Category: Food and Drink

San Diego Beer Week #3 Alesmith Brewing Company

In the crosshairs today: Alesmith Brewing Company in their brand new Miramar tasting room. The Husband is quite fond of The Alesmith.

IMG_9120Not only did I really like my Beer Geek Speedway Stout, but I surprised The Husband by OK-ing of his drink, too- the Anvil ESB. I remember going to tastings at Seattle’s Redhook Brewery years ago. On their tour the guide would pass around jars of toasted malt, all of varying depths of roastiness. I loved the toasty, coffee-like aromas of that grain, and thought it was too bad that all those hops were added to ruin their ESB. Hops have been an acquired taste, that’s for sure, 20 years in the making.

Heavy on the alcohol is this 4 oz. pour of Beer Geek Speedway Stout
Heavy on the alcohol is this 4 oz. pour of Beer Geek Speedway Stout

These two selections from Alesmith are great choices- one full of heavy, roasted goodness, the other toasty, malty and light in comparison. Two more beers for me in this Triple and Quadruple-Hopped market.

With a food truck outside on the patio and a spacious interior, a person could quickly get used to killing quite a bit of time here… This facility is so new that the building looks to be only half furnished. But what is here is comfortable.

IMG_9122IMG_9116

San Diego Beer Week #2 Ballast Point Kitchen at Miramar

IMG_9088 (1)One of the first beer discoveries that I made (“Hey, I actually like this!) was Ballast Point’s Sextant Oatmeal Stout on nitro, even, so it was extra-creamy good… mmmm. Beer Stop #2 is their new restaurant and meeting place in Miramar.

IMG_9083I like how the menu organizes the drinks for the less beer-savvy people like me. New to me is the Commodore American Stout- a good, strong drink like a punch in the tastebuds strong. It hits your nose with a huge toasted malty aroma that delivers straight into the flavor. Roasty, coffee-like flavor.

He likes my beer... uh oh.
He likes my beer… uh oh.

We both loved it. I wish I liked The Husband’s choice of some super-hoppy brew… citrusy, floral beers smell great but I never like the taste. Boo.

IMG_9094IMG_9093

I liked my beer… a lot. But then the two appetizers we ordered to split arrived and really stole the show. Holy cow, whoever made this menu deserves a raise and a half- the menu just changed this weekend and these items should stick around for the next six months.

Do NOT miss the mac and cheese with pork belly! The crispy, fatty pork strip may be only a couple of bites worth of meat but what it lacks in quantity it more than makes up in quality. We also split the duck nachos. More deliciousness! The pickled onions were just the right little tang to go with the bleu cheese sauce and duck.

Great brews, delicious snacks, spacious seating and outdoor area for games and fire pit fun. Thank you Ballast Point people, for getting this sit-down spot to join up with the rest of San Diego’s beer and food fans!

Fall and Winter Menu?
Fall and Winter Menu?
IMG_9087
Bloody Mary and Mai Tai mixes are available!
IMG_9085
Beautiful copper stills for the newer line of spirits.
Might I resume typing, cat?
Might I resume typing, cat?

IMG_9086IMG_9097

San Diego Beer Week (1 week = 10 days) #1 Green Flash Brewing Co.

They say the beer is so good in San Diego that seven days isn’t long enough for Beer Week, so they added three more days to the usual, run-of-the-mill week. And by “they” I mean “me.”

And today was my lucky day! At Green Flash Brewing Company in Sorrento Valley the genius bartender suggested I try Alpine Beer Company’s McIlhenney’s Irish Red. I think it is now tied for my favorite beer- so very low in hops, so malty, so DELICIOUS! Can I say again how glad I am that I’m making myself try new things?



With the baguette toast, cheese, and meat appetizer, a couple of Alpine beers and great conversation, we passed a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. I think I will like San Diego Beer Week 2015.

Friday Night Football and Food-to-Go… The Habit Burger Grill Review

 Fast Food chains have been classing it up more lately, have you noticed? We have seen several great food joints open up in our area, and alongside our great classic spots (In-N-Out!!), we’ve never had better choices here in So Cal. A recent article in Bon Appétit Magazine shares which ones they think should be on your food radar:

FastfoodRestaurants-MainImage-2800x2800-620x620The Fast Food Restaurants You Should Be Watching in 2015

We in the Land of In-N-Out Burgers have the privilege of knowing a good, basic burger when we see one. Tonight we hit a new restaurant… new to me, at least, and one of the places mentioned in the Bon Appétit article- The Habit Burger Grill.

IMG_9028-0Bottom line: the fries were really good! As much as I love In-N-Out, I really love everyone else’s fries more than theirs. The onion rings were nothing special at all. But about The Habit’s Burger? Well… it was definitely good, just not great. The price was great, about $7 for burger, drink, and fries, but I think my hamburger tasted only marginally better than a Big Mac.

If I want a great hamburger, I’m still going to head to In-N-Out. I have heard, however, that the salads and other sandwich variety is really nice at The Habit. So, if you want more variety, The Habit is a good spot- great prices, good selection, and really good fries. But if it is a basic cheeseburger or hamburger you are craving, stick with In-N-Out.

Found: Breakfast Dish for Holiday Visitors

I almost missed this today, pulling my usual “Guess I’ll Forget What’s on My Calendar for Today, Even Though i Checked My Calendar Yesterday AND This Morning!!” (I don’t want to admit how many of my or my kids’ appointments I have completely forgotten…)

One of my friends brought this small, single serving sized, delicious, and super-versatile breakfast dish to a meeting I nearly forgot to attend…

Click the photo or this link- Today Show Recipe- Make Ahead Egg Soufflés

This is a very forgiving recipe, my friend used her favorite cheeses and Denver Omelette style fillings for the suggested spinach and artichokes. Puff pastry + your favorite quiche or omelette fillings = fabulously easy and equally delicious breakfast or brunch!

"Make-ahead mornings: These easy baked egg soufflés freeze and reheat beautifully!"
“Make-ahead mornings: These easy baked egg soufflés freeze and reheat beautifully!”

(both photos have been lifted right off of the Today Show’s website…. gotta give credit where the credit is due, ya know!)