Street Surprise
You never know where your next tamale is coming from. Mine’s come from here, at 16th and Imperial. Was crossing Imperial when I hear the call. “Ta-MAA-les! Ta-MAA-les!” It’s this cheery-looking woman in a white teeshirt and jeans, hauling a …
The Port of San Diego?
“First real coffee house in California,” says the sign. Oh. Guess I’m the last to find it. This is Café Bassam (3088 Fifth Avenue, at Redwood, Bankers Hill, 619-557-0173). Used to be downtown, right? It’s coming on evening. Have to …
How to Eat Burgers Raw
Oh boy. All that turkey… Lessee. Healthy alternative? I’m looking up at the green menu board here at Evolution (used to be Nature’s Express) at 2949 Fifth Avenue (at Quince), 619-550-1818. Everything’s guaranteed “100 percent Vegan.” And what I’m seeing …
Hall of Dreams
Oh, man. I'm holding my belly, full as a bull. I come out from Father Joe's Thanksgiving lunch (1501 Imperial Avenue, two blocks from 12th and Imperial trolley/bus transit center, 619-233-8500), me and hundreds of others. When we'd all piled …
El Porvenir: The Sign in the Window
I’m worried about El Porvenir Tortilla Factory (1782 National Avenue, Barrio Logan, 619-233-4038), home of the Most Awesome Burritos in the County. It has been open and closed -- but mostly closed -- for the past three years. At first …
Most Colorful Pizza?
Hauling up through Little Italy. Couldn’t resist stopping by Landini’s Pizzeria, the most colorful eatery on India. Of course the selection in the display cabinet is huge. Gotta be a dozen sliced-up pies in there, plus I could've got one …
Free Turkey Lunch: Lining Up on JFK Day
It's one of those talky moments. We're all waiting to register with Mike for the lunch tomorrow. "Hey, it's 11-22," says someone. "Yeah, I'm old enough to remember, too," this lady named Wendy next to me is saying. "I was …
Eating History
Ooh. Don't you just love the smell of tamales in the morning? Sitting with Marisol Arteaga and her friend Maria Alvarado, here at the tamale stand next to Rancho Fresco (1852 National Avenue, Barrio Logan). I've got a pork Tamal …
Thanksgiving: Setting Up Pavo Day
Hey, Thanksgiving's two days away! So what about those of us who can't be cooking a giant turkey? Well for starters, one place will be open. Valentine's downtown (842 Market Street, between Eighth and Ninth, 619-234-8256). It's been open nearly …
One Lump or Two?
Monday morning in the city. How do you feel like you're in Paris and not shell out megabucks? Come right here to Café Chloë (721 Ninth, at the corner of Ninth and G, 619-232-3242). Logo image of owners' daughter Chloe …
Winds of Change in Coronado
Wow. Blink in Coronado, and a place has closed or another’s opening up. Latest: Stretch’s, the much-loved locovore health-food eatery: gone, kaput. Stretch’s is going to become Delux Gourmet Hot Dogs (943 Orange Avenue), due to open mid-December. Lord. Carla'll …
At Aunty Jane’s
Last on our Tour of Revolución… They’ve been open for six decades and in this location for three of those, and Pedro Rodríguez Peña, standing across the counter from me, has been working here for four decades. We’re at Tia …
Buster’s: Catch the Wave
I was on way back from Pier 32 in National City yesterday, and I made a sweet discovery. This was too much. Too much for me to finish, and ain’t much can beat this maw. Just west of I-5, there’s …
Joan Crawford's Bar -- at Brian's
“The dents in the wood,” says Brian. “There. There! Dime sized. Here’s another one. That’s her stilettos when she danced, right here, on the bar. Her bar.” The bar Two of Joan Crawford's stiletto dents that she danced into her …
Stanbul Express!
How come kebob shops are suddenly everywhere? I’m looking at the answer here. Fact is, you get a lot of bang for your buck. And it’s flavorful, and it's Turkey and the Middle East's and Europe's fast food du jour. …
Eatery on the Edge of the World
Don’t try this at home unless you’ve trained with the Foreign Legion. Kidding, but I swear, what a hike. I get off the Blue Line trolley at 24th Street National City. Dark already, around six. I head south to Mile-of-Cars …
The Tipping Point
Oh Lord. This is the part I hate. The tip. Lessee. Ten percent, add half again… “How much?” says Carla. This is the night when we had that blowout at French Gourmet (960 Turquoise Street, PB, 858-488-1725) with Carla’s buddies …
Scarfing Down the Museum's Shrimp...
The second best thing about El Museo (508 Avenida Revolución, by First Street, Tijuana (011.52.664.638-1203) is that you get ten songs for a buck on its retro juke box. The first best thing is the most scrumbolicious shrimp dish I’ve …
Burgers Smashing into Vista!
I heard about this from my friend Miles. He’s part of the band Red Wizard. They’re playing at the opening of a Smashburger in Vista this Wednesday (1711 University Drive, Suite 150, 760-630-0005). Opening’s from 5.30 p.m. till 8:30 p.m. …
Time, Gentlemen, Please
We did it! Carla and I remembered to hold our breaths at 11.11.11.11.11.11. Meaning eleven seconds past eleven minutes past eleven this morning, the 11th day of the 11th month of the 11th year. It was a magic moment. It …