Hey there! You've found mmm-yoso!!!, the blog with more than seven years of writings of what Kirk and a few friends eat, drink and do. Today, Cathy is writing about a recent meal.
As you may know, San Diego County is more than 4200 square miles of land. More than 70 miles of Pacific shoreline from Mexico to the Northernmost edges of the county and inland another almost 200 miles from the shore to the Easternmost edge of the county. What we call "East County" is really still the Westernmost one third of the entire County.
This -in the background- is Cowles Mountain, the highest point in the City of San Diego, just South of Mission Trails Regional Park (the largest municipally owned park in the State of California), in a neighborhood known as San Carlos. The park has over forty miles of hiking, mountain bike and equestrian trails, a rock climbing area, a campground adjacent to a small lake. Many, many people drive to Cowles Mountain daily and hike it, day and night.
Less than a mile from both the Park(which has an entrance from Mission Gorge Road near Jackson) and the Mountain(which is on Navajo at Golfcrest), on the SE corner Jackson Drive at Navajo Road, is The Trails, an eatery serving breakfast, lunch and occasionally, dinner. (See the top of Cowles Mountain to the left all the way back?)
When you walk into the recently refurbished space (the restaurant was featured on an Episode of Restaurant:Impossible), to your left is a
small area selling souveniers. Yes, this restaurant does have many gluten-free choices on rather large separate menu as well as being close in proximity to the actual Trails and Mountain.
Bright, clean, spacious and inviting. The Trails has greatly improved.
The condiment choices are pretty much the usual.
On this day, The Mister chose one of the before 9 a.m. weekday chalkboard specials- a multigrain waffle with bacon($4.99). The waffle was light and fluffy, not heavy or chewy...though you could tell it was a bit 'healthier' and had more fiber than a traditional Belgian waffle. The bacon was quite flavorful; something I have not expected with thin cut bacon.
This particular morning was not about a sensible portion nor about low calorie. I came here for this- the French toast croissant combination, with two poached eggs and one sausage (I could have had two meats and no egg as an option)($7.99). I continue to try and replicate this method of making French toast using a croissant as the delivery mechanism. The egg is only on the top, the bottom is just toasty, flaky croissant goodness. The sausage is quite good (despite the dark color in this photo). It's juicy and has many spices in it, making it the perfect counter to the slight sweetness of the croissant. The eggs, as always, were perfectly poached, with runny, orange yolks.
Coffee is $2.29 and constantly refilled. In addition to an entire gluten free menu (including GF beer), cinnamon roll pancakes and Elvis Cakes (chocolate chip banana pancakes topped with peanut butter) seem to be a common breakfast order here.
It's a neighborhood place as well as a destination: just like Mission Trails Park and Cowles Mountain.
The Trails Eatery 7389 Jackson Drive (next to Keils Market) San Diego, Ca 92119 Open 7 days 7 am-3 pm and 5 pm-9pm Wed-Sat. (Lunch starts at 10:30) website
Buttery croissant everything is so so so gooood.
Posted by: nhbilly | Wednesday, 24 April 2013 at 06:26 AM
Hi Cathy, I liked this place even before the change when it was Megan's Cafe. I need to get that t-shirt, "bacon is a vegetable" haha.
Posted by: Dennis | Wednesday, 24 April 2013 at 07:56 AM
I've never been to this part of town before. Is there a farmer's market in the area too? We might try to run Cowles mtn soon so this would be a great place to eat afterwards!You had me at Elvis Cakes (chocolate chip banana pancakes topped with peanut butter)...
Posted by: Faye | Wednesday, 24 April 2013 at 12:26 PM
So true, Bill. Before having it here, I never could imagine such a treat.
Oh yes, Megans was a really nice place, Dennis. It never was as crowded as Trails is now, though. I thought you'd like the t-shirt!
There are more than 50 Farmers Markets a week in this large county, Faye! Link: http://www.sdfarmbureau.org/BuyLocal/Farmers-Markets.php It looks like San Carlos is on Thursday. There are lines on weekends, so get there early!
Posted by: Cathy | Wednesday, 24 April 2013 at 01:21 PM
ermegerd I haven't ever heard of croissant french toast before but it sounds brilliant! the colors in the restaurant look very festive too, sounds like a lovely breakfast.
Posted by: foodhoe | Saturday, 27 April 2013 at 07:59 AM
Love their omelets and their muffins, it was good before Robert Irvine remade it over. Since then it's been even better
Posted by: Loren | Saturday, 27 April 2013 at 07:41 PM
It is the most perfect food ever, FH, and it was a sort of celebratory meal. Thank you for teaching me a new word.
You are right, Loren, the food always was good here. But the brighter, cleaned up space and menu changes makes Trails more notable. It certainly has a more eclectic following these days.
Posted by: Cathy | Sunday, 28 April 2013 at 02:42 PM