Jrdn @ Tower 23 Pacific Beach
http://www.jrdn.com/serving/up/flash/

Last weekend was my second visit to Jrdn for weekend brunch and they do not disappoint! If you sit outdoors, you get to view the ocean as well as the PB boardwalk with people of all sorts (joggers, baby strollers, and the occasional hobo). I ordered the Lobster BLT w/ french fries. To my dismay, I left both my camera and iPhone at home- so I do not have a picture of this wonderful piece of yum. My friends ordered the Breakfast Croissant and the Chicken Sandwich which received rave reviews. Even my friend's BF (who is tough to please) really enjoyed the food. My other half ordered Steak and Eggs Racheros, which is what he ordered at our last visit I think... Regardless, come for brunch.... And maybe even stay for the nightlife. The restaurant changes its lights with this pretty blue color at night; a must see if you're visiting San Diego.


Sea Rocket Bistro in South Park
http://searocketbistro.com/

The emerging trend in the food industry is fresh, market driven, local cuisine. It works for Sea Rocket Bistro- being in between the hustle and bustle of the main drag in South Park as well as the foodie hipster nation I like to refer to as 30th Street North Park. The interior is decorated as if you entered into a world of recycled wow. There are fish hanging from the ceiling that are made out of newspapers and old boxes. The stem ware is made from recycled wine bottles and Stone Brewery beer bottles. The main dining room does not hold that many people (maybe 20-25 max), but it makes it feel exclusive and cozy. For starters, the hub and I ordered the Sea Urchin (at only 10 bones, how could you go wrong?), the beets tapas special, and cibatta bread w/their in house special butter. We could have sworn that the Sea Urchin seemed a little hollow.... But the taste was normal: saltwater tasting goo, in a good way mind you.  Then came our entrees: Seared Jumbo Diver Scallops and San Diego Spicy Fisherman's Stew. Both were delish AND we were impressed with the portions! Wrapped by the evening with the Chocolate Coconut flavored rice pudding (which had a faint flavor of coconut, so do not be alarmed if you aren't a fan of that flavor). All in all... I will make a return visit!!!!

Sunset Tower
http://www.sunsettowerhotel.com/

Went to this place with a group of 8. As you may know, traffic on the Sunset strip can be murderous.... And valet was based on hourly stay.... So we opted for that. Anyhow, the Tower Bar is really intimate with the plush sofas and extreamly dim lighting. They really strive to give you that old Hollywood ambiance favored by their uber chic clientelle. I'm sorry, but I could barely see what I was eating that night! It really bugs me just as much as restaurants who give you leaves of lettuce instead of chopping it for you. OK, I know that it's for the food esthetic and appeal, but it's going in my mouth in a few nano minutes, why the heck not cut it for me??? Side tracked, sorry.

Sooo... I ordered something with fish. I think it came with risotto or some sort of  wild rice.... As well as a side order of Truffle Oil fries (Mr.A's serves them up much better btw). The hub ordered the Hanger Steak. In any case, the main entrees were not as remarkable as the desserts. We pretty much ordered every dessert on the menu (thanks to a friend's connection) and the best one was the Baked Alaska. I'd dare to say that it was even better then one I had at the Neiman Marcus cafe :X

I currently work at A.R Valentien, the signature restaurant at The Lodge Torrey Pines. This past week I've been working 10+ hours because it is my last week working for Accuquest Hearing. My manager at ARV also scheduled me to start training for my new gig. It's been tiring and quite frustrating to say the least, but I wanted to share some really interesting facts that I have learned about business and.... My new job :)

The Lodge at Torrey Pines was built in 2002 with it's anniversary being April 4, 2002. It is built around a natural reserve because Torrey Pines are indigenous to only two places in the world: Santa Rosa Islands and La Jolla! The hotel's architecture is considered the craftsmen style modeled after the Blacker and Gamble Houses in Pasadena. There are a couple walls in the courtyard area of the hotel that are made from clinker bricks. Clicker bricks were the unused bricks that were buried years ago. Mr.Evans decided to dig up those bricks and mix them with an array of stones to design a couple walls with interlacing of clinker bricks and rocks. 

A.R Valentien was an American artist from Ohio who was commissioned by the Scripps family to paint these beautiful pictures of California wild flowers. Much of his inspiration was found in his own backyard. There is one photograph in the book case across from the Hostess stand depicting A.R and his wife on Georgia Street (I'm assuming that would be currently considered the North Park area). His wife also was a painter and has done many portraits of California landscapes. These painting can be found in the A.R Valentien restaurant, hence the name sake :)

The food... Well, it's phenomenal. Everytime I pass by a table I can smell the aroma of flavors and it makes me SO HUNGRY!!!! The cuisine is considered seasonal, market driven California cuisine. The dinner menu changes daily. Here are a few examples of what you can find here:

Crispy Skin Petaluma Chicken (Petaluma being the farm where the chicken is raised) w/ fried Ricotta and Summer Squash gnocch, wax beans, Wild King Salmon w/ Morel mushrooms, roasted carrots, melted leeks, and red wine sauce. My fav that I am dying to try: Alaskan Halibut w/ wilted lettuce, fennel (YUM!), olive oil poached cherry tomatoes, and creme fraiche. AHHHHHHHHHHhhh!!!!!!!! Never before have I felt the urge to eat someplace like I have now (with the exception of Mr.A's and the uber popular street cart vendors in LA)

 

My next adventure will take you to Santa Barbara.... Food, wine tasting, site seeing... It was a great weekend :)