I confess it was love at first sight. You had me at “farm to table”. I was charmed by your shabby chic style, your sassy offbeat sophistication. I admit my adoration has only grown through the years. Or was it love at first bite? Brooklyn Girl, since opening their doors in 2011, has been the…
I was struck by a moment of clarity one recent Friday evening while strolling along University Avenue in the heart of North Park. You know the moment I’m talking about – the exact instant you realize that, after a happy hour cocktail or three, you really should get something to eat. Nothing too complicated or…
For a child, the thrill of Christmas morning is tearing open carefully wrapped gifts, throwing aside colorful paper, ribbons and bows and discovering the treasures within. Which brings me to sushi. Think about it. Each bite is presented like a hand-crafted holiday gift, wrapped in salmon skin or rice or thinly sliced cucumber, ribboned with…
Hungry readers were treated to a new food and beverage column when Eat This! debuted Sept. 4. What a delicious few months it’s been as we explored the culinary delights of the greater gayborhood. We began with brunch at Heat Bar and Kitchen, 3797 Park Blvd., and the Crispy Brioche French Toast. Thick slices of…
Between 1784 and 1846, the Spanish and Mexican governments established large land grants, called ranchos, to encourage the settlement of the territory known as California. The ranchos, dedicated to raising cattle and sheep, established land-use patterns and boundaries recognizable today. The community of Rancho Bernardo is one such example. People living on ranchos grew their…
Lunch, as described in the English Oxford Dictionary from 1580, is a “meal inserted between more substantial meals”. During the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s, factory workers brought a small nosh with them to eat during the middle of the day. Soon after, an hour-long midday break became the workday norm, and small eateries sprang…
Let’s talk about your meat. Do you like it “hot and fast”, or “low and slow”? To be clear, I’m talking about the difference between grilling and barbecue. Grilling is generally done quickly over direct heat from low-smoke fuels, while barbecue is usually conducted slowly over indirect heat from high-smoke fuels. After all, what is…
I’m retired, but not so far removed from the daily grind that I don’t remember the joy inspired by those two simple words, “Happy Hour” – the time of day known for bars and restaurants offering discounted drinks and food. But did you know it’s a time of day rooted in a pre-World War I…
“Brunch is a late breakfast – with booze.” — George Takei Brunch, how I love the word! A portmanteau of ‘breakfast’ and ‘lunch’ resulting in a sum greater than its parts. Brunch, how I love the concept! Arising late on a leisurely weekend before enjoying a delightful repast with friends. Or family. With booze. As…
