Hob Nob Hill and Bread & Cie BakeryTwo Wonderful San Diego Restaurants.

If you have not tried these two San Diego gems, you are missing out.

Hob Nob Hill and Bread

A friend took me to two places I had never been in San Diego and I was very impressed. The first was Hob Nob Hill,  a landmark restaurant located at 2271 1st Avenue, San Diego. We stopped there on a whim for breakfast. Hob Nob Hill is opened from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. 

When you enter the restaurant, you feel as if you have gone back in time; wood paneling, chandeliers, cloth napkins, and a nice quiet, relaxing atmosphere.

The menu was a breakfast menu only. The menu is not large, but they have the standard breakfast and some that you would not find on most restaurant menus. There was a BLTE (bacon, lettuce, tomato, and egg) sandwich, three kinds of Eggs Benedict, spiced apples (side dish), and the special of the morning was a tuna melt omelet. Just did not sound good, but I am sure it was fabulous as our meals were wonderful.

My friend got the crab Eggs Benedict with spiced apples and said it was delicious. (She also told me she has an uncle who drives from San Bernardino just to eat here once in a while). I had the cinnamon French Toast with a side of dry, crispy bacon. The French Toast melted in my mouth-so good and the bacon was perfect.

We were full, and very satisfied with Hob Nob Hill. I will definitely go back to try their lunch or dinner.

Bread & Cie Bakery & Cafe

Later on that same afternoon, my friend took me to Bread & Cie Bakery & Cafe.  Wow! This place is located at 350 University Avenue, San Diego (Between 3rd and 4th Avenue).

The bakery and cafe are open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is parking in the back lot if you cannot find street parking. Make sure to park in the Bread & Cie lot as the surrounding lots are pay parking. 

If we had been hungry, we would have stayed for lunch as their menu is extensive and everything looks amazing. They serve breakfast, sandwiches, soups, salads, grilled Paninis, specialty yogurts and even a picnic lunch to go.

The desserts looked amazing. I did not purchase any, but I am sure they are wonderful as my friend vouched for them and said her husband loves them. 

I was more interested in the breads. They have quite a variety of breads, like Dudley's, but they taste amazing’ much, much better than Dudley's. The service here is quick and they have a system that makes sense.

You can buy loaves of bread and have them sliced any thickness you desire. I purchased a jalapeno cheddar loaf and had it sliced thick. So yummy. Doesn't need anything on it but also was delicious used for a ham and grilled cheese.

I also purchased a caramelized onion loaf. I bought the small loaf and wished I had bought the large. Fantastic. I also wish Bread & Cie was in North County. I definitely plan to go back and buy some loaves to freeze. Amazing!

And next time I go to Bread & Cie, I will go for lunch and check out the sandwiches. The difficult part will be deciding which of the breads to try.

Check them out. You will not be disappointed.

Carlsbad State Beach

Carlsbad State Beach is a protected beach in the state park system of California, USA, located in Carlsbad. It is a San Diego County beach with coastal bluffs. Popular activities include swimming, surfing, scuba diving, fishing, and beach-combing. Carlsbad State Beach is a protected beach in the state park system of California, USA, located in Carlsbad. It is a San Diego County beach with coastal bluffs. 

Popular activities include swimming, surfing, scuba diving, fishing, and beach-combing.

Photos by Stacey Kuhns

Rare San Diego Snow Day

by Stacey Kuhns

Thinking About a Snow Day with the Family?

Rare-San-Diego-Snow-Day As a California native, I get excited about the snow; I mean, really excited. After this past weekend, I know I am definitely not alone. It is kind of like San Diego/California news channels offering breaking news regarding "Storm Watch 2015" or some such headline and then the weather delivers a few small showers.

Well, we San Diegans definitely have "snow frenzy." I have not been to the snow in a very long time, probably over 20 years. I love winter (even though I have lived in San Diego for approximately 31 years). Cold weather, winter storms, and snow all make me feel good, peaceful, like winter is my soul's special time of year.

I have been begging my boyfriend to take me to the snow as soon as any fell in California. He was not as enthusiastic about it having grown up in Northern Idaho. His soul is happier in summer. The warmer, the better. Me, I am an air conditioning girl in the summer and in the car all the time.

Saturday, my boyfriend surprised me with a trip to the snow. Our first stop was Santa Ysabel and Crossroads Treasures (reviewed in this blog on 09/18/15). Crossroads Treasures is one of our favorite places to stop as we love rocks and gems. The women who own this establishment are so amazing and a blast to hang out with. We were lucky to meet one of the local miners while we were up there and purchase and item from him. We always learn so much when we go there about rock hunting, treating rocks and minerals, and we always break open some geodes just because it is fun and exciting. (Anyway, if you are ever headed to Dudley's or Julian, this is an amazing place to stop and kids love it too).

Rare-San-Diego-Snow-Day After spending over an hour at Crossroads Treasures, we headed up through Julian (the snow in Julian had melted) and wound up on Sunrise Highway. If you plan to visit the snow on a weekend, your best bet is to go through Julian to Sunrise Highway, travel through Laguna Mountain and the Cleveland National Forest and exit on the far side at Highway 8. If you turn around and try to go back through Julian, you will be stuck in miles of bumper to bumper traffic as people attempt to make the left turn back into Julian. It was a lot of time to wait in the car, especially if you have young ones that get restless easily.

We saw snow pretty soon after turning right out of Julian and heading up to Sunrise Highway. We chose to pull off on obscure roads away from the crowds.

We headed out to our favorite stopping point on the Pacific Crest Trail (also reviewed earlier in this blog on 09/18/15. The snow was more than ankle deep. In certain places, if the wind is blowing, a scarf, gloves and mittens, and a very warm jacket as well as a beanie or some other warm head covering should be part of your essentials for the day trip. I was fine in tennis shoes, jeans, and a long sleeved shirt in the places where there was no wind, but my toes were frozen. (This was a spur of the moment trip and not planned well, but it was a fantastic day).

I no longer have small children, but I was appalled at the parents letting their children climb fences onto personal property so their children could play in the snow. The parents were also doing this. There are so many places in that area where you can pull over and enjoy sledding or playing in the snow without having to trespass or damage other people's property. We spoke with one resident who said it is difficult for all the residents in those areas during the winter because of people's disrespect for their private roads, fences, and property. I was honestly shocked at seeing how many people were being completely disrespectful and taking part in this. Believe me, there is no shortage of areas to play and take photos or go sledding.

Further down the Sunrise Highway, before leaving Cleveland National Forest and heading towards Highway 8, there is a long stretch of road where many children and families were playing and sledding. From this picture, it looks like the perfect winter day scene in California.

I am not sure what happens to us when the snow comes. Reminds me of a shark feeding frenzy. I was thankful that we stayed in areas where there were very few people (all public areas). In looking at the pleasant scene above, you are unable to see the road. It is a narrow part of Sunrise Highway. Cars were parked on both sides of the street. There was a lot of slush everywhere. Tempers seemed to be high as one woman stopped her car in the middle of the road, with cars piling up behind her. Someone passed her and she threw a bottle of soda at their car! The scariest thing to me was how close to the street parents were letting their children play. The parents were also playing close to the street and throwing snowballs making their kids run out into the street.

We want a snow day with our loved ones to be remembered as a fun day. So, my advice as a California snow fanatic, is to be prepared. Drive slowly and always keep your eyes on the road as kids can dart out at any time. Bring plenty of fluids, lip balm, extra sets of dry clothes, and snow wear. Bring items to sled on if you wish and please take all your trash with you when you leave. Make sure dogs are on leashes. And most of all, respect other's property. A snow day can be magical but it can also cause lots of tension. Take a deep breath and don't be in a hurry. Enjoy your surroundings, your loved ones, and make some wonderful winter memories. How fortunate we are to have beaches, mountains (that get snow), and deserts in our county.

Off Sunrise Highway with the desert in the background.

I hope you also get to enjoy a snow day. It is well worth it. Relax, breathe deeply and take in the gorgeous surroundings of our county.

Mama Kat's Restaurant Great Food in a Fun Atmosphere

by Stacey Kuhns

Restaurant and Pie Shop

 

On 01/09/16, five friends and I met at Mama Kat's,  located at 950 W. San Marcos Blvd, in San Marcos, across from the bowling alley. Mama Kat's is open Sunday from 7a.m.-2p.m. and Monday through Saturday from 6a.m. to 2p.m. Be prepared for a long wait as this is a popular place and for good reason!

The restaurant was very pleasant inside and bigger than I expected. We got there at 8:30 a.m. on a Saturday and were told the wait would be 45 minutes to an hour. We sat outside to wait and were seated within 30 minutes. Someone quickly came over to take our drink order and soon after, our waiter, Todd came over to make sure someone got our drink orders and to answer any questions. 

We all ordered different items and everyone enjoyed their meal. One of my friends said his chicken fried steak was the best he had ever eaten. Mama Kat's serves good home cooking food and a large menu guarantees everyone will find something they want.

They are also super nice about modifying orders. One of my friend's did not want eggs, but ordered pancakes and bacon. Todd made sure that my friend got a double portion of bacon since he was not having the eggs on his combo plate. Unheard of!!!!

Normally, that would be an extra charge. I was amazed. Todd was extremely personable and one of the best waiters I have ever had. Funny and on the ball with everything. I ordered the supreme French toast and it was melt-in-your mouth divine (a cinnamon roll French toast). Someone asked for extra powdered sugar and he brought out a nice sized cup of that. Seems Mama Kat's is there to satisfy their customers.

You can also choose between large and small sized pancakes! These are the large. 

Mama Kat's serves and also sells their homemade jams, jellies, and butters. They serve up to four different kinds to the table for spreading on toast or biscuits. We received the pumpkin butter, carrot cake jelly, and a berry jam.

Mama Kat's sells additional items along with the jams and jellies.

And let's not forget...pies! Mama Kat's is also a pie shop and they have an amazing variety to choose from. We tried the peanut butter and chocolate and the chocolate cream. Very rich and very good. (I had a difficult time getting a picture of the pie counter due to the line of people.)

All in all, I would highly recommend Mama Kat's. Very pleasant and we did not feel rushed at all. We were able to sit and visit after we were done eating. Great place.

Sand Crab Tavern-If you Love Seafood

by Stacey Kuhns

 

My friend and I visited the Sand Crab Tavern  (located at 2229 Micro Place in Escondido, 92029). This is a hidden gem in the industrial area of Escondido, close to Palomar Medical Center.

This was my third visit to Sand Crab and it was just as good as the second time (first time they were new and still seemed to be ironing out the kinks.) The restaurant is pricey, but is a great bargain for what you get and is fun food (will explain shortly).

We used a coupon from the Entertainment.com book which took $25 off the bill (The book is a fantastic gift and investment if you like to try different restaurants, venues, attractions, hotels and more).

When you walk into Sand Crab Tavern, you enter through the bar (and that is it, just a long bar with barstools-no additional seating in the bar area).

There is a lot to look at inside the restaurant; funny signs, model ships, sailor's knots, great photos, and more. They have small booths right after passing the bar (seats 4 comfortably), or plenty of tables and a backroom that can be used for large parties.

There are a lot of dishes to choose from. My friend started with a cup of clam chowder and I started with a cup of the lobster bisque that has a puff pastry in it. Both were delicious, creamy, yummy, and perfect for a cold evening. I would love to take a few containers home to have on a cold winter night.

This is a fun restaurant to go with two or more people because you can choose the crab boil dinners (a variety to choose from). They come in a big bowl with potatoes, corn on the cob, Louisiana sausage, peel and eat large shrimp, and then your choice of crab or other items.

We choose the boil that had Alaskan King Crab and Stone Crab. They bring the items all mixed together in a giant bowl and dump them on butcher paper onto your table. You are given mallets, peelers, and a bucket for the shells.

It is a lot of work, but well worth the effort. You can be a blast with shells flying and everyone laughing. (It may take a while to get served the main meal portion when they are busy, but it is worth the wait).

OMG! So good. The King crab was giant sweet and tender. They also provide you with a basket of fresh sourdough bread, dipping sauces for the seafood such as cocktail sauce and drawn butter. The seafood tastes great on its own. The sausage is a slight bit spicy and is just a juicy perfect bite.

 The aftermath. Definitely messy, but great. They give you lemon towelette at the end of the meal. If you are a lover of seafood, you will not be disappointed -Recommended. Another hidden gem.