It has been far too long since I dedicated an entire post to food. And coming on the heels of my last post highlighting my discontent with my ever-decelerating metabolism, I figured it was only appropriate to spend some quality time talking about my love-affair with food.
So today I thought I would spend some time talking about my favorite meals at restaurants on Highway 101 in North County San Diego (from Encinitas to Solana Beach). Since I talked about some of this back in 2009 (Click here to see my "Favorite Meals in San Diego"), I am just making additions, no repeats (except for Pizza Port off the Honorable Mention list).
(*My apologies to my food-blog expert friends at TwoDC for not having individual photos of each meal.*)
This
burger actually inspired this blog post, as I went there last night for
dinner and was in spice-tastic (and brew-ific) heaven.
My favorite beer place in all of San Diego also boasts my favorite burger in San Diego. If you are a fan of 'the spicy', then this is a must-have. Let's start with the ingredients - Fire Roasted Poblano Peppers, Avocado, Grilled Onions, Pepper-Jack, and Ancho-Mayo. Of all the wonderful goodness in that list, the absolute winner is the ancho-mayo. It is the unifying force that keeps the burger moist and spicy in every bite, and works with the creamy avocado for a decadence I can't explain without needing a moment to compose myself. This burger is not overpoweringly spicy (although last night's was pretty hot), and comes with a healthy serving of seasoned thin-cut fries. Holy hell, how good is food?
Santa Fe Chicken Sandwich
Sticking with the spicy sandwich theme, the Lumberyard Tavern & Grill (which happens to sit directly across from Encinitas Ale House) offers one of my favorite chicken sandwiches around. It has all the usual suspects of a spicy grilled chicken sandwich (avocado, pepper-jack, ortega chile, tomato and chipotle-aioli), but what makes this sandwich a must-have is...THE PRETZEL BUN. Oh man, these are 'tha bomb.' Wonderfully fresh and slightly sweet, fluffy yet spongy, these pretzel buns melt in your mouth. The sweetness of the bun works ridiculously well with the spiciness of the sandwich. This is one of the few sandwiches I eat and realistically consider ordering a second.
Mole Enchiladas
Making a surprise appearance on the list is a meal I had for the first time a few weeks ago. I have been going to El Callejon for a couple years now, mainly because they have one of the better margaritas in town. Their food has always been well cooked, well-seasoned and tummy-filling good, but at no point was there a meal I had to come back for. Until now. These mole enchiladas ('MOL-ay' as in the sauce, not the underground critter) were unreal. The poblano/chocolate infused mole sauce was so rich and thick that I ended up spooning it straight into my mouth. I'm going back for those very, very soon! AY CARAMBA!
Classic Fish Tacos
The best fish tacos in San Diego. If you take me to a place that has better fish tacos than here, I'll pay for your meal and love you forever, cuz these are scrumdiddlyumptious! The right amount of cabbage and salsa fresca goes a long way with these bad boys, especially with the lightly battered fish just melting in your mouth. I love to go here and sit in the bar, have a beer and some fish tacos...and normally contemplate ordering another plate of them. Sometimes I do. Other times I pat myself on the back for flexing restraint. Then that pat turns into a punch into the temple as I get depressed that I robbed myself of more fish tacos.
Carlsbad and Monterey Pizza (half-and-half)
This place got honorable mention in the 2009 post reference above, but it deserves it's own write-up. Our regular neighborhood stop, Port provides Julie and I with an easy outlet for nights we want good food with no effort. A quick phone call and leisurely walk up the street earns us a date with our two favorite pizzas split right down the middle! The Carlsbad has pesto, chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts and feta cheese, and the Monterey has pepperoni, mushrooms, onions and more artichoke hearts. They have the best crust around (super fluffy), and quite simply, they make an awesome pizza.
Chicken Sa-Tan and Pad Thai
Shout out to friend-of-the-blog Heidi on this one. One night we went on a dinner excursion and she introduced me to Siamese Basil and their solid menu. We started with the Chicken Sa-Tan, which were grilled chicken skewers with a peanut dipping sauce. An underwhelming order I know, but shockingly tasty, with the right amount of spice and heat on the chicken, and the perfect butteriness to the dipping sauce. Admittedly the most basic item in any Thai restaurant, the Pad Thai came highly recommended, so I I suppressed my natural instinct to order something new and exciting. Best decision ever. Apart from my fiance's home-made pad thai (I'm serious, come over on that night for dinner - perfection), Siamese Basil has the best around. The combination of peanut and sprouts with a surprisingly oily soy glaze is heaven on a plate. They always have Stone as a beer option too...so they also get a coveted "LivinTheDream11 Good Job" sticker.
Kalua Pig and Macaroni Salad
Let me start here by saying I normally detest macaroni salad. There are so many ways to mess it up, and normally restaurants do. It's either too sweet, or too creamy, or lacking in taste, or people try and put their own spin on it and ruin it in their own creative way. But Kealani's does it right. It is the perfect consistency, perfect saltiness and creaminess, and oh man do they give you a good portion. Combine that with their succulent Kalua Pig that is so tender and not perfectly marinated, and you've got yourself one happy Hawaiian tummy. A-LO-HA!
California Burrito
Did you really think I'd make a list of my favorite meals in my neck of the woods and not put down my go-to comfort food? Simple recipe - carne asada, cheese, fries, sour cream. Lather, rinse, repeat. My boy 'Berto knows what's up.
Hmmm, feels like my metabolism is speeding up....
