Food Field Trip SoCal: Sunsets, Cocktails, and CA Cuisine

Georges at the Cove, a La Jolla landmark eatery, is a destination in and of itself, where bar snacks, patio fare, and fine cuisine are all available in these respective three stories, all of which have tremendous sunset views over the Pacific.  And while the food is reliably good -- even though the selection is a bit limited on the patio -- the cocktails keep us coming back when we are in San Diego. I cannot imagine a better way to end a day and begin the evening than by enjoying a fresh-made cocktail at sundown with the sea lions frolicking below.

Our cocktail choices were a blood orange margarita, whose color matches the sunset, and a classic, oaky, Napa chardonnay. Cocktails and wine hover in the $10 - $12 range. I recommend an early evening reservation to take it all in.

Until this most recent trip, I would also have recommended dinner at Georges if you only had once night to spend in La Jolla, but thanks to a more than memorable dining experience, that recommendation has moved further down the boulevard to Nine Ten.  Here a rising star chef, Jason Knibb, is creating some of what I have found to be the best fine dining in San Diego, and while the street-side dining room lacks the storied views elsewhere on the strip, the food and warm decor will garner no complaints from me.

Standouts from the well executed restaurant week menu (fortunate timing) included a textbook poached egg over crispy brussel sprouts, an outstanding harpoon-caught swordfish fillet (whose seared exterior yielded to a moist, flaky center), and a richly enjoyable half-baked chocolate cake accented with what tasted like a just-made caramel sauce.

Wine pairings were thoughtful, bringing out the flavors of each course.  I was impressed that the server was able to find an as requested red pairing for my fish--a pinot noir, that complimented instead of overwhelmed the delicate preparation.

The kitchen here is on to something, and if you are in the area, and appreciate fresh, locally sourced and inventive food creations, do give this a try.  The restaurant week menu was a steal at $40 for three courses with wine pairings for $15.  Entrees regularly run in the mid-$20s. 

Food Field Trip SoCal: Vintage Venice

The only thing I knew about Venice Beach before visiting last week was that it was the setting for Showtime’s quirky Californication and home to Hank Moody. I didn’t expect to stumble upon some of the best Mexican food I have enjoyed on this side of the border at La Cabana.

La Cabana is not fancy or high-brow, or modern. It is in fact a quirky throwback, and walking through the doors seems like stepping back in time to 1970-something. The dark wood interior is full of once vibrant Baja-style colorful tiling, and a wood-fired tortilla oven is manned by a grand-motherly looking tortilla steward that must have been old at the restaurant’s opening.

The food was hearty, traditional, and textbook vintage Mexican cooking.

My tortilla soup had a moderately spicy broth which was studded with corn, peppers, and queso fresco and topped with crunchy tortilla strips.

The beef in my quesadilla tasted like it had been braising for weeks, and also included outstanding cheese and avocado. The core ingredients came together in a way that elevated it from simple to memorable.

The marinated pork had a subtle heat, was fork tender, and the accompanying refried beans were not the mush that you so often find. The piping-hot homemade tortillas were simply divine.

Prices are also a welcome throwback at $8 - $15 for huge portions, and authentic Mexican home cooking. It is worth the trip to Venice and is located about a mile off the infamous strip. For a complete evening and a real feel of Venice, I recommend starting on the strip with a sunset, pre-dinner beer at Danny’s Venice.

Food Field Trip SoCal: A Cupcake DJ!

Attention cupcake watchers, and all you who thought Georgetown Cupcake's Bouncers were over the top.

This is a Cupcake DJ, who I found spinning on a recent Friday night at Cups, a cupcake shop in La Jolla, California. Walking by, I at first mistook the shop for a bad club. After my double take, I decided to go in and check out the cupcakes available in two sizes (after several minutes of staring at DJ Cupcake stationed in the corner). The cupcakes looked dry, and I did not have the energy or the appetite to try, but I have my suspicions based on the total of three customers in the shop (and the aforementioned DJ enlisted to attract patrons).

So DC, should we count ourselves lucky? We are (at least for now) above the audacity of the west coast Cupcake DJ, and the cupcakes at both Georgetown establishments both look and taste extraordinary.

Food Field Trip SoCal: Terrific Tamales in downtown LA

There are not many things I like about Los Angeles; as far as major cities go it is one of my least favorite. But when my day-job related training took me there last week, I was determined to find something to like about the place. So always up for a challenge, I embarked upon the pursuit of Mexican street food.

It turned out karma was on my side and I did not have to look very far. The weekly Thursday market that had set up in the plaza adjacent to my office included an alluring tamale stand, Corn Maiden. Score.

So for lunch I passed on the boxed soggy sandwiches and stale cookies doled out to the training attendees and headed outside for a tamale. The ten tamale choices--ranging from pork to peppers to cheese—were dizzying, so I asked the proprietor for his help. He suggested a smoked gouda and roasted green chili combo.

I unwrapped the bundle, literally tied like a present to find a work of art--a rich purple cornmeal shrouding a bright green pepper, which enrobed the ample, gooey, gouda. The flavor was both smoky and sweet, with a subtle heat added in the form of New Mexico chili and garlic sauce.

This lunch, served with a side of black beans and rice, turned out to be a bright ray of LA food sunshine, and was quite the bargain at $5.50.

Though I found this only by happenstance, I later went to the company’s website and discovered that none other than Oprah had discovered this tamale company before me and recommends them shipped frozen as gifts. So this may be old news to some, but if you have not tried these tamales, and are in LA, they are worth the search.