brunch Archives

San Diego Dining Guide

San Diego is one of those cities where buzz words like “farm to table, organic, locally sourced” are norms, not novelties. Southern California chefs use mostly seasonal ingredients, unless they source the very best (such as New England scallops or Maine lobsters) from another region. This is, of course quite evident in the healthy and wholesome dishes available on the menus.

Here are the top five restaurants (not according to any formal standards or classification) that we tried. All of them have very different ambiances and located in different neighborhoods across San Diego. If you are a tourist in the city, you definitely want to account for some extra time exploring the areas before dinner.

1. 1500 Ocean at Hotel Del Coronado. Located at the historic property where the famous Marilyn Monroe movie, Some Like It Hot was filmed, Hotel Del Coronado is must-see for any visitor to San Diego. Coronado Island is a short ride from downtown by way of ferry or drive across the bridge. Stay at the hotel if your wallet allows, but at least go for date night dinner to 1500 Ocean. Outdoor fireplaces, cool ocean breeze, classy interiors, make for an intimate ambiance. Enjoy delicately prepared bounties from the kitchen such as this melt-in-your-mouth yellowfin tuna sashimi with jalapeño and avocado mousse, tooth-picked by a dainty tangerine radish. Entree of perfectly grilled sea scallops with a medley of grapes, almonds, capers, green beans, Thai basil and pickled lemons is far from a “simple” recipe. For desert, don’t shy away from the molten chocolate cake with poached cherries, toasted almonds, and vanilla ice cream. Your taste buds will thank you! 1500 Ocean has a great selection of wines and cocktails as well. Make your reservation after sunset you can get a chance to stroll along the beach.

2. PrepKitchen in Little Italy. Not an Italian restaurant as suggested by its location. This is the latest globally inspired creation by the Whisk n Ladle group, which has three acclaimed locations across San Diego. The hip and trendy PrepKitchen believes in a lot of flavor, and simple presentations. Their original idea of selling food prepped and ready to go did not take off as clients demanded the sit-down restaurant experience. With an extensive handcrafted drinks menu , seasonally evolving dishes, and a variety of tapas, PrepKitchen is the watering hole/ late night hang out restaurant that is also popular with the locals.

3. Cody’s in La Jolla is a cozy spot by the water, only walking distance from the seals. Hit any time of the day and get a table at the open air patio or the stylish interior. The food at Cody’s is fresh and delicious. Try the French toast for breakfast, and lobster rolls for lunch. Even the pancakes are the most scrumptious you will ever have.

4. Amaya’s at Grand del Mar resort features a distinctive menu with Mediterranean influences. Set in a gorgeous countryside setting with Italian inspired architectures, a visit to Grand del Mar is worth alone the trip. Carefully appointed suites, infinity pools, manicured gardens, award winning spa, wooded quiet scenery and top notch service are some other reasons to stay overnight. Chef Matthew Sramek presents an array of tempting appetizers, pastas and risotto, and savory entrees, such as Grilled Garlic Prawns with a pistachio and sweet pepper romesco and Rotisserie Veal Chop with gratin of asparagus and prosciutto.

5. NINE-TEN at the Grande Colonial Hotel in La Jolla is a popular destination among the local fashionable crowd and foodies in-the-know. Led by award-winning Chef Jason Knibb and Pastry Chef Rachel King, the restaurant offers the perfect combination of sophistication and casual elegance along downtown La Jolla’s historic Prospect Street. Evolving California Cuisine emphasizes a market-driven, farm-to-table philosophy with locally made cheeses, artisnal breads and an award winning wine cellar. Every dish is created with extra attention to wow the diners with visual and textual finesse. Looks too good to eat?

More on what to see and eat in San Diego

Spanish Tapas Recipes Seen On The Travel and Adventure Show

Are you wondering How to find the Real Cuisine of a Country? I will be discussing on the subject today at the Travel and Adventure Show in Washington DC, and showing you a few recipes I picked up during my visit to Spain. If you like to try any of the dishes at home, here are the recipes. Continue reading “Spanish Tapas Recipes Seen On The Travel and Adventure Show”

Healthy Brunch – Not Just For Sundays

Do you have days when you crave for breakfast for dinner or brunch on a weekday? I recently had one of those, where I did not want to eat the usual lunch fixings for lunch. Since I work from home, I have the luxury to cook my own meals on most days. So, on a Wednesday afternoon, I decided to do brunch! I feel like there is a certain leisurely, let-yourself-go attitude that comes with weekend brunch. We tend to indulge in high fat, sugary treats more on the weekend, than on a weekday. To keep with the tradition of eating healthy during the week, I created myself a healthy & quick brunch menu.

The menu comprised of whole wheat blueberry muffins, red pepper & goat cheese frittata, potato latkes & fresh strawberries. It took me an hour to prepare all these items, which were light yet filling. But the excitement of eating freshly baked muffins and enjoying a brunch in the middle of the week was priceless!

If you want to follow my league, here is how…

It’s best to start with the muffins, as you have time to prepare the rest of the dishes while your muffins are baking. Preheat the oven to 400F. I used a recipe I found online & modified it slightly. I added a larger quantity of fresh blueberries (1 ½ cups), some extra honey & a few toasted almonds. I filled up large muffin cups so had a yield of 9 muffins in total. Given they were made with wheat flour, no white sugar & fresh fruit; I consider them to be guilt-free! Even if you don’t make them for brunch, they are perfect for on-the-go snacks, afternoon treats or breakfast for next morning.

My version of potato latkes are inspired by something I ordered at a French bistro, La Madeline. I don’t know how they prepared them but mine are so easy, anyone could do it. In a food processor, fitted with the grating paddle, add 3 large potatoes (peeled), ½ onion & ¼ cup fresh parsley. Once completely grated, transfer to a large bowl lined with paper towels. Drain the excess water by pressing on the potato mixture with your hands, and then transfer to a clean bowl. Add 1 egg (lightly beaten), ¼ cup grated parmesan, salt & pepper. Mix well.

In a large fry pan, heat 4 tablespoons of olive oil on high heat, evenly coating the pan. Take a handful of the potato mixture and flatten it in the palm of your hand, as if creating a patty. Drain out any excess water. Gently place the potato patty in the fry pan. Reduce heat to medium-low & cook for about 10 minutes until golden brown, turning once. Repeat the process with the rest of the potato mixture.

While the muffins & potatoes are being cooked, heat a small oven-safe wok on medium heat. Add 2 tablespoon olive oil. Lightly stir fry ½ finely diced red bell pepper. Beat 6 eggs in a bowl with some salt & pepper. Pour over the red peppers. Sprinkle 2 tablespoon chopped black olives & 4 tablespoon crumbled goat cheese on the egg. Let cook on low heat till the eggs begin to settle (about 5 minutes). Transfer the wok to the oven (which was set at 400F) & cook for another 5-7 minutes till the frittata starts to brown. Remove from wok by flipping the frittata onto a plate. Allow to cool for couple of minutes before serving.

I used fresh cut strawberries but you can serve any fruit you have lying around. In a small bowl, add 2 cups chopped strawberries with one teaspoon sugar and juice of ½ a lemon. Mix well & serve cold. You can also add blueberries to it for a delightful treat.