Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed
Big Screen — Movie commentary
Blurt — Music's inside track
Booze News — San Diego spirits
Classical Music — Immortal beauty
Classifieds — Free and easy
Cover Stories — Front-page features
Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes
Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts
Feast! — Food & drink reviews
Feature Stories — Local news & stories
Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore
From the Archives — Spotlight on the past
Golden Dreams — Talk of the town
The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it
Letters — Our inbox
Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites
Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans
Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists
Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news
News Ticker — News & politics
Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated
Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna
Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated
Poetry — The old and the new
Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers
Reading — The hunt for intellectuals
Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails
San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds
SD on the QT — Almost factual news
Sheep and Goats — Places of worship
Special Issues — The best of
Street Style — San Diego streets have style
Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves
Theater — On stage in San Diego this week
Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative
Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work
Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego
Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads
Your Week — Daily event picks
Sensual Spa
My BF and I checked into Loew's resort on May 17th, but Mistral is closed on Mondays, so we tried the other dining option, the Market Cafe. Tuesday we had a 7 PM reservation at Mistral. The sky was brilliant, we were seated in the window facing the harbor and city. I ordered a glass of champagne. We both received an amuse similar to the one described in the review--an heirloom tomato on a spear with a tiny blob of sharp, unidentifiable cheese atop a vial of tomato water. It was...entertaining. I had hoped the foie gras napoleon appetizer would be offered, but it was not, so we stuck to the menu. My BF ordered the lobster consomme, and I chose the crab salad. The consomme was quite light yet flavorful and definitely herb infused. My tower of minced veggies and flaked fresh Dungeness crab was fantastic--moist and delicate. I had a difficult time choosing a main course (Alas! I had wanted those halibut cheeks). The maitre d' (who checked on each table often) suggested the mushroom ravioli with diver scallops. When I had first noticed that dish on the menu, I had a mental image of one large ravioli (like the lobster ravioli at Pamplemousse) with one scallop perched on top. (The menu read "Mushroom ravioli with diver scallop"--singular "scallop.") I love fresh, gently cooked scallops, but ONE? However, since I did not crave a heavy meal (for instance, the Colorado lamb, which I had imagined ordering), I finally selected the mushroom ravioli. And was not disappointed. There were perhaps four ravioli filled with a luscious, deep-flavored melange of mushrooms (I couldn't identify the varieties--they were minced and sauteed with herbs and maybe shallot.) The mushroom filling became the sauce for four diver scallops, each heavenly. My companion ordered the risotto with lobster and asparagus and I-forget-what-else. It was presented in a white, tall, oval bowl and garnished playfully with a large lobster claw. It was very pleasant, comforting--but not extraordinary. It did contain some decent chunks of luscious lobster meat, and the asparagus was perfectly cooked. He preferred my dish, however. For dessert, we shared the recommended "French Kiss" (see above). We were in chocolate heaven. Each bite was fantastic. And one dessert was more than enough for two people. I will no doubt return to Mistral--maybe in August for my birthday. But before signing off, I'd like to note that the Market Cafe--the "basic" venue--which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, was really quite good. The menu is one of those that tries to cover all the bases, and, from what we experienced, it covers them well. Everything we tried was good or better--a wonderful deconstructed shrimp cocktail; nachos with carne asada and black beans; ahi tatake; grilled sea bass tacos with excellent guacamole. And my compliments to the bartenders as well! Loved those mojitos. Nice wines by the glass.— May 21, 2010 12:58 p.m.
Sushi Secret
Hadn't been there in a while. I live nearby, so walked on over. Between 5 and 7 PM, if you order a large beer or house sake, they give you an appetizer for 99 cents (I got the gyoza).Feeling conservative, I went for the mixed tempura and a small bowl of rice--tempura veggies and shrimp-- fantastic. But the sushi heading out to the tables called to me! For example, the "Peace" roll combo: 16 pieces(four Hawaiian, four rainbow, four crunch, and four 96 degree--$14.95). Next time I am going for the Bruce Lee Roll--inside: spicy crab, cilantro, avocado; outside: salmon, wasabi oil and masago. (8.95). Very friendly staff, fanatic regulars, a hole in the wall that makes you wanna move in next door (especially if you dig the Bob Marley tunes they keep recycling). And they've got it all: bento boxes, sashimi, nigiri, rolls, grilled and fried entrees, rice bowls...— May 13, 2010 7:13 p.m.
Sensual Spa
Already have a weekday retreat at Loew's, so these details about Mistral are most welcome! Will report back next week!— May 13, 2010 4:49 p.m.
Easy Does It
I am ready, soooo ready to get there in the morning for the beignets! Maybe their coffee is good? As for the rest of it, maybe best to wait a few more weeks. Thanks, Ms. W.— April 28, 2010 6:13 p.m.
Spam Wins
Dear Mr.Bedford, I wish you would describe the Spam flavor, given the marinade, in more specific terms. How can Spam be made edible? I last ate some when I was twelve. But first I cut my pinkie on the can that had to be opened by twisting a key around it. Still have the scar. I recall wadding a hankie around the bloody digit and slicing and frying the Spam for my younger brothers and me to eat for supper (we were poor). Since then, I have only noticed Spam in Hawaii, where a friend who is a local has a Spam cookbook. I have read the recipes in that book a couple of times, but the only recipe that seemed convincing was the Spam fried rice. Spam always seems like something one can store for a long time for emergency rations. Well, one might be able to STORE it, but will one be able to EAT it? I admire your courage to choose the least appetizing item on the breakfast menu! But Bert's place sounds good, so when I'm down that way, I will give it a try--sans Spam. Thanks, & say hi to Carla.— March 17, 2010 2:10 p.m.
Neighborhood Mom
Before Parallel 33, the same space was inhabited by Figaro's Italian restaurant for over 20 years. How I miss Figaro's--a family-owned trattoria with gorgeous pizzas and canelloni to-die-for. Italian operas always played in the background, the bread was fresh and delicious. Wine was simple and affordable. Ah, the good ol' days. But I hope things work out for the Red Door, and I will try it soon. Thanks for the review.— March 10, 2010 6:17 p.m.
From Disneyland to Ducasse
Thank you. Thank you. This cheers me up immensely! To Solana I will go (wish I had a posse). I just returned from Mexican Rivera cruise on which NONE of the food was good--even at the surcharge restaurant. (OK, the extra-charge lamb chops were decent and cooked-to-order (medium rare), and the chocolate volcano cake was yummy, but that was it! The best meal was in Puerto Vallarta on the beach!) I'll post another comment later this week when I will have partaken of the goodies you recommended.— March 10, 2010 5:52 p.m.
Sour Grapefruit
Alas! Although I haven't been able to afford Pamplemousse for a couple of years, I always think of it as one of my favorite dining spots in the county. Yes, El Bizcocho is great, and George's, and, and...(I haven't had the pleasure of dining at Cavaillon yet). But I have a real soft spot in my tummy for Pamplemousse. Maybe it was the New Year's Eve dinner several years ago that was preceded by what felt like an intimate cocktail party in the bar and entry way--great appetizers, lovely champagne (and it was included in the price of the meal!) Everything that night was superb. And when we ordered a Roussanne, the sommelier said they were out of it and suggested a pricier Marsanne but charged us for the Roussanne. On another occasion, when I shared the lobster ravioli starter with my cousin, we were on the verge of ordering a second one--the pasta was poofy with sweet, tender lobster. I recall savoring the mixed grill of game that night as well. And no dessert has been less than divine--even the trio of sorbets. On the dinner menu, I have enjoyed the mix and match grill items (you choose the meat, pair it with a sauce, add a vegetable and starch. The approach reminded me of some steak houses in Buenos Aires. For lunch, I fondly recall a lovely mixed fresh seafood salad tossed with field greens and a light yet sensuous vinaigrette. And you gotta love those bite-sized corn muffins and chived rolls. (I have been bold enough to request more. Encore, I say!) I am hoping that perhaps the experience shared by Ms. Wise and Posse did not meet standards of excellence because the kitchen was too busy with the Restaurant Week scenario. (That wouldn't explain the over-salting, but I myself was never served an overly-salty dish at P-Mousse. On the other hand, unlike Ms. Wise, I grew up on a fairly salty So Cal beach diet--burgers, dogs, tacos, pizza, and PBJ sandwiches.) I enjoy the ambiance at Pamplemousse, especially the whimisical murals of farm animals. And the wait staff has consistently been friendly, helpful, without hovering and certainly without condescension. So, I am saving up my blue chip stamps so I can buy a lunch for two, hoping that the grapefruit is sweet and juicy.— February 4, 2010 9:57 p.m.
Golden Oldie
Thanks for the recipe for pasta dish with leftover seafood, tomatoes, etc. I'll be giving it a whirl at supper time on Sunday!— January 15, 2010 12:33 p.m.
The Year in Restaurants
Regarding the year of the dead: Nicolosi's (for years on El Cajon and lately in Mission Valley near SDSU) died and came back to life! Apparently the nephews revived it! Great news for those of us who grew up on Nicolosi's pizza, torpedoes (what great house-made rolls!) and pasta. Well, it's great news for everyone who loves a down-to-earth red sauce joint.— January 8, 2010 5:18 p.m.