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Top 5 Friday – Carlsbad Restaurants Part 2

06
Aug 2010

Happy Friday!

I know – you’ve been on pins and needles since the last Top 5 Friday post - waiting ever so impatiently to see what the final 5 Restaurants are in our two part series. ;)

Well the wait is over! Here are MY top 5 places to eat in Carlsbad, CA.

5. Pollos Maria

Yes. Another Mexican food place. :) This one has the usual things but they also do great Roasted Chicken. You can get a chicken dinner with rice, beans and warm tortillas and it is heaven. Mr. F.T. swears by the Chorizo Burrito – says it’s the best in town.

And you have to check out their sassy, extremely well-endowed chicken on their sign.

I’m a little intimidated by her.

4. Vigilucci’s

Vigilucci’s is seriously good Italian food. There are several Vigilucci’s but I love this one – it’s right in the village and you can sit outside if you want. It’s pricey – but worth it.

Here is my favorite thing on the menu -
Pappardelle con Funghi Porcini e Capesante (which is fun to say and eat)
Homemade wide ribbon pasta with porcini, shiitake, portobello and field mushrooms and pan-seared scallops in a white truffle and brandy cream sauce.

Seriously – how can you beat fresh homemade pasta – then you add in mushrooms and truffle sauce??? Wow. Oh – and I usually sneak a Bellini there too. They make a yummy peach version.

3. Lola’s

Lola’s is a Carlsbad icon. It’s located in a neighborhood in North Carlsbad and it’s been there since the 50′s. It’s family owned and you can go in and spend some time chatting with Lola or her family. She’ll happily tell you all about the restaurant, how long they’ve been there, and I think they’re related to half of Carlsbad.

You order at the counter – and there are a few tables inside and out. I usually get the Machaca burrito – todo style. Shredded beef and egg, with beans, cheese, lettuce, sour cream and pico de gallo added in. I really love this place. It looks like an ordinary little market, but it’s one of my favorite places to hang out.

2. Todo Sushi

Todo is right down the street from us. Which is convenient and dangerous at the same time. It just opened last fall and we have become regulars. The staff and cooks always greet you when you come in and when you leave. I have no idea what they say but it’s fun. They have a big section of the menu that’s half price too.

We all have our favorites but I’d have to say mine is the Star Wars roll. (Great name right?) It’s crab rolled in a jalapeno and fried. And they put some kind of magic sauce over the whole thing.

I wasn’t a shusi eater before  - but I’ve converted. ;)

1. O’Sullivan’s Irish Pub

Here it is. My favorite place to eat in Carlsbad. Maybe anywhere. It’s located in the village in this sweet English building. It’s great inside too – it’s dark, they have a long bar and a stage for music and a big fireplace when you walk in. Exactly what you want in an Irish pub. Sometimes you can go in and there are groups playing music in their large room, just hanging out and playing beautiful Irish music.

The food is great too. I always get the Irish Whiskey Chicken Boxty. It’s a flat potato pancake wrapped around chicken and mushrooms and tomatoes, all smothered in this heavenly Irish Whiskey Cream Sauce. I can’t eat the whole thing but I try every time. And don’t ask me to share. Cause I won’t.

And there you have it! Now I’m hungry again. But that’s ok. I’m saving up for dinner – we’re going to O’Sullivans tonight. ;)

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Top 5 Friday – Carlsbad Restaurants Part 1

30
Jul 2010

Happy Friday! It’s 66 degrees outside right now and there’s a thick Marine Layer out there. In fact, yesterday was the first sun we’d had in about 9 days. Not too shabby for the end of July. ;) That’s just one of the wonderful things about Carlsbad.

One of the other things I love is the variety of restaurants we have. You can find just about any type of food here – and it’s incredibly yummy. And you guys know that at Flamingo Toes we’re pretty much all about the food.

So after much debate, discussion, and reminding the others in this house that this is MY Top 5 list – I’ve brought you a Two-Part Top Five Friday. Over the next two weeks I will show you my TEN favorite places to eat in Carlsbad. We’ll start with the second half today . . .

10. Norte

Norte’s used to be called Fidel’s – part of two restaurants here in North County. They have split and have changed the name, but the food and atmosphere are the same. It’s on the grounds of the Carlsbad Inn – and one of the places our family has eaten at for years, even before we moved here. And that’s one of the things I love most about it – it’s Mexican food and Memories all wrapped up together for me.

9. Cessy’s

Yes. Another Mexican Food place. Mexican Food is my comfort food – it’s what I grew up on. So you’ll see a few on this list.

Cessy’s is right across the street from Norte’s on the Pacific Coast Highway – but it’s completely different. Family owned, it’s a place where you can go in and get a giant burrito or some tacos in your swimsuit – fresh from the beach. There’s nothing more relaxing than grabbing some dinner and one of those outside tables and watching the cars on the PCH go by. The California burrito is pretty amazing but I’m a sucker for the beef tacos.

The prices are low, the people are friendly and the food is great. What more could you ask for?

8. Pizza Port

Pizza Port is located on Carlsbad Village Drive, in the village just east of the 101. It can get pretty busy in there so we try and go early for dinner or for lunch.
The pizza is amazing – my favorite is the Pizza Carlsbad – topped with Pesto, mesquite grilled chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, & feta. Sounds good huh? They also have their own brewery with lots of local-made beers.

Oh and you could make a whole dinner of the Caesar Salad and Beer Buddies (little bread-sticks) if you wanted.

7.  Primo’s

Primo’s is kind of like home. That and the next place on the list. It’s located at Avenida Encinas and Poinsettia, just down the street from us. If we’re not at one of these places at least once a week, something is wrong.
Primo’s is great Italian food. Pizza’s, pastas, soup and salads, they do it all. We love to go and get the lunch specials – my favorite is the Ravioli with fresh tomatoes and basil. The owners are super sweet and there’s something about going to a place where everybody knows you. We sit outside on the patio and usually split our meal between here and the place next door . . .

6. Pelly’s

Pelly’s is right next door and it’s our go-to place for seafood. The clam chowder is the best you’ll ever have and that’s not all – they have great fish tacos, and you have to get the crab cakes on the weekend.  They have a full seafood market inside, so it’s also where we go to get our fish for cooking at home. It’s always fresh and local.

Are you hungry yet? I’m starving. Tune in next week for the remainder of the list!

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Top Five Friday – Cookbooks

22
Jul 2010

Happy Friday!

After dinner tonight I mentioned that I had yet to write a Top 5 Friday post. Big mistake. I was bombarded with you-name-it – everything from Top 5 Sports cars, Top 5 Mustaches, Top 5 Reasons You Can’t Have a Scooter, to Top 5 Reasons I’m Your Favorite Kid. Huh. Thanks everyone.

I ignored them all and decided to share with you my Top Five Cookbooks! (Disclaimer – I was not provided with these cookbooks from some kind benefactor who wanted a review. Though if someone decides to send me a batch of cookbooks, I’ll write them a handy dandy Top Five of their own. Ha.)

5. Baking Illustrated

This book is by the people who do Cook’s Illustrated. So you know everything in there has been tested and tried. It’s kind of my Bible for Baking. Love it.

4. Roy’s Fish and Seafood

This book is from the restaurant Roy’s. Really amazing Pacific Rim cooking. My favorite 2 recipes in here are the Pan Seared Butterfish with Coconut-Luau Leaf Sauce and Kalua Pork Miso. Sounds complicated. It was – but seriously yummy.

3. Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill

This is a cookbook with recipes from Bobby’s (we’re on a first name basis) Mesa Grill Restaurant – we got to eat at the one in Vegas. The beginning has tons of information about how to prepare all the different chilies that he uses. Super helpful stuff.

My favorites are the New Mexican Rubbed Pork Tenderloin with Bourbon-Ancho Sauce paired with the Sweet Potato Tamales with Pecan Butter. For dessert have the Spicy Coconut Tapioca with Mango and Blackberries. But only put one Serrano in if you don’t want to blow the top of your head off.

2. From Emeril’s Kitchens – Favorite Recipes from Emeril’s Restaurants

Ok – here’s the deal. This book has great food. I mean – Emeril right?. But skip all that if you get the book and go to the back. Make the Banana Cream Pie. You will never make another type of Banana Cream Pie again. Do it right though – make the Graham Crackers yourself (the recipe is in there too) and drizzle the whole thing with the chocolate and caramel sauces.

You will weep. Or Eat The Whole Pie. Maybe Both.

1. Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day

This book is wonderful. The basic idea is this: you make a giant batch of dough and stick it in the fridge. No kneading, just mix it up. Then as you need it (no pun intended), you cut off a hunk and bake it. It works so great because you can set out a piece to rise a little before dinner, then pop it in the oven and you have fresh bread for dinner. And there’s lots of variety too. You can make bread bowls, baguettes, pretzels, and more. There’s nothing like the smell of bread baking – makes whatever else you’re having special.

So now it’s your turn. What’s your Go – To cookbook? What’s your favorite “Make You Weep” recipe in it?? I have to know.

Next week – who knows – maybe we’ll discuss Top 5 Mustaches.

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