Chowin' down again at Chow King (National City, California)

Chowking


Of course, no visit to San Diego is complete without a visit to Chowking for some fast food, Filipino style! After Sunday mass with my folks, we trekked to National City for some breakfast.

It seems that fried chicken is the big thing now with Filipino fast food; both Jolibee and Chowking have their own variation. The furs were quite upset with us for not bringing home any.

Half bangus (milkfish) and rice. My dad and I got this one. Milkfish is a mild-flavored saltwater fish. Here, it is marinated and deboned, and is served broiled. Underneath the fish is a little bit of atchara (pickled green papaya). The atchara was bland and way too mild.

My mom got the bihon guisado, made with bihon (rice noodles) and chicken.

Tocino (cured pork), bangus and rice combination.

We got three taho (soft tofu with syrup) and got one free. Unfortunately, it was bland and did not taste too fresh.

My mom picked up a few bags of siopao for us to bring home. The furs liked the egg and chinese sausage flavor and DJKung agreed that it tasted better than the asado flavor.

I think just for the nostalgia factor alone, Chow King easily makes it to our SUPERROTATION. I am waiting for the day a franchise opens up here in the NY/NJ area!

Thornton Winery (Temecula, California)

Thornton Winery
32575 Rancho California Road
Temecula, CA 92589
(951) 699-0099





Temecula lies about an hour northeast of San Diego. We tagged along with my folks for their weekend mahjong session and decided to do a little sightseeing. First, we stopped by the local casino, Pechanga, and promptly lost forty bucks. We decided to try our luck elsewhere. Using our GPS, we went in search of a winery.





Temecula has quite a few wineries, although nothing on the scale of Napa or Sonoma's. The winery area here is in very hilly terrain, where crops used to grow and cattle used to graze. It seems to have undergone quite a development boom, with a lot of new houses sprouting up.



Thornton Winery looks like a pretty hooked up winery that accomodates guests by the busload. Their restaurant was jam packed with weekend revelers (looked like a birthday party). They also have a standing-only area by a terrace, where they have their popular wines available. We did not have enough time to stay for their winery tour, unfortunately.



Thornton specializes in the champagne method of sparkling wine. We were initially thinking of trying one tasting flight each. We were advised that they provide a healthy pour for tastings, and a flight of five wines would amount to at least a glass and a half. Since it was brutally hot that day, we reasoned that all that alcohol would certainly go straight to our heads and quite dull our tastebuds. DJKung and I settled for a glass each.

DJKung ordered their 2003 champagne, which was pretty good. It was light and a bit on the dry side. I got their 2007 Voignier, which was lush and fruity, went well with the apps we got.



Tasting menu.

This was the tapas plate we got. Ain't it purty? Clockwise from top left: European charcuterie (looks like air-dried ham), fire-roasted peppers, marinated artichokes, garlic shrimp. Center is marinated goat cheese with cracker. Everything was yummy and good for pickin's.

We picked up a few bottles to bring home, a house red wine, a gewurztraminer, a moscato and a late harvest zinfandel. They were having a sale on these, and we basically got them for half-price. The whites were on the light and fruity side, and we were very surprised. DJKung's dad liked them.

Box of wine to bring home. In foreground is a little veggie garden where they grow herbs and tomatoes that they use.

Always a party at Taco Fiesta (San Diego, California)

Taco Fiesta
2601 Mission Gorge Road
San Diego, CA 92120
(619) 283-5285



Back home in Jersey, Mexican food, with a few exceptions, is a cliche. Either it becomes bastardized into Tex-Mex food and gets smothered under too much cheese, or morphs into any number of bland fast food reinterpretations. What is especially irksome is that they nickel-and-dime you for every single thing--- guacamole, sour cream, etc.

In San Diego, which reputedly has the best fish tacos outside of Mexico, there seemed to be more taco and burrito joints than there are Chinese take out places.



On a prior visit, I was doing my early morning walk around seven-ish and noticed a couple of SD cops stop by to pick up breakfast. Mexican never struck me as the breakfast-of-champions-type food. If anything, it is too heavy. Later in the day, I picked up a fish taco and reveled in the perfect awesomeness that is the San Diego fish taco. Of course, UFC had to take this place under consideration.

Taco Fiesta is in a tired-looking and dated building that only has takeout and outdoor seating. No bathrooms. You go up to their tiny window, place your order and pay for it, and then wait under one of their outdoor umbrellas for them to call out your order.

The first night DJKung tried it, he had the carne asada burrito, which he really liked.

Poster for Ole aguas frescas, which they carry. The horchata flavor (milk and sugar drink) was delish, and had a taste of vanilla. It had a very light flavor and went well with the food.

Nachos carnita. I know, it looks suspiciously blanketed with dairy products. But no, underneath is a nice layer of tasty refried beans. Fatty and yummy carnita, and enough sour cream and guacamole.




This carnita platter was ordered on another visit. Clockwise from top left: refried beans, yellow rice, carnita, salad. Also came with warm corn tortillas.



As demonstrated, the portions here were huge. We always sat on this table, which gives you a good view of the street traffic, the drive thru and the counter.

The bestest fish burritos I've had. The fish was light and flavorful, perfectly fried, with just enough soure cream. The flour tortilla was thin and light. Only thing that could be better were the veggies, which were very bland.

We've come here at lunch and dinner. The lunch crowd was very local. Dinner is when all the kiddies come out. Taco Fiesta is open 24 hours, and does a brisk drive-thru business compared to the Mexican joint across the street. Everyone always asked for the green sauce (tomatillo), which we never got to try. We liked the red sauce, which they automatically include with your order. This salsa was smoky, balanced and flavorful.

The California burrito is a popular item, and DJKung just had to try it. Basically, it is beef strips, with beans and tomatoes AND french fries!!!

I guess this is like a naked California burrito: french fries with strips of beef, beans, and other yummy toppings.

DJKung remarked that the menu here is similar to the food he'd had when he went to Cabo. Everything on the menu looked like foods meant to be eaten on the run. This is in stark contrast to the other Mexican fare we've had back home, which I think is more from the central part of Mexico.

So, on a five-day visit to San Diego, we've come to Taco Fiesta three times. Which is a lot. On the first visit, DJKung agreed to place it on SUPERROTATION. And the rest of UFC agrees.

Bannh Mi heaven at K Sandwiches

K Sandwiches



DJKung was absolutely sold on K Sandwiches even before we walked in. The outside tables were full, and there was a constant stream of customers. I gave him a little tour and showed the fresh bread section, their desserts, and their specialty products, and he was in awe. Even though he wasn't hungry, I encouraged him to order a banh mi sandwich, their specialty.

Superfatty taking some napkins.



The iced mocha was made fresh, and they use robust Vietnamese coffee to go with it. It was strong and creamy, and not very sweet, which was good. To the left is our total bill, which came to under ten bucks.

DJKung ended up ordering the roast pork sandwich. It tasted like the Chinese char siu roast pork.

This is my vegetarian banh mi. I never figured out what the special crunch ingredient is; I used to think that it was fried onions, but actually, it is on the sweet and chewy side. Maybe a tofu variation? It went well with the pickled daikon, fresh carrots and cilantro. The bread was fresh with a nice crackle to the crust.

DJKung also got an order of goi cuon on another visit (not pictured). Although it was premade, the kitchen replenishes the counter display as it gets depleted, so it was always fresh.

Of course, we had to bump up K Sanwiches to SUPERROTATION.

Great Thai at King Oriental Express (San Diego California)

King Oriental Express
6171 Mission Gorge Road #115
San Diego, CA 92120
(619) 640-9688



It's really quite notablethat there are so many amazing places we've sampled in San Diego, in the most humble of places. King Oriental is a Chinese/Thai place located on the same strip mall as Toro Sushi. The preponderance of really good Asian food (and Mexican, for that matter) in this area, and the relative dearth of other types of cuisine has led me to formulate Superfatty's theory of proximity.





This theory postulates that because:





(1) you can always count on good cheap ethnic fare in the specific enclave you are in (due to the population density, greater availability of specialized ingredients and the greater specialization aka pickiness of one with respect to their own cuisine), AND





(2) in general, migration of peoples have a larger epicenter that is closer from the point of origin rather than farther, THEREFORE





(3) good ethnic food will be better, cheaper and more available the closer you get to the point of origin.





To wit, I've noticed a great many good Asian and Mexican food on the West Coast, but less Carribean, middle Eastern or Italian/French/European fare. The opposite can be observed on the East Coast, where the latter dominate.





Of course, there are exceptions. I did not see a lot of South Asian markets and restaurants in the brief time I was in San Diego, whereas I know several hot spots here in Jersey.





So going back to King Oriental, we noticed that it specialized in both Chinese and Thai. As a rule, UFC avoids these hybrid places (unless it is buffet) because they tend to be subpar. But my mom and dad picked this place because it was close to home and she was too tired to go out. It had the perfect balance of flavors that good Thai food has. Everything we had was good. It seemed that the word is out too, because the place was full that night. Two years ago when my dad and I went, they did not have as many customers.

Shrimp roll with peanut sauce. All the herbs were fresh and the wrapper tasted like it was just made. The peanut sauce was rather starchy (probably from a mix).



Kai tod. Deep fried marinated chicken wings with sweet chili sauce. They looked rather bare, to be honest. Despite appearances, they were crispy, well-marinated and tasty, and received a six on the fried chicken scale.

Seafood pad thai. We found shrimp, squid and the fake crab bits. Perfect mix of sweet, salty and spicy. This was a big serving, good for two.

Seafood in red curry sauce. I specified medium heat, and it came out perfectly. The sauce was creamy with a nice homestyle curry kick to it. I always like it with a little fish sauce and chilis on the side, which the kitchen kindly provided.

House special fried rice (with shrimp, beef and chicken).

Las Olas

Las Olas
Cardiff by the Sea, California

After sightseeing at Cabrillo and La Jolla, we drove up Route 101, which runs along the coastline. It was a very nice drive, with laid back surfers and one pretty beach town after the next. It felt like we were in a cool car commercial for, I dunno, those people who wish they were outdoorsy but had 9-to-5 jobs in accounting.

Anyhoot, we stopped by this Mexican joint that was right across the street from the beach. DJKung felt that it was one big tourist trap (spoilsport!) although it was kinda festive.

Some complimentary chips while we peruse the menu.

DJKung ordered one carnita taco (left) and one fish taco (right). I ordered the fish taco too; the fish was light and crispy.

Livin' the good life in La Jolla (California)

Cabrillo National Monument

San Diego, California



La Jolla Cove

San Diego, California



One of the awesomest things about San Diego is how unbelievably pretty their coastline is--- they have tons of beaches, coves, cliffs, reefs, you name it.



My poppa recommended Cabrillo National Monument, which lies close to downtown, for the amazing panoramic views of the city center as well as the Pacific. It costs $5 for a vehicle pass, which is good for one full week. Once inside, you get a sense of how great this location is strategically because of its great vantage points. There is also a very picturesque cemetery overlooking the ocean.



We easily found parking close to one of the sandstone cliffs and walked about the little trails leading to the crashing surf. There was definitely a lot to look at, from little critters buzzing about, the interesting beach flora, and of course, the deep blue sea and the amazing waves. Too bad we left our camera in the car.



At certain times during the year, the whales come close and you can actually do a bit of whale watching too!.



After Cabrillo, we headed to La Jolla cove to watch the seals. It was still early on in the summer, so there weren't as much of them out there yet.



Another really awesome thing about California is that they have a very public notion of the beaches and the seashore, in that it they believe that these resources are public property and as such, should be accessible to the public. Apart from Cabrillo, which is a national park, the beaches we've been to were truly open to all (please take note, New Jersey!).

These sunning pelicans were easily visible from the bench where we were hanging out in.

Sometimes, you can see seals sunbathing right by the "swimming pool" part of the cove. This was a distant shot of the seals further away. They reminded me a lot of the furs back in Jersey.

Despite the presence of wildlife, there were actually some kayakers in the water. One other time, we even espied a someone who was doing a bit of spear fishing.

Revisiting Toro Sushi (San Diego, California)

Toro Sushi





DJKung and I just got back from visiting some family over in San Diego and we were really looking forward to some old places we've tried, as well as looking forward to exploring more of the local culinary landscape. First stop was in Toro Sushi, located at a strip mall in Mission Valley. DJKung remembered how really fresh and cheap the fish here was. My folks, who themselves are super picky about seafood, love to come here.

Fried soft shell crabs. These went well with some beer.


Mum loves the Bento Box B, which comes with (clockwise from top left): tuna and salmon sashimi, a little green salad, a few bits of shrimp shumai, a scrawny piece of shrimp tempura, white rice and some california rolls.

DJKung went for the chirashi, which comes with an assortment of fish: salmon, tuna, yellowfin, white tuna, squid. The fish was all superfresh and on the sweet side. There was a goodly bit of avocado slices and pickled carrot, which he remarked was rather off-putting. The carrot was nice, and for once did not taste like extra-woody #2 pencils. The sushi rice came with rice seasoning (seaweed+bonito flakes+ flavoring) sprinkled on top, which he did not like. He also wished there was a bit more variety to the sashimi.

I was disappointed at myself for wimping out and ordering just a soft shell crab roll, instead of a real meal. This thing is enormous and easily fills you up. The fake crab on top was a bit overkill, I thought.

We also got the broiled hamachi kama but were unable to do justice to it, since it was enormous.

Furs are rarin' to go to Ramapo!

Ramapo Mountain State Forest





Ramapo is an awesome 2,264-acre state park here in northern Jersey, with streams, lakes, and lots of trails. Recently, despite the threat of rain, the UFC went off to do a little bit of hiking. We took the Skyline Drive entrance, which is off Route 287. This part of the park does not get as much traffic as the reservoir area, which gets loads of people (and furs) especially on nice days.



Of course, you have to come prepared. We had water, a hiking map (Trail Map 22 North Jersey Trails Eastern Portion) and sturdy hiking boots.






To get to the lake, there is a bit of an uphill climb for about five minutes or so. There is a pretty stream to the left. We had to hold on real tight to our furs, coz they were reaally rarin' to go.

Rocky uphill climb.

Ramapo lake. We saw several kiddies fishing, although nobody seemed to be catching anything. There were definitely some fishies swimming in the water. There are a lot of water lilies, which crowd most parts of its surface.

Babams is one happy dawg!

Ramapo Lake has some fishing, and you can bring a little watercraft in too. We always see a lone sailboat docked close to the shore.

Local fungi. Since we've been getting so much rain this summer, there were loads of different kinds of these shrooms all over the place--- red, yellow and brown, in all different shapes and sizes. I have to get a mushroom book one day so I can start foraging!

Furs cooling down and fetching some sticks. Babams has gotten quite adept at swimming, and now beats Chibby when racing for the sticks in the water!

We took the Cannonball trail, which wraps halfway around Ramapo Lake. Feeling adventrous, we wanted to explore more trails. We missed the turn to Hoeferlin and ended up by the highway. What da hec?!

Turn around, guys! This ain't no trail!

Hoeferlin trail was not well-travelled at all. A lot of the spots were quite overgrown, and we did not see a single soul on the trail. There are three viewpoints with views of the highway, the mountains, and Ramapo Lake. This was a bit of a strenuous trek, pretty hilly, and all da furs were good and tired by the time we finished, about three hours later. Good job everybody!!!