Predatory Eating

Author

By Matt Potter

Publish Date

Aug. 4, 2010

Predatory eating Amid a slew of highly classified endeavors, La Jolla–based General Atomics, which has billions of taxpayer dollars at its disposal to build Predator drones, research nuclear power options, and grow algae for experimental jet-fighter fuel, has another secret: the best defense-contractor’s commissary in town, according to those lucky enough to have eaten there. Entry requires a virtually top-secret clearance, but once past the door, diners can tuck into a gourmet feast at far less cost than they’d pay in the high-end restaurants of nearby La Jolla and Del Mar. Lunch entrées for July 28, for instance, included “Victor’s Braised Herb Leg of Lamb,” with 712 calories, and “Flame Roasted Chicken Fricassee” at 654 calories, according to the menu. Each cost $6.00, as did a “specially prepared Cobb Salad.” If purchased à la carte without two side dishes and a roll, the entrées were only $5.00. The day before, “Charbroiled Mahi Mahi with Mango Sauce,” at 693 calories, was the featured item; Friday it was “Baked Parmesan Northern Salmon” at 545 calories. Both were $5.00 à la carte. The “Hot Potato Bar (Giant Baked Potato)” with “everything” was $5.00, just $4.00 with only butter and sour cream. For early risers, the daily breakfast buffet, from 6:30 to 8:00 in the morning, is an even better deal at $4.00…. Spotted at a recent meeting of would-be buyers expressing interest in the City of San Diego’s plan to sell off its Miramar solid waste dump: Alan Walsh, married to Marie Walsh, aka Susan LeFevre, the infamous Carmel Valley “fugitive mom” and former heroin dealer busted here in April 2008 after escaping from a Detroit prison 32 years earlier. She was released last year on parole and rejoined her three children and husband, chief financial officer of EDCO Disposal Corp. Both that company and Allied Waste are said to be interested in putting up the big money that the City hopes to get for the dump in order to ward off what some fear is impending municipal bankruptcy.