Posts Tagged ‘san diego’

Thrifty Thursday :: Kitchen Goodies

Thursday, September 16th, 2010

Recently, my friend and I stumbled upon Ocean Beach and a nice, big antique store. We were driving along in my ‘72 Super Beetle and both saw the sign at the same time. In the blink of an eye, I’d whipped that bug around and swung into a parking spot! We spent almost two hours rummaging through everything there was to see.

Vintage Scale

While I saw MANY items I wanted to take home with me, I settled on these two. I’d been looking for an old scale for some time. I really liked this one when I saw it. It was right around $20 which is more than I normally spend on thrift items, but I didn’t feel it was too terribly high.

Vintage Bisquick Recipe Tin

I also couldn’t resist this little Bisquick recipe box with the recipes! It was around the $15 range. Definitely more than I wanted to spend on it, but as I already stated, I couldn’t resist.

Vintage Bisquick Recipe Tin

Love the colors and the old recipe cards. Makes me wonder who made all those dishes and for what occasions. I’m sure I can find them all online today, but there is something special about holding a recipe card and knowing someone (or more than one someone) has held it before you. I love that.

Hope to have more goodies to share with you next week!

My Saturday Morning Farmers Market Breakfast

Saturday, September 11th, 2010

Every Saturday morning I walk to Little Italy Mercato here in downtown San Diego to buy most of my produce and cheeses for the week. We live about 1.5 miles from Little Italy so I also get a great three mile walk in! This is precisely why on this lovely September morning, I decided to eat breakfast at the market. Why not indulge a little?

I’ve been eyeing the pastries from Loic Patisserie’s booth for the past couple months. Tasting a little here and there. I want to try EVERYTHING. These are the kinds of pastries I want when I crave a pastry! Flaky, buttery, beautiful pastries!

First I ate half of my ham and cheese quiche from Loic Patisserie’s booth. It had been on dry ice, so it was chilled, but still quite tasty. The crust was so lovely, and although chilled, the inside was still creamy in texture. I love me some quiche! I saved the other half for later.

Ham & Cheese Quiche from Little Italy Mercato

Ham & Cheese Quiche from Little Italy Mercato

Then, I ate one of three Parisian Macaroons I purchased. I chose vanilla, cinnamon and chocolate. I ate the vanilla for dessert. It was quite lovely. I’m trying very hard not to finish off the other two!

Vanilla Parisian Macaroon

Vanilla Parisian Macaroon

I also had a free Key Lime Pie popsicle from Viva Pops, but I’ll share more on that later in the week as to why it was free. Very exciting!

Then, I ate the rest of my quiche when I got home! Three miles, people! I was hungry! Also, I much preferred it warmed to cold. Next week, I’m getting a chocolate croissant. It’s settled.

Ham & Cheese Quiche from Little Italy Mercato

Foodie Friday :: MIHO Gastrotruck

Friday, September 10th, 2010

MIHO Gastrotruck

Finally! I’ve been dying to try the MIHO Gastrotruck since we moved to San Diego. Last Friday afternoon my friend and I tracked them down in our old ‘72 VW Superbeetle in hopes of having a super yummy lunch.

We saw the line for food before we saw the truck! Hopes are rising high. Can’t wait to try the Fig & Goat Cheese Tart. Mmm… My mouth is watering.

MENU for 8/30-9/3 - 2010

What’s this? Already sold out only an hour into service!? My heart sinks. Thankfully, there were plenty of other things on the menu I wanted to try. And all proved to be quite tasty and worth the 20 minute drive to find these guys.

Fried Okra Salad

First we had a Fried Okra Salad. Local okra, local arugula, local tomato, red onion, house pickled local green beans, buttermilk dressing. Full $6.95 Half $3.95.

Oaxacan Quesadilla

Then we dove into the Oaxacan Quesadilla. Local flour tortilla, queso Oaxaca, grilled local peppers, roasted local tomato salsa. $6.25

Tacos de Pescado

Last, we thoroughly enjoyed the Tacos de Pescado. Local rock cod, local cabbage, crema fresca, pico de gallo and local corn tortilla. $6.75

All of our dishes were very fresh tasting and definitely worth coming back for more. I felt the prices were quite fair for being so fresh, homemade and local. Their menu changes weekly based on what’s available at the markets. How cool is that? You never know what you’ll be able to try the next week!

One of the owners told us that soon there will be a permanent weekly location in the East Village in downtown San Diego… only a handful of blocks from where I live! I could not be happier about this little bit of information.

MIHO Gastrotruck

If you are anywhere near the MIHO Gastrotruck you must try it, and if you want to find out where they are just follow them on Facebook or Twitter. I am officially a HOMI! YAY!

Foodie Friday :: Cafe 222, San Diego

Friday, July 30th, 2010

Sweet Corn Waffle @ Cafe 222

Recently, my husband and I decided to try Cafe 222 a couple blocks from our new place. Little did we know it was featured on an episode of The Best Thing I Ever Ate where Bobby Flay raved about the Peanut Butter and Banana Stuffed French Toast.

We arrived around 1:00 o’clock in the afternoon last Saturday. Had to wait about 10 minutes or so. It’s a small place so you’ll have to wait, but had a super friendly and helpful staff. While we waited, I started looking over the menu only to see a TON of things I wanted try!

Peanut Butter and Banana Stuffed French Toast

My husband ordered the “famous” Peanut Butter and Banana Stuffed French Toast, but really wasn’t impressed. I think he said, “Bobby Flay doesn’t know what he’s talking about…” or something similar. Maybe it was an off day for the french toast, but it was gone before I even could ask for a bite! I guess it wasn’t that bad.

Eggs Italia @ Cafe 222

I settled on Eggs Italia, but soon called the server back to order a Sweet Corn Waffle as well. My, oh my, was that ever a good decision. While the Eggs Italia were tasty, it was far too much food for me. I would have preferred the dish sans bread and potatoes. There was nothing really special about them. The eggs were scrambled with goat cheese, tomatoes and pesto. Quite tasty.

Sweet Corn Waffle @ Cafe 222

Now, let’s talk about that waffle. It was so very good. Basically, a cornbread waffle. Yep, that’s right. I drizzled just a little syrup over it as I munched away, and I my mouth was quite pleased. I would most definitely get that again.

Brunch is served. Cafe 222

Overall, we liked this place. It’s fun with mostly outdoor seating, and it’s very affordable for being a downtown San Diego restaurant. We’d try it again. Good for breakfast if you are in the area.

Foodie Friday: Heavenly Cupcake

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

Orange Chip

Heavenly Cupcake

Yesterday, while exploring downtown San Diego, we stumbled up Heavenly Cupcake. Mind you this was right after we just finished Pinkberry. Now, I approached the cupcakes with caution, knowing that it would take all my will power to resist their charms and advances. I believe I could have resisted had I been alone, but Dustin was while me. As soon as he saw the Vanilla Caramel, he was in cupcake lust. Naturally, if he gets one, I have to try one too, right?

Vanilla Caramel

Let me just say, I am a HUGE fan of chocolate and orange together, and this Orange Chip Cupcake did not disappoint. The cupcake itself (sans icing) was so moist and tasty all on it’s own. The icing only enhanced the flavors adding a richness. I haven’t been eating sugar much lately so I took it easy on the icing. Even so, I was in a major sugar coma by the last bite! YUM!

Orange Chip

Pupcake for Bonsai

Pupcakes

We even got a Pupcake for Bonsai!

Red Velvet

Heavenly Cupcake (Get it? Topped with little halos.) is located at 518 6th Avenue between Island Avenue & Market Street.

Heavenly Cupcake

Many other flavors look and sound so good. Can’t wait to try them all. Good thing we live here now. I would hate to have to eat all of them at once!

Heavenly Cupcake