Stories | Tin Fork
Off the Street
Published March 10, 2010
I was shocked — shocked, as Claude Rains said to Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca — to see Funky Garcia’s sign being put up above the Sun Cafe’s a few months back. Actually, I did go ulp. ...
Pork-Neck Soup
Published March 3, 2010
You never know what you’re eating. Not really. That’s my thought as I dunk my congee/cruller/dja kwai/you tiao/Chinese fried breadstick into my Cambodian/ French coffee (the kind with sweetened condensed milk at the bottom). The dja ...
A Little Rock, a Little Bite
Published Feb. 24, 2010
It’s 11:00 at night, downtown TJ. “Only, only Marcelino, Only, only pan y vino…” Carlos Ubario Macias sings merrily away. He’s sitting on the stool next to me, out on the street at Marcelino’s tiny counter. ...
Mustard Rules
Published Feb. 10, 2010
Can I wax poetic? Heed ye the words of Carl Sandburg, the poet, describing the rough, tough city he loved, Chicago. “Here is a tall, ... More Post a comment
Not a Tourist Place
Published Feb. 3, 2010
Maybe it’s the pale, washed-green cupboards or the mustard walls or the blue-and-yellow tablecloths and olive bowls for sale. This place just feels like a ... More Comment (1)
Moon Over My Taco
Published Jan. 27, 2010
Pacific Beach is more mysterious at night. Silent runners materialize like ghosts along the boardwalk, murmuring couples huddle in shadows, the odd drunken brown-bagger holds ... More Comment (1)
Pizza High
Published Jan. 20, 2010
Omygod. She’s eating her pizza with her knife and fork. Then again, she’s English. “What do you think, Robin?” She takes a sip of her ... More Post a comment
Quite a Hike for Picadillo
Published Jan. 13, 2010
I’ve got to thank the MTS for this find. They canceled the 962 night-bus service on weekends from the Eighth Street trolley to Spring Valley ... More Post a comment
Happy Hour with Aguilar
Published Jan. 6, 2010
The shiver. Down my spine. Can’t help feeling it every time I walk into Old Town. Honest. Something happens when you saunter up that dusty ... More Post a comment
The Vegan Word
Published Dec. 30, 2009
“This place is run by a ‘Supreme Master’?” says my buddy Lee. He’s driving us to a vegan eatery with an innocent name, “Loving Hut.” ... More Comment (1)
Sweet Smell
Published Dec. 16, 2009
Barbecue. It’s the only cooking smell that actually wafts through the air like a well-flung fishing line, grabs you, and hauls you in by the ... More Post a comment
Good Dog
Published Dec. 9, 2009
The guy in the wheelchair sits at the corner of Fifth and G, waving his “Hot Dogs!” sign toward G Street. That’s all you need. ... More Post a comment
Babbo Grande's Place
Published Dec. 2, 2009
Serge and Danielle. Always liked them. They were Uptown’s crêpe royalty. They had this uptown crêperie called Deli France. So, today I’ve come back. Boy. ... More Post a comment
Ed Does Lunch
Published Nov. 24, 2009
“The Island in the Sky,” reads the Tierrasanta sign. Great. But how come this end of the Island don’t have no buses? Okay, a mile ... More Comment (1)
A Plate of Lucha Libre
Published Nov. 18, 2009
Huh... A gold, studded “Champion’s Booth,” a corner throne area where, it looks like, champion wrestlers get to chow down. There’s a chandelier above, wild-pink-and-sea-green ... More Post a comment
Spudlicious
Published Nov. 11, 2009
Encinitas. Hour to kill before the Coaster. Spotted these giant ficus trees. They’re the kind you see in National Geographic, strangling ancient cities. Then I ... More Post a comment
Healthy Lunch in Ballparkland
Published Nov. 4, 2009
Washington may declare that the recession is over, but don’t tell that to Chad and his cousins at Market 32. They’ve had to close the ... More Post a comment
Chocolate with Your Beer
Published Oct. 21, 2009
Answer this: What kind of place gives you a big chunk of chocolate to munch with your beer? A real serious-about-beer place. Where a man ... More Post a comment
Curry Pies, Coffee, Art
Published Oct. 14, 2009
I’ve been called flaky. But hey, this is flaky. Who woulda thought? Eating a pastry-covered curry pie for breakfast in a converted condo in East ... More Post a comment
Dessert Oasis
Published Oct. 7, 2009
“And now for a special live report from the border, here’s our border-affairs reporter, Ed Bedford. Ed?” Cue Ed: “Yes, Cindy. I’m actually standing on ... More Comment (1)
A Chat Over Mexican Eggs
Published Sept. 30, 2009
Hey, Mr. Sumption! Greetings from October 2009. You stamped this piece of sidewalk with your moniker a century ago, almost. “H.W. Sumption, October 1910.” And ... More Post a comment
Trek Extra
Published Sept. 23, 2009
“I starred in Star Trek. You don’t recognize me?” Bill looks at our blank faces. We don’t recognize him. “Okay, so not exactly a starring ... More Comment (1)
The Real Middle East Deal
Published Sept. 16, 2009
“Russ?” “Yup.” “It’s me. I’m in El Cajon.” I’m calling on my first-ever cell phone. Hate the end of freedom. But now I need this ... More Post a comment
Passion Project
Published Sept. 9, 2009
“Know why this area’s called the ‘Stingaree’?” asks Mark. We’re at the bottom of Eighth, right where it meets Market, inside this Asian bistro I ... More Comment (1)
Dog Bar Afternoon
Published Aug. 26, 2009
Do I follow the crowd? Hell, yes. This one, anyway. It’s Sunday afternoon, down at Quivira yacht basin. I’ve been wandering past boats with names ... More Post a comment
Greek to Me
Published Aug. 19, 2009
“What men or gods are these? What maidens loth? What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape?What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy?” Huh. I impress ... More Post a comment
Like Family
Published Aug. 12, 2009
From the start, you pretty much know: everybody getting off the number 3 bus at Fifth and Elm is headed there. Five o’clock on a ... More Post a comment
Thai Hot, Lao Hot
Published Aug. 5, 2009
“Hot? Hot-hot? Hot-hot-hot?” Sanaa stands there, in one hand a big pestle at the ready, in the other, a bunch of nasty little green and ... More Post a comment
Tacos for Life
Published July 29, 2009
“Juanita’s Carnitas of Encinitas! Juanita’s Carnitas Encinitas!” This is Ted’s kid, chanting. Best way to get the carnitas tacos he loves. “Juanita’s Carnitas of Encinitas…!” ... More Comments (2)
Art of the Q
Published July 22, 2009
I know. My friend Naomi’s been here. Matter of fact, that’s part of why I stopped by. For me, barbecue’s like art. I don’t know ... More Post a comment
Kiwi Crowd
Published July 15, 2009
So here I was, walking the Gaslamp one night, minding my business, when this dude thrusts a flyer in my hand. “Burger, fries, and draft ... More Post a comment
Teaming History, Heaping Plates
Published July 8, 2009
La Colonia? Ah, yes. The story comes back as I sit up to the old tiled bar. “1697–1997,” says a weaving hung on the wall. ... More Post a comment
Big Kahuna Flavors
Published June 24, 2009
Huh? Last time I came through these doors this was a Chinese place, the Silver Sea. Now it’s Hawaiian. Very Hawaiian. Bright yellow and sea-green ... More Comment (1)
The French Get It
Published June 10, 2009
“This is on me,” says Carla. “I’ve been saving. True! Ever since you didn’t take me out on my birthday. You forgot, remember?” Sigh. Yes, ... More Post a comment
They Know Fish
Published June 3, 2009
Bay Park. Whoever knew where that was? I’ve whisked past it a zillion times, driving with Hank up Interstate 5 or on the Coaster or ... More Post a comment
Samoan Aloha
Published May 27, 2009
Up here near the 94 College exit, a blue 1966 Valiant sits parked between a Frazee’s and a Weight Watchers place. Only one man in ... More Comment (1)
A Little Boost
Published May 20, 2009
I can’t believe it. Here I am on deepest Revolución, when I spot that black hat, that gray-red beard, that loping walk. It can only ... More Post a comment
Poor Little Devil
Published May 13, 2009
Clunk! Man. Umberto Falcone’s kinda surprised I’ve tossed the bocce ball anywhere close to the jack. Call it beginner’s luck. Luck: Guess that’s how this ... More Post a comment
Gathering Lunch
Published April 29, 2009
“Slow down, you move too fast. You’ve got to make the morning last...” Can’t help humming that Simon and Garfunkel ditty. Life’s pouring through my ... More Comment (1)
Einstein's Cousins
Published April 22, 2009
Can’t believe it. Here I am in North Park, yapping away with Albert Einstein’s cousin! Evelyn, who runs this eatery with her husband Jeff, casually ... More Post a comment
Feels Like 1913
Published April 15, 2009
“Be nice or go away,” says the sign above the bar. Hmm...none too welcoming. But, hey, I’ll be nice, ’cause what a bar, and what ... More Post a comment
The Italian Leprechaun's Pub
Published April 8, 2009
History’s in the air. Talk about hidden jewels. Turns out that here in National City they have the only original transcontinental railroad terminus in the ... More Post a comment
Cisco's Salad
Published April 1, 2009
I still can’t believe it. My buddy Frankie. He’s gone. Checked out. Died. Had half his life to live, still. And my hands aren’t clean. ... More Post a comment
Veggimaginary
Published March 25, 2009
“La Dolce Vita,” reads the sign above the counter where I’m sitting. Well, my vita’s in no way dolce right now. Whose is? But this ... More Comment (1)
Meat Treat
Published March 18, 2009
“Camel meat,” sighs Mukhtar. “That’s what I miss most. It’s the meat treat in Somalia. Here, I think it’s not even legal.” He grabs a ... More Post a comment
The Real Low Down
Published March 4, 2009
The view, the view…a man could faint from the über-coolness of this whole scene. You can see over the Gaslamp roofs to the Pacific. Heck, ... More Post a comment
Burger in the Sky with Mushrooms
Published Feb. 25, 2009
Cc,c,c,c,cold. I stand out in the slush and snow, trying to decide if I can afford this place, a joint for sophisticates, by the looks ... More Post a comment
Mount BBQ
Published Feb. 18, 2009
Oh, man. Gonna faint. Just ran a hundred steps up one side of the convention center, two at a time, I swear, and down another ... More Post a comment
Total Tapas
Published Feb. 11, 2009
“Spare change?” says the guy sitting on the sidewalk. Must know I just cashed a paycheck. It’s Friday night, around 6:00, at Sixth and C. ... More Post a comment
Very Thai
Published Feb. 4, 2009
I’m confused. Here I am, top of India Street, breezy Friday, trying to decide between Mexican and Thai. El Indio and Saffron. Each one’s a ... More Post a comment
Sushi Secret
Published Jan. 28, 2009
Remember the guy who hijacked a tank and drove it through the streets of San Diego? They say this is where he got the tank, ... More Comments (2)
Mussels with a View
Published Jan. 21, 2009
"Ho, ho, ho.” He sits four chairs down, at the end of the bar. Cherry cheeks, white mustache, Burl Ives beard. Would make a perfect ... More Post a comment
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