The 4th most popular place to eat in America is just 20 minutes away; how do I miss these things? Beyer Deli, just south of Imperial Beach in Otay Mesa, has been in business for twenty-two years. They were voted one of Yelp’s Top 100 places to eat in America three times since the list…
Read MoreMy friend Ken recently boldly said, “I think one of the best tacos in San Diego might be vegan.” My response was, “If you are referring to the vegan taco at Lola 55, you might be right.” The Squa-shroom taco might be one of the best tacos I have ever tasted. This epiphany was worth…
Read MoreThe 1980s are becoming a blur, but food memories for me always seem to stick. I remember the classic Italian grinder at S & M Submarine Sandwiches on Orange Avenue (the location is now Moo Time Creamery). My fondest memories of this sandwich shop were in high school. My brother and two best friends used…
Read MoreIn Spanish, taquito means little taco, but it has become synonymous with the rolled variety. These fried treats can be found everywhere, including the frozen section of your local supermarket. This widespread availability has put them in the same category as pizza: accessible but too often forgettable. A tortilla is to a taco what bread is…
Read MoreNothing beats homemade salsa and tortilla chips that you fry yourself, but it can be time-consuming and messy, and I hate dealing with the aftermath of the spent oil. Lucky for us we live in San Diego. All the excellent locally-produced salsas and chips have made me lazy. Boney’s carries a good variety of local…
Read MoreIf you are a chef living and working in San Diego, then Specialty Produce is your happy place. If you are not a chef but love good food, welcome aboard; Specialty can be your happy place too. This produce wonderland welcomes the public and has come a long way since its cold, stark warehouse days.…
Read MoreDo you remember Sam the Butcher from The Brady Bunch; the housekeeper Alice’s boyfriend? For many of you, that may be the only butcher you know. Butchers and butcher shops are not as common anymore, but lucky for us, they are making a comeback. I recently discovered one in a galaxy not so far away.…
Read MoreA string of firecrackers ignites, spitting out loud sporadic pops over a steady crackle; the noise foreshadows the excitement about to take place. Festival goers with red envelopes clutched in their hands line Third Avenue in downtown San Diego’s historic Chinatown, waiting for the spectacle to begin. The sound of gongs, drums, and symbols erupts…
Read More“Good bread is the most fundamentally satisfying of all foods; and good bread with fresh butter, the greatest of feasts,” James Beard. Everyone should have good bread in their lives. Luckily for San Diegans, we have Bread & Cie, the first artisan bread bakery in San Diego, which opened in 1994. You can find their…
Read MoreWhat’s in a name? Well, everything when the name is Home Ec. Remember Home Economics? That great class taught high schoolers how to cook, sew, and balance their checkbook. What happened? Suddenly, someone decided kids no longer needed to learn these skills. What is so important about Home Ec? Every child graduating from high school…
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