mentiones "mariscos" then seafood is also served there.  La Casita Taco shop (and Mariscos) in El Cajon makes a great "Siete Mares" (seven seas seafood) soup.  Shrimp, clams, calamari, octopus, mussels, crab and fish are served in a wonderful tomato-vegetable base with hot tortillas on the side.  A perfect meal.

La Casita Taco Shop 1503 N Magnolia (at Bradley) El Cajon 92020 (619) 444-8228 

Yum Cha Cafe serves congee-with various add ins: I always choose the fish.  The thick, disintegrated rice based porridge is filling, flavorful and keeps me warm and happy until the next meal.  

Yum Cha Cafe 6933 Linda Vista Road (at Ulrich) 92111 (858)268-9988

 

My favorite item from Lucky Pho -the Bo Kho- beef stew, which is also Kirk's favorite version.  Having tried Bo Kho at just about every restaurant in town, I crave the version here - wonderfully flavored gravy covering tender tendon and beef chunks and soft carrot served with a hot, airy thin crispy crusted bahn mi baguette.

Pho Lucky (inside Lucky Seafood) 9326 Mira Mesa Blvd. 92126 (858) 586-7979 

I hope the weekend has been good for everyone!

Pangea Bakery Cafe

Welcome (back) to mmm-yoso!!!, a food blog. Kirk, ed (from Yuma) and Cathy usually share their adventures in eating here. Your being able to vicariously experience is a bonus.  Cathy is writing today.

Well.  The Mister and I were some of the first people to go to Pangea Bakery Cafe when it opened, in about May of 2011.  We went here a few times and I was ready to post and looked around on the interweb and it seemed that just about every San Diego blogger had done a post.  So I put the photos in a very special place. Finding some of them brought back some memories and since The Mister and I chose this for one of our eight days of birthday snack stops, more recent photos should make this post complete.

Located on Convoy Street, just south of Engineer Road, right next to Tea Garden the visible storefront has a small driveway where you can park for 15 minutes if you are just running in to pick up a snack. Otherwise, passing through the gauntlet of cars leads to a small parking lot.  The one way parking lot exits onto Brinell Street, which usually has plenty of parking (depending on the day and time you are there) and since the lot is small, the walk isn't bad.

When the store first opened, the display racks of baked goods were pushed up against the walls and a small center island contained breads and trays. This Taiwanese bakery is filled with an ever changing variety of baked goods.

The display racks have now been brought inward and tables and chairs line the glass walls

and the center table now mostly holds day old baked goods.  In this above photo, you can see a heated glass display case on the coffee/check out counter in the background.   

On the other side of the cash register counter are refrigerated cases. 

 

On the inner display racks are trays with individually wrapped selections. The above are garlic knots. Buttery...

Although, from this 2011 photo, you can see that items were not always individually wrapped. 

There are trays stacked at the end of the cases are so you can place your selections separately without crushing any of the delicate pastries. 

Above is what we ordered on our very first visit. There was a paper sign at the register after we had selected the sweets we wanted, offering pan fried dumplings and a choice of beverage for $2.49. Beverage choices were coffee, tea and hot soy milk.  We chose the soy and also a coffee (there is (and was) an extensive list of espresso drinks available).

Above is a cross section of the dumpling.  It was wonderful, crispy and not gummy, filled with ground pork, cabbage, carrots cooked in sesame oil. At some point, they stopped offering the beverage special, as well as the dumplings.  You can still order a hot soy milk, but it isn't listed on the menu.

Here's a cross section of a cheese filled pastry.

Above is a photo of our birthday snack- at 12 o'clock is a red bean paste filled pastry, the item at 2 o'clock is pineapple filled and in the 6 o'clock position is a hot cheese pastry which came from the heated case on the countertop, next to the register. Fresh, still warm and all very good.  Sometimes there is more of a pizza in the hot tray; it's good.

Above is a little snack/meal we brought home the other day.   The 11 o'clock item is another red ben paste filled goodie, in the 5 o'clock position is a three pack of almond puff pastry...and that item placed at 1 o'clock

is a quite large loaf of ham and cheese bread.  We can get 3  nice slices from this bread and always grab it when it's available.

The prices here are reasonable (the puff pastry was $1.25 and the cheese bread was $2.50). There is a lot of seating and it's a nice place to share a snack and talk.

Pangea Bakery Cafe 4689 Convoy Street, Suite 100 San Diego 92111 (858)560-0688 website

Summer is almost over-even in San Diego. Meals change.

mmm-yoso!!! is the food blog you are reading.  Kirk and ed (from Yuma) are still busy this weekend, so Cathy is continuing to blog.

Despite this crazy hot weather we've had the past few weeks, the clock tells me that days are getting shorter. Waking at 6 a.m. with darkness broken only by the light of the moon (if there is a moon) and the sun not peeking over the horizon for another half hour or so means the chill I am enjoying only for another hour now will be the norm in a few weeks. A look at the calendar reminds me that menus will be changing.  I thought I'd post about some meals and/or snacks enjoyed over some of the warm Summer days.

One June day when I was volunteering, I chose the Pesto Chicken box lunch, thinking it would merely be the least offensive choice. 
This was the most surprising, delicious flavor combination and sandwich I have had in a very long time.  Not only was the chicken a full grilled breast half, served with lettuce, tomato and a mild cheese along with the pesto, but a grilled red pepper completed the flavor points. I learned to roast peppers over an open flame at home, pop the peppers into a plastic bag to steam and easily peel off that skin and have peppers available in the fridge to satisfy cravings and use on sandwiches made at home.
Starbucks re-released their green coffee based beverages called Refreshers (originally San Diego was a test market in the Summer of 2010), the Cool Lime and Very Berry Hibiscus flavors are available in packets and cans or can be made for you in the store- fresh mint leaves compliment the lime and small berries are in the very berry flavor.  Neither has a hint of coffee flavor or bitterness, and neither is overly sweet...they are refreshing Refreshers, but I think they will again go off the menu when other seasonal beverages are back in the rotation.

Cold noodle plates, like this Hiyashi from Yakyudori Yakitori, will be leaving menus soon.  So simple, refreshing and filled with flavor.  I always wait to see the signage on the walls of Japanese restaurants announcing the return of cold noodles.  Must get one last meal of these in before they disappear.

These most creatively delightfully flavored, thick and crunchy Lays potato chips, made in Canada and given to me from caninecologne after her vacation there this past summer are but a mere memory and now on my list when I will be able to visit Canada later this year. 
This ingredient list shows you how creative the meld of flavors are to make the chips 'merely' ketchup flavor. Radish concentrate, dehydrated garlic, black current concentrate?  Who would've thought?

The small shave ice bowl at Big Joy Family Bakery is only purchased one time a year, even though it is available all the time.  The shaved ice is topped with a very good vanilla ice cream, sweetened condensed milk, small mochi and sweet bean powder, surrounded by fresh fruit (pineapple, strawberry, kiwi and banana) for less than $5 makes this an affordable treat.   

I hope everyone made it through this hot (but not not humid) weekend and Summer. Another week begins and Autumn will be here on Friday!

A Plethora of Tomatoes-easy and quick meal

Hello.  You have found the blog mmm-yoso!!! -it's about food.  On this hot day, Kirk and ed (from Yuma) are doing things other than blogging.  Cathy is your blogger du jour.

It's getting close to Autumn and our garden, which started from seed, has begun to ripen at an alarming rate.  We planted a few different varieties of tomatoes:

These French cherry tomatoes have produced more than 25 stems like this one.

These are Genovese tomatoes, before changing color; six hidden in this maze of leaves. The plants are taller than me! 

We planted strawberries in three hanging pots this year, and picked whenever we wanted a snack.

Sweet peppers and Purple German tomatoes (that's how the seed packet was labeled) are in a total of five regular and hanging pots in our front yard. 

These are Japanese Momotoro tomatoes.  A 6 inch plant was being sold for $1.99 in front of Nijiya Market in April.  The plant is now more than 7 feet tall and has produced 24 of these extra large-egg size tomatoes. 

We've also planted eggplant, yellow squash, green beans and peas which have already been picked and enjoyed. 

There are also eight more ears of corn which will be ready this weekend.  Fortunately, we spaced the planting of those. We also planted basil, dill, sage, tarragon and mint which are regularly used when we cook. There are also 6 artichoke plants and 3 cardoon which have not done much but produce silvery leaves.

For a long while, we'd have two or three tomatoes ripe and ready to eat each morning.  Then it got to about six a day...then last Monday morning, and almost every day since, this happened:

The International Tomato Festival began: French, Italian, German and Japanese tomatoes, ripe and ready to eat each morning. What to do? 

Some shredded Mozzarella, a bit of onion, basil and tarragon are always used. This recipe can vary depending on what else is available.

You can make this with no added ingredients, starting out with olive oil and onion along with the tomatoes in the pan...

Or put some olive oil in a hot pan with the onion and tomatoes (and in this case spinach, sometimes chopped peppers, sometimes squash) and leave on medium heat, uncovered.

The above photo is what the only tomatoes look like when they have cooked down, after about ten minutes on medium.

I remove some of the juice, making small 'wells' in the tomatoes, and put an egg in each well.  Cover the pan.

After about a minute (and less than two minutes) the eggs are almost cooked.

Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the eggs (you can also put fresh herbs on top now) and cover the pan.  Turn off the heat.   The cheese will melt and eggs will finish cooking.

Pretty easy and the results are wonderful.  The concentrated tomato flavor is simple and complex at the same time.  We've had variations of this recipe for breakfast, lunch and dinner and it never gets old.

I hope everyone is having a good weekend.  Stay cool!

 

Current Obsession: Mango, Chamango, Mangoneada.

You are reading mmm-yoso!!!, a food blog.  Kirk is busy (with things to do and eat in an exotic part of the world), ed (from Yuma) is busy (with things to do and eat in Yuma) and Cathy is busy (blogging about things she did and ate recently).

So.  I was cleaning up 'my' area of the kitchen today and noticed something about my current snacks. There is a commonality in all of these items.

I'm not a chocoholic; never was. Sugary sweets don't interest me.  I am currently a craver of a combination of tangy mango with salty-savory-pickled-sour with chile powder heat and occasionally the sweet of gooey tamarind candy. Every possible receptor cell taste bud being active in a single food item.  How did this happen?

In December I went on a Major Food Crawl with fellow Bloggers caninecologne (Pink Candles at Ridgemont High), Carol (CAB Cooks) and Dennis (A Radiused Corner)-no, I never wrote about the eight or so places we stopped at; I started to and the post got *huge*.  Instead, I have returned to each of the eateries we stopped at and have been enjoying the specialties enjoyed at each.  There will be more posts.

This is where the spicy and mango comes into play.  We stopped at Teresita's Fruiteria.

Teresita's is located in a mall anchored by a KFC and McDonald's on the Northwest corner of I-805 and Palm Avenue. Technically, it is in San Diego City, but it is way South. 

There is an extensive menu, however, not only was it late in the very long day for the four of us, but CC knew what Teresita's sold that nobody else does- Chamango.  We ordered four.

A frozen mango smoothie-with chunks of mango, swirled with chamoy  liquid and topped with bits of Chaca Chaca- a gooey tamarind candy.  The combination of sweet-tart mango with the pickled sour saltiness and chili heat of the chamoy and the gooey fruit candy bits of tamarind was delightful, refreshing and a combination of flavors I had never tasted (and those who know what I do around this time of year know that I have tasted a lot of bizarre stuff). I have returned many times to Teresita's, even though it is a long drive from home.

I really only want the Chamango (small is about $4) but also order a small pico de gallo ($3.50) (the long white pieces on tope are slices of fresh coconut) (really good) and, on this visit a grilled cheese sandwich ($2.50) so as to appear to be eating a healthy meal. The pico, topped with Tajin, or a Tajin-like mix of salt, red chile and lime is a wonderful combination of fruit, vegetable and heat. The grilled cheese is particularly addicting for me.  There is only one bread, no choice.  It is a *really* nice, chewy whole wheat that is crisped up and...filled (you can see) filled with an unusually high quality sliced processed American cheese. Really.  I *hate* Kraft slices and don't even want cheese on burgers, but this cheese, slightly melted with this bread...heaven. Creamy and salty and a great sandwich.

Teresita's Fruiteria 4370 Palm Ave, Suite 5 San Diego 92154 

 So.  I have posted about Tropical Fruit Paradise, a fruiteria right down Mission Gorge Road, closer to where The Mister and I live.  

I do enjoy fruiterias because the whole concept of a fruit shop is fascinating.  Growing up in colder climates, the idea of walking into a store and finding fresh fruit, much less having it prepared in various ways was never considered by either myself or The Mister.  

In addition to the torta sandwiches mentioned in my other post, wraps are offered here.  

The chicken wrap costs about 50¢ more than a turkey or ham wrap.  All are made with a spinach wrapper and simply filled with lettuce, tomato and Ranch dressing.  But the chicken is heated on the grill and tastes that much better.

As with most fruiterias, Tostilocos is (are?) available ($3.99). The version here uses regular cucumber as well as jicama and the hot sauce coating everything is quite spicy hot.  A bit different and very good. 

The mango-chamoy beverage here is a Mangoneada.  It is made with frozen mango chunks and orange juice.  The chamoy is nicely distributed as the beverage is poured in the cup.  BUT instead of being topped with tamarind pieces- the straw is coated in Chaca Chaca, the chewy, salty tamarind candy...

That's a small Fruit Salad Freeze ($3.75). Also very good -strawberries, peaches and banana.

I hope everyone is having a good weekend and satisfying current cravings. Thanks for introducing me to this one, caninecologne!

 

Tropical Fruit Paradise 10387 Friars Road San Diego 92120 (619) 584-4786

 

Cafe Hue- crepes!

The mmm-yoso!!! guys, Kirk and ed (from Yuma) are both having a busy time this week, so Cathy is going to blog, since she has been eating and taking photos the last few weeks while they were blogging and has a few meals to share.  This post is short. 

Hi again.  If you've been in the parking lot at the corner of Convoy and Ostrow, which is a mall housing an international compendium of eateries anchored by Nijiya Market, Mignon Pho+Grill, Okan, Sage French Cake, Spicy House and Koon Thai Kitchen as well as Sunrise Buffet, Subway and Palomino Taco Shop #2, you have probably seen Cafe Hue (and it's predecessor in that space, Red Berry Yogurt).

I have been fascinated by the "Lunch Crepe Special" sign hanging over the doorway and decided to finally stop in.  [Actually, The Mister and I had stopped in when Cafe Hue first opened a few years ago and shared a pretty lousy snack consisting of a cup of stale espresso and a stale, warm waffle topped with whipped cream.  I didn't want to write a post about that experience.] So we walked in and ordered (and were asked to choose from a variety of sauces when we ordered the crepes; most salad dressing flavors), paid and sat down.  

A very good cup of espresso was prepared, a good sign of things to come.  The interior is filled with tables, chairs and a few couches along with board games and books for people to share. 

The description of my order, the "healthy veggie" ($4.25), mentioned lettuce and spinach and so I figured there was a small salad on the side...but the salad was inside the crepe and my 'sauce' order of balsamic Italian was  spread on top of the lightly cooked flavorful batter crepe.

Actually, there was a light layer of cheese cooked into the crepe and then the lettuce, spinach and corn-yes corn- was placed inside the crepe.  Unusual and a very nice little lunch.

We also had ordered the $3.95 crepe- ham and cheese and (not knowing) asked for Thousand Island as the sauce.  This combination of flavors did work.  The photo of a cross section of this crepe didn't work.

Anyhow, I am still on my quest for a perfect crepe and the ones at Cafe Hue are in the running. They serve a great variety of beverages, gelatos, crepes and waffles.  It's a nice place to sit and catch up with friends.

Cafe Hue 3860 Convoy, Suite 106 San Diego 92111 (858)571-7947 

The Living Room-Point Loma, after a San Diego 'vacation day' in the rain

mmm-yoso!!! has a post about food almost every day.  Kirk and ed(from Yuma) just can't post right now.  Cathy is able to post now. 

"May gray leads to June gloom" is a fairly common San Diego weather report.  We had a bit more than gray yesterday.

It was Tuesday and The Mister and I planned to take advantage of "Residents Free Tuesdays" at  the usually Admission Fee charging museums at Balboa Park.

 

As we got off the 163, it was really raining.

  

The gray clouds made the blooming flowers seem even brighter in color.  
 
The Koi at the Japanese Friendship Garden were especially friendly.
The other Museums open yesterday were the Museum of Man, Museum of Art, Art Institute and Mingei International Museum.
The Mingei has quite a few interesting shows going on right now. 
We had planned to have a light lunch at the Tea Pavilion at the Japanese Friendship Garden and making that a post.  However, there are only two inside tables and the rain was not letting up. We walked through the museums then drove toward Little Italy and somehow ended up in Point Loma and stopped here.

There are five locations of Living Room Cafe and Bistro.  This one is an entire repurposed Victorian house, on the West end of  Rosecrans.  There is seating inside (upstairs as well as downstairs) as well as on the front porch and side and back porches.  There is free wifi. Comfy couches, tables and chairs are everywhere and a simple menu:

Since it was so cold and wet and I had planned on tea, I ordered a teapot for two ($3.75)
Choosing organic green sencha, the loose tea was measured and put into two bags and brewed in the pot...(as a reference, the amount of water filled both of those giant cups almost three times)
Oh.  That "Pony" marker was to put on the table for identification when the order is brought out.
Soup, salad, fruit and bread($6.25). No photo of bread.  Nice salad, fresh fruit. (As further reference, the soup bowl is as large as the giant tea cups)
Excellent soup.  Three bean vegetarian.  Thick, hearty, wonderful flavored. Just right on this chilly day.

This was a great find for us.  Perfect on this rainy day.  I imagine it gets pretty crowded with all the seating available. There are pastries, breakfast items, cold and panini and wrapped sandwiches and apparently some pretty good coffee and cold beverages also.

Living Room Cafe and Bistro 1018 Rosecrans San Diego 92106 (619)222-6852 Open 6 am-midnight daily. Website

Fat Ivor's and Meat by the Side of the Road-Valley Center

Welcome back to mmm-yoso!!!, the food blog.  Kirk is on vacation and Cathy is blogging in his place.  ed(from Yuma) is in Yuma, not on vacation and not blogging.

Hi again.   Long story short, I drive up Valley Center Road quite frequently, regularly noticed signs next to Fat Ivor's Rib Rack and back in 2002, I finally decided to stop and see what the signs were all about. I wrote a post about this in 2006.

 

In reality, the signs were only out near Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter...it took me a while to realize that was when I was driving regularly to Valley Center.  Here's an accurate photo of my viewpoint.  The yellow sign closest to the road is "Optimist Hams for Kids", next to a "Got Ribs? We do" sign, then there is that trailer with the Optimist logo on it and the sign for Fat Ivor's Rib Rack. Meat.  By the side.  Of the road.  The driveway is at those signs and the parking area is for Fat Ivor's.  

 
In the back of the parking lot, you can see the smokers, being used for the Optimist's hams, as well as for the beef and pork used on Fat Ivor's menu.  
Walk into the restaurant through the left door and seat yourself.  The right door is the outdoor Bar area.  Fat Ivor's has been in Valley Center for decades and was rebuilt after it burned down two months after the original owner, Tommy Thomas, died.  

 
The restaurant is decorated with American flags, pictures of President Ronald Reagan, John Wayne, patriotic items and is frequented by locals, especially at lunch time. 
 
Locals take advantage of the "Lunch Specials", as well as the "Extra Lunch Specials" (which include a side and beverage if you get it as a half sandwich).  You'll notice there aren't any smoked meats on the daily specials menu. This is a diner.  
So, The Mister and I ordered from the regular menu and his meal started with a fresh, but unexciting salad with blue cheese dressing...which had chunks of blue cheese at the bottom, but was pretty watery overall.
The main part of His meal was a whole farmed trout-deboned and spread open gently, so as to stay in one whole piece.  Lightly cornmeal breaded and perfectly fried, with skin on the bottom, this was fresh and a good, firm fish. It was a 'Lighter Meal' and came with cottage cheese ($10.95)
I ordered the BBQ pork sandwich ($7.95) which comes with a choice of two sides.  Baked beans (meaty baked beans) and a lightly dressed cole slaw were my choices.  The pork is smoked and  sliced (not pulled).  Real BBQ. The sandwich is topped with a homemade sauce, which seems to be sweetened with molasses.  The sesame seeded bun is well toasted so the sauce doesn't permeate the bun to fall apart.
About midway through, I used the BBQ seasoning (that isn't red pepper) from the tabletop condiment choices.  The very nice blend of  seasonings, including hot chili, black pepper and salt complimented my sandwich. 

Yes, Fat Ivor's is known for the all you can eat beef ribs, which are $13.99, seven days of the week.  I've had them.  They are well smoked, a bit fatty and better without sauce. People travel here for the evening meals.

Oh.  The ham. 
The best smoked ham ever.  The Optimists use Farmer John hams and smoke them deeply with hickory.  We could not wait.  It was tonight's dinner...tomorrow's breakfast and lunch... and many more meals, including pea soup. We're having Turkey for Easter.

Fat Ivor's 27961 Valley Center Road, Valley Center, CA 92082 (760) 749-0600

Fruitland & Deli- A fruiteria in El Cajon.

Fruitland & Deli has closed.

mmm-yoso!!! is the food blog you are perusing. Cathy is writing today, because Kirk is busy perusing things and ed (from Yuma) is busier perusing even more things.

Hi again.  In the last two years, a friend has taken me to Jamba Juice.  Twice.  I was overwhelmed both times, having to order from the huge menu board with many choices and derivations.  I always have gone to Fruiterias around town and could not understand how JJ had peaches in February... and finally asked my friend who looked at me and slowly said "it's frozen fruit"...Oh. OH.  I tried to explain my not understanding.

Then, I realized I have never even posted about Fruiterias on this blog.  So, here is a post about one in East County. {A fruiteria is basically a fruit shop where fresh fruit is served in various ways and other items, usually sandwiches and chilled seafood, are offered so as to make small meals. A neighborhood Mexican Bistro Cafe -no tacos or burritos or salsa bar.}

 

Fruitland and Deli has been on this corner where Second turns into Jamacha at Main Street in El Cajon for about three years now. It is in the same parking lot as Dubai (now Sultan)is located.
Clean and not too small (seating for about 25) inside, it offers items all Fruiterias offer...
with a menu in English above the ordering area.

Happy colors decorate the interior.  A selection of hot sauces are on every table.

 
Ices(raspados), smoothies, milk drinks(licuados), all juice-juices, 'diet' juices (not with artificial ingredients, but with vegetables as well as fruit...(you drink for the diet effects)), iced coffee drinks, fruit bowls-large in size, even the 'small' for $6.50-(plain, topped with yogurt or cottage cheese, crema or condensed milk and granola), paletas(ice cream on a stick..wonderful flavors), sandwiches, seafood, tostilocos (another post), tamales and salads.
#1 Licuado (milk shake) (small) ($3.60)There is powdered milk in this one,  made with papaya, banana, cantaloupe, banana and strawberries.
Medium camarones coctele (shrimp cocktail)($9.60) We counted 23 good sized, plump and flavorful shrimp in this one. The broth was mostly lime juice, not overly tomato.  However the cucumber, avocado and cilantro made this quite delightful and very flavored. It's refreshing.

We decided to share a pork torta (#1)($6.50), especially after the Young Man behind the counter told us the bread was made fresh daily in the store.
This sandwich, made with a good portion of sliced, moist and flavorful pork roast and a bit of mayonnaise, was topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, jalapeno and avocado and is definitely a meal in itself. The bread was indeed fresh, with a nice crispy crust and it was toasted.

Everything here is fresh, seasonal and takes a short while to be brought out, because it is all made to order.  This is how I enjoy eating.

Fruitland & Deli 109 Jamacha (between Main and 2nd) El Cajon 92019

Sushi Yaro-Lunch

mmm-yoso!!! is a food blog. A few friends share blogging "duty".  We pretend it is a difficult task, but it's just fun. Today, Kirk has been elsewhere, having fun.  ed(from Yuma) is in Yuma, having fun.  Cathy is here and having fun.

Hi.  Remember the other day last year, when Kirk mentioned Sushi Yaro was having $3 lunch specials?  If not, link to it here. 

The Mister and I decided to (finally) try it for lunch the other day. The parking lot wasn't full

because we were the first ones there that day.  We checked out the 'White Board' near the kitchen as we walked in.

and ordered the $3 vegetable curry special (could have also had stir fried beef, pork, chicken or yakisoba also for $3). It came with a cabbage based salad (in the photo below) and the good serving of fresh rice and an excellent amount of a good curry with potatoes, onion and carrots and a bit of beef in the curry sauce.
I had a craving for poke that day and ordered it off the regular menu ($9.50) It came with the miso soup (very good), salad, side of rice and was presented on the plate this way...with a carrot petaled flower centered with radish and bunny ears of burdock in the poke...
which was an extremely fresh ahi tuna. Marinated in soy sauce, sea salt,  sesame oil, onion, garlic, seaweed and some furikake. 
One item on the White Board this day was 'stir fried giant clam' for $3.99.  It is on the regular menu for $8, but Sam was working that day and he made it ...so very tender, almost melt in your mouth like chicken liver or uni melt in your mouth texture.  The vegetables were stir fried just enough...crispy and fresh and if I had known the wonder that this item was, I'd have ordered two and had both for myself...

Excellent deals on the $3 lunch and everything excellent at Sushi Yaro.  Day or night. Fun.

Sushi Yaro 7905 Engineer Road San Diego 92111