mmm-yoso!!!

Sunday "Stuffs" - Lalo's Closes, JJ Chicken Coming to Towne Center, Taco Stand on Convoy, Nijiya's Hokkaido Festival, and Other "Stuffs"

Here's some odds and ends for a nice Sunday.

Lalo's Tacos Al Pastor Closes:

 I noticed that Lalo's had closed when I recently had to drop by Penzy's. I have to say I was a bit surprised since they've been in this spot since we moved to San Diego over 20 years ago. I was never a big fan; but folks I worked with when my office was in Hillcrest enjoyed Lalo's.

I guess maybe the pandemic did them in.

1266 University Ave
San Diego, CA 92103

JJ Chicken Coming to To Renaissance Towne Centre:

Well, at least that's what the sign says.

 Since I'm back in the office I dropped by one of my usual stops in this strip mall to see how they were doing (they were quite busy). And noticed the sign in the photo to the right in the window of what I think used to be Edo Sushi?

Doing some quick searches, I wasn't able to find much. Perhaps the next time I stop by they'll be more info.....

8895 Towne Centre Dr.
San Diego, CA 92122

Work on the Taco Stand on Convoy:

Driving down Convoy, headed to Nijiya this past morning, I noticed work on the Taco Stand was going on (read more about it on Eater). So, I took a quick drive into the parking lot from hell....which thankfully was quite empty at 850 on a Saturday morning.

According to the post on Eater, they were "Slated to open in early 2021"........but of course with the pandemic, difficulty in finding staff, etc, etc, etc....

4646 Convoy St.
San Diego, CA 92111

The Hokkaido Fair at Nijiya - Until 09/22:

I dropped by Nijiya last Friday on my way home from work and was amazed at how busy they were! I waited over 20 minutes in line to get to the cashier, who happened to be a young lady that also works at Bay Park Coffee. I mentioned how busy they were and she told me it was because of the Hokkaido Fair......Hokkaido Fair? How the heck did I miss that memo?

Anyway, I went home and mentioned this to the Missus and guess what? Well, we headed back down to Nijiya later that evening. Luckily; even though the parking lot was packed, Nijiya wasn't overly busy. Even though there seemed to be less items then I recalled from previous "fairs" we had a blast. And things were selling fast! 

I think that perhaps folks are missing the travel, the variety, the fun and comfort these days. I know I felt a wonderful nostalgia seeing labels and items I recalled from our trip to Hokkaido. And the Missus just enjoyed Her puddings and cheesecake....oh, and those chocolate covered strawberries so much; guess who had to head back the next morning? Which I how I noticed the construction on the Taco Stand.

Anyway, here's some of what we got.

For some strange reason; I have an affinity to Hokkaido cheese.....

Anyway, things seem to be selling fast, so head on down if anything pictured above interests you.

3860 Convoy St.
San Diego, CA 92111

And speaking of cheese - well, since I won't be riding the metro in Paris anytime soon:

Talking about the feeling of happiness and nostalgia. I had a surge of joy when I saw this at Bristol Farms.

At that point, the Missus and I decided to do charcuterie and cheese for dinner. 

And since, due to the pandemic, I don't think we'll be travelling to France this year, where Epoisses is supposedly banned on public transport, this would have to do. We're really missing international travel and I guess anytime we're able to travel with our tastebuds....well, for now that will have to do. 

Take care everyone; be safe, have compassion and empathy during these times!

More Than Sandwiches - Exploring Other Options at SuperNatural Sandwiches

 Man, it seems we're in this never ending cycle of Covid during the pandemic....time just kind of slides by. I thought I had "just" posted on SuperNatural Sandwiches, but that post was back in May of last year!

At that time the ordering and pick-up was still being done at the outside counter. But, just as I'm transitioning back to the office, SuperNatural has also been transitioning and now has the old counter work in effect, with indoor dining and such. While I'm not quite ready for this with the latest variant; I'm still doing online takeout orders which work with the same efficiency as before.

And while it's quite easy to order the same 'ol, same 'ol......."FOYs" like Loren and Junichi have really given some nice recommendations to add some variety into my fairly boring life. Loren had both recommended the fries and the salad variation, which has been added to my ordering routine.

The recent super hot weather has gotten me to order the Salad version of the Kirin a couple of times.

   Which has kinda been in the rotation recently. The Kirin - with plump shrimp and Chinese sausage just does so well in a salad. And the portion size is quite generous. I don't need to order any fries with this as I'm stuffed......the dressing also does quite nicely as well.

After having this salad, I wondered how the two other preparations would do. Junichi mentioned having the fried rice option (+ $1), so on my next visit I decided to order the Kirin as fried rice....and of course I added a Fried Egg (+ $2).

 Well, this was a bit puzzling for me as I wasn't a great fan of the lettuce in my fried rice. While the rice was nicely coated in a soy sauce mixture, it was on the dry and hard side.

I addition, that egg was overcooked as well.

There also didn't seem to be as much Chinese sausage as I had in the salad on my previous visit. 

Overall, it seemed a bit odd and one-dimensional. If I have the fried rice option again; it might be with some other sandwich "option". Maybe Junichi can reveal what his "go-to" for the fried rice might be.

Finally, I decided to get the Kirin as Garlic Noodles (+$4). To be perfectly honest, I didn't quite know what to expect.

   And while the container didn't seem particularly large, it was quite heavy. And upon opening the cover....whew...this was garlic noodles alright. Good thing the office was basically empty and after eating lunch all the meetings were via Zoom. I also had to discard the mask I wore on this day.

The standard issue noodles were nicely coated with a soy based sauce, the noodles were nicely prepared and still al dente. I did finish all of the shrimp and sausage and had a ton of noodles left, which I had with dinner. Talk about a major carb bomb, but this wasn't bad at all. The sauce for the shrimp went well with things and I didn't mind having cucumber with my noodles. 

The one thing I would really like next time is to have the scallions on top of things. The noodles were obviously just dumped into the container, the green onions in a clump at the bottom. The only way I found it was after eating all the shrimp and the sausage; I gave things a good mix, which, based on how stuffed the whole container was, would not have worked out well with a full container. Still, I'd have this again......when I need to carb load....

You know, these times have me grasping for that which is familiar and comforting. I've been a customer of SuperNatural since they were at the San Diego Public Market and was quite happy when they finally opened a brick and mortar shop (where Gourmet Artisan is now located), before settling into their current location (of course they are still open in Little Italy).

The folks working have always been friendly and my online order is always ready at the designated time. Which keeps me coming back......

SuperNatural Sandwiches
7094 Miramar Rd.
San Diego, CA 92121
Current Hours:
Mon - Thurs 11am - 3pm
Fri - Sat 11am - 4pm
Closed on Sundays

Takeout From Bay Hill Tavern

During my time working from home, I had my regular stops, Zgara, Bay Park Coffee, Clairemont Coffee, Sandwich Emporium, and so forth..... Still I needed some variety for lunch when I wasn't in the mood for making lunch or eating leftovers. During the beginning of the pandemic I had bought some beer from Bay Hill Tavern. And during the months after they reopened I went and did some takeout from BHT. The online ordering was a snap; the place is so close to the house, and my orders were always ready on time.

The place can get pretty busy; especially starting in the late afternoon. I made it a point to avoid all of that....parking is limited and such, and always placed an order right after they opened at 11am.

The one item that had been recommended to me since BHT opened was the Fried Chicken Sandwich ($13). Even though BHT was fairly close by I had my doubts that the sandwich would hold up well as takeout; but it did.

The fries however did not as it as soggy and under seasoned.

   Now to be perfectly honest, the chicken breast had been fried nicely, and was good n' crunchy, but was on the dry side and really could have used a more aggressive seasoning. It was actually, the herb mayo, napa cabbage slaw, and the "zippy" Fresno chilies, along with the mild sweetness of the brioche bun that made this sandwich. It's almost as if the chicken was just there for texture.

The Reuben Sandwich ($14) was another "almost there" dish. This time I tried the truffle fries (+ $1.50).

 Which, if it was possible, was even more soggy and limp then the regular fries I'd had before. The fries could have used more truffle oil and I'm not sure what to make of the partially melted shavings of cheese on the fries. Perhaps it was meant to be fully melted and nice and gooey/stringy? I dunno.

The sandwich though, was almost there...the rye bread nicely toasted, the Swiss cheese melted, the pastrami thinly sliced and warm, the "secret sauce" you know, a modified Thousand Island had some zip to it. I could have used more sauerkraut which might have resolved my biggest issue with this sandwich.....it was so darn salty.

On my last visit I went with the special, called the "Cali Cheesesteak" and this time ordered it with the Curly Fries.

As you can see, in terms of fries, the third time's a charm.....I guess this is the way to go with regards to takeout spuds. The fries were crisp and nicely seasoned.

As for the sandwich, well, the roll was nicely toasted. There were three different cheeses used for this a beer cheese, mozzarella, and provolone which provided alot of gooeyness but not a lot of flavor to add to the beef which while more tender than it looked needed a more aggressive seasoning.

I really think that the sandwich could have used more onions and bell peppers for texture. The avocado just made everything more mushy.

 I will say that I enjoyed the somewhat elevated pub grub from BHT more than other options nearby. BHT is owned by the same group that runs Working Class in North Park. The folks are professional and quite nice. My orders have always been ready for pick-up at the designated time. And the items I tried were quite close to being good. Like I mentioned earlier, BHT can get pretty darn crowded, so I plan my pick up times carefully.

So, even though I'm no longer working from home much, perhaps in the future, when we're thru the pandemic and I'll go ahead and have a cold one or a cocktail at BHT and a bite to eat as well. 

Bay Hill Tavern
3010 Clairemont Drive
San Diego, CA 92117
Hours:
Mon - Thurs 11am - 9pm
Friday 11am - 10pm
Saturday 9am - 10pm
Sunday 9am - 9pm

COMC, the "SSS" Edition - Takeout From Soi 30th, Supannee, and Sovereign

Hope everyone is having a safe and relaxing Labor Day. Here's a quick "C(learing) O(ut the) M(emory) C(ard)" post for all of you. I think you can gather from posts in the month of July that one of the Missus's latest obsession is Thai food. I guess it's my fault as I convinced Her to try Sovereign Thai, which She enjoyed so much that we followed things up with Soi 30th, and then Supannee. And She's been on a roll ever since. Funny thing, I noticed that all three of these places start with "S"......go figure.

So, I thought perhaps a quick follow-up post might be appropriate.

Soi 30th:

Well......here it's all about the pork belly.

Clockwise from the top, the Pork Belly with Gai Lan, The Pork Belly Larb (my favorite), and the Pork Belly with Morning Glory (Ong Choi). They still don't have the Thai sausage back on the menu and it's been a bit too hot to think about soup....so we've been sticking with these three. My post from July here.

A good option for online ordering. My order has always been ready when I arrive.

Soi 30th
3442 30th St.
San Diego, CA 92104
Hours:
Mon - Fri 11am - 3pm, 430pm - 9pm
Sat - Sun 12pm - 9pm

Supannee House of Thai:

Another good option for online ordering. 

And even the Missus enjoys the Nam Tok!

 As a bonus, on my last two pick-up visits (yes, we've been going to these places THAT much), they've had the house made Thai Sausage back on the menu.

Before I had the version from Sovereign, this was my favorite in San Diego. It's changed a bit. The sausage used to be put together in smaller oblong "orbs" and seemed to be deep dried. This seemed to be grilled, nice texture, good moisture, after having the version at Sovereign, I think it needs a bit more of a "kick" and more herbs. Still, this is still quite good. And we loved the ginger, chilies, and peanuts provided.

And of course the Nam Khao Tod.

   The version we had on this day was the best of the three times we've ordered it from Supannee. It was all of the nice crisp bits that made it better than what I'd had earlier.

In need of an additional dish for the Missus; on an earlier visit, I decided to get the "Eggplant Delight" with duck. It was a hit with the Missus as She enjoyed the way the eggplant was prepared.

I think it's ok, but the Missus enjoys the dish.....so it's on the list for now.

Supannee House of Thai
2907 Shelter Island Drive
San Diego, CA 92106
Current Hours:
Mon - Fri 1130am - 3pm, 430pm - 830pm
Sat - Sun 1130am - 830pm

Sovereign Thai Cuisine:

Yes, the place that got the Missus craving Thai Food. I do wish they did online ordering and that it was easier to find parking and such.......but to me; the food is worth it.

I just call in and wait things out at Fault Line Park.

Or, I take a short walk in the area. There are always interesting things to see; like this house on the corner of 13th and Island. Built in 1886, the Sheldon House is a wonderful representative of the Queen Anne style......wow, I actually did remember a couple of thing from our walk in Pacific Grove.

As noted in my previous post, the Missus really enjoys the Hat Yai Fried Chicken.

 And of course, we always do two orders of the Thai Sausage. It's that good.

During one of my takeout visits, I was lamenting the loss of the nam tok, which was no longer on the menu, and the "Thai Peppercorns Chicken Noodle" was recommended. I wasn't so sure bout ordering it....but heck, I 've known these folks form the Thai Papaya days; they know our tastes, so I went and ordered it.

Man, this totally reminded us of Thailand! From the pungent green peppercorns, to the wonderful balance of soy sauce - palm sugar, nice savory tones, the noodles perfectly coated.

And the Missus (of course), likes the Stir Fried Eggplant with Basil.

I really love these folks!

Sovereign Thai Cuisine
1460 J Street
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 310-5837
Current Hours:
Tuesday 4pm - 9pm
Wed - Thurs 12pm - 230pm, 4pm - 9pm
Fri - Sun 12pm - 9pm
Closed on Mondays

It is funny that the names of the Missus's current favorite Thai restaurants start with "S".......but they also have another thing in common. The folks that work at all three restaurants are so friendly, kind, and welcoming. I'm able to feel that even when doing take-out. 

You know with the latest surge in Covid, the Missus and I have pulled back the reigns on dining in; we're going to pick our spots carefully. Even though the Missus has never eaten in any of these three places, She can't wait until we're pass this....and we will get past this.

Roadtrip (During Covid-19) - The Raven Tavern and the Abandoned Casa Sirena Seaside Resort (Oxnard)

After a wonderful lunch at Yai Restaurant we made it into Oxnard in pretty good time. Our room was actually ready when we arrived and we got a short break before heading off to dinner. I really didn't want to travel too far from where we were staying and after reading through a bunch of reviews and such, thought that the Raven Tavern would make for a nice, low stress dinner. The place was quite busy when we arrived, but we had reservations and were quickly seated outside right along the harbor.

The Servers and such were very nice; but they were obviously a bit overwhelmed.......I believe it's Covid staffing, so I won't hold it against them.

I started with the "Joe's Old Fashioned" ($15).

Too much bitters and not enough Bourbon for my taste.

The Missus looked at what other tables were having and really didn't seem too inspired. She wasn't overly hungry and went with the Veggie Hand Pie ($5).

The crust on this one was better than mine; but that sauce had a weird, almost sour tinge to it and the filling just wasn't very good.

The Missus figured that a hand pie would be enough for Her since I ordered the Steak and Mushroom Dinner Pie ($16) with Garlic Mashed Potatoes ($3).

   The crust of the pie was on the gummy-mushy side and the filling was barely lukewarm. The gravy had a strange bitterness to it and wasn't hot. There wasn't very much "steak" in this pie either. The best thing were the mashed potatoes which were nicely seasoned.....the only thing the Missus enjoyed.

The food seemed very corporate and "chain-like"....

Too bad. You can't win 'em all, right?

The Raven Tavern
1651 S Victoria Ave.
Oxnard, CA 93035

We took the short drive back to the hotel and decided to take a stroll. We were staying right on Channel Islands Harbor, just north of Port Hueneme at the Hampton Inn. The harbor is quite lovely, very relaxing, and laid back.

There are many residences along Peninsula Road along with folks living on the various yachts and right next to the hotel was a quaint little park. We had a blast watching all the pooches having their evening social hour.

Right next to the park was an interesting site. We first walked along the dock and along this area there were no boats moored and this was where the sea lions hung out.

You see, right along the harbor is the abandoned Casa Sirena Seaside Resort, which closed down in 2009. I was fascinated in checking it out after reading this in Atlas Obscura. It's both eerie and depressing....the abandoned buildings looking run down and worn.

It was starting to get dark and we saw guys on bikes and other folk hanging around in the walkways and they seemed to be....well....you can figure that one out, right?

Very sad indeed. This must be prime property, so I'm wondering what the back story might be. Going down this rabbit hole a bit, I found this on the Channel Islands Harbor website, so perhaps in the near future a new hotel will stand in it's place. The Hampton Inn we stayed at actually used to be the "annex" of the resort.

Here's a photo of Casa Sirena taken the following morning.

As we sailed off to Anacapa Island......

Stay tuned for that post!

Daddy's Hot Dogs Revisited

I needed to drop by Penzy's on a recent weekend and wanted something quick and simple for lunch. Of course, all I needed to do was look across the street to a familiar sight. 

 I hadn't realized that it has been nearly two years since I last visited.....well, that kinda makes sense since I haven't been in this area much since the pandemic started.

The two tables were bring rolled out as I headed across the street.

A quick glance at the menu surprised me. Unlike almost everywhere else during these times it seems that prices have not gone up.

I had thought about just getting a Chicago Dog; but I had really enjoyed the "O" on my previous visit, that I just decided to order that.

 And I enjoyed it. While I really couldn't make out the bacon much, the acidity of the tomatoes, along with just the right amount of Russian dressing, and a bit of spice from the jalapeno relish really delivered.

And, I'm not sure if it was my imagination; but that hot dog seemed so tender.....almost delicate, enrobed in a warm and soft bun.

 Perhaps the atmosphere elevated the meal.......I ate standing at one of the two outdoor tables, no one around me, elbows on the table, sun shining brightly down on me......there wasn't much traffic on University on this day. It all seemed so normal, something which hasn't been "the norm" since March of last year. And for a moment, all seemed right in the world.

Daddy's Hot Dogs
1281 University Ave.
San Diego, CA 92103
Hours:
Tuesdays 11am - 230pm, 330pm - 7pm
Wed - Sat 11am - 10pm
Closed on Sunday and Monday

2022 Tournament of Roses Rose Parade float road test #2, Breakfast at Flo's Coffee Shop (Azusa)

mmm-yoso!!! is a food blog and there are many reasons we find places to eat.  Cathy is writing today about the reason and the place.  Kirk is busy at work.

Link to 2022 Rose Parade float Road Test #1

This past Saturday, The Mister and I woke around 4 a.m., let the dogs out and got ready to drive North.  We left the driveway at 5 a.m. and got on the foggy, dark, empty freeway.  There was a stop for coffee and treats in Tustin and then the sun was out and we were in Irwindale, at Phoenix Decorating Company, where we have not been since we decorated floats for the 2020 Rose Parade back in December of 2019.  Floats were already on the road, being tested for mechanics and maneuverability.

  "Arctic Dream", the 2022 entry by Oddfellows and Rebekahs, a service organization, is so cute! 
 The Lutheran Hour Ministries will have their 72nd entry in the 2022 Parade. "Jesus Teaches" goes with the Theme of the Parade, which is celebrating education. 
 The Royal Court will ride in the same float as in the past few years.  The exterior 'beaning' looks good; other details and, of course, flowers, will be added during decorating.
 The Farmers Insurance float underwent its first test.  I can see pine and palm trees-and the driver (in the center of the float).  The driver looks down and follows the 'rose colored line' along Colorado Boulevard during the parade and does not see the route; there is a 'spotter' at the front of every float.  
You can see the 'spotter' seated in the front of this rebar shell of a float undergoing its first road test.  Unsure of who the sponsor is, but suspect it might be Trader Joe's, because of the banana shape near the back.
 The 'spotter' will be out in the open-on the 'jeep'- of this float, sponsored by Mutual of Omaha.  It looks like and ode to Wild Kingdom  (a classic conservation educational television show since 1963, currently found on social media and digital channels). 
 The Kiwanis International, "Dream to Achieve" is another cute entry.  Seeing the whimsical floats rolling down Colorado Boulevard on January 1 is a great way to start the year. 
 
We were finished taking photos pretty early, since the testing started sooner than 7.  Drove North, over the 210 and headed East on Foothill Boulevard; Route 66. Look at the sign; we had to stop.
 Flo's has been in this location since 2012; it had been a Mexican restaurant for decades prior. 

 Breakfast has a good amount of choices.  Thing is, we really did not want any coffee, since we had been awake since 4 a.m., so I can't comment on the 'coffee shop' part of their name. It was pretty crowded and we sat at the counter.
 The Mister ordered the Waffle Combo ($10.45) with over easy eggs and link sausages.  The sausages were very good, eggs cooked properly and the waffle had a distinct vanilla flavor and was soft.
Not being able to decide and wanting savory, the Huevos Divorciados ($10.45) was my choice.  Two wonderful distinct salsas covering two over easy eggs along with (very good) rice and beans.  The red salsa had a distinct heat and texture: finely diced onions were still crisp (and not part of the heat factor; the chilis had a great heat) the tomatoes added sweetness and were chunky. The green salsa was great, with a garlic an citrus undertone and smooth tomatillo tang.

All in all, a great breakfast on an early Saturday. 

Flo's Coffee Shop 248 West Foothill Blvd Azusa, CA 91702  (626) 334-6600 Open Daily 6:30-2

Patrons of all occupations eat here.  The fire station is on the next block.  

 

Sunday Sandwiches - Sunrise Deli (Miramar)

Here's another one of those Mom-and-Pop sandwich shops in a business mall. I found this one while looking up the address of Creative Deli. Located on Silverton Avenue off of Dowdy Drive is Sunrise Deli.

The place really seems to be a favorite of those "working stiffs" and there always seems to be a line. All my visits were between 930 and 1030....and in each case there was a queue lined up. Nothing fancy here; no online ordering, open Monday to Friday from 7am to 3pm.

The prices are quite reasonable; especially in these days of Covid......the service is friendly; the woman behind the counter so very nice, and in all my three visits, I got my sandwich in ten minutes! 

The menu is rather large with all types of burgers, breakfast type dishes, burritos, quesadillas, and of course a good variety of sandwiches.

On my first visit, I got the Club Deluxe ($7.99).

Which was served on nicely toasted sourdough. For me; it as the combination of bacon, avocado, and the fact that the sandwich wasn't over-dressed in mayo, which made the sandwich for me. Perhaps this is nothing revolutionary....but I just wanted a decent sandwich and the price point was good as was the sandwich. All ingredients in balanced quantity.

I'm fairly certain they use standard Boar's Head product; but I really liked the way they sliced the roast beef.

So, on my next visit I got the "Jimmy Special" ($7.99).

And like my previous experience; the sourdough bread was nicely toasted so the sandwich held up quite well during the 10-15 minute drive back to the office.

I had thought that the roast beef had been cut a bit too thick; but it did well in combination with the mild milky-saltiness of the two slices of Swiss Cheese. Again, in terms of proportion; it was just enough mustard and mayo. And the avocado really brought a wonderful buttery texture, along with a mild grassy-nuttiness to the sandwich.

I had enjoyed the roast beef here that on my last visit I was just going to order the Roast Beef sandwich; but when I got to the window; I had changed things up and went with the Miramar Special ($8.75), which seemed like sort of a "Cheesesteakish" kinda thing.

For me; the bread to filling ratio was a bit off for this one....though like before, it was toasted nicely and held up well.

The bacon was a bit lost in all of this; but like before, the avocado really helped the sandwich along as I wish there was more Peperoncino Swiss both of which kept the dryness of all that bread at bay. The griddled roast beef was a bit too hard and dry for my taste....and in this case; the sandwich could have probably used a bit more mayo!

Still, the service was wonderful, and even though the woman was apologizing to all the guys in front of me....she seemed to know them all by name for the recent price increases, I found myself to be perfectly fine with the pricing.

I'm happy to have found another option for those days where I need to grab an early lunch.......and I do find that it helps my mental state to escape from the office; if only for a few minutes. The prices are reasonable, the woman working the counter is so nice....she even remembered my name after my second visit! And I love supporting these type of local businesses.

Sunrise Deli
7920 Silverton Ave.
San Diego, CA 92126
Phone number
(858) 433-7139
Hours:
Mon - Fri 7am - 3pm

Please have a safe week!