The Cottage in La Jolla is Real Deal folks. One of those place where you know you will go back whenever you are in town. It’s that good. I got their top seller, the Eggs La Jolla. English muffin, canadian bacon, mushrooms, spinach, tomato, balsamic and hollandaise sauce. So good. I am told their Stuffed French Toast is a top seller too but everything looks so good.
Point Loma Seafoods in San Diego sits right on the water and is the place to go for fresh fish. It’s a seafood counter so there is plenty to buy and bring home but they also make fresh sandwiches to eat there. They are known for their Crabcake Sandwich which was very good and so was the Shrimp Cocktail.
Del Mar, CA is a quaint little town along the ocean just north of San Diego. If you are there, just off the main drag is L’Auberge Del Mar which is a cool little hotel and in it is Kitchen 1540. Great joint. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Food is top notch and they have an excellent wine list. Also, their menu is also served out on the patio off the lobby which has ocean views. I went there for dinner and breakfast. The salmon on a bed of spinach was great and so was the vege and cheese omelet.
I love the beach. I love dive joints. I love fresh fish. Put all 3 together and it is a good day. Oscar’s Mexican Seafood in Pacific Beach is rocking the Fish Tacos. It ain’t fancy and it’s counter service. Grab a couple of fish tacos and sit on the beach and enjoy them! They have 3 locations and the one in Pacific Beach is next to the ocean.
Pacific Beach is a cool, gritty neighborhood in San Diego right on the ocean. It’s pretty sweet and JRDN restaurant which is in the cool Tower 23 boutique hotel is literally right on the beach. You just can’t beat it for location. Especially at sunset. Is the food amazing? No. But it is not bad and the charcuterie board was excellent. We had some apps then walked around the corner to Oscar’s Mexican Seafood for some killer fish tacos.
I am liking the Denver food scene more and more. It is getting me out of the Boulder Bubble. One of the hot new restaurants is Old Major and it did not disappoint. It is in The Highlands Neighborhood which is one of my favorites and this place has a hip vibe, top shelf drinks and amazing food. They are known for their meats and they did not disappoint but the Steamed Mussels with garlic, shallot, fennel, tomato, rustic croutons were ridiculous. And the Whiskey & Chocolate buttermilk chocolate cake with whiskey caramel, Valrhona Caramelia ganache, whiskey toffee, cocoa tuile was out of this world. And here is a little known secret. Most people think they are only open for dinner but at lunch they serve an abbreviated menu only in the bar and only a small variety of seriously good chicken sandwiches! Love this place.
Just when I think I have eaten it all in Asheville, NC I go to Gan Shan Station. It’s an Asian Fusion joint and it’s so good. The place has a casual cool vibe and the food is so full of flavor. Great spot. The Brussel Sprouts were different and crazy good and I could have eaten the Dumplings all night long! I will be going back here.
Asheville, NC just keeps adding kickass joints to eat and Buxton Hall BBQ is one of them. What an amazing joint. The atmosphere is awesome, the food is killer and they have wonderful beers on tap because, well, this is Asheville. Microbrew capital of the East. Pictured we had: Smoky Fried Catfish Plate, the Pulled Whole Hog BBQ Sandwich, and some kind of yummy pie. This place rocks!
Asheville, NC is filled with so many great restaurants yet when you put a new one down by the river that was made from old shipping containers, it’s hard to go wrong. Cool spot with tasty food. Pictured and really good. Cast-iron seared 3 cheese sandwich on local sourdough, grilled basil pesto, grilled onion, fire-dried garden tomato. Plancha Seared brussel sprouts, clementines, browned butter, crisp country ham. Hot Chorizo & Cheese Curd Dip, roasted poblano, ciabatta.
I love finding great food in unexpected places and Saratoga Springs, Utah (near Salt Lake) is one such place. It is home to Sean’s Smokehouse BBQ. It’s Texas Style BBQ and it is outstanding! I mean serious good. I had the Smoked Turkey Sandwich and I promise you I will be getting it again. So good! Now just a heads up that there is nothing fancy about this joint. It’s short order and go grab a seat.
