Dining in San Diego, Part 1

I really like food. 

Good Food. (And it’s a good thing that I really really really like to work out… or this would be a serious problem.)

Luckily, I live in the perfect foodie town… San Diego, CA. There is seriously a new restaurant opening every week and some kind of food event every weekend. It's kinda crazy how much San Diego to offer. You can find basically any food or cuisine in this town. The downside? It slims down your wallet and widens your waist.

Since I am a firm believer that moderation is key, I apply this concept to my food and dining out choices. For me, dining (and especially fine dining) is a form of entertainment. It's not just about being hungry, getting full and calling it a night. It starts with admiring and observing a restaurant's interior and ambiance. Discussing food prep and pairing with the servers is a must. I love seeing how chefs combine flavors, taste and texture and I love hearing waiters give their own opinion of the food. Waiters who know the food they serve is not only impressive but demonstrates that the owners and chefs truly care about what they are plating. Knowing about what you are eating and how it was prepared helps you enjoy a meal all the more. When the food arrives, you obviously have to instagram and spam your facebook feed with photos and finally dig in and enjoy the meal. But its not just about the eating part, its the whole experience and for me, it sure is entertaining. Some people pay for overpriced Disneyland tickets, I'd rather pay for an excellent dining experience.

That being said, I am on a personal mission to savor the San Diego food scene. I have a huge mental list of places to go and plates to eat. Thanks to social media, I have already been dying to try many awesome restaurants and some of the food they offer. I have also started covering events for DiningOut SD and I am thrilled for this opportunity! (I may also have to start exercising more....)

Food I have tasted (either at an event or at the actual restaurants): 

1. Bo beau Kitchen 
2. Cucina Urbana 
3. Lucha Libre 
4. Badunckachun 
5. PrepKitchen
6.  Searsucker 
7. Wisknladle
8. Kitchen 1540 
9. Fig Tree Cafe 
10. Pomegranate Russian-Georgian Restaurant 
11. Ali Baba 
12. Supannee Thai 
13. Kous Kous 
14. Rubicon Deli 
15. Con Pane 
16. Starlite 
17. Caffé Calabria 
18. Cafe Athena 
19. D Bar 
20. Brooklyn Girl 
21. Monello 
22. Bencotto 
23. Azucar 
24. Sprinkles Cupcakes La Jolla 
25. Cupcakes Squared 
26. Donovan’s 
27. Puesto 
28. Cowboy Star & Restaurant 
29. Donut Bar 
30. Cafe Chloe 
31. Burger Lounge (La Jolla & Gaslamp) 
32. Nothing Bundt Cakes 
33. Phil’s BBQ 
34. Royal India 
35. Babycakes 
36. Acqua al 2 
37. Pomodoro 
38. Miguel’s 
39. Chocolat Cremerie 
40. Extraordinary Desserts (Downtown & Balboa) 
41. Valentins
42. Truluck's 
43. Point Loma Seafood 
44. Coffee Couture 
45. Pappalecco 
46. Studio Diner 
47. Cafe Zucchero 
48. Bottega Italiana  
49. Caffé Italia 
50. Influx 
51. Hans and Harry 
52. Murrietas 
53. Filippi's Pizza Grotto 
54. Napizza 
55. Grab and Go Subs India St 
56. Mimmos 
57. The Marble Room 
58. Bali Hai 
59. Urban Solace 
60. Slater’s 50/50* 
61. Stone Brewing (Liberty Station) 
62. Stacked 
63. True Food Kitchen 
64. Bread and Cie 
65. Hillcrest Sandwich Co 
66. Uncle Biffs killer cookies 
67. Asti Ristorante 
68. Buca de Bepo 
69. Cafe Secret 
70. Barra Barra 
71. The Cravory 
72. El Alamo 
73. Casa de Reyes 
74. El Patio 
75. Bird Rock Roasters 
76. Julian Bakery 
77. Julian Pie Company 
78. Sushi Ota 
79. Sushi Deli (1,2 & 3) 
80. Kimiya 
81. Pizza Nova
82. Casa Guadalajara 
83. El Fandango 
84. Coronado Cupcakes 
85. Meze 
86. Royal India 
87. Bombay 
88. Bunz Burger 
89. Tender Greens 
90. Sweet Cheeks Baking Co. 
91. Jsix 
92. Carnitas Snack Shack  
93. Solare 
94. Stingaree 
95. Herringbone 
96. Cucina Enoteca 
97. BiCE Ristorante San Diego 
98. Croce's  
99. Carnitas Snack Shack 
100. Gaijin 
101. Pamplemousse Grille 
102. Chandler's at The Hilton Carlsbad 
103. Sweet Cheeks Baking Co. 
104. Solare
105. Heavenly Desserts

I am sure I have missed a few. That sure looks like a lot of food but remember not all of these were in-house dining experiences. Some were just tastings and teasers.  There are quite a few places I am dying to go and try and actually dine at the actual establishment. Here are a few from the top of my head:

1. Elizabethan Bakery - recently called one of “America’s Best Bakeries” by Travel + Leisure Magazine!

2. Juniper & Ivy – New restaurant by Richard Blais, former Top Chef contestant. He was a personal favorite of mine during this season and his crazy concoctions never failed to surprise me and bring on a wave unprecedented hunger. Controlling my excitement till its opening in December.

3. A ramen burger from Rakiaraki Ramen – yes this actually sounds super delicious to me. I prefer not a judge a book by its covers. Or better yet, a burger by its buns.

4. Azucar’s masterpiece of a creation, the “Cray-Nut.” It is the Cuban bakery’s spin of the highly demanded “Cro-nut.” Rumor has it that it is a flaky, like a croissant but deep-fried and filled with cream and perfected with a sprinkle of powdered sugar. Yum!

5. A full on dining experience at JSix. At a recent fundraiser, I had the honor of sampling a shaved prosciutto, fig, arugula and candid walnut creation and lets just say, it was a party in my mouth. I have been eyeing JSix for a while now and that fig creation was such a tease.

Currently Obsessing Over:
Finally, in dessert news, lets just say that San Diego is home the most delicious thing I have ever put in my mouth. They are BADUNKACHUNK cookies and they are a taste of heaven. I have had the pleasure of meeting the founder, Bridget, at a few events and I am basically on the verge of tears every time I see her because her cookies just make life a whole lot better.

24 perfect flavors can be found at various locations across San Diego. Rubicon Deli, Mad Fix Coffee, LeStats are just a few places that carry Bridget's precious cargo. Bridget is currently working on opening a store front (i.e. saving San Deigns from a bad day via cookies) and I am so excited to see where Badunkachunk will go. My roommate and I just pledged money to her cause via KickStarter (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/531432518/badunkachunk-fabulous-fresh-cookies) and now feel like we are personally a part of her journey.

Check out her site and seriously go buy a cookie, NOW. Every time I have given a friend or co-worker one of these cookies, I swear fireworks go off, their eyes lit up and little tears form. They melt in your mouth and make you never regret every chocolatey, buttery, calorie laden ounce of goodness. Yes, that they are that good.

http://www.badunkachunk.com/

.... mmm now I'm drooling. Hey San Diego, I am heading out the Annual Taste of Downtown tonight. See you there?