California Dreaming..

I'm usually not a big fan of when bloggers recount their travels; ultimately, unless I'm planning on visiting the place soon, I don't want to read about all the places I'm NOT travelling. And then I get stressed, and surf fodors.com for awhile, brainstorming ways I could scrounge up the cash to visit Buenos Aires or Thailand.

In any case, I had such yummy food in California that I'm going to be a total hypocrite and share. Plus, Virgin America is doing some crazy sales these days! So maybe this will motivate you? ;)

My first morning in Santa Barbara, Ann and I headed to Shoreline, and enjoyed some breakfast burritos loaded with avocado. The best part about Shoreline? The tables are all directly on the beach, so as you eat you can wiggle your toes in the sand. Heaven.

Ann peruses the menu...

At night, we headed to chic sushi spot, Arigato, right on State Street, the main drag of Santa Barbara. It was a little pricey, but we did manage to try the magic mushroom maki stuffed with shittake, crimini, maitake, asparagus, and truffle oil, and the kobe beef sashimi. My favorite though was the fiesta maki, with tempura halibut, tomato, avocado, cilantro, and habanero sauce (top photo). Afterwards, we got Pinkberry!! I've been wanting to try this popular frozen yogurt chain for so long now, and it was everything I wanted and more. The fresh fruit, the tart yogurt, the inventive and playful mix-ins (I got cocoa crispies)-- looove it.In San Diego, we finally got to try the one, the only, In n Out burger. FINALLY!! We got our fries "animal style" (onions, cheese, and special sauce) and our burgers just regular. I immediately regretted not getting a double-double (what was I thinking!?) but it was amazing nonetheless. Though I think I still give the best burger crown to the #12 at Johnny Rocket's (am I alone here?). And, as others have said in the past, I wasn't the hugest fan of the fries here, even animal style.The next day we parked ourselves on the beach all day long, enjoying the San Diego sun (and wind) and flying kites. After the long day, we stopped at this Mexican place Roberto's, located right next to the beach. It was dirt cheap, but seemed awesomely authentic, and we loaded up our plates with baja fish tacos, enchiladas, Mexican rice, and refried beans. YUM.

Part II of California round-up to come... including Zaytoon, a Santa Barbara Middle Eastern restaurant with fire pits at each table where Ann's roommate made a love connection with our waiter, and Porto's, amazing Cuban food in Los Angeles.

Andy Husbands is gonna be piiiissed...

As you may or may not have heard, Chef Andy Husbands's restaurant Tremont 647 has been offering $2 tacos on Tuesdays, presumably to attract budget-minded customers who also have a penchant for Mexican fare. Fellow blogger Cave Cibum reports on the experience here.

So I was surprised to read this morning in my Boston edition of Thrillist that Ken Oringer is now offering $1 tacos at his restaurant, La Verdad, on Tuesdays as well! It seems a little coincidental, does it not? Is it just me?

It seems like KO might not care all that much about what other Beantown chefs think of him, as evidenced in this article from Boston magazine in which he claims Tim Cushman of O Ya stole his ideas: http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/the_knives_come_out/.

Couldn't we all just get along, in the hopes of having not one but TWO discounted taco days!?

Casa Romero

I have to be honest about something: I don't really like Mexican food-- well, as a foodie, at least. Sure, a burrito once in a blue moon (or with a Blue Moon) tastes pretty good, but I just don't understand "upscale" Mexican cuisine.

Sebastian on the other hand is a Mexican food lover. So when his birthday rolled around, we headed with his family to one restaurant that I had enjoyed previously with Z-- Casa Romero on Gloucester St off of Newbury. Like Dali in Somerville (which I NEED to re-visit since it's one of my faves), this restaurant has a magical feeling to it, as you step off Gloucester down a small alley and into a tiny, wooden doorway. It's as if you're headed to some secret lair that no one knows about.

Once inside, it has pretty typical Mexican restaurant decor, with tiles, artifacts, and wooden chairs. They do have a beautiful patio though-- atypical of neighboring Newbury St patios, where motorcycles zoom by and cars loudly rev their engines. This one is small and secluded, and feels like you're dining in someone's private garden.

I started with some sangria, which while good, lacked any of the signature floating pieces of fresh fruit in it. We shared some chips with zingy salsa (complimentary) which I think turned out to be my favorite part of the meal. Sebastian's mom ordered a cactus and tomato salad, which due to the salmonella scare did not have tomatoes. This would've been fine had the waiter informed her previously-- it just showed up with only cactus. Hmm.

We also shared some guacamole which at nearly $8 should have been in my opinion a trough of it. Instead, a small scoop arrived on a bread plate. I got as my meal the chicken fajitas. I had expected your standard chicken accompanied by sour cream, guacamole, etc. but instead it came with refried beans and rice, and two tiny tortillas. Hmm. I understand that Chili's isn't authentic, but what's the deal with two tiny tortillas? The chicken was cooked in a red sauce, which seemed to mimic a sofrito but lacked its tanginess. The chicken was kind of dry. All in all, a disappointment.

Ah, Mexican food. Perhaps someday I'll understand you...