Three color salad

This is a simple recipe we invented with some friends when out camping one time in France. It is a bit different from the Italian Tricolor salad- with yellow instead of white being shown against green and red. Perhaps it should be the Mexican tricolor- it certainly has Mexican ingredients. We whipped it up today now that the price of avocadoes is not too horrific.
Three Color Salad


8 firm tomatoes (diced)
2 tins sweetcorn
3 ripe avocados (diced)
1 tsp Dijon mustard
2 tbsp extra virgen olive oil
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
Salt and pepper
Grated cheddar cheese


Method

1, Place the tomatoes, sweetcorn and avocado in a bowl. Gently mix them so they are distributed evenly in the bowl

2, Combine the mustard with the vinegar. Gradually add olive oil to the mixture of mustard and vinegar. Whisk up into a vinaigrette, and drizzle over the salad.

3, Season to taste, and add a little sprinkling of cheddar cheese over the top.

Mushroom Pasta Dish

Tried out another great internet recipe today - unfortunately it all got socffed down before I could take any photos. But I wanted to advise it as one to try. We used wholewheat pasta and used a lot less butter than they advised, and the result was delicious and nicely healthy.
Recipe came from Care 2 . Make sure you use nice thin fresh asparugus and don't overcook. We threw in a whole bunch of fresh herbs at the end which made it fab- and of course a pasta dish is never the same without some parmesan cheese.

Apertivo

We checked out Apertivo last night- we had walked past it a fair few times and decided to give our local North Park tapas restaurant a try. University and 30th is a funny area, on the whole it looks rather shabby, however it contains a number of nicer eating places- Ranchos Cocina, Heaven Sent Desserts and Apertivo to name a few. Once we stepped inside the restaurant however shabbiness was abandoned, and we could just have easily downtown in the Gaslamp such was the chic decor.
Apertivo is an Italian tapas restaurant- the menu is not exactly groundbreaking, but does have a great selection of all your favorite Italian dishes (in miniature of course). Each item on the menu goes for $3-$7 and invites the diners to choose a wide selection of little plates to share. This is a nice way of eating- variety always being key to me for any good meal. And indeed this is usually one of the problems I have with Italian food, even at the nicest of restaurants the $20 entree consists of a bowl of pasta, or a risotto, or a pizza no variety at all but just a great deal of the same thing.
We decided to start with 4 tapas dishes, one for each of us and settled on the French green beans, the chicken sausage, the red pepper pasta and an arugula salad. We also chose a nice bottle of Chardonnay after the waitress had been kind enough to provide us with a few tastes of the different bottles on offer. I have to say we were a little disappointed with our first round of food- the arugula salad was pretty good but the pasta was bland, the chicken sausage certainly not loved by all and the green beans just okay. The wine was a hit however- especially at $18 a bottle.
Our party being pretty hungry we decided on a second full round of tapas hoping that this time we would chose better. This time we picked some chorizo wrapped shrimp, a gorgonzola pasta, eggplant rollotini and a meat and cheese platter. This fortunately proved much more satisfactory- everyone's favorite was the gorgonzola pasta which was spectacular, the eggplant dish was also really great as were the shrimp and of course meat and cheese platters are always good!
The nicest thing about the dinner was its length and relaxing approach, we sat for several hours chatting and munching away, sipping on our wine and indeed were some of the last customers to leave the restaurant. We had a very pleasant experience and although the food was not the best we have had recently it was great value for the cheap paycheck it accompanied.

Spinach and Garbanzo Curry

Still in our Indian mood we cooked up this delicious Spinach and Garbanzo curry last night, served alongside some great Dahl, a couple of different raitas and some mango chutney.
The recipe I cannot take credit for (expect for it's selection). It came from an internet search for Garbanzo Curry , or as we call them in this house hold- chickpeas.
The recipe came from Waitrose, a pretty fancy supermarket in the UK, and is interested in its use of ground almonds to thicken the curry.
I would highly recommend you to try the recipe- here is a link- http://www.waitrose.com/food_drink/recipes/recipesearch/Recipe/0008062-r05.asp

And a photo of the result:

Quorn Tikka Massala

In an Indian mood right now, so we are gonna cook up our vegetarian version of chicken Tikka Massala, it's much better than those you get from the take out (probably because of its liberal use of cream :-)

The quorn should really be marinated the day before and left over night- you can replace quorn for chicken if you prefer.

Tikka Marinade: 6 oz natural yoghurt
1 tbsp ginger (grated)
4 garlic cloves (crushed)
1 tsp chili powder
1 tbsp ground coriander
½ tsp salt
4 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 packets Quorn pieces (defrosted)
Massala Sauce: 4 tbsp vegetable oil
2 onions (thinly sliced)
1 inch ginger (finely chopped)
2 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
6 cardamoms (bruised)
2 tsp garam massala
2 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp chili powder
½ pint double cream
2 tsp tomato puree
½ tsp salt
½ tsp sugar
Method

1, Combine the marinade ingredients. Marinate the quorn overnight.

2, Heat the vegetable oil in a large saucepan. Add the onions, ginger and garlic, fry until soft.

3,Add the spices and fry for 1-2 minutes. Add the cream, tomato puree, 4 tbsp hot water, the salt and the sugar. Simmer for 10-15 mins.

4, Fry the quorn in a wok, until browned all over. Tip the quorn into the massala sauce and serve straight away with rice.

Chilli's

So I don't normally review Chain Restaurants, for the simple reason that we don't usually go to many. However we met our friends today who had spent the whole day packing up a truck to move to Phoenix, and we needed to go somewhere easy, and of mutual distance between our two houses- Chilli''s seemed to fit the bill.
We arrived early, and were shocked to find the La Mesa Chili's had a line all out the door (on a Wednesday night?). However due to the ingenious invention of the buzzer system we could hapily wait at the bar until our table was ready (35 mins later).

The staff of course were wonderully friendly as you wuld expect in a restaurant such a chillis, and the atmosphere was fun. We sat down and ordered some sort of standard fare- Fajitas, burgers, fries, that sort of thing. As the more considerate chains do these days any burger could be made vegetarian with a bean pattie, which bumped up the veggie options quite a bit. Always good for keeping the peace!

The food came, it was all good, above average for a chain restaurant- of course nothing really groundbreaking, but tasty, satisfying and filling.

Next time we are on a road trip we certainly will give Chilli's another go. It's right up there with Red Robin

Cinco de Mayo Celebrations

Planning Cinco de Mayo celebrations earlier than the evening of seemed like it might have been a very sensible idea at 7 pm last night as we frantically called round every Mexican Restaurant to see if we could possibly get a reservation. After quite a search we found that Ranchos Cocina had only a 10 minute wait for walk ins and headed over there. It is our local neighborhood Mexican restaurant after all. When it came to it the wait was probably more like 30 mins (for a party of 5), but we sat outside and it was a fun sort of atmosphere so no harm done.
Inside, Ranchos Cocina (which specializes in Vegetarian Mexican Cuisine), was buzzing with Cinco de Mayo revelers. We were seated at something that looked more like a narrow piece of wood than anything else- and certainly served to pack the restaurant to the max. We squeezed in well enough however and settled down to a pitcher of margaritas, chips, salsa, and guacamole which seemed to be nothing more than a squished up avocado. We ordered our food and a good half hour later it arrived. Opinions were mixed as to its quality- the Lobster Burrito got a big thumbs up, as did the fish tacos and cheese and bean enchiladas. Less positive response were alluded from the tofu and ole sauce enchilada and the whole-wheat chicken burrito. Perhaps Mexican food just isn't made to be healthy. Everything was fine and jolly until the check arrived, we were about to pay what seemed like a rather extensive sum, when we realized we had been charged for 3 entrees we had not eaten. I will take a positive stance and assume that this wasn't purposefully done, although my dinner companions were less convinced.
About half way through the meal one of our party had declared a craving for chocolate, I lost track of what ensued but all of sudden we had a reservation at the Melting Pot for later that evening. It seems that planning Cinco de Mayo early is sensible but random on the spot decisions much more fun.
We arrived at the Melting Pot around 9.30. The ladies got started on some chocolate Martinis (complete with a Hershey's Kiss), whilst the men opted for port and coffee. Still distinctly stuffed from the Mexican food we start around the fun circular table for a couple of hours, drinking, chatting and enjoying each other's company. After letter our dinner digest we ordered two of the melting pot's small fondues- Smores and the Flaming Turtle. Each fondue came with strawberries, pineapple, banana cheesecake, brownies, and marshmallows for dipping. They were both absolutely exquisite; my favorite was dipping the fresh banana pieces into the Flaming Turtle, a wonderful velvety chocolate sauce.
So a very successful evening out- arriving home 5 hours after heading out! A massive thumbs up to the Melting Point- which is somewhere all San Diegans should pay a visit. I will reserve judgment on Ranchos Cocina and perhaps pay them a visit on a slightly less busy occasion. Perhaps Mexican Restaurants are NOT the place to be on this holiday!

Vegetarain Burritos

In honor of Cinco de Mayo here is our well worn vegetarain Burrito recipe- nothing too flash. We dress it up and down depending on the audience. This was orginally created for the British side of our family- who unfamilar with Mexican food quickly becamse obsessed! If you are not vegetarian you can easily replace the quorn with the meat of your choice.


2 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion (sliced)
4 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
1 red pepper (thinly sliced)
½ packet of quorn pieces (defrosted)
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
2 inches of salt
1 tin re-fried beans
½ tin sweetcorn
4 oz grated cheddar cheese
4 large flour tortillas
3 tomatoes, finely chopped

Method

1, Heat the oil in a large wok. Add the onions and garlic, fry for 3 mins and add the peppers. Fry until the vegetables are tender.

2, Add the quorn, the cumin, chili powder and salt and fry until the quorn/chicken is cooked right through. (do not over cook, the quorn/chicken).

3, Add in the refried beans. Stir in until they become thoroughly combined with the other ingredients.

4, Stir in the sweetcorn and cheese. Cook for 5-10 mins, stirring often.

5, Remove the mixture from the heat. Take one of the tortillas and place in a well oiled frying pan. Place a large dollop of the mixture on one side of the tortilla. Sprinkle some fresh tomatoes over the top. Fold up the tortilla over to cover the mixture. Fry on both sides and serve.

OB people's food co-op

We had to head over the ocean beach tonight anyhow, and seeing as we were there we finally made it to the Ocean Beach People's Organic Food Market. We had heard rave reviews about the co-op and had been meaning to head over there for several weeks.
The co-op is of course owned by its members with a 10% added cost to the shopping bills of non-members. All the food is organic and vegetarian, some of it of course being vegan. The produce is fresh and wholesome looking, and you can pick up items such as tahini which I sometimes have trouble finding even at Whole Foods (does no one make their own hummus anymore?). I was impressed by the Co-op, they are the only community owned grocery outlet in San Diego, and they stay loyal to their cause, making profit only to support the running of the store. I was a little disappointed in their ethos- all thoughts seems to flow towards being organic and GM free. In my mind issues such as food miles are much more important- locally grown food being not only better for the environment but generally more tasty also.
Upstairs at the Co-op there is a little deli were you can sit and eat vegan and vegetarian entrees. We chose some cashew carrot salad, a baby bean salad, some sesame tofu and a massala rice dish. they were all fantastic, as was the "goddess dressing" which took its base from avocadoes.
Unfortunately we do not live too near Ocean Beach, but if we did we would certainly sign up for membership right away.

Asian Bistro

Time for another restaurant review-
After glowing reviews from our friends we picked the newly opened Asian Bistro on 5th and University for tonight's dinner. As we walked up to the restaurant we noticed a car alarm going off- we exchanged remarks to the extent that we hoped it stopped soon as it seemed to be parked pretty close to our destination. It was, it was parked exactly opposite the restaurant, and unfortunately, no it did not stop anytime soon. The alarm went on for another 30 minutes or so, and such was the efficiency at the Asian Bistro that we had finished our entree before the time the owner returned back to his car. By this time, I, and apparently several other people had notified the police, and the streets were lined with angry people. I have to say I was impressed that no one quite got angry enough to come out with a sledge hammer.
Anyway back to the Asian Bistro. It is a great little restaurant- open until 3 am for those of you who need such services. The decor inside was pleasant and I am sure would have been calming if it were not for the irritating alarm. The wait staff were very friendly and courteous, and the kitchen staff obviously very quick as I mentioned previously. My wife was impressed to see all vegetarian dishes were prepared in separate cookware to meat dishes, and made with vegetable stocks and sauces. The menu is a collection of the multitude of Asian cuisines, and had a lot to offer. We had a difficult time choosing but settled on the Drunken Noodles, and a Chinese Eggplant dish. The food excellent, very nicely presented without being over the top $15 a plate attractive. Everything tasted good- fairly simple fare, no surprises, but good tasty food. Our one regret was having ordered no appetizers- normally I get so full up at Asian restaurants with the family sized portions, however the portions here were moderately sized and the selection of appetizers enticing. We shall definitely go back- hopefully for a more peaceful dinner.

Brocolli and Stilton Soup

We had a great bowl of soup at Gulf Coast Grill the other night during happy hour- Cream of Brocolli. It was delicious and only about $3 a bowl at that time. The memory of it stuck in my head and inspired me to cook our own version tonight. This is more of a British take on the dish, using delicious creamy Stilton cheese- you can substitute any blue cheese if you can't find Stilton, although Trader Joes usually stocks it. Just make sure you get the blue version, and not the White Stilton with the apricots!

Broccoli and Stilton Soup


2 oz Butter
1 Small Red Onion (chopped)
1 lb Broccoli (roughly chopped)
3 Tbsp Wholewheat Flour
2 pints Vegetable Stock
5-6 Spinach leaves
1½ oz Stilton Cheese (crumbled)
1 Glass white wine
250 ml milk
Black Pepper

Method

1, Heat the butter in a large saucepan, add the onion. Soften for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

2, Add the broccoli and cook for a further 5 minutes until it is tender

3 Sprinkle on the flour and toss until fully combined. Add the stock, stirring all the time.

4, Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes or until the broccoli is completely soft. Stir in the spinach for the final 2 minutes.

5, Puree the soup in a blender, then return to heat. Add the milk and wine and heat through for 10 minutes. Stir in the cheese until it melts, season and serve.

Cajun dinner

We went round to our neighbors house last night for dinner. They have family round from New Orleans right now and cooked us up a cajun feast- well some of it cajun, some of it less so! Its a type of cuisine I love and really should start cooking more of- such interesting flavors. I will try to get the recipe for the shrimp dish, it was delicious- apparantly you aren't supposed to really eat the sauce, just dip bread in.
This version was made with a third of the butter usually used, so I guess its a cuisine that we shouldn't eat too much!

Big Kitchen

This morning we headed out for breakfast at Big Kitchen in Southpark. Southpark is such a great neighborhood- definitely somewhere we are thinking of moving to. It has such a friendly, relaxed feel combined with that of the intellectual arty crowd more commonly found in Seattle or Portland. Big Kitchen is known as one of the best breakfast places in San Diego- the fact that Whoopi Goldberg used to wash dishes there further adds to its fame.
We were prepared for a fair wait outside the 'Kitchen'- but were happy to do so, coffee is usually available, and waiting in the San Diego sunshine never unenjoyable. When we arrived however, we were pleasantly surprised to be seated immediately and sat down a cute little wooden booth. the atmosphere inside was great, with lots of quirky customers, and walls filled with interesting bumper stickers, photos (of Whoopi of course) and various random pieces of memorabilia.
The menus arrived and we were pretty much blown array with the vast number of choices - including 'favorite breakfasts' of regular and famous diners. After a good amount of umming and arring we settled on the Mexican omlette and the spinach and cheese egg scramble.
the food arrived and was very tasty- very nice portion sizes, just enough to fill you up, but not so much that you spend you entire Sunday bloated and regretting the indulgent breakfasting. The home made salsa which accompanied the food was delicious, as was the spicy ketchup. Everything seemed very fresh and well cared for. The staff were delightful, although the busy nature of Sunday morning breakfasting meant that we were not always taken care of as often as we would have liked. At the end of the meal came a blow that I had been slightly anticipating- the restaurant accepted no credit card. I really think this is pretty disgraceful in this day and age- if you want to charge $8-$9 a plate for breakfast you really shouldn't expect people to have to carry around that sort of cash in thier pockets. This is a big international city, and the restaurant is a well known, successful business that really can afford to offer its customers that sort of convenience. The lack of which I find to be a slight arrogance on the part of the proprietors and which, despite the good food, leaves a slightly bad taste in the mouth.

Stuffed Peppers and Avocadoes

Sorry for the delay- recipe time!
Here are the recipes for the stuffed peppers and avocadoes that formed the center of my dinner party. Both best served at room temperature in my opinion- but try hot/ chilled whatever you fancy!


Stuffed Peppers

2 Red Bell Peppers
4 Tomatoes (diced)
1 Jar Green Olives
4 Cloves Garlic (thinly sliced)
Extra Virgen Olive Oil
Ground Black Pepper


Method

1, Wash the peppers and split them in half vertically. Do not remove the stalk but slice in half with the pepper shells. Remove the seeds.

2, Arrange the diced tomatoes, sliced garlic and olives evenly in the four pepper shells.

3, Place the peppers in a baking tray. Generously dribble olive oil on and around the peppers. Season with black pepper.

4, Bake in the oven at a medium hot setting for forty-five minutes.

Stuffed Avocadoes


2 Large Avocadoes
A little lemon juice
Salt and Pepper
2oz Brazil Nuts (chopped finely)
2oz Grated Cheddar Cheese
2 Tbsp Parmesan Cheese
2 Tbsp Fresh Parsley (chopped)
2 Tomatoes (skinned and finely chopped)
Breadcrumbs
Melted Butter
Paprika


Method

1,Halve the avocadoes, remove the pulp and brush the shells with lemon juice.

2, Chop the pulp and season. Put into a bowl with brazil nuts, cheese parsley and tomatoes. Mix and spoon into the avocado shells.

3, Sprinkle with breadcrumbs. Trickle butter onto the avocadoes. Dust with Paprika

4, Bake for fifteen to twenty minutes at a medium setting.

Dinner Party

Dinner Party last night- cooked up some treats- recipes to follow!
(I need a break after all that cooking!)


 
 
 
  

Sun-dried tomato Pizza

Looking at the great food blogs on the web I realise I need to start incorperating more photos into my blog. Last night we made fantastic pzza- heres the recipe, easy to make and healthier than take out. Enjoy!

Ingredients
1 3/4 cup whole-wheat flour
1 package yeast
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1/2-2/3 cup hot water
2 teaspoons olive oil from a jar of sundried tomatoes
1/4 cup italian herbs
2 tsp poppy seeds

1/4 jar of pasata
mushrooms- sliced
1 pepper- sliced
1/2 onion- sliced
Brocolli florets
1 stick heart of palm- sliced
2 tablespoons capers
1/2 jar sundried tomatoes
2 heads roasted garlic- peeled
low fat mozzeralla -sliced
low fat cheddar- grated


1. Combine flour, yeast, salt, sugar, herbs and poppy seeds in a food processor and mix.

2.Combine the hot water and sundried tomato oil in a measuring cup. Keep the motor runing and gradually pour in the hot liquid until the mixture forms a sticky ball. Process until the dough forms a ball, then knead for 1 minute.

2. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. cover and levae to rise for 2 hours.

3. After 2 hours, roll our dough and place on a pizza tray. Prebake in the oven for 15 minutes.

4. Spread on passata and then arrange ingredients on top.

5, Bake in the oven for 20-30 mins until the crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbling.

6, Serve and enjoy!


Before the Oven...............




And After...........

Hors d'Oeuvres

We are having a little party tonight, so we threw together a few Martha Stewart style hors d'Oeurves for our guests. I love the little crackers with the thyme leaves embedded. The cake stand is left over from our wedding- we bought 30 plus of them off ebay and had an english style afternoon tea- they make pretty good hors d'Oeuvres servers- adding height and being a little unique here in the US.
Some of these hors'deourves are my own creation and some are from Martha's hors d'eourves handbook which my wife lives by.



 
 
  

Disneyland

This week we headed up to Disneyland. I was amazed to see that Disney actually let you bring in food- being sure that they would want to drag every last penny out of you. We packed up a picnic- comprised largely of Trader Joes dips, plus crudities and tortilla chips and headed up to the park. When we arrived at the gate the lady checked my picnic backpack and proclaimed that we could only enter if we promised not to use our picnic plates- food is allowed, but plates are not. The reasoning being I suppose that food is a snack and plates constitute a picnic. We faithfully promised, and entered the park. When lunch time arrived however we found Disneyland devoid of picnic tables- we knew there was new somewhere and understood it to be just to the left of the park entrance. After quite a lot of searching we found the most secluded area imaginable- more difficult to locate than the secret garden, disguised by 20 foot hedges there to stop anyone getting ideas about not eating the Disneyland food.
We had a lovely lunch, in relative peace thanks to the hedges, and later in the afternoon were made to be heartily glad of our picnic plan. We stopped at a cafe for a drink and saw the most disgusting looking food that was being served- I believe the idea behind it was Chili cheese hotdogs- they looked like a piece of cardboard, with a piece of rubber inside, covered in sludge and plastic. All for the wonderful price of $7 a hot dog!
We were not so well prepared however to avoid Disneyland prices entirely and our two evenings at the parks were spent dining in "Downtown Disney". Once I got over the price shift and just accepted it as Disneyland I was pleasantly surprised. We went first night to Cafe Uva, an open air terrace serving a range of foods which were all plesant enough, with friendly service- a nice relaxing break from our theme park day.
The next evening we dined late at night in the Jazz Cafe, a wonderful restaurant with genuine New Orleans artifacts including an outrageous beaded Piano. The service was wonderful, our dishes delightfully presented and we had a lovely relaxing time. Until that is, some of the wait staff, (presumably after a long day) came and started to play chopsticks and every other moronic tune on the piano. Not what you need after hours of being subjected to Disney music. This was an unprofessional moment that took the glamour off our evening a little.
So my advice for Disney- bring food, lots of nice healthy food. Dine out in the evening, (you'll need it after walking around Disney all day), and be prepared for high prices, that’s all you are gonna get- just deal with it.

Salads

Probably the most commonly consumed dish in our house is salad- especially now we ae living in a warm climate and therefore less in need of a warming dish each night- we also have the wonderful farmers market to provide us with Fresh ingredients. Many people have trouble making an interesting salad, I cam up with this list to help remind myself of good ideas and inspire me to make exciting tasty salads each and ever time!


Leaves
The base of a salad is usually some sort of leaves

Lettuce:
Iceberg,
Romaine,
Red lettuce, (adds colour)
Rocket
Sorrel
Baby spinach

Fruits
As well as the tradition salad fruits it is good to add some different fruits with interesting flavours and textures.

Cucumber
Peaches
Melon
Watermelon
Orange
Apple
Kiwi
Tomato
Mango
Pineapple
Strawberries
Apricots
Avocado

Vegetables

Carrots
Celery
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Peppers
Courgette
Sugar Snaps
Green beans
Mushrooms
Red/white onion

Nuts
Nuts add protein to a salad as well as an interesting change in texture

Walnuts
Hazelnuts
Almonds
Pecans
Cashews

Cheese
Cheese is another good source of protein in your salad, and also an excellent change in texture. Try warm goats cheese, to make an even more interesting salad.

Mozzarella
Cheddar
Parmesan
Goats cheese
Brie
Feta

Herbs
Fresh herbs can make a zesty addition to a salad and provide some interesting and unusual flavours.

Chives
Garlic chives
Salad burnett
Welsh onion
Basil
Oregano

Flowers
Flowers make an attractive addition to a salad and can be quite tasty too.

Heartsease
Nasturtium
Violet
Daisy
Borage
Sunflower petals

Other Ingredients
Boiled eggs
Poached eggs
Quails eggs
Croutons
Bacon
Chicken breast
Proscuitto
Sundried tomatoes
Sunflower seeds

Green Pasta with Prawns

I came up with this dish after sorting between the wierd collection of ingredients that were in my fridge and then putting them together in a way that I am pleased to say- worked! I know this dish is going to sound very wierd to a lot of you but do please try it, you will love it I promise!

Marinade: 2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp white wine
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp chopped fresh mint
5 cloves garlic, chopped
½ lb fresh prawns, skinned and headed
2 tbsp Olive oil
6 cloves garlic (chopped)
½ glass white wine
2 cups frozen peas
1 lettuce (roughly torn)
1 cup cream
1 cucumber (diced and steamed)
4 avocadoes (diced)
10 oz pasta shapes (cooked al dente)
¼ Red onion (thinly sliced)
1 cup crumbled blue cheese
2 tbsp freshly chopped chives
1 tbsp freshly chopped mint

Method
1, Place all the marinade ingredients into a bowl. Place the prawns in the marinade and leave over night to marinate.

2, Heat the live oil in a large wok. Remove the prawns from the marinade, and place in the wok. Fry the prawns gently until they become almost tender add the garlic, and fry a little more. Add the white wine and peas, cook until the peas are tender. Add the lettuce and the cream and cook for a further 3 minutes.

3, Remove from the heat, stir in the cucumber and avocado. Toss with the pasta shapes. Sprinkle on the red onion blue cheese and herbs. Serve straight away.

The Boat House

Finally a wonderful dining experience to report. We decided to go out for brunch today (unbeknownst to us this apparently the second biggest brunch day of the year, after Mother's Day). After some deliberation we headed out to the Boat House in the harbor for some sunny views of San Diego and an elegant brunch menu. I am happy to say we were not disappointed. Having called and made reservations that morning we arrived and were immediately seated at a nice table with a clean white linen tablecloth, by a window over looking the harbor and Point Loma. The views were great and the atmosphere in the restaurant, being Easter, was cheerful and relaxed, brunch is such a great meal to go out for. .

Our waiter arrived and we ordered drinks- the $5 free flowing champagne being unavailable on Easter unfortunately we decided to order a bottle anyway- it was not a bad price. To eat I chose the Eggs benedict, my wife a spinach mushroom and cheese omelet and my sister-in-law the French toast. Our drinks arrived, elegantly presented and were some followed by some delicious warm muffins. We sat and talked enjoying our drinks, loving the views and feeling very relaxed. After a nice period our food arrived, again nicely presented, great portion sizes, and very tasty fair. The French Toast was a real hit, served with strawberries and a great syrup.

We really enjoyed our brunch at the boathouse, it has some of the best views in San Diego, the staff are impeccable and I am sure we will be coming back here again and again.

The Corvette Diner

As I mentioned in my previous post I really am not a fan of being treated like a naughty child and paying for the privilege. Unfortunately our trip to the Corvette Diner last night turned out to be just such an experience. I had been looked forward to the evening out all day- the Corvette is a classic fifties diner serving up a wide range of burgers, sandwiches, sodas and desserts. The wait staff dress in fifties outfit, and the whole decor is very elaborate with a the namesake Corvette parked in the center of the restaurant. Not having been alive in the 1950s for me it is a place reminiscent of Jack Rabbit Slims - Pulp Fiction. There is nightly entertainment - Dave the balloon man was set to be there Friday night, and it looked like we were in for a fun evening.
We arrived, and being a restaurant that doesn't permit reservations we had to wait for 20 minutes for a table. We sat near the ice cream/ soda station and saw the most enormous desserts being created as well as delicious looking shakes and sodas. The atmosphere was fun, a little rowdy but all good natured. Eventually we were seated in a fun little booth. Our waitress, a sixty year old woman with a bouffant wig, passed by and threw some straws at us in what was meant to be a sassy style- a little forced, but we were having fun and it was all good. The waitress returned and took our orders for dinner- this is when the fun and games began. My sister-in-law and I both opted for Oreo shakes, but my wife chose instead to have a glass of Red Trolley Ale. ID was asked for and she presented her federal employment ID, the same one she always uses, the one which incidentally took her one and half years to get.
The waitress wasn't sure if they accepted the ID, was friendly enough about but called over the manager all the same. How the lady who approached our table ever became a manager I have no idea- her people skills were non-existent. She looked at the ID and informed us that although the card had a photo, a federal seal, a signature, and ever a finger print on- it wasn't valid because it had no description. In order to be valid an ID apparently needs height and weight. This was one of the most ridiculous things we had ever heard- people lie in their drivers license descriptions all the time- not to mention loose and gain weight. My own driver’s license being a case in point says I am 12 pounds heavier than I am and states that my hair is blonde, which many could call into question. Slightly perturbed having never had any problem with her ID before my wife politely asked what she should bring along next time she came to the restaurant, as she preferred not to carry her passport around with her. "Well you should"- came the reply from the manager! "No, I really shouldn't", said my wife, "What if I was to loose it, it has my US visa inside...” Then came the strangest part of this interlude as the manager began to tell us about a passport she had found in the restaurant just the over day- thus proving our point that it really wasn't a sensible thing to carry it around. She failed to see this point however and left the table with us all feeling disgruntled, and again treated distinctly like naughty children. My wife is from England, has worked as a bar tender for 3 years, and to be told at 23 years old that she can't have a beer with her burger and fries was a little much for her.
Our food arrived- we had all ordered burgers. A nice thing about the Corvette is that you can choose from lean beef, Boca burger, turkey patty and chicken breast for all of the burger options. You can also chose to have a whole-wheat bun, a nice touch not found at many burger joints around San Diego. Having said that, the food was unfortunately nothing special- the burgers were okay, the fries were not at all good. The Oreo shakes were delicious, but then again if you mix ice-cream, milk, chocolate syrup and cookies it really is pretty hard to go wrong. Our experience had been distinctly marred by the ID incident- it was not the lack of a beer that was aggravating, but rather the way we had been treated. We won't be going back, and I would advise the Corvette diner to more thoroughly vet their management staff and find candidates who actually know how to speak courteously to customers.

Top of the Cove

After a long day working yesterday we headed up the coast to La Jolla to make the most of what was left of a beautiful sunny day. We walked along the cove, saw the seals and some pretty cute ground squirrels and then decided to head up to Georges on the Cove for a drink with a view. On our way we passed 'Top of the Cove' a similar (although less fancy) restaurant which was offering happy hour drinks and appetizers in it's 'Ocean View bar'. The prices were very cheap and it sounded like fun so we headed on up there. Big mistake...

We were greeted first by a man in a tuxedo asking us if we had reservations for dinner (why we would have needed them for the almost empty downstairs restaurant I can't tell you. We replied that we just wanted drinks and appetizers and he looked down his nose at us and sent us upstairs, in a manner suggesting that we should have know automatically this was the place to go. We headed up the stairs and were met by an even snootier looking man with ginger hair. He was courteous at first but once he realized we were only there for drinks and appetizers his manner changed abruptly becoming almost rude in his tone. He informed us we could sit, well basically that we could sit anywhere that didn't have a view. Perhaps I am being a little extreme, we did manage a vantage point from which the ocean could be seen, but the view was certainly not an uninterrupted man. At this point the snooty ginger haired man returned, and if we didn't already feel like second class citizens he made sure we knew our place by positively throwing the menus at us across the table.
After some time we were greeted by a waitress who took our orders- I chose a chocolate martini and my wife a mandarin one whilst my sister in law had an apple juice. We chose three of the $3 appetizers- onion rings with aioli, chicken drumsticks and some sort of ceviche item.

After an inexplicably long wait- whilst the staff attended to the 'real guests'- our drinks and food arrived. The chocolate martini was actually pretty good- leaving a taste of Hershey’s syrup as an after taste, the mandarin martini was passable, nothing special. The appetizers were not great, the ceviche turned out to be 3 single tortilla chips made soggy by a few bits of tomato and roughly chopped shrimp. For a dollar a pop these were really quite dreadful. The onion rings were okay- too thin for my personal liking (i like to have some onion in my onion ring), and the aioli was not at all of the quality i expect from an allegedly first class establishment like Top of the Cove. The drumsticks were veyr tasty but extremely difficult to eat with no finger bowl being offered to us of course. We ended up getting extremely messy and looking just like the low class down and outs they had taken us for.

So to sum up- not the most pleasant experience, it’s never nice to be treated with distaste, and especially not when you are paying someone to do so. What makes me really annoyed is that they advertise the Happy hour out there on the street, drawing people in, but then seem intensely disappointed that that is all people have come for.

The Prado

Another excellent dining experience to report. Yesterday was the most beautiful perfect San Diego day and it seemed criminal not to go and sit in the sun and have a leisurely lunch- the perfect place to do this- why the Prado of course, set right in the center of Balboa park on a beautiful courtyard, shady but not dark, elegant and yet still retaining an outdoors/ nature type feel. I have been waiting a long time for the perfect day to go to the Prado and I am pleased to say I was not in the slightest bit disappointed.
We were seated at our table and giving large glasses of ice water. I am always immensely interested in what food a restaurant gives its diners to snack on prior on the meal, one of my favorites ever being the bread and aioli served at Vagabond. The Prado in my mind lived up to expectations, providing flat bread and a delicious hummus. This may not have been quite as mouthwatering as Vagabond's aioli, but it was at least less guilt ridden, and was certainly delicious in its own right. The only slight issue with the flat bread was that they were covered in Poppy seeds, which, as we began to much away soon covered the table. The Prado had of course thought of everything however and soon a waitress arrived to "care for our table", wiping off the poppy seeds, leaving us feeling clean and adding in that little VIP touch which is what one wants from a flashy lunch out.
We ordered drinks next, settling on the mojitos which had been assured were "especially good", they were indeed fantastic and extremely refreshing- perfect for a hot day. To eat I chose the Chicken Enchiladas which were extremely good, served with Oaxaca cheese and a trio of delicious salsas. My wife had a little difficulty in choosing a salad, not being used to such an array of meatless options. She asked for some advice and settle on the pressed salad which comprised largely of arugula, with some strawberries, figs and candied walnuts thrown into the mix. The presentation on the salad was beautiful, set in a small round on the centre of a very large dish with a balsamic glaze zigzagged across the plate.

Everything about our meal was fantastic, the wait staff treated us like movie stars, the timing of the food was perfect, the food itself very tasty and the presentation stunning. The Prado is only a 30 minute walk from our house and I am sure it will be a regular haunt this summer.

Lanna Thai

We recently paid a visit to the newly opened Lanna Thai in Pacific Beach. We wrote down the directions, drove over there and were slightly disconcerted to find the restaurant bang in the middle of a strip mall nestled in close next to a 7-eleven, neon signs intact. Although not the classiest of locations I was slightly hopeful - the best Thai food I have ever had came from a strip mall location north of Seattle.

We stepped inside the location and it was as though a miracle had taken place- in utter contrast from the garish run down surroundings outside, the inside was calm, attractive and extremely inviting. The waiters looked slightly surprised to have customers- (there was certainly no need to make a reservation), but rallied themselves immediately and courteously seated us.

We started the meal by ordering drinks. Choosing drinks is often a slightly disappointing part of a Thai meal- the only options on offer generally being Singha beer, Thai iced tea and some distinctly average house wines. At Lanna Thai however we were presently with an array of wonderful sounding cocktails- I chose the Lannatini, whilst my wife went with the spiced thai, my sister in law having never had it before we encouraged to try Thai Iced tea.

The drinks arrived and were absolutely heavenly. My Lannatini was made of a lychee liquor and filled with some real lychees. It was like no cocktail I have ever quite had before and completely perfect in every way, not too strong not to weak. I immediately resolved to back to Lanna Thai, even if it was only for this drink.

For food we chose some more usual dishes- a vegetable delight, some Pro Ram, and a thick noodle dish. It arrived after just the right amount of waiting time- long enough for it not to feel like fast food, but not so long that we had to contend with roaring stomachs. When it did arrive the food was great, not the best Thai food, and probably not better than the Hillcrest restaurants- Amarin, Lotus etc. However it was very good, and very good value we realized once the check arrived.

I wish Lanna Thai the best luck for the future- I hope their unattractive location will not put too many people off. I encourage everyone to visit there at least once, we will certainly going back.

BBQ

We spent much of this weekend BBQing in the sun. I was reflecting on how having a BBQ has meant such different things at different places I have lived around the world.

In Brazil the Churrasco which basically meant that a cow was killed and then put on a large skewer and cooked for hours with very little seasoning. It was a treat that local people adored- the meat always being served with the traditional beans, rice and a tomato and cilantro salad. I was not so favorably impressed.

In England the BBQs are always charcoal- a gas grill wouldn't even be considered a BBQ. I'm sure things are not always this bad but in my experience the BBQ has consisted of meat cooked to a cinder (to make sure we don't all die from salmonella) served with coleslaw, potato salad ketchup and nasty white burger buns.

I have to say that although I am not normally this loyal to my country I do prefer a good ole American BBQ. Steaks marinated and cooked to perfection on a gas grill, skewers of vegetables- peppers, Vidalia onions, portabella mushrooms; chicken kabobs - and best of all our latest addition grilled halloumi cheese (not quite American but oh well :-)

Chicken Parcels

Albertsons is having an incredible sale right now- Chicken breats for $1.77/lb. I took advantage and cooked up this awesome dish last night:
Enjoy everyone- it's best served with a nice green salad- through in some artichoke hearts and palmitos to the salad to dress this up for a special occasion.


Baked Chicken Parcels

Marinade: ¼ bottle white wine
3 Tbsp Olive Oil
3 tbsp Lemon juice
4 Cloves garlic (finely chopped)
5 tbsp freshly chopped mixed herbs (chives, oregano
basil)
Salt and pepper
4 Chicken breasts
2 eggplants (sliced ¼ inch thick)
Olive oil for frying
Tomato sauce: 1 tbsp olive oil
1 ½ onions (roughly chopped)
3 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
1 can chopped tomatoes
1 can crushed tomatoes
¼ bottle red wine
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1½ tbsp dried herbs (basil, oregano, thyme)
4 oz cheddar cheese (grated)
Method
1, Combine all the marinade ingredients in a bowl. Place the chicken breasts into the bowl, and cover with the marinade. Marinate for several hours, turning the breasts occasionally so that they are well marinated on both sides.

2, Fry the eggplant slices on both sides with plenty of olive oil. Set the aubergines aside and leave to cool on kitchen paper.

3, Make the tomatoes sauce. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan. Add the onion and the garlic, fry until soft. Add the tins of tomatoes, red wine and vinegar, bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 30 mins. Add the herbs and simmer for a further 15 mins.

4, Remove the breasts from the marinade, fry on both sides until the meat becomes white. Wrap each breast in several slice of eggplant and place in a large baking dish. Pour the sauce over the chicken breasts. Top with a layer of grated cheese, bake in the oven at 350º F for 45 minutes.

Gulf Coast Grill Part II

We wanted to take my British sister in law out for breakfast this morning-a very American thing to do. The most famous place in San Diego for breakfast is Hash House A Go Go in Hillcrest- we have visited it before and had a great- (although slightly over -priced) breakfast. Hash House has a policy of no reservations and every morning on the weekend you will see lots of young hillcrest residents standing on the street waiting for a table. We knew this- but figured we would bring along our sudokus, wait in the sun and it would all be okay. When we arrived however, the lines were even greater than anticipated- seemingly twice as long as our previous 35 minute wait..... Hash House is good- but not that good. Casting around for an alternative we remember that Gulf Coast Grill had seemed to have a pretty interesting breakfast menu and headed right on over. We arrived and saw to our immediate relief that there was no wait at all, although there were plenty of happy parties tucking in to their morning meal. We settled down at our table and were taken care of by a very attentive waiter who was always there when you needed him, but never overbearing. We ordered mimosas to drink and celebrate the end of a great weekend. To eat we persuaded my sister in law to get biscuits and gravy- a very American treat which she greatly enjoyed. My wife got a farmers market omelet filled with vegetables and I tried the chorizo and egg tacos. My dish was unfortunately slightly disappointing- the beans tasted very bizarre- however to the credit of the restaurant my waiter whipped them away as soon as I had shown my displeasure and soon returned with a very passable substitute. The others enjoyed their food and the check when it arrived was, once again reasonable. on the whole the experience was not a rival with Hash House- but considering the lack of wait and the good prices we were happy with our choice.

Couscous Salad

I am headed out to the desert today and packing up some food for picnics and BBQs to take along wtih us. Along with tortilla one of the staples I never go without is a good couscous salad- make it the night before and you will have a simple, delicios easy to eat dish to take along with you. You can even use wholewheat couscous to make it more healthy!

Couscous Salad

8oz couscous
1 firm cucumber (finely diced)
3 firm tomatoes (finely diced)
½ small red onion, (finely diced)
½ jar of olives (cut in half)
5 sun dried tomatoes
Small handful of walnut pieces
5 artichoke hearts, roughly chopped
3 oz brie, chopped finely into small pieces
2Tbsp Olive oil
1 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
½ tsp lemon juice
salt and pepper

Method


1, Place the couscous in a bowl with the cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, olives, sun dried tomatoes, walnuts, artichoke hearts and brie. Gently mix so that the ingredients are well interspersed. Make sure you add all the juices lots from the tomatoes and cucumber when chopping them. Also add a little of the sun dried tomato oil.


2, Stir in the oil, vinegar and lemon juice. Season to taste. Leave the couscous over night to soak up all the juices. Simple as that!!!

Gulf Coast Grill

Today after work I headed to Gulf Coast Grill for thier awesome Happy Hour, it's the perfect place for a Happy Hour largely as it is so close to home. It is also a great place to go as the food is fantastic (half price appertizers and drinks from 4.30-6.30pm), the service excellent and the atmosphere friendly. This evening we enjoyed some chicken skewers with a really excellent coleslaw and some breaded bris with a salad of greens. Everything was perfect, including the glasses of Zinfadel. Best of all was the check which came to $18- not bad for 3 people getting drinks an appertizers that incenditally filled us up so much, we passed on dinner tonight.

Cafe Pomegranate

My sister in law has recently arrived in town and I have therefore been a little lax in posting the last couple of days. However we did have a really fabulous meal at Cafe Pomegranate this weekend.
Cafe Pomegranate is the perfect neighborhood restaurant- conveniently located just close to our house, quirky, friendly great food and not too expensive. We had visited the restaurant once before- vowed to go back immediately, but for a myriad of uninteresting reasons, had not been back again until this weekend.

The wait staff are impeccable at Cafe Pomegranate- courteous, but real people - not just blank faces smiling their smiles and refilling glasses to get the highest tip they can manage.

The restaurant is Russian/ Georgian cuisine, with a strong focus on pomegranates, which are the nation symbol of Georgia. Our waitress told us that in Georgia when you want to wish someone luck or happiness you give them a pomegranate saying I hope you have as much luck as there are seeds in a pomegranate- an interesting bit of folklore I had never heard before- I fact I must confess I didn't know that pomegranates even grew in Georgia, let alone had such a strong association with their culture.

The restaurant, as I said is very quirky, guests have been allowed to graffiti all over the walls, lamps and ceiling- leaving an interesting array of thoughts for one to read whilst one eats- some of it profound, some of it distinctly less so.

We ordered the salad sampler to start- a delicious platter of unusual garlicky salads from Russia and Georgia which we had eaten on our previous visit. It was just as delicious as the first time, and perhaps too much so- by the time our main courses arrived we were far too full to eat more than a few mouthfuls. It was a wise decision however as main courses, although pleasant enough were not to the standard of the appetizers.

Still, we love Cafe Pomegranate- for the atmosphere if nothing else. A big thumbs up to our local neighborhood restaurant.

Herb/ Vegetable Garden

I thought I would give an update on our garden- last time I wrote we had just put in the tomato seedlings, the herb plants and sown the basil seeds. San Diego has experience a great deal of rain reecently- well when I say a great deal I mean a great deal for San Diego, and that combined with the daily sunshine has been just awesome for the plants. The tomato plants have shot right up- one in particular having grown to almost a foot in hieght. The basil seeds are poking out thier heads- purple and green and are looking healthy and promising, the rosemary is bushing out and the chives are mulitplying. All in all we should have soem great produce in a few months- in fact things are going so well that I have ordered some chili seeds to add extra variety. I'll keep updating the progress!

Pastry Chef?

I've recently been informed that my hands are just too warm for me to ever become a pastry chef. This is a shame- but then again having hands like ice des not make for the most appealing and welcoming personality. Being a pastry chef is a kind of dream i think a lot of food lovers hold in the back of their mind- it's such a great mix between art and cooking- allowing one to be creative, individual and produce something really to be proud of. I've always thought making wedding cakes would be awesome - working out of my own home and charging $1000 a time- Masie Fantasie is a site that always fills me with inspiration. Still the chances are I'd end up working in a bakery- getting up at 3 a.m. in the morning and becoming increasingly antisocial.

Ah well- it's probably something best to keep as a hobby- bring out some flair for birthdays and what not. At least I will always have my fail safe recipe for Black Forest Gateau- which I am happy to say is indifferent to my warm hands. Try it out and see!

Black Forest Gateau

Ingredients


6 eggs

1 cup sugar, scant

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup best quality cocoa powder

1/2 butter, melted

For the filling and topping

2 1/2 cups whipping cream

2 tablespoons icing sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

(1.5 lbs) jar of pitted morello cherries, well drained (You can get these from Trader joes!)

To decorate
icing sugar, for dusting

grated chocolate

chocolate curls

morello cherries (fresh or drained canned)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Butter and line three 8 inch in diameter cake pans.
3. Combine the eggs with the vanilla and sugar in a bowl and beat until pale and very thick, about 5-7 minutes.
4. Sift the flour and cocoa powder over the mixture and fold in lightly and evenly with a spatual. Stir in the melted butter.
5. Divide the mixture among the prepared cake pans.
6. Bake for 15-18 minutes, until the cakes have risen and are springy to the touch.
7. Leave them to cool in the pans, on a rack, for about 5 minutes, then turn out and leave to cool completely.
8. Remove the lining paper from each cake layer.

9. Using a hand-held electric mixer, whip the cream in a bowl until it starts to thicken, then gradually beat in the icing sugar and vanilla until it forms stiff peaks.
10. To assemble: spread one cake layer with just under a 1/3 of the cream and top with about half the cherries.
11. Spread a second cake layer with a little less than 1/2 the remaining cream, top with the remaining cherries, then place it on top of the first layer.
12. Top with the final cake layer.
13. Spread the remaining cream all over the cake.
14. Dust a plate with icing sugar, and position the cake carefully in the centre.
15. Press grated chocolate over the sides and decorate the cake with the chocolate curls and fresh or drained cherries. (This is the only hard part and takes a bit of skill and lots of patience!)

Vegetarian Chili

One of the things I have been trying to do recently is cook big batches of dishes on the weekend and them freeze them, so that we don't have to spend the entire week cooking. Chili is one of the very best recipes for such a task- it is easy to prepare in huge quantities, and is also very versitile- eat with tortillas, with rice, even with a baked potato- always add some guacamole, and sour cream or yoghurt.

2 Tbsp olive oil
1 large onion (roughly chopped)
2 green chili peppers (finely chopped)
1 tsp salt
2 sticks celery (diced)
1 red pepper (diced)
½ eggplant (diced)
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 tin crushed tomatoes
1 tin red kidney beans
1 tin black beans
1 tin black eyed beans
1 tin pinto beans
½ tin sweetcorn
1 tsp red chili pepper
1 tsp cumin
1tbsp Oregano
1 cup red wine
½ bottle beer

Method

1, Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the onions, chilies and salt. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally over a high heat. Add the celery and pepper and cook for a further 5 mins. Add the eggplant, cook for a further 3 mins.

2, Add the tins of tomatoes, tins of beans and the sweetcorn. Mix well together and bring to the boil. Now add the spices and herbs, mix well. Keep stirring occasionally and gradually add the wine and and beer.

3, Reduce the heat, cover the pan, and keep simmering for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Bombay Takeout

Got Indian take out last night from Bombay. I was a little disconcerted when I went into pick up our food that all the girls working their were wearing bhindis- it seemed a little odd and pretentious- however the restaurant smelt just amazing- a god sign for the food which was there ready and waiting for me.
We got the Chef's specialty Malai Kofta- (vegetarian meatballs in a southern curry sauce) and Dal Makhani. This time- due to previous mistakes we opted for medium spicy and the level was just perfect. We cooked up some brown rice with turmeric and fennel seeds, as well as an Indian tomato soup to accompany our dishes. Everything turned out pretty well- the Malai Kofta was delicious- although we would have hoped for more than 3 "meatballs" in a $12 take out dish. The Dal Makhani was also very good. Our own additions were fabulous, especially the brown rice which we will definitely make again.
All in all very good- not as good as some of the Indian food we have had in the UK- but for US Indian food it was certainly above par- the most convenient place we have found for take out around here.

Soltan Banoo

Last night we tried out a new restaurant in University Heights- Soltan Banoo , which is billed as serving "Eclectic Persian Cuisine". Intrigued we arrived to find a rather inelegant location with half indoor/outdoor seating that reminded me of a beach shack or burger bar. The indoor seating looked decidedly shabby so we chose to eat outside under the canopy, which thankfully was heated by a small gas fire. Nonetheless we had to keep our coats on and never really relaxed throughout the meal.
I'm sad to say that the staff at Soltan Banoo were distinctly unfriendly- somewhat superior with their raw-vegan, herbal tea airs. Being served by a waitress in grungy clothes and a shaved head, whose mind is clearly elsewhere on bigger and better things, does not exactly make for a "special" dining experience.
The menu was certainly interesting- I'm not quite sure it qualifies as eclectic, but there were certainly dishes we had never seen or heard of before in our lives. We started with a cup of Ash Anar- the specialty of the restaurant - a pomegranate soup
with beans, lentils and barley. This was interesting, a refreshing change to find a very new flavor. The soup was very sweet and although we enjoyed it we were very glad to have only ordered cups- a bowl would have been much to much.
For the main course my wife got a raw vegan salad- a mixture of raw vegetables nuts and seeds which she enjoyed- although could have made just as easily, (and perhaps better) at home. I opted for the Chicken Kabob. This was tasty grilled chicken accompanied with a rice dish of cranberries, caramelized orange & carrot rinds, almonds, onions and saffron. The food was good but certainly nothing extraordinary and we were much dismayed when the check came back costing almost as much as we had spent on our fabulous meal at Vagabond. Going out to dinner should be a real treat, you should feel happy and relaxed at the end of the evening- yesterday we felt nothing except slightly disgruntled that we had not had the evening we had hoped for.

Anniversary Dinner

In celebration of having known each other for 5 years my wife cooked me a surprise Mediterranean dinner last night. I thought I would share this beautiful culinary display with everyone.

Tortilla Espanola

The sun is shining today in San Diego and it feels like the picnic season is really upon us. Hopefully we will have time to head out for one this weekend. One of my favorite things to take on a picnic is a Spanish tortilla. These are so easy to transport, taste great, easy to make in advance and are just all in all great picnic fare. Here is my recipe:

4 Large Potatoes (thinly sliced, ½ cm thick)
2 Large Onions (thinly sliced)
7 Eggs
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper


Method


1, Place the potatoes in a large frying pan or wok, submerge in olive oil. After 5 minutes add the onions. Season with plenty of salt. Keep cooking until the potatoes are soft.

2, Remove the potatoes and onion with a slotted spoon, drain off the oil and set aside for future use.

3, In a large bowl beat the eggs well. Add in the potatoes and onions. Use a fork to gently combine the potato mixture with the egg. Be careful not to over blend the mixture.

4, Heat a small amount of oil in a large frying pan. When the oil is hot pour in the egg mixture. Allow to cook for 10/15 minutes or until the bottom of the omlette is golden brown. Use a plate to turn the omlette over and then cook the other side. Remove from the pan and serve. Best served at room temperature with bread and other Tapas.



Tortillas can also be dressed up a bit as a great addition to a buffet - especially due to the fact they can be easily be prepare a couple of days before, giving you less to do on the day. Here is one we made for my Mom's surprise 60th Birthday Party.

Meal Maker Express

I'd just like to take this opportunity to write a glowing review of the Hamilton Beach's Meal Maker Express. It is basically a substitute for a George Foreman Grill--the difference being that its plates come out for much easier cleaning. Really this isn't so much adolation of Hamilton Beach's version though as it is for indoor grills in general. All I really need now to make a relatively quick meal in a relatively short time is cooking spray (Trader Joe's Canola spray works great), various vegetables (onions, peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, asparagus, etc.) and/or meats and some homemade spice mix made ahead of time in big batches (right now we're going through some Mexican). I just plop everything in a mixing bowl, spray it with oil, mix in some spices and then plop it on the grill. 5-7 minutes later its a great meal--I add some sour cream, guacamole and/or salsa on the side. Delish!

India Princess

I am having to catch up a bit- being a bit lax in posting over the weekend.
Saturday night being incredibly dumb we headed to the Mall to watch V for Vendetta- a very bad idea, not only was the showing we were heading for sold out, but also the one after that with the only remaining showing being on at about 9.30pm at night. The mall was also packed, and not a pleasant place to stroll- we decided therefore to head out to dinner instead. After a brief debate we both expressed an ardent desire for Indian Food and settled on India Princess in Hillcrest- based on its moderate prices and generally favorable reviews.
As we walked into the restaurant the host welcomed us back - which was slightly bizarre seeing as we had never been there before- he realized his mistake and was profusely apologetic. The restaurant looked very much like a British Indian restaurant- this was reassuring as there is nothing quite as good as Indian food from a good UK restaurant. We were giving a nice booth and the very dim lighting provided a slightly romantic setting. The decor of the place was somewhat interesting with some fine ornate pipes mounted on the wall behind us- however they had made a big mistake in choosing their china- this was cafeteria style- white with a red rim - and worst of all the Indian princess logo mounted onto each and every piece.
Overlooking this extremely tacky touch we were pleased to be greeted with a basket of pappadams and assorted chutneys. These were not the greatest tasting chutneys I have encountered, however it did make a nice change to be treated to pappadams and not charged a few dollars extra for the pleasure. We ordered our food and in a bit to be healthy skipped over the pakoras and bhajees starting instead with soup. My wife got an Indian tomato soup which was absolutely delicious- mine was the "chef's specialty" spinach and lentil and was just okay. Moving on to our main course my wife chose Paneer Khadir- a paneer dish with green bell peppers, onions and tomatoes. I myself was brave enough to stay away from my beloved Chicen Tikka Massala and instead got a chicken and spinach dish which turned out to be fabulous. The Paneer Khadir was pleasant but certainly nothing to rave about.

All in all we had a relaxing evening, with courteous attentive wait staff and a good meal for a very reasonable price- will we go back- maybe.......... but not for some time, there are certainly much better places to eat in this great city.

Vagabond

It has happened- on Wednesday night my wife and I finally found what we believe to be our favorite neighborhood restaurant- the newly opened Vagabond in South Park. I had mentioned on a previous post our failed attempt to dine at the restaurant- this time we went ahead and made reservations and headed out for a late night evening meal.
The first thing I noticed about the restaurant upon entry was how warm it was- and warm in fact can be applied to nearly all aspects of Vagabond. Firstly, of course, the comfortable temperature, which was very welcoming on the distinctly chilly spring evening. Then the décor – shades of red and orange and terracotta form the backdrop of the eclectic collection of artifacts and objects from around the globe. Wonderfully soft lighting adds the finishing touch to create a cozy, intimate and somewhat unique atmosphere. Ultimately however the warmth of Vagabond comes from the wonderful people who make up the staff and management, every person we came into contact with from the guy who filled up our water glasses to the proprietor himself were genial, highly attentive, and sincerely amiable. They showed interest in our comments and suggestions for an extended vegetarian menu and we felt like valued customers and a part of this local neighborhood business.
I have to say we had almost chosen this restaurant as one of our favorites before any food even arrived at the table- but I am happy to report that it lived right up to expectations. The menu at Vagabond is International with favorite dishes from around the world such as Coq au Vin and Paella Valenciana. At the start of the meal a small bread basket was brought out with a saffron aioli which I truly believe was one of the best things I have ever tasted. True a combination of mayonnaise, garlic and saffron is going to be hard to go wrong with, but this was perfection itself. For an appetizer we ordered the “Piatto Italiano” a selection of Caprese salad and heavenly bruschetta topped with pancetta that simply melted in your mouth. For our main course I got the Paella Valenciana whilst my wife got a Moroccan couscous dish which came with 7 different vegetables- a symbol of luck. The Paella came served in a traditional paelleria which was a nice touch and was really very good- not quite as good as the paella I had in Valencia itself, but then let’s not get too picky. The couscous was also reported to be very tasty, and we greatly enjoyed the bottle of house wine.
All in all another evening extremely well spent- and at very reasonable prices. I can well see why Vagabond has lines out the door on the weekends, and we will certainly be making it our top choice of restaurants to take guests.

Secret Tomato Salad Recipe

I've talked a lot about tomatoes lately so I thought it might be nice to share with you what has been dubbed the "secret family recipe for tomato salad" Well not so secret anymore! I hope you all enjoy it- be sure to use nice hierloom tomatoes, preferably in varied colors and shades.

Fresh tomatoes (sliced)

Fresh Basil (finely minced)

Fresh Oregano (finely minced)

Fresh mint (finely minced)

3 Tbsp good quality extra virgen olive oil

1 Tbsp Balsamic vinegar

½ Tbsp Lemon juice

1 tsp pesto

4 cloves garlic (finely chopped)

¼ red onion (finely sliced)

Mozzarella di buffalo (thickly sliced)

3 oz blue cheese (crumbled)

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

1, Arrange the sliced tomatoes on a large platter, a little overlapping with each other. Arrange the slices of mozzarella on top, dispersed amongst the tomatoes.

2, Sprinkle the herbs over the tomatoes and mozzarella.

3, Combine the oil, lemon juice, vinegar, pesto and garlic in a bowl. Sprinkle over the tomatoes.

4, Sprinkle the red onion and crumbled blue cheese over the salad. Season to taste.

5, Leave for a couple of hours so that the tomatoes can take up the juices.

For an extra delicious Tricolor salad add some avocado as we did here:

Quail Botanical Gardens

I promised this blog would be about all aspects of food - so far we have covered restaurant reviews, places to buy good food, recipe books and the recipes themselves. Today I would like to add one of my other interests- growing food, something I believe all those involved in the culinary arts should consider.
Today we headed up to Quail Botanical Gardens for their annual Herb Festival and TomatoMania
Tomatoes are by far and above one of my favorite foods, is there anything to beat a god caprese salad made of ripe heirloom tomatoes? So as we finally have our own place to grow some plants now we headed up to the festival to learn all the tricks of the trade. We started the day with a great lecture on tomato growing- 2 interesting things I learned were that a) over watering tomatoes dilutes their flavor- you should water less and less as the season advances, b) you should leave it as late as possible to harvest your tomatoes- ripening them on the windowsill is not as successful as leaving them on the vine until the last possible moment- they should almost drop off into your hand when they are ready to be eaten. We were also given some tips as to how to grow tomatoes in pots- having no garden of our own currently we have to use our balcony. After the lecture we browsed the aisles of the tomato seedlings and left with a red pear tomato and one called "Sweet Millions"- a cherry variety that produces tons of fruit. So fingers crossed!

Next we moved onto my other great culinary love- fresh herbs. We attended a very interesting lecture on how to grow herbs hydroponically. I find the whole idea fascinating- really stretching the bounds of nature- however I wasn't quite sold on the advantages of hydroponic growing in a place like San Diego where we can pretty much grow plants outdoors year round. Maybe one day when we have our dream kitchen I will set up a hydroponic herb garden in a corner of it, and we can harvest at our leisure.

We ended up buying some herb seedlings and indeed seeds also, to add to our collection - although these going to be planted in the old fashioned way! We got a very interesting variety of basil along with some more usual chives, rosemary and oregano. If everything goes to plan we should have some delicious meals come the summer time!

Ranoosh

We decided to go out for dinner tonight- and first thought we would check out the new South Park restaurant Vagabond. We figured we would just take a look at the menu and see if it looked fun- well we turned up there saw the menu and whilst it looks absolutely the perfect place for us to eat out- it was also fully booked with an hour and a half wait for a table.

So we headed to plan B- Ranoosh a Lebanese restaurant we had been planning on going to for a while. I should probably first explain about our first Lebanese experience- we were in London, spending a few days there with friends, i had never really visited London before and my wife was showing me the sites. Anyhow, we ended up one incredibly hot day wandering around hungry, thirsty, tired and in need of a place to rest our weary feet. We were i must confess at that moment in Knightsbridge- for those of you who don't know London, this is where Harrods’s is located. We had nipped down to Harrods just for the experience, and after declining the $700 caviar I was just exhausted and needed to find a place to eat right away- well a few doors down was a Lebanese restaurant- the prices looked high but we were at breaking point and anywhere at all that had food and water and chairs looked wonderful. We were taken to our table and after being seated were presented with a bowl of vegetables- to I suppose nibble on; in the bowl there was a whole pepper, a whole tomato, sticks of celery, carrots and all other manner of un-cut-up vegetables. My wife thought this was just wonderful, and although we could only afford to order a couple of appetizers to share, it remains one of our most memorable dining experiences. the place was truly from its roots with many Lebanese families celebrating there, old men sitting drinking tea and women gossiping whilst snacking on olives- all chattering away in a language quite foreign to our Germanic/Romantic ears.

Well Ranoosh- although located in the enviable district of 5th and university is not quite on par with Knightsbridge London. The first mistake was made by our waitress- we entered the restaurant and asked for a table for 2, the place was pretty much empty but for some unfathomable reason she decided to place us on a tiny little table right next to one of the only two other parties in the building- we were maybe a foot away, if that. This forced intimacy being not the greatest start was compounded further when we took a look at the menu- very pricey for Lebanese/ Mediterranean food. Still we sat put and our order was taken, with the option of a soup or salad to start. This made my spirits rise a little- I love long dinners where we can sit and chat whilst sipping on a nice glass of wine, so i looked forward to a long relaxing meal, celebrating the fact that it was Friday and planning ahead for the weekend. This was foolish to say the least; there was perhaps 30 seconds between the arrival of our soup and the arrival of our entree- barely time for me to declare that the Lentil soup was actually quite tasty and we should think about making some at home. My entree - chicken and garlic sauce was also pretty good, my wife got the vegetarian platter which looked impressive although none of the various Lebanese and Mediterranean samples where worth much of a mention- they were okay..
What really made the night uncomfortable was the appearance of a young, and i mean young, belly dancer. She could not have been more than 16 years old and there she was showing off her whatever, in a way which made you want to call child protection services. Worse than this were the male diners in the restaurant who were acting in a way which can be described in no other fashion than leering. All this served to make our meal rather distasteful and we left as hurriedly as we could- vowing next time not to stay from the Mediterranean grill when we fancy some hummus and baba gannosh.

All in all Rannosh is over priced, cramped, kind of tacky, with pretty good food that doesn't make up for its detracting factors- I doubt we will be returning any time soon.

Trader Joes

Along with the farmer's market Trader Joes is probably the place where I buy most of our food- (additional items coming from Whole Foods, Henry's, Albertsons and occasiona specialty places.)
As all of us on the West Coast know Trader Joes rocks!

Here are a few of the items I love to buy at TJs:

Artichchoke Hearts
Sprouted Wheat Paparadelle Pasta
Sun Dried Tomtatoes- (julienne style)
Cheddar Cheese with Onions
Blue Cheese and Pecan Dip
Free Range Eggs
Mixed Leaf/ Herb mix
Prepeeled garlic (when i m feeling exceptionally lazy)
Chocolate covered pecans
Guacamole
Roasted Tomatillo Salsa
Whole Wheat Tortillas
Frozen Shrimp
And of course when we're felling very poor who could forget Two Buck Chuck!

Things that are not so good:
Frozen avocados
Tader Joe's Hummus
Vegetables/ Fruit (too much packaging)


Anyway today I was reading a very interesting and exciting article about how our East Cost friends might soon have the joy of Tader Joes on thier shores. This article in the New York Times gives some really good insight into the whole process- the "tasters" involved and reveals the mystery of why some of our favorie products often disappear only to reappear again weeks later.

Minestrone with Home Made Pesto

It seems about time to post my first recipe. So here goes- the recipe we came up with last night for dinner- Minestrone with home made pesto. It turned out very well so I though I would share.
This makes enough for a week- so tone down the quantities if you like.

1 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 Large Leeks- Thoroughly washed, quartered and chopped
2 White Onions- Diced
4 Sticks Celery- Diced
28 oz Tin of Chopped Tomatoes
8 cups Vegetable Stock
14 oz Tin of Kidney Beans
2 cups frozen peas
2 zucchini- diced

For the Pesto

2 large handfuls fresh basil
1/3 cup pine nuts
1 tbsp olive oil

3 cloves garlic roughly chopped
1/2 tsp salt

Heat the oil in a large soup pot- through in the onions and leeks and cook for 8 minutes, add the celery and cook for a further 5 minutes. Through in the tomatoes and stock bring to the boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Add in kidney beans, peas and zucchini and cook for a further 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and prepare the pesto.
For the pesto throw all ingredients in a blender and blend until fairly smooth.

Ladle the soup into bowls- stir in 2 Tbsps of pesto and top with a sprinkling of grated cheese.

Enjoy!

The Linkery

Yesterday after much complaining, self pity and unwarranted despair listing her attributes as a "failure" my wife sent me a text message to say she had been offered her dream job. She is now the community organizer for a great local environmental non-profit. This warranted real celebration- after graduating in July (2 days before our wedding incidentally), the poor thing has had to wait until now for her United States work permit and has spent the past few months volunteering her time for free.

In a return payment for their generosity last week we decided to the mark the occasion by taking our friends out for a nice meal. After endless deliberation we finally settled on The Linkery- a great local North Park restaurant specializing in, well, links. Our choice for this locale came after a quick review of their menu showed that they had almost tripled their vegetarian menu since the last time we visited.

Well I can tell you that The Linkery is certain to become one of our regular haunts- we were all very impressed and had a really great time. Jay the manager/ owner has done a fantastic job- combining just he right level of individuality with neighborhood comfort. The feeling in the restaurant is nothing but friendly and respectful. The staff- and Jay in particular come across in a way that makes you feel they would like nothing better than to help you have a good evening.
We ordered a bottle of Chardonnay- the 1st year anniversary special- which we all found to be impressive and will definitely be reordered at a later date. As for food; the vegetarian options being extensive my wife struggled to choose, but finally settled on a grilled portabella mushroom with a rosemary polenta cake and broccoli topped in a hazelnut sauce. The two men shared a mixed grill of duck breast, pork ribs, and homemade links. This came with some grilled asparagus, mashed potatoes and some highly interesting dipping sauces. Of the homemade links the Cuban was the most tasty- filled with spices, pineapple and even a hint of mint.

We had a great night- the food was homely, comforting and great value. We’ll definitely be back for more sometime soon!

Red Fox Steakhouse

This weekend was spent for the large part at home working on certain chores- household, studying, money making etc. Friday night we spent a relaxing evening at home eating mexican food and watching T.V. By the time saturday night came however we felt the need to get out of the house for a little while. I looked around for places to go- and came across the Red Fox Lounge - just a stone's through from our house.

Well- What an experience- nothing you read about this place is in anyway an exaggeration. The first thing you will notice is how dark te plce is- once your eyes become accustomed to the lack of light you will take in the kitschy red booths, the ornate bar and general 50s decor. But this place is no 50s take- off or sham- this is the real thing.

We were greeted by an incredibly mouthy bar maid- I have never seen someone complain so much about having to make a drink- especially in light of the fact that she probably had been tipped well for it. However it was all good humored - and the type of banter you could listen to for hours. The other customers at the bar were incredibly friendly- inviting us to sit and join them. Everyone seemed immensely happy- and although this might seem normal for an establishment that serves alcohol, in my experience it is not always the case.

Finally the piano began to play in the corner - a great jazz pianist accompained in turns by a trumpeter, and then an old man who crooned away in a voice that started off being charming and ended by us having to leave the bar for fear of our sanity. The mix of customers was most extrodinary- much more what ones sees in Europe than here in the US. An old man delighted himself by dancing around with all the stunning young women- but somehoe nothing seemed too creepy.

Before we had embarked on our expedition to the Red Fox Lounge I had as usual trawled my way through the world wide web in search of reviews. One of the comments was exceptionally well put -

"No matter your age, sex, taste in music or socio-economic class, you're going to feel weird here -- but in a really good way."

Nothing could sum the place up better than this.

Hillcrest Farmers' Market

Today for dinner we are cooking up some roasted vegetables (onions, garlic, peppers and cauliflower) along with some delicious green beans - steamed then mixed with olive oil balsamic vinegar and lots of garlic!
Thinking about the green beans I thought tonight would be a good time to sing the praises of the Hillcrest Farmer's market. This is truely one of my favorite things about living where we do, and it makes for such a wonderful Sunday morning tradition. Every week my wife and I will don our tote shopping bags and walk up the hill to Normal Street, the sun is always shining of course, which adds to the jauntiness of the occasion. As you approach the farmers' market you hear the playful sounds of the local musicians, taste the scent of the roasting shish kebab and are overwhelemed by the mirage of colors beaming up at you from the myriad of fruit and vegetable stalls. It is truely and all encompassing experience. Recommended to anyone- but especially budding young culinary students who can find the most interesting and best tasting ingredients in town to whip up some master piece and impress thier friends!
We have some favorite stalls which we visit each week- my wife being an environmental scientist she is very concious about food miles- so getting locally grown produce is a big deal. It is also nice to support the local farmers, not to mention eat fresh organic produce..... With these thoughts in mind we manage to keep our minds off the rather inflated prices tags and fill our bags until we struggle to lug them back down the road and up the stairs to our apartment.
One of our favorite things to buy are the freshly picked strawberries from Oceanside- which some days are sent straight from heaven. We also love the organic greens, the curly letteuce, baby spinach and watercress. Although most of our trip is spent choosing vegetables we sometimes get other items- there used to be an especially good free range chicken stand- I would buy a whole chicken each week and we would roast it that night and then use it in sandwiches as the week went along. We also absolutely love the middle eastern stand- if you ever are at the market make sure not to miss the cilantro avocado hummus- and thats one not to miss EVEN if you don't generally like cilantro- this one will turn you around.

Well- dinner looks like it is lmost ready, so I had better sign off and get started with those green beans..................

America's Best Recipe

Well, I must say our culinary experiences today were less than fantastic. My wife and I both came home feeling rather peckish and so quickly made up a burger and salad for dinner- not very exciting, but it did serve the purpose.

In lieu of a review of restaurant/ recipe I would like to talk this evening about our new favorite recipe book America's test kitchen. The book really should be bought by everyone reading this blog it is just fantastic. What is best about the book is the way it can work for so many different levels of chef. I count my self as fairly proficient in the kitchen- I have worked in the culinary industry professionally and have more than a little flair and imagination. However this book still serves as an awesome guide to all your traditional dishes- making each and every one of them just perfect. The book is therefore superb for beginner chefs, as so long as you follow the instructions laid down absolutely word for word you cannot go wrong and you will produce a perfect dish to stun all those who generally mock your attempts in the kitchen.

The premise of the book coming from America's Test Kitchen - is to find the perfect recipe for all tradition dishes- such things as the perfect chocolate chip cookie, the best ever roast turkey and the ideal macaroni cheese. What I like best about the book however is the way in which it explains exactly why each step needs to be taken in that particular way. This helps the chef who has a tendency to rush and skip over things to really understand why the time must be taken and why details are of such utmost importance.

Everything we have made from this book has been fantastic- the tomato soup recipe was probably our favorite- words cannot express the degree of perfection that this recipe acquired, the chicken with 40 cloves of garlic (lovingly butchered by my vegetarian wife) was also divine, as was the cobb salad, and the strawberry tart.