mmm-yoso!!!

Kim's Deli

In previous posts I've mentioned the phrase "Google is your friend". Here's another example.....I went ahead and Googled "Teriyaki Beef Sandwich" and was surprised at one of the results. It was fairly close to the office, named Kim's Deli....which seemed like one of those little business park sandwich shops. Looking over the menu, I was fascinated and based on the name, well, it immediately reminded me of The Sandwich Place. I went ahead and drove on over finding the shop in (of course) a business park at the end of a cul-de-sac.

I entered and headed over to the social distancing marks....I was the only person in the place. Soon enough, a very nice Korean woman came over and I ordered the Teriyaki Beef sandwich, priced nicely at $7.

I went ahead and drove back to the office and opened my sandwich.

This was actually not bad for the price. The beef, while obviously reheated in a microwave was more tender than what I expected and while a bit on the sweeter side, nicely marinated and not overly salty. It's actually better than TSP's. The bread was standard issue a bit crumbly, but yeasty. I'm not sure about the provolone cheese on this, the jury's out.....I'll try it again and see. There was a bit too much mayo, but this was a decent sandwich....especially for seven bucks.

While waiting for my sandwich; I noticed that there were some poke bowls (sorry, not for me) and a Bulgogi Bowl ($9) available. The woman working told me it was available every day. So, a week later, I called in my order, which was ready for pick up when I arrived.

I was quite surprised at the heftiness of my package and when opened was surprised at the quantity of food.

I cracked up when I opened my "box" up....as this was bit more than a "bowl"; but beyond that, the plate totally reminded me of something I would get from a lunchwagon back in my hanabuddah days or if they added in some, say namul and kimchi, it would look like one of the "local kine" (I always say local style meat and three) Korean takeout places.

Nothing fancy here; the japchae was straightforward; on the salty side and mostly just noodles.

The Bulgogi was the same meat as the teriyaki; but more tender this time and fairly well marinated.

Again, no frills, straightforward.

I mean, really, what do you expect at this price point?

The green salad was fine, fresh, with a sesame dressing.

The extra sauce for the bulgogi tasted like Yoshida's.

The rice was plentiful, but on the dry side.

No complaints really; I felt I got what I paid for...….

After this visit; I decided that I needed to try a deli sandwich to just complete the set. I called in an order for the Green Chili Roast Beef ($7). Again I called in my order which was ready for pick-up when I arrived.

As you can see; the sandwich used a standard issue telera style roll; though it was a bit more substantial than some I've had.

This one fell a bit short for me; mainly because I wished for a bit less lettuce and more roast beef. The slice of green chili only covered half the sandwich as well. There was quit a bit of avocado in this though. It was on the bland side overall.

Kim's seems to be a good place for hard working folks to get decent food at a good price.

Folks who are regular readers of our little blog know that I have a definite affection for these family owned, mom-and-pop places. Nothing fancy here; just decent food at good prices and on many days....well, that just fits the bill.

Kim's Deli
8515 Arjons Drive
San Diego, CA 92126
(858) 566-0370
Hours:
Mon - Fri 7am - 2pm
Closed on Saturdays and Sundays

Times "BC" (Before Covid) - Remember Brunches? Tribute Pizza, Nate's Garden Grill, and Dan Diegos

The Missus and I aren't real breakfast/brunch kinda folks......especially the pancake/omelette/etc...… A simple croissant will often do. I know, the "most important meal of the day" and all that stuff. Still, breakfast will often make the Missus feel tired, lazy, and sluggish....so there's not much of that going on in our household. However, when we do want to have brunch (and then probably head back home for a nap) we enjoy something that's not quite conventional as you will soon see.

At the end of 2019 and during the beginning of 2020 I was starting to work on a collection of these brunches....and then Covid-19 hit. And who knows when we'll be happily munching and brunching away next? I was just going to delete these photos.....but since these places are still open for takeout; I thought why not just go ahead and do a "COMC" (Clearing Out the Memory Card) kind of post.

So here goes:

Tribute Pizza:

A favorite of the Missus had started serving brunch and we thought we'd try it out. And we really enjoyed it....this was our favorite of the four.

The Missus loved that kale with pesto, that I started making a similar item that's a staple for the Missus's lunches. (Photo on the right)

We really enjoyed this brunch. We haven't been to Tribute since the pandemic started, but will hopefully rectify things soon.

I'm hoping when the pandemic is resolved they start up brunch again.

Tribute Pizza
3077 N Park Way
San Diego, CA 92104
(619) 450-4505
Takeout Hours:
Mon - Wed 4pm - 8pm
Thurs     4pm - 9pm
Friday    1pm - 9pm
Saturday  12pm - 9pm
Sunday    12pm - 8pm

Nate's Garden Grill:

I've enjoyed my breakfasts at Nate's.

I think I mostly enjoy the vibe and setting.....

The brunches have always been quite rustic and hearty.

And I believe they are doing brunch for takeout on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am - 3pm

Nate's Garden Grill
3120 Euclid Ave
San Diego, CA 92105
(619) 546-7700
Takeout Hours:
Wed - Fri  1130am - 8pm
Saturday   9am - 3pm, 4pm - 8pm
Sunday     9am - 3pm
Currently Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays

Dan Diegos:

And here's one from my 'hood. I hadn't been in a while.

Man, this was soooo much food.....

And that huge bowl of gravy went straight to my arteries.

So, of course the fruit bowl made me feel much better......right?

Really nice folks here. More about diner/pub grub and portions....but every once in a while....

No longer serving brunch, but open for takeout.

Dan Diegos Pub
2415 Morena Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92110
Current Takeout Hours:
Mon - Thurs 330pm - 930pm
Fri - Sun   1pm - 930pm

So there you go....one from the memory card. Who knows when we'll be brunching again. And even though it's never been a priority for us.....I do miss it.

 

 

Munich to Stuttgart - Leberkäse From Metzgerei Schnieder (You know, it tastes like.....)

I'm sure I've mentioned this before. I love traveling by train; whether it's Japan (amazing) or Europe; or even the US I could easily spend an entire day on a train. The Missus though, does not have the same belief, though She does humor me. So, when I was in the planning stage for our visit to Munich, of course our final destination for the trip was Paris, I found that the "fast train" times from Munich to Paris timed in at a bit over 5 1/2 hours. The Missus does not want to spend more than 4 hours on a train, so I had to come up with a plan. Doing a bit of research; I found that train times for Munich to Stuttgart was about 2 1/2 hours and Stuttgart to Paris clocked in at a tad over 3 hours. After doing a bit of research; it seemed like Stuttgart might be a nice place to spend an evening. And so it came to be.

We were staying a short stroll from Munich Central Train Station and also staying right across the street from the Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof.

Our ride was uneventful and our room was ready when we arrived. We freshened up and, you know the Missus we headed out. The pedestrian only Königstrasse was literally outside our door. The shopping area consisted of mostly chain stores; you know H&M, Zara, and something called TK Maxx? We stopped in a food store and the Missus was immediately engulfed in Haribo products, which She enjoys.

The Missus was less than amused when I mentioned forgetting to tell Her that Haribo was founded in Germany. Anyway, it was a bit of over stimulation which caused purchasing paralysis and the Missus eventually lost focus and just bought a couple of items. So at least for the moment "Meine brieftasche wurde gerettet".

At the end of the street is a large and lovely square, Schlossplatz, the palace square.

It was a lovely day and this being the end of May (2019), folks were taking advantage of the lovely weather.

On one side of the square resides the Neues Schloss ("New Palace").

Along with other historic buildings like the Kunstgebäude ("Art Building").

Other historic buildings, a lot of green spaces and some interesting memorials.

That's the Memorial to Victims of Nazis above and the Mercury Pillar below.

By this time; the Missus and I wanted something small to eat. It was mid-afternoon and we just needed something to hold us until dinner. A block away from the Schlossplatz is the Markthalle (Market Hall), so I suggested we take a look there.

And while it was fun oogling the produce.....we spent an inordinate amount of time looking at white asparagus.....

Right at the other end of the Market Hall is another pedestrian street; Hirschstrasse. And as we strolled down the street, I saw this shop.

While the Missus had a seat; I decided to take a look. And though I wasn't able to read the menu.....

I saw a few things I was interested in and I think the friendly woman working got a kick out of me trying to figure things out. In the end, I got the Missus a Spam ummm, Leberkässemmel (remember the "sir...please no not say Spam....please...…"). This was quite good; even better than what we had in Munich.

That roll was yeasty and crusty; the formed meat was fairly tender, and yes, it tasted like a cross between bologna and "you know what".....

I enjoyed hat I had ordered even more; Paprika Leberkäse, which along with the good roll, was crisp around the edges.

Loved the pickles and red peppers that was studded in the meat. There was a slight smokiness to this as well. Really cheap (like 2 Euroes each) and (more than) enough to hold us until dinner.

Metzgerei Schneider
Hirschstrasse 8
Stuttgart, Germany

Hunger sated, we headed off back in the direction we had come from. The afternoon would soon be heading into evening and we still wanted to do a bit more shopping and exploring.

Thanks for stopping by!

Takeout Revisit to Chicago Fire Grill

I can tell that the pandemic is raging on, just by the fact that I've already done Covid-19 takeout posts on Chicago Fire Grill and SuperNatural Sandwiches......and now I'm circling back! Anyway, here goes.

Chicago Fire Grill:

I had ben wondering how George was doing; so I decided to get some takeout from Chicago Fire Grill. I tried calling in my order, but no one picked up. After trying a few times, I naturally thought the worst, so I headed on over.

Well, I shouldn't have worried.....the place was busier than before the pandemic. The two tables outside were full, there were three people waiting for takeout....and to tell you the truth; I'm really not used seeing this many people in one place these days and felt kind of weird. Everyone was well spaced and those not eating were wearing masks.

As for George, he was obviously too busy for any words of wisdom on this day. So, I just got my Chicago Dog and headed out. I think this is kind of bargain at 6 bucks.

Over the last couple of visits, I was glad that they were back using poppy seed rolls....a good Chicago Dog should always be enrobed in one. Didn't care for the unwieldy wedge of tomato; it should have been thinner sliced and longer to cover more of the dog. No other complaints about the dog, which had a decent snap, the radioactive green relish, a good amount of onions. Though when it comes to it; I could have used more celery salt this time around.

A pretty good deal for six bucks these days....I mean, you can barely get an order of siu mai for that price nowadays, right?

Chicago Fire Grill
8935 Towne Centre Dr.
San Diego, CA 92122
Phone number
(858) 622-0224
Open Daily 11am - 9pm

Golden Bagel Cafe (El Cajon)

mmm-yoso!!! is being written by Cathy today; Kirk is still on a vacation with His Missus.

The Mister and I have tried to avoid patronizing chain businesses during this time of COVID-19 and lockdown.  The Golden Bagel, located at the intersection of Navajo and Fletcher Parkway, in El Cajon (right on the border of La Mesa) is locally owned and prides itself on fresh made, preservative free items.  It is a sister store of Cheers Deli which has been in business for 20+ years  and is located about a mile west. (I know, I have to do a post) 
 Stepping inside, the selection of bagels (25 flavors) is good in the early morning.  There are a variety of beverages available (although many opt for the Starbucks next door). There is plenty of out front seating.  Here's a quick sampling of some of our breakfasts here.
 Pumpernickel bagel with cream cheese ($2.99)  You can taste the rye flour in this bagel and it is so very fresh and bright. On the right here is a bialy- a baked bread (the bagels here are water boiled) topped with poppy seeds and onion.  A lighter, softer (yet chewy) bread, I like the differences between a bialy and a bagel.  Toasted and buttered is a wonderful treat. The cheese topped bagel is also a favorite  (with butter, $1.99).
 Ham and cheddar with avocado and tomato on an everything, open face. ($8.99  plus $1 for the avocado=$9.99; we went for it).  There is a choice of cheeses, the avocado made this kind of perfect.  Open face, warm and melted- shareable! (The open face sandwiches cost more than a regular bagel sandwich.  You can see each half is substantial).

 The open face smoked salmon ($11.99) (of course on pumpernickel) .  Pacific Northwest Smoked salmon (lox), cream cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, red onion, dill and capers (and a slice of a really good pickle).  Quality as well as quantity; more than enough to share.

There are wraps, focaccia, pizza melts, salads...a nice menu.  Always nice people work here.  We had always passed by and are so glad we have finally stopped (and stopped in again and again!)

Golden Bagel Cafe 2744 Fletcher Parkway El Cajon 92020 Open Mon-Sat 6 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun 7 a.m.-3 p.m. (619) 464-2243 Website

Sunday Sandwiches - Tadian Cafe

I noticed this little shop on my way to Hawaiian Fresh Seafood a couple of weeks back. There used to be a little sandwich shop named Café Seven; that I visited last year, but never returned. 

It was now named Tadian Café....interesting name. I wondered if the owners were Filipino....you see; back in Hawaii, I used to work with a fellow whose family was from the Province in the Phillipines bearing that name......we used to joke about a specific mountain in that province that had quite an "interesting" name.

After looking thru the online menu; I noticed things like smoothies, Teriyaki Plates, Broken Rice, among the sandwiches....there was a distinct fusion aspect to the menu......which, while particularly not enticing to me, made me a bit curious about the place.

So, I placed an online order and headed over to the Tadian Café. My order was ready and on the counter when I arrived....I was in and out in less than 2 minutes. The young lady prepping food was very pleasant and quite sweet.

And I headed back with my Chinese Sausage Sandwich ($7.99), which nicely priced. There are options for sandwiches online....I basically just wanted my bread toasted.

I quickly read the label on my bag which said "Tadian - Vietnamese Cuisine and Sandwiches"....which cleared up some of what I had in mi Cabeza....

This was a decent sandwich for the price and my favorite of the three that I've had from Tadian. The standard issue "French Roll" was somewhat airy; if a bit too dense to consider a banh mi. The lup cheong had been toasted and had what a pleasant chew to it....it might be a bit too tough for some; but I especially enjoyed this with the creamy avocado......lup cheong and avocado, who knew? The pickled jalapenos, you know, the type you buy at the Mexican market in a can, added acidity, a mild spice, and helped bring things together. Lettuce, tomato, onion, rounded out the sandwich, with the mayo adding richness, but being otherise unobtrusive.

Not a bad sandwich at all.

While taking a quick peek at the photo menu behind the counter, I noticed an interesting sandwich; which I don't recall seeing anywhere before - a Thai Roast Beef ($8.50). So, the next time I had a chance, I ordered one, adding sprouts (50 cents) and thinking it might need some heat, jalapenos.

This time my sandwich was waiting for me on the shelf right inside the shop.

I'm glad I got the jalapenos as even though this was a fairly hefty sandwich; this really didn't impress me in terms of "Thai" flavors....yes, there was some sweet and savory-salty flavors; but it would have been pretty run-of-the-mill and in need of some "zip" and more assertive flavors.

The roll was nicely toasted and somewhat crusty as well; which certainly helped things.

I also noticed a pack of LKK Sweet Chili Sauce and crushed red peppers in my bag. Perhaps I was supposed to add my own flavors?

This past week; I decided to grab a sandwich on the way home to check on Frankie. On my last visit, the young lady recommended the "Pastrami Bomb" ($8.99); so I decided to order it - on toasted sourdough.

When I got home I opened things up - it was a decent sized sandwich.

You can tell what my problem was with this, right? The bread hadn't been toasted enough and it had way too much honey-mustard...…..the bread was saturated as was the pastrami. I'm game to try this again; but will definitely ask for them to go easy on the honey-mustard mayo, since the pastrami tasted fine outside the sandwich and I think it would have been quite good evenly dressed.

I did however, get a tidbit of information on this visit. I asked the young lady about the meaning of the name and was told that in Vietnamese it means something like "let's go and eat".....I'm sure one of my "FOYs" will let me know if that is true or not.

So basically, there's an interesting range of sandwiches at Tadian; from Grill Cheeses and interesting variations on standards and a bunch of stuff on the menu with an Asian/Vietnamese flair. As most of my regular readers know; I have an affection for these independent, family-owned sandwich shops. The young lady working is so sweet and my sandwiches have always been ready for pick-up when I arrive, I'll definitely return.

Tadian Cafe
5955 Mira Mesa Blvd. Suite K
San Diego, CA 92121
Current Hours:
Mon - Fri 9am - 2pm

Takeout from Gourmet Artisan

Back in June, after I called and got a strange message from A Sandwich A'Fare and before I ended up going to the Philadelphia Sandwich Company, I called Gourmet Artisan and got an "voicemail full" message....which seemed kind of ominous. Were they closed temporarily, or permanently, or what? On a recent takeout revisit to SuperNatural Sandwiches, I noticed that Gourmet Artisan was open. So, a few days later, I decided to call....and I got a real person answering and placed an order for takeout.

I went with the Prosciutto Sandwich ($12). Upon opening the box at my desk I was rewarded with the distinct fragrance of parmesan and garlic from the fries; which made me quite happy as on my last visit it seemed that they had stopped with the parmesan, garlic, and truffle oil on the fries.

On the not-so-good side; the fries hadn't been fried enough and were really pale and of course, quite soggy.

The ciabatta could have been more toasted and was too chewy and doughy and over-powered the unevenly made sandwich. Enjoyed the peppery arugula; but everything else just fell flat.

There was one interesting thing that I noticed during my visit. There were three orders before me....each of them ordered burgers. Hmmm.....

So, a few weeks later; I decided to order a burger.....man, when was the last time I had a burger? What the heck is wrong with me?

I ordered the Tex-Mex Burger ($12). And, I was really happy to note that this time around, the fries were crisp and had a good amount of Parmesan and garlic.

The burger was not bad; I enjoyed the brioche style bun; which  was not quite up to the task, but really just displayed how moist the burger was. The patty was fairly lean, but had a pleasant beefiness, was decently seasoned, and was not bad at all. It was perhaps a tad on the mealy side in terms of texture, but was perfectly serviceable.

The fries, while not quite to level of what it used to be....lacking in truffle flavor, was nicely fried, and far from bland with a good amount of Parmesan.

I actually enjoyed the milky, melted Swiss cheese and a the sneaky jalapenos on this....heck, I may have another burger next time.

Gourmet Artisan Fine Sandwiches
7094 Miramar Road
San Diego, CA 92121
(858) 860-5814
Current Hours:
Mon - Fri 1030am - 215pm

Sunday Sandwiches - Rose Canyon Deli Revisited

Right before the "Covid-19 Hammer" came down; I was discussing places in the Bay Park/Morena/Bay Ho area with an acquaintance. I mentioned Rose Canyon Deli and the fellow seemed shocked that I knew of the place. Apparently, he worked in that same business park as the sandwich shop and figured that based on the rather obscure location I wouldn't know about the place. He then mentioned that Rose Canyon Deli was under new ownership which had added better quality and a "freshness" to the place. 

So, finally a few weeks back, on my way home to check on Frankie, needing to refuel at Costco, I decided to stop by.

The exterior of the place looks the same. 

The interior, now with plastic sheeting as a barrier for Covid-19 had also been freshened up a bit. As had the menu; which has now added smoothies.

The young lady working was very cheerful and pleasant.....previously an older couple had run the sandwich shop.

I went with the "Rocky" ($7.69).

A no-frills, but satisfying Roast Beef - Avocado - mayo - mustard sandwich on a nicely toasted roll. The Swiss Cheese added a nice milkiness, the red onion, a pungent-but slightly sweet touch. Wish the tomatoes were a bit riper; but heck, at this price point, I thought I got my money's worth. Plus, the young lady was so pleasant and cheerful....we need more of that during these times, right?

When folks mention places to me; I'll often ask for a recommendation. This fellow told me to try their wraps; specifically the Chicken Caesar Wrap; with the Spinach Tortilla, which admittedly would not have been something I would have ordered. But, I decided to give it a go ($6.99). This time I called ahead to minimize my time indoors and contact.

And while I did enjoy the spinach wrap; it was nicely toasted, with a nice bit of crunch to go with the doughy stretch, along with a mild charred-smokiness to it; the reheated chicken breast was bland and dry. Too much Caesar Spread on this as well. Not enough veggies to add acidity-sweetness-texture. Oh well, can't win 'em all, right?

One out of two ain't bad....the location is close enough and the prices reasonable, plus I enjoy supporting these small, locally owned businesses so I'll definitely return, especially since the young lady working the counter is so very nice. And, heck, I might just get the veggie wrap next time!

Rose Canyon Deli
4901 Morena Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92117
(858) 270-7600
Hours:
Mon - Fri 7am - 3pm

 

Munich - A Morning Walk, Weisswurst at the Viktualienmarkt, and "No Please Do Not Call it....."

Our Monday in Munich was going to be our "walking day", as the Missus had a broad outline worked out. We headed out from our apartment and a few blocks away got to the Missus's starting point, a large square officially known as Karlsplatz, but which most folks in Munich call "Stachus".

Right past the square as you head toward the city center, you pass through Karlstor. While the city walls of Munich were torn down near the end of the 18th Century; three of the gates remain.

This gate is one of the entrances to Munich's "Pedestrian Zone". It is obviously one of the main shopping streets as well.

We were surprised at all the "little surprises" we found on our way to our breakfast stop. It was fun and there was a lot to catch our attention and I'm sure we missed quite a bit as well.

I thought the fountain to the right was quite interesting. It's named Brunnenburbel - "Fountain Boy". It was quite interesting; apparently the fountain depicts a Satyr spitting water on a boy. The story goes that the boy was trying to stop the Styr from peeing, so the Satyr grabbed the boy and started spitting on him. I mentioned this to someone and was told; "it is very German....you see, in Belgium, they celebrate a boy peeing (Mannekin Pis)...here, even the little boys know it's wrong, and try to stop it, even at a cost". I dunno know about that, but it's very quaint, no?

During our walk down Neuhauser Strasse we saw a few things that reminded us of places we had been to before.

The first was at this place.

This is the German Hunting and Fishing Museum. And no it wasn't the giant Wels catfish outside; but rather this fellow, do you recognize him from a previous post?

Yes, it's a copy of Il Porcellino…..you recall that in Florence, I managed to "feed Mr Piggy".....so, according to legend, I'm supposed to return to Florence one day!

And just a bit further down we came across this fellow!

Shades of Salzburg. We had just come from Salzburg, where you couldn't help but run into Stephan Balkenhol's "Sphaera". And here, leading to a shopping lane named Kaufingertor Passage was this sculpture. I had a bit of a time trying to find out the name of this one. After a bit of work; I found that the name of this piece was simply “Man with outstretched arms and white shirt”. Go figure.

And of course all roads....or make that pedestrian streets leads to Marienplatz.

Even on a Monday at right before 9 am, the place was fairly busy.

On our way back, later in the day, we'd actually get a chance to see the Glockespiel on the New Town Hall go off. It's quite entertaining.

It might be obvious to you; but Marienplaz literally means "Mary's Square". The column that stands near the middle of the square is named Mariensäule "Mary's Column", a Marian column that dates back to 1638 and was created to celebrate Bavaria's victory over Swedish Troops during the Thirty Years War. At the top of the column a golden statue of the Virgin Mary stands on a gold crescent moon, befitting her title of "Queen of Heaven".

In case you were wondering what happened to the Old Town Hall; well, it's right there at the end of the square.

In retrospect, the Missus and I were quite surprised at all the church's in Munich, we ended up visiting quite a few. Our last stop before "breakfast" was St Peter's Church.

St Peter's Church is said to be the oldest Catholic Church in Munich. It is also noted that as far back as the 8th Century monks lived around a little church on this hill. This church dates back to the 12th Century.

I found of this interesting and I really enjoyed the ceiling Frescoes.

But there was one main reason I wanted to visit. In one of the side Altars of the church you'll find a coffin of glass. The skeleton in that coffin is covered with a bejeweled body stocking....gold and jewels abound. The skeleton's eyes are glass.

This is the skeleton of Saint Munditia who is the Patron Saint of....wait for it.....Spinsters! Her remains have been interred in the church since 1675.

Well, after that visit.....it was time to grab a rather late breakfast.

We had enjoyed our short visit to the Viktualienmarkt on the day we arrived in Munich, so I really wanted to check the place out again and I also wanted the Missus to try some Weisswurst and it had to be eaten at the right time.....according to tradition Weisswurst should never be eaten after the bell chimes for noon. Traditionally, Weisswurst were made without preservatives fresh each morning, so they needed to be consumed before midday.

The Viktualienmarkt Beer Garden doesn't open until 10am, which is why we spent the morning wandering around a bit. After arriving we went and checked out some shops and produce stands.

Thing were fairly laid back and quite relaxed when we arrived.

And after exploring for a bit; we headed off to the Beer Garden.

And ordered the Missus Her Weisswurst. No beer for us; 10am is too early for "beer o'clock"....at least for us....even in Munich.

I instructed the Missus to peel off the casing before eating. I'd read that Weisswurst is white because no nitrites. which preserve color are used in making this pork, veal, and fatback, sausage. The Missus loved it! This was fairly mild in flavor, not salty, you could make out a bit of porkiness, some almost citrus tones....it was quite good. The Missus is now sold on Weisswurst…….She even prefers it without mustard. She also enjoyed the Sauekraut as well. This as enough for both the Missus and I for a pseudo brunch.

As we were leaving the Viktualienmarkt  area I passed the little shop above. I saw the sign.....displayed to the right and something caught my eye. Leberkässemmel….for 2 Euroes! Leberkäse is a Bavarian and Austrian specialty that folks compare to bologna. This was a nice slice of meat product tucked into a roll (semmel), with mustard to cut the porkiness and salt. I really enjoyed this.

You know, the flavor is very familiar. As we were walking up the street, I told the Missus, "you know this really tastes like...." when a tall gentleman turned around and in a very kindly voice said, "sir...please no not say Spam....please...…" Okay, then...…..let's just say it was delicious, how's that? (pssst, it does kinda taste like you know what...….)

We were having a lot of fun in Munich and our day wasn't even half done!

Thanks for stopping by!

The Turkey Day Any Day from Gourmet Bagger and Meet the "Bomb Squad"

I recently had to expand my "Covid-19 range" again. Apparently, the Missus had a package to pick up at the post office on Midway....with postage due? Anyway, this one was just by a few blocks. I decided to grab something for lunch nearby and called the Gourmet Bagger since it was just blocks from the Post Office.

They were pretty busy when I arrived, but folks were waiting outside for their orders and there were good, well spaced markings for the line to order.

My order was ready when I reached the window. I paid and left for the post office.

Back in the comments of my original post in 2018, "Derek R" recommended something called the "thanksgiving sandwich"; and I do have soft spot for turkey sandwiches with stuffing and just a touch of cranberry sauce and even gravy. So, I got the Turkey Day Any Day ($8.39).

Which is served in a French Roll, just like the Cheesesteak and Grinder. It came with a pretty hefty cookie as well.

The bread was light and yeasty, which definitely added positively to the sandwich. I thought there was a decent amount of standard issue, though moist thinly sliced turkey which did well in this framework. Sadly, I really couldn't taste the stuffing (I do like the version of this that Sandwich Emporium does) and the cranberry sauce wasn't evenly spread making some bites way to sweet and others with no cranberry sauce in it. I'd have also loved some gravy substitute with this sandwich.....weird I know....but it always takes me back to the open faced turkey sandwiches of my youth.

Not a bad sandwich, good service, I'll be back to try something else from the menu the next time I have pick stuff up from the Post Office for the Missus again.

Thanks for the rec DerekR!

The Gourmet Bagger
3357 Rosecrans St
San Diego, CA 92110
Covid-19 Hours:
Mon - Sat 1030am - 330pm
Sunday    11am - 3pm

So, I did make it to the Post Office, got to the counter (this is the location that used to have the "mystery doorway" where you had to ring a bell for pick-ups before Covid-19), and gave the nice woman my slip. She retrieved the package and told me that it had no postage and strangely no return address? I paid the postage and brought the parcel home. I turned it a bit and it sounded like there were some metallic rattling noises.

The Missus sent me a text and asked me to open the parcel. Hmmm.....this was kinda weird...perhaps our current pandemic has made me overly suspicious? I told the Missus that I'd take it to the back yard and open it. The Missus told me to wear gloves.

Just as I was ready to cut through the tape, the Missus told me to "hurry and wear some face protection just in case". Just in case! Just in case???? So, I quickly just grabbed stuff and threw this together. I'll admit, it ain't my best look.

The text conversation with the Missus was even more funny.

The Missus: "You look ready for a bomb"

Me: "Ummm, I don't think I'm bomb proof....more like fart proof"

My friends said that I reminded them of a character from Star Wars. Well, I'm thinking these times are making us all a bit nuts....so perhaps you'll get a chuckle out of this.

Oh, and what was in the parcel? Some snacks and candy the Missus ordered from a company.....shipping was supposed to be free! Well, I guess it was....for them! What kind of Mickey Mouse operation doesn't even have a return shipping label? So unprofessional.....

Oh well, another story for "the books".

Hope you had a great weekend!