Uhh, Yes Please

I'm horrible in the kitchen, so someone make this for me please. Like yesterday.

Bacon: Never Too Late

So this turkey wrapped in a blanket of weaved bacon found its way to my internets a few days too late for Thanksgiving; but Christmas dinner just got THAT much better.

Stacked Burger Joint

Semi-new burger spot opened recently at Fashion Valley mall in San Diego called Stacked. You order (and pay) on an Ipad at your table. They have their menu as a touch screen App. Original concept, sorta, that makes it impossible for your super specific order to be messed up. Not too pricey at all. Burgers were really good actually, fries tasted like paper, not waiting 30 minutes to pay your bill was the best part.

No picture of the food, I was hungry. But close your eyes and imagine a burger, there.

Bruxie

We finally checked out this restaurant in Orange. We had a prolonged convo about how it SHOULD be pronounced, but forgot to ask one of the employees to validate which of the following is correct: Bruhk-see, Brook-see, or Bruh-see (since the French spell Brussels "Bruxelles" and Bruxie is actually derived from that). We've heard literally these three pronunciations, but if you really want to be technical, then the latter should be the correct one. Anyway, we do plan on going back to check out the rest of the menu since it isn't very extensive.

Food From Heaven

Being half mexican AND living in Southern California makes for a TON of Mexican food consumption. In a sense, I may not be The King of Yelp: Andy Cool but I am a sort of expert when it comes to Mexican dishes. So rest assured when I boldly state, "This is hands down the best mexican food dish I've ever tasted in my entire life."

After a drunken rampage of Cabo San Lucas' downtown bars and nightlife, Chris Ngo's bachelor party gang was famished. I busted our a little bit of the 'ol espanol and to our cab driver and voila we ended up at Taqueria "El Paisa". Our driver could not stop raving about how delicious this dish was going to be. So fast in fact, Du Tran admitted "I tried to pick up on what he was saying but he was talking so fast."

Imported cheese from Mexico's version of Wisconsin (Chihauhau), imported carne asada from the finest suppliers of beef in all of Mexico (Sonora), and habanero salsa so good, but spicy, that it made Johnny Vo cry.

I introduce to you, the REAL carne asada fries: Papas con Queso y Asada.

Labor Day Weekend: FYF Fest, LA

We went to Altamont's FYF hippie fest yesterday, and while the music was awesome (Weakerthans, Broken Social Scene, The Descendants and Explosions in the Sky were my favorites), the audience/concert goers on the other hand were a HUGE distraction. Hideous outfit after hideous oufit; Above the belly button unflattering shorts on girls, dick cutting "skinny" jean shorts (when I say shorts I mean last winter's pants, turned this summer's shorts via a pair of elementary school scissors) on guys, etc. Plain and simple, this generation is trying way to hard to look unappealing to the opposite sex.

The event was held at Los Angeles Historic Park. However, this "park" was 90% dirt and straw and only 10% actual grass. And, I'm sure I could have counted all the trees on one hand. Not really sure what this "park" looks like on a normal day, but I can't imagine even a dog would enjoy this historic place.

All in all, the music was just good enough to make the day enjoyable. If it wasn't for the Beard Papa's the next morning, I'd have more to gripe about.

Hillcrest Sunday Lunch - The Range

We ventured to Hillcrest (Sarah's backyard: she works in the area and opts for casual sight seeing walks instead of the quite popular 'food' on her lunch breaks) for lunch on Sunday aiming to introduce me to a place she has been frequenting lately. But, after waiting a good 15 minutes for even an acknowledgment that we were in the building, let alone a greeting or a drink order, we decided to journey elsewhere. Literally a few steps down the street we ran into The Range.

The Range is the newest spot in Hillcrest, opened two weeks ago but was already crawling with patrons. They feature a great, simple selection of organic ingredient dishes. Burgers, sandwiches, salads AND breakfast all day long!

We split a Julian hard cider that was awesome; not too dry, perfect sourness and 6.99% alcohol! I got the hand breaded with potato chips chicken strips with a Belgian waffle and Sarah got a pear, roasted almonds and blue cheese salad. Both were absolutely perfect, but as always Sarah enjoyed mine better than hers, regardless of what she'll tell you.

Oceanside Trip

Oceanside is usually just an eye blink as we make our short journey to each other. But, every once in awhile we meet half way and explore the coastal city and its slow moving atmosphere. This time we met for dinner, some dessert, and a stroll on their pier (which, exactly like every other pier I've been on in California, has a Ruby's on the end of it. Ruby definitely has a corner on that market. Well played Ruby.

We grabbed burgers at Ty's Burger House, which Sarah wasn't too thrilled with but once I switched burgers with her she was more than satisfied. (Go with the Bacon Bleu Cheese burger). We also grabbed some dessert at Petite Madeline Bakery. Ok, I'll be honest, we ate dessert BEFORE the burgers since we saw the bakery first. After all, it's not a rule that dessert has to come after dinner. I live by my own rules, I'm a rebel you hear?

Peter's Gourmade

After seeing Hieu Ngo rant and rave about this semi new spot in Tustin, the missus and I figured we'd try it out. We were not disappointed one bit. We decided to sample the entire menu; we got the ABC Burger (avocado, bacon and cheese)and the Chipotle Chicken Sandwich.

America, The Obese: An Exhibition (aka Fairgrounds)

The fair attracts fatties whether or not they're literal (fatties). We missed the SD fair, so we're making up by attending OC fair as often as humanly (rather arterially) possible. We've gone once so far and it was an exciting experience. I especially liked the Ice Museum--15 degrees inside; definitely refreshing on a hot day.

Shark

Little Mermaid's Father

Don't think this was done yet

Anyway, onto the more exciting stuff like food. We should've died that day considering all of the stuff we ate. Well more like I should've died cause I have a bit of a cholesterol problem. Anyway, not the point. America, this is why we're fat:

San Francisco 4th of July Trip

Some of our blogging hiatus can be attributed to our SF trip for the 4th. The rest of our blogging hiatus is attributed to our working long days to pay for our SF trip for the 4th. All in all, it was entirely worth it. Stopped by my boy Colin's shop The Darkside Initiative and got a Carhartt UK jacket. Hit up Double Punch for our vinyl toy fix. And got to meet some of Sarah's cousins, who were fun as hell to hang out with. We even got a stripper to tip US $12 in ones, of which we used $11 to purchase late night drunken pizza slices. We bar hopped North Beach and ended up at Rogue Ales Public House, an all Rogue beer pub. A pint of Double Chocolate Stout was definitely had. And were major tourists as we watched the fireworks display at Fisherman's Wharf.

Yet, all I have to show for it (until Sarah uploads pictures from her camera) is this delicious clam chowder and shrimp poopboy sandwich we had on Pier 39.

Thursday Update: What Ever Happened To....?

Now and Laters.

These little shits used to be everywhere! Next to the registers at liquor stores, quarter candies from the ice cream truck, and who can forget a now defunct all purpose store (think Walgreens) called Drug Emporium. Back in the '80s, you could score a pack of 48 of these delicious one inch squares for only a few bucks at your local Drug Emporium, then sneak them into the movies in your G-ma's purse.

Nowadays these aren't flooding the candy aisles of any grocery store. No, but you can find them on Amazon and various other sites that sell just about everything.

Wing Nuts

I love wings, everyone knows that. I also love breasts, but that's beside the point. Hooters has fallen off lately and Buffalo Wild Wings exist one every 75 miles at this time. And hell, I don't even know where a Wing Stop is anymore, if they still exist. But Wing Nuts is my spot of choice currently.

My personal favorite: Bacon Ranch Boneless Wings.

Mentos, The Fresh Maker

If you can look past the redneck lingerie the creepy guy is wearing, the video is pretty hilarious.

Luche Libre Mask Wearing World Record

Bryan and I were present for Angel Stadium's record setting "Most People Wearing Snuggies in the Same Location" night last year, so only fitting we'd be back again this year for "Most People Wearing Luche Libre Masks in the Same Location" record.

Tui, Ken and Mark came along this year. Next year, whatever the record may be, I'm pretty certain our gang will grow ten fold.

Before the game we loaded up on bacon wrapped hot dogs being served up in the parking lot. I must say, these are head and shoulders above the diarrhea inducing bacon wrapped hot dogs you get outside LA based events served by old Hispanic ladies teetering on midget status.

Sorry for the bad picture, you're honestly lucky I was even able to get a picture before I ate the entire thing.

MM FOOD

Sorry for the lack of posts as of late, personally I blame Sarah for not caring. Well, either that or the fact she's super busy finishing up school and working full time. Ok, ok, so I'm to blame, get over it.

Torpasta (Voted Best Sandwich in San Diego)
Pasta served in a bread roll, gutted and buttered inside then toasted.

Post Drinking Gourmet Late Night Snack

I always over-order after a night of drinking. And, Del Taco's delicious menu is usually responsible for that. Not coincidentally enough, Del Taco is also responsible for the ass grenades my toilet has been receiving this morning.

Devine Pastabilities

Just another underrated hole-in-the-wall eatery in San Diego. The concept is pretty clever; as you can already tell from the title. You'll have your whole week's worth of carbs in one of these sandwiches, but it's definitely worth it. Pasta in a sandwich--they call it "torpasta," resembling a torpedo, loaded with pasta--I call it brilliant. Anyway, they scoop out the contents of a bread roll and brush the insides with garlic butter and toast it; your choice of pasta goes in there afterwards. The scooped-out contents are made into garlic bread appetizers so nothing goes to waste. Pricing is cheap considering you're having pasta--between $6-$10.

Sweet deal, if you ask me

Doesn't scream out fancy at all, which makes it even cooler

Toasted insides!

I had the macahelper and Jesse had the carbonara (I preferred his over mine; so much that I took a pic of its profile as shown below).

Black History Month

I'm not racist, but apparently this grocery store is.

Photo credit: Bryan Bibby Butch

For the Love of Burgers

It's no secret, we love burgers. So only natural we'd try out Burger Lounge in San Diego. A few of these franchised joints have been popping up in trendy San Diego neighborhoods lately.

Not your typical fast food burger. Organic ingredients make these ground beef delights juicy and flavorful. The half onion rings/half fries order is a must to give you the best of both worlds.