The restaurant industry pretty much hates Valentine’s Day. Of course, the restaurant industry doesn’t hate it so much that they’d ever consider actually closing for the occasion. No. Instead, they passive-aggressively stuff butts in seats (albeit at 2-tops, not 4-tops), charge a … [Read more...]
WORLD FARE: Roma Urban Market gets close to being something to everyone
It’s a quote someone might find on a poster in the conference room of a small-to-medium size business: “You Can’t Be Everything to Everyone.” It’s a bit of, eh, wisdom variously attributed to Abraham Lincoln (at least by my mother), Bill Cosby and a host of others. The gist of … [Read more...]
FOOD MARKET REVIEW (Mexicali, Baja California): Expendio De Carnes Rocha (North Asian Braised Short Ribs with Pickled Carrots and Daikon)
Of the many things that one might go down to Mexico to purchase, beef probably would not be high on the list. A visit to Expendio De Carnes Rocha in Mexicali – and two meals featuring Señor Rocha's beef – has persuaded me to reconsider. If you are looking for his shop on your way … [Read more...]
FOOD MARKET REVIEW: Gonzalez Northgate Market
Perhaps the best thing about ethnic markets is the access to authentic, exotic, ethnically specialized ingredients. Even in today's mega-supermarkets, while one can find dried chiles, tortillas, soy sauce, fish sauce, Sriracha sauce and the like, the selection and freshness … [Read more...]
ASIAN MARKETS: Thuan Phat
As I have written elsewhere on this site, one of the enduring pleasures of living in San Diego is the tremendous access we have to wonderful ethnic foodstuffs. But it is not just Mexican ingredients to which we have such ready access. Within only a few miles from my house I can … [Read more...]