Nordstrom Cafe-It's air conditioned-and good!

mmm-yoso!!! is the blog and Cathy is one of the bloggers. ( That would be me).  There is Kirk and also Ed.  They blog when they feel like it.  Today, I feel like it. Here goes!

Hi, I'm back. We have had some record heat out here lately and I must admit that blogging has not been in the forefront of my 'things to do', but I have a lot of photos in the camera and want to share some meals with you before I forget about the details completely.

This past weekend (Labor Day and all the days preceding it) the weather was crazy.  108° in Santee, with 40% humidity making the heat index read 116°.  The Mister and I headed downtown- closer to where the temperature was "only" about 95°.

We went to Horton Plaza, an outdoor shopping mall.

The top floor is crawling with outdoor eating places and there was a light breeze.  Then I remembered where I go when it is "winter" out here {The definition of winter in San Diego consists of  raining outdoors-rain that is measured in 1/100ths of an inch, by the way}.

Yes, when it is raining out, it is pretty much "soup weather" and Nordstrom's not only has an indoor Cafe, but also the best tomato basil soup, ever.  I crave it and treat myself to a bowl when I can.  I just didn't blog it this past January.

So, the Nordstrom Cafe menu: (click on it if you want to read it)

You walk up, order, pay and then find a seat at any of the lovely, cloth covered tables.  Some with a view of the bay.  So civilized.  So air conditioned.

We were not too hungry in this heat and didn't even want some of the good coffee they serve  endlessly for $1.25, and were also so undecided, (except I knew I wanted the tomato basil soup) that we each got the soup-salad-1/2 sandwich combo($8.50)

First the soup: the tomato-basil is always available and the clam chowder was the soup of the day this day.

Each are served with the in-store-made Parmesan 'crouton' shown here.  You get two of those lovely, crispy, toasty croutons with a bowl of soup.  The tomato-basil is so thick it seems to have cheese as an ingredient, but I have asked and there isn't any.  It is just made with fresh tomatoes ground down to a fine grind/ever so slight lumpiness that is very rich and deep tomato flavor with a light basil undertone.

The clam chowder was not as thick, broth-wise and had celery and potatoes in it.  The clam flavor was not overwhelming but the clam pieces were fairly large and juicy.  Not the best bowl of clam chowder, but not the worst.  Each of the soups had no salt and/or pepper added.  A good option for those who are watching out for such additives.

I got the salad with balsamic dressing and a 1/2 tuna salad sandwich on marble bread. 

The salad was mixed baby greens topped with julienned red and yellow bell peppers and carrots and, of course a cherry tomato, halved ( I hate biting into whole cherry tomatoes; they pop in your mouth, like eyeballs...)

The tuna salad is nice and  made with mayonnaise and onions- but you taste the tuna more than the other ingredients. Lettuce and tomato slices are also on the sandwich.  The bread is very fresh here, always.  A nice hearty rye.

The Mister got the same salad with blue cheese dressing (a good one, He said) and the 1/2 turkey sandwich on  multi grain roll.  Even thought the bread itself was smaller than the slice I got, the amount of meat on the sandwich was plentiful and the same amount you would get on a 1/2 sandwich made with bread slices.   The turkey had a very good roasted flavor; higher quality than you get in sandwich shops these days. The roll was soft and had a good chewiness to it, very fresh. 

Our water glasses were continuously refilled and when we were done we were presented with two of those lovely dark chocolate mint filled sticks.

It used to be that all the stores offered fine dining options, but most of those stores (and their restaurants) are gone and missed, but Nordstrom's is still here.  Stop in.  The food is excellent and not too expensive and the service is divine.

Nordstrom's Cafe- inside all stores.  There is also a coffee cart area outside all the stores.  With snacks.

Comments

[Nikki]

Thanks for the trip back to Memory Lane. When I was working at Horton Plaza from 1987-1989, the Nordstrom Cafe was my favorite place to be on my breaks. I'd get my usual cup of Earl Grey tea, go outside and read the paper, and watch as many of the buildings near Seaport Village were being built. I left SD in 1993, after graduating from State, so I never did get to see what that whole area became... but I digress. I'm glad to see some things never change... the staff at Nordstrom Cafe (and the carts outside the store entryways) were always terrific folks, and the food always fresh and tasty.

Great blog, BTW. The more I read of it, the more I'm tempted to go back to San Diego. lol

[Beth]

Nordstrom Cafe is one of my favorites! I can't recall ever having something bad there. They do such a good, solid job of American cafe food with super-friendly service. Glad to see it getting kudos! :)

[Carol]

The Mister and I love tomato soup and that tomato basil soup looks delicious with the *large* croutons. Not that I go to the mal much anymore but I'll have to try it for lunch since I work very close to UTC. A combo with the blue cheese pear salad and roast beef parmesian ciabata sounds really good!

[Cathy]

Welcome, Nikki! Thanks for the nice words. I am so glad I could bring back some good memories for you. It is why I like to blog. The area is very changed now and a bit safer than it used to be, but also much more traffic than in 1993. Life goes on...
Hi, Liz- It is wonderful and perfect in its simple menu...
Hey, Carol- Each location may have a few different things on the menu. We didn't have a choice of salad, just the dressing... and the sandwich choices were limited also. But you and your Mister could just get a full one of each and share it..along with a bowl of soup, of course. But really, I can make a meal of a bowl of soup and cup of coffee. Everything is good here. I didn't even mention the desserts...

[Alice Q. Foodie]

Just an FYI - for whatever reason, they no longer have an in-store restaurant at UTC. They have a quick service place outside with some pre-packed sandwiches and salads, which also serves as the coffee bar, but I don't think they serve the soup. Fashion Valley is the biggest one - and Horton is kind of a secret, since it's up on the top floor - they also have a little patio with a nice view. I always like to get the cup of soup, and you can get half of any salad they make, or half of any sandwich, but they don't advertise it. They also have a great creme brulee!

[Cathy]

Thanks for the head's up, Alice. Now that I think about it, I have been going to Wired for my soup fix when ever up there and haven't been to the Nordstrom Cafe at UTC in about a year...I know the Cafe at North County Fair is open though. Sorry, Carol :(

[Carol]

Thanks, Alice and Cathy. I'll keep those in mind when I'm in those areas. I'll have to find a reason to pop down to Horton. Maybe some early Christmas shopping?? ;-)

[Steamy Kitchen]

Mom used to take us kids to Nordstrom Cafe for lunch all the time. It was fancy and nice - yet it was in a mall so if we rugrats were rowdy, loud and farted in public she wasn't that embarrased.

[PGS]

Well, my Annual Tomato Soup phase is getting close--so the timing is perfect.

I'm just curious though, how do you know what it's like to bite into eyeballs?

[Cathy]

Hi again Carol-Well, Costco has Christmas decor and food gift items out already, so I would imagine you can at least find something that would be a gift somewhere in that mall. You do have to buy something to get validated parking...
Hi, SK- GLad to bring back some memories for you...to share...with all of us. :*)
Hi PGS- Glad to help out with those cravings...as to the second question: Let's just say a Double Dog Dare was involved, as well as cash, in a Chinese restaurant with a whole fish. I am so glad you read every word I write. :)

[RONW]

was that record heat hot enough to fry eggs on the sidewalk? And if so, what's the best cooking oil to use for the occassion?

[Cathy]

Heh heh heh, your comments always make me smile, Ron. It was indeed so hot that when I took a basket of wet clothes out to hang on the line, and was outside for 5 or fewer minutes, the whole basket was bone dry, without having to hang anything on the line. A small, scary miracle. I would however, merely fry an egg on a teflon pan an bet it would have worked any of those days. I use butter for that sort of thing...

[Tresha]

I want to purchase an entire carrot cake does anyone know where nordstroms purchases their deserts from? They are to die for .

[Trish]

I was visiting San Diego in April and my son took me to Nordstrom's Cafe to try the soup. It was awesome! I can't wait to see if they have it here in Honolulu.

[Cathy]

I am so glad your son brought you here, Trish. The whole concept of restaurant inside the store is the best idea ever. A holdover from the 50's and 60's. I see many stores trying to (sort of) emulate it, again. Welcome to the commenting side of the blog.

[Betty Dunn]

I hadn't been to Nordstrom's Cafe in quite a while but today while shopping at North County Fair Mall, I decided to go. The food was truly wonderful just like everything else at Nordstroms. But the BEST part of dinner was the Pear Almond Bar!! I'd sure like the receipe for that. If anyone knows where they get it, let me know. It's fabulous. While the Cafe is inside the mall, it's fun to sit at a table facing the door and look into the different departments and make plans to cruise it after eating. A terrific day.

[Cathy]

I'll ask around, Betty. I think I know what I'd like to do for lunch today. Welcome to our blog.