Santa Barbara on a Plate

Adama Vegan Cuisine

https://www.adamavegan.com

We stumbled upon this gem while working the Orbea expo for the Tour of California. One of the Orbea guys that joined us halfway in, Dan, was vegan. Being a lover of unique and healthy restaurants, I jumped at the idea of finding a place that would offer him such dishes. One quick “vegan Santa Barbara” google and it was clear Adama was the place to go as they pride themselves in being the only pure vegan place in the city.

There was no shortage of humor at the table when Chris ordered the “mock chicken” mole enchiladas…. “mock mock mock!” as he flapped his arms, had us with a few tears of laughter that I’m sure the waitress was stumped by. Anyway, the four of us (Dan, Heather, Chris, and I) shared a bottle of I forgot what red wine, and while Chris had his play on a Mexican dish, Dan and I both ordered the lasagna, and Heather I’m pretty sure got the Shpeherd’s Pie. I should’ve snatched a photo of the other dishes, but I was too busy devouring the (I kid you not!) best lasagna I’ve ever had, dairy or no dairy! It was a wonderfully rich blend of cashew cream in place of the cheese with a truly Italian marinara surrounding brown rice noodles, butternut squash, and sautéed veggies. So. Amazing.

As we were there right at closing hour, our dessert fix was a red velvet and coconut carrot muffin from their in house baked display case of everything from mini pies to cookies.

What I loved about their menu is that in relating to well known comfort food dishes through their entrée titles it eases the skeptic into giving vegan food a try.  The only downside to our evening at Adama was my knowing I wouldn’t taste their incredible breakfast the next day!

Pierre LaFond Wine Bistro

https://www.pierrelafond.com

Two weeks later, I was back in SB with my brother, Daniel. I couldn’t wait to walk up and down State Street with him, browse shops and restaurant menus, and make our selection for dinner. With all the incredible options, I can’t pin point exactly we chose Pierre LaFond, except that their menu stuck out to me with its decorated simplicity. Standard poultry, steak, and seafood selections were described in a way that you knew were treated with the finesse of a chef and laid out in front of you to please your taste buds in an unexpected manner.

 

Anytime I see cioppino on the menu- a tomato seafood stew classic to California- there’s little chance I’ll order something else. Plus, I especially love when a place adds their unique touch like making the cioppino with wild rice in this case. Usually you’ll get the option of pasta or solo with toasted bread. So I went with that for my entrée with the market vegetable plate as an appetizer.

Daniel had the flat iron steak with ratatouille and crispy polenta, and the kale salad to start.

He gave me a bite of his kale salad and it was heavenly. The kale and accompaniments (squash, sunflower seeds, mung beans, buckwheat, and red radish) weren’t drenched in dressing, but kissed enough by this sweet and savory sesame ginger vinaigrette that you just wanted more…and more.

We were both very pleased. The one thing I didn’t appreciate was the slightly overcooked salmon in the stew.

For dessert we headed to Rockin Yogurt which deserves a review of its own as this is no ordinary frozen yogurt shop!....

Rockin Yogurt

In California frozen yogurt is everywhere and it seems to have spread like a plague in other states as well. That’s great if you just want something fat free, cold, and sugary. However, if you really value how you spend your sugar calories, good luck finding the real deal that’s not some probiotic-enhanced powder or liquid churned to resemble actual yogurt.

Rockin is not a franchise, just a little shop on State Street by the movie theatre, that’s all about giving their customers quality. They use Strauss organic yogurt, with natural flavors, real sugar, and amazing fresh fruit and granola amongst their array of toppings.

The consistency of this frozen treat addicts you in one spoonful. And so, we returned the next day after our lunch hour swim.

Backyard Bowls

https://www.backyardbowls.com

Comparable to the fro-yo craze, Acai and its superfruit illusion to turn your body into that of a sexy Brazilian struttin down the beach, is quickly replacing boring smoothies and oatmeal with Acai enhanced ones and bowls full of the stuff topped with coconut, granola, and other fruits of your choice. Most places that offer acai products water them down too much. My 3 favorite places that don’t skimp on the stuff are Basik in Kona, the actual Sambazon Café in Cardiff, CA, and Backyard Bowls in Santa Barbara.

This cute hole-in-the-wall (literally) is right next to the famous Santa Barbara Roasters coffee shop, in front of the main parking lot where State Street commences. Their smoothie and bowl choices are endless- you could have a blast trying them all one visit at a time. They also sell GT’s Kombucha- any place that sells GT’s earns points with me.

Just look at the pretty bowls!!

Raw Meal

Another Ultimate Find!

Athletes are notorious for their recovery shakes. There are so many out there that it's hard to discern which one is "best". A lot of it comes down to sponsorships, personal taste, personal food allergies, and taste and viscosity each of us perfer. 

Unfortunately, too many powders out there are artificially sweetened, or at the very least, sweetened with stevia. The only vegan option that I've found to be great post workout is Vega as it has plenty of glutamine, and tastes fantastic. But it also has stevia. I use Vega after a workout when I've had enough carbs such as in a long ride where I'm constantly fueling, or after a short run or gym session where protein is my only concern to replenish.

For everything else, if I need something simple, nutritious, easy to digest, and that will keep me full and restore my body properly, I use RAW Meal.

Typically, I use one heaping scoop, or almost 1.5sc if say I just finished a hard/long morning swim and want to be refueled and satiated through lunch or later.

For days when I do a swim/bike/run brick I'll use Raw Meal as my post-shake. It's just too hard to beat the nutrients, protein content, and quality carbs! It'll hold me off until a proper dinner on a long IM training day while speeding up the recovery. 

I also looove it when I'm traveling. I'll either have a whole jar in my backpack or for a quick trip, I buy the single serving packs.

So what should you mix it with? Well, thankfully it's not overly sweet as it has no sweeteners. So you can use your favorite juice, and throw in some frozen fruit. I like the commodity of plain coconut water- especially when I'm mixing in my car or at the airport. I use about 10-12oz for every 1scoop.

The caloric breakdown and nutrient profile also make it a great snack that beats any bar out there, just look for yourself:

I hope you can find some and give it a try! They have Raw Meal at Sprouts, Whole Foods, and probably the local health store in your area.

Rimel's

Getting a group together for dinner where everyone can find something they really like is hard. If I had to pick one place in N. County, San Diego where anyone other than a vegan or a vegetarian would leave raving about the food it’s Rimel’s.
 

Rimel’s exemplifies the sort of menu that I often pondered for my own hypothetical restaurant: grilling of fresh meats and seafood, with a south of the border flare, served in a way that makes it like healthy comfort food.

At first the menu can be a bit overwhelming; although they improved the design/presentation of it, but we used to joke it was like an encyclopedia. To simplify it there are three main sections: tacos/burritos, wok bowls, and grilled plates. The burritos are huge, the tacos are served on local made stone ground corn tortillas that hold very well (it’s awful when you make the perfect taco and it breaks before the first bite), with pico de gallo, cabbage, and a spicy aioli.

The wok bowls are sautéed veggies (with a touch of soy sauce- tamari if you’re gluten free- and some of their homemade chicken stock) with your choice of fish, chicken, or steak, on top of brown or white steamed rice.

The grilled plates are a choice of market fresh fish, chicken, or steak, and all of the above come with 2 sides….mac n cheese, sautéed veggies, sweet potato fries, steamed white/brown rice, house salad, mashed potatoes, or beans.
 

Believe it or not, I’m listing all of this from memory- that’ll tell you how many times I’ve been at Rimel’s :)

Their image is of a rotisserie so anything with their free range chicken is incredible and their homemade soups which are all butter and gluten free are made with the chicken broth. I’ve had the lentil and the tortilla ones and loved them!

Rimel’s has one of the cleanest (nutritious) overall menus I’ve come across. They even offer some sushi items from their sister restaurant, Zenbu (next door). As well, they have a few randoms like dumplings and burgers.

Arguably, these are the best fish tacos in San Diego- or anywhere. I know some will disagree but let me argue my case. First off, I’m Mexican so I know real tacos. Other than the aioli, which I specify I don’t want on mine, these are authentic. Let me clarify Mexican food: we don’t use sour cream, we don’t use cheese in tacos (American/yellow cheese is never in anything!), rarely will flour tortillas ever come into the picture (burritos are American), and we don’t use mayonnaise (in most American Cali-Mex, Tex/Mex tacos for “dressing”). I digress, but want to note that Mexican food is actually very healthy. Americanized Mexican food is NOT.
 

Rimel’s star ingredient is their green sauce. I’ve tried to sneak the recipe out of the cooks when I sit at the “open kitchen” bar, but they’ve only disclosed the ingredients: sesame oil, garlic, cilantro, jalapeno, lime juice, onion. Simple, but it’s the quantity of each that makes or breaks it. Besides, I’m sure they’re leaving out the secret ingredient.

Their consistency and portion size is awesome. The only times I’ve been bummed is when they took the roasted rosemary potatoes out of the Cardiff location (they only have them in La Jolla), and yesterday the mahi in my fish tacos was overcooked. Each time I've ordered a steak though, it's been perfectly cooked medium rare and that's key to judging the experience of the cooks.

Rimel’s wine/beer list is fantastic, and you can also get Sake from Zenbu. The staff is awesome, and even though they don’t take reservations, there’s rarely too long a wait, and most often a spot or two is available at the bar, which I prefer because I love watching the cooks in action.

Ultimate Finds...

To break the label of "restaurant reviewer" I will often share unique healthy, but scrumptious, foods- whether it’s in a store or just one item from a place that “wow”ed me.

I’ll start with these Raw Cacao Goji Bites. The branded version is made by Navitas Naturals http://navitasnaturals.com/product/442/Snack-Cacao-Goji.html and sold at most health food stores such as Sprouts. However, the small package is $9 which if you portion it appropriately is okay; and honestly these are one of the few treats that I can adhere to the serving size and be satisfied, especially as a hungry athlete! Take cereal or granola for example. One serving is usually 1/4c for granola up to ¾ cup for cereal. It’s a joke. My bowl ends up being half the dang box! Not exactly figure friendly.

But these bites show you the power of real “superfoods” A bite (square) or two will absolutely be plenty to fix that sweet tooth, without a surge of sugar from a typical dessert. Plus it’s such a small quantity that it’s perfect after a meal…and even better with a glass of wine ;).

The best part, is you can find these at some Whole Foods locations in bulk!! I haven’t found them in San Diego, though I’ve yet to check out the new store in Del Mar. But they have them in San Antonio (where I first discovered them), so I recently brought back a bag full.

If you’re like me and need to have chocolate at least once a day and also don’t like overly sweet foods, you have to try these!! Yes, they are gluten free, too!

Click on the link above and you’ll see the awesome ingredients and caloric breakdown!

Muzita Bistro- University Heights, San Diego

Wednesday I was feeling rather spontaneous and as usual was spending some time in the morning researching restaurants. I've been doing this since high school. Sometime during sophomore year I became fascinated with the Food Network and cooking. My mom could barely scramble an egg until recently (now she's quite the little wanna-be Martha Stewart), and my dad mainly enjoyed eating out unless he was manning the grill. He can make some insane lamb chops!!

This new hobby coincided with my interest in health/nutrition as I sought to loose some weight that had appeared once I hit puberty- ugh! I grew up eating quite healthy (not the typical "Merica" way), but I'd never really cared about, nor understood, the impact of nutrition on our health and the degree of processing and modifying the majority of our foods undergo. A few months later, I was so into it that I went through a handful of books every couple of weeks and even convinced my mom to drive me to Orlando (I was in Tampa at the time at Saddlebrook Tennis Academy) to visit Le Cordon Bleu :)

Anyway, back on point...I was looking for a unique place that also served healthy food. Enter Muzita Bistro. One look at the menu http://www.letseat.at/muzita/menu and you quickly realize why other countries don't have the obesity problem the US does. Muzita serves Eritrean/Ethiopian food, which is very similar to Indian food, in my opinion- lots of spices yielding a ton of flavor, and concentrated on vegetables and rice. Their "bread" called injera is somewhere between a crepe and a pancake and often used as a utensil. The entrees are meant to be "family style" but they will also accommodate personal selections.

If you're a vegetarian or vegan this place is definitely for you. They even have a key on their menu highlighting meat free dishes. For the rest of us, they have a variety of options: lamb, free range chicken, "natural" beef, shrimp, and fresh fish.

I ordered the beet salad which was pretty straightforward- too much so, actually. Other than the cute presentation, it was nothing more than steamed beets with a subtle hint that they'd been marinated with onion and something else. It was good, but I wouldn't order again as I can make that at home in 5mins.







My entree, however, did not disappoint. Normally I would've tried the lamb, but I'm still seriously full from Franklin's that I can only handle seafood right now :/ So, I went with the prawns....

If you've ever dined with me you probably noticed my love for salt. Thank goodness I have low blood pressure and am an athlete! It runs in the family though- any meal with us leads to a fight over the salt shaker until one of us finally gets up and grabs more from other tables. Yes, I'm that person at the snobby restaurants with 5 different size forks that "insults" the chef by asking for the salt. Sorry, not sorry.

Well, at Muzita I didn't need a sprinkle of salt at all!! Dare I say it was a bit on the salty side? Nonetheless, I was very pleased with the taste and portion size. Four prawns, with a side of stewed vegetables, steamed white rice, and house salad. You must mix the four components of the dish to get the most of it- especially with steamed rice. Everything was well cooked, and the lettuce was crisp with a light dressing.

My overall opinion is that I would return to Muzita but only for lunch. My entree was $16 and the beet salad $9. The lunch prices in the $10-15 for entrees are much more appropriate. That salad should be $5 and the prawns $10-11.

The place itself is quaint. As the picture shows, it's a little cottage, very clean and "modern" on the inside with a bar area as well. The waiters all seemed happy and attentive so no complaints on the service.

Fish 101- Leucadia

One of the great things about SoCal is its abundance of restaurants offering healthy food- anything from farm to table menus that appeal to the general public with real/whole foods to the vegan and raw food extremes.

Whenever I don’t feel like cooking and want something as close to what I’d make at home on a typical night, I go to Fish 101 in Leucadia. They’re more “water” to table than farm, with a variety of oysters shucked daily and crudos/tartares that put most sushi places to shame. A simple paper menu http://www.fish101restaurant.com/Site/MENU.html  with food on one side and drinks on the other, keeps the line that can go around the sidewalk after happy hour, flowing at a good pace.

I love mussels and theirs are phenomenal. It’s appalling that many places I order mussels at leavequite a few with shells closed! What a waste of space on my plate and mouth! They also have awesome fish tacos and don’t skimp on quantity by masking a few pieces of fish with loads of cabbage and sauce- you’re probably getting 3-4oz of fish in each of the three tacos.

What keeps me coming back weekly, however, is their selection of fish, usually three from these: halibut, mahi, salmon, ono, yellowtail, and ahi. You can get it on a salad or as a “plate” with two sides. Their sides are amazzzingg!! My favorites and the healthiest ones are the broccolini, asparagus, and bok choy, which all come al dente drizzled with olive oil, as well as the seaweed salad, or brown rice. Their newest addition is an awesome red quinoa sautéed with cremini mushrooms and kale.

As I said, and it’s evident in the pics, they give you your money’s worth- those are easily 6-8oz!

Fish 101 is awesome for a date, dinner with friends, or to take the kids out of the house (they have fish sticks and grilled cheese for the fussy eaters). Once you order at the counter, you take your number and pick a table from the small space inside, the back deck, or the front. The waiters are all friendly and the food is delivered incredibly fast!!

For the quantity, flavor, and freshness, the prices are more than fair, especially for being right on PCH. You can probably expect ~$25/person for a fish plate and drink. As for the drinks: I've only tried their reds- but they have an ample selection of microbrews- the Votre Sante Pinot Noir (pitcured) I loved and it's light and crisp, the Viamonte Malbec which was a bit too spicy, and the Red Guitar Garnacha which I wasn't a fan of, but there's few Spanish wines that win me over anyway.

Flamingo's, Cancun- Playa Mujeres

Sometime in the middle of noon masters today, I began my usual day-dreaming in the pool and it quickly lead to "what shall I eat after this?..." I've been craving fish tacos and suddenly recalled the amazing ones at Flamingo's. It was December, 2010 and I was recovering from Ironman Cozumel while staying with my father, who was living at La Amada Resort in Playa Mujeres. I ended up staying for the whole month as I watied for my new visa. For a few days, a friend I'd met at the race, Pierre Gigou, stayed with us as he wanted to visit Cancun.

Wanting to escape the pricey resort food and too lazy to cook, we ventured out to find a local spot that served the freshest fish. If my fascination for good food came from anyone in my family it's my dad. Undoubtedly, he'd lead us somewhere delicious.
Not long after this first visit, we were on a first name basis with everyone at Flamingo's. It's right on the water, and the fish you pick as you walk in- they're laid out market style inside an iced display case- was probably swimming just a few hours ago!

We stuck with ordering 2-3 snappers butterflied and grilled whole with guacamole, corn tortillas, limes, and plenty of salsa to just pick off the juicy fish and build our tacos. With an ice cold beer, a casual environemnt, and an ocean view...what else do you need??

For a meal that any seafood restaurant, especially in major cities or hotels/resorts, would likely charge $20-30 per preson, we would walk away stuffed for $10-15 each!! Yes, including alcohol!

I have fond memories of La Amada and the incredibly nice staff. I felt like Eloise living in the Plaza :) So I want to give them credit too for their splendid food. This was a paella I shared with my dad at the pool restaurant by the beach- super fresh seafood and full of flavor!

Weekend in Austin Part 2: Franklin BBQ

You can take the girl outta Texas, but you’re never gonna take Texas outta the girl. I love meat, and more than a prime filet at some upscale restaurant, I salivate at the thought of juicy, fall-off-the-bone barbecue ribs and brisket that barely holds itself together. Franklin BBQ on 11^th St is quite possibly the most famous place in Texas- known not only for their incredible food but also for the long line that forms more than two hours before they open.

I’ve been dying to go to Franklin but had never coordinated well with friends or family to have at least one of us hold a good place in line to get us through the door. Their business hours: 11am- sold out, daily! Finally, yesterday we planned for it. I would do an early run, go back to the hotel to shower and pick up my mom, and we’d get in line just after 9 while Daniel and his two friends, Nate and Brady, would finish their long run with the team and get their new class schedule.When my mom and I arrived the line already looked like this:

For every person you could also count on a few others joining them by the time Franklin opened. An employee came out around 10 to get approximate quantities of brisket, pulled pork, ribs, and/or sausage those of us in line planned on ordering so they could better determine what time certain spots in line could expect to get their food. At one spot you you’re lucky to even have a chance of ordering and at least know something won’t be available. The good news is if you want Franklin’s for a party you can pre order 5lbs+ and spare yourself the line to pick it up.

Three hours later, just before noon, we were standing like kids in a cafeteria asking for x lbs of whatever meat(s) served up on butcher paper with or without sides of bread, beans, cole slaw, or potato salad. I opted to simply eat meat. Why stuff myself with dull things like beans and bread when I can get those any day any time without waiting in a 3 hour line?!

Was it worth the wait? Oh. My. God. Yes. The brisket you can pull apart at the slightest touch of your finger and the ribs break apart almost before you can even take a bite. I ate so much meat I now understand when animals do the same and then proceed to sleep until next year. Usually I’ll crave red meat once a week but I think I’m good for a month or more with this meal. Daniel’s friend Nate is from Lockhart which can easily be called BBQ capitol of Texas and he said this was the best he’s ever had.

Franklin BBQ lives up to the hype. Every second in line will be erased from your memory as soon as you take the first bite of the most flavorful and moist pork and beef.

(the pits right behind the main building)

Weekend in Austin Part 1: Eddie V's

Saturday night after my brother’s track meet, we went to Eddie V’s right on 5^th street- great location and easy parking (valet or paid lot across the street). Daniel was going to be a while as he had a short workout, cool down, ice bath, and shower before heading our way so my mom and I made our way to the lounge for a glass of wine and an appetizer.

I had called earlier to make a reservation but the lady told me their next available wasn’t until 8:45pm. Still, we put our names down when we arrived just in case, and I want to note that the hostess had quite the attitude. In high school I worked for a short time as a hostess for a friend’s sushi restaurant so I understand a busy evening, but simultaneously don’t think her tone and definitive conclusion that we wouldn’t get a table were appropriate.

Anyhow, I often times prefer sitting at the bar/lounge- service is right in front of you all the time, and it’s a more “happening” area. I ordered a glass of the Kenwood, Russian River Pinot Noir and it was fantastic! Sometimes I do go with the trend of white with seafood but only if the options of reds are not to my liking, and I find Pinot Noirs are soft enough to complement seafood well vs say the bold oakiness of a Malbec or Zin that's best paired with a steak. My mom had the Rodney Strong, Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc which I tasted and also loved. We both had the tuna tartare appetizer….

 The tuna was buttery, and the tiny grapefruit and orange slices along with the mango and avocado yielded the perfect combination of silky, sweet, tangy, with a touch of natural salt from the fish.

Daniel said not to wait- and therein lies another perk of sitting at the bar: if another person in your party comes in after you have finished eating, you don’t look awkward just sitting there with a drink watching them eat.

For my main course I had the Scottish salmon which came with this finely chopped vegetable medley of corn, brussel sprouts, mushrooms, and carrots (it’s my blog’s main picture!). There was a garlic/white wine sauce that subtly trickled itself into each bite, and wow(!) it's definitely one of the best clean/healthy seafood dishes I’ve come across. Usually I have to resort to ordering a “simply grilled” filet with sides since the specialties of the restaurant are doused in creamy sauces or accompanied with heavy/fatty starches.

My mom ordered the grouper with a plain “twice baked” potato. I didn’t try it but she clearly loved it because she finished the whole thing.

Daniel finally made it, and as a testament to being my brother he had previewed the menu and texted me to get him the 16 oz NY med. rare with a side of the walnut beets and sautéed broccolini. He was too busy eating to take more pictures, but he managed to get the one that in my view determines the quality of the chefs: whether or not they can deliver your meat at the right temperature. This was clearly a winner.

I will definitely be back to Eddie V's at some point- the bartenders were all very nice and the food came out promplty, exactly as we ordered, and just as great as what you'd expect from the price.

Welcome to my new blog!!

This blog has been in the back of my mind for quite some time. I've been so caught up in traveling and the rehab through start of this triathlon season that I didn't get around to it. I'm so excited to share with everyone my passion for food- GOOD FOOD!!
If you know anything about me, you know I'm an athlete and like to eat healthy. One of my biggest pet peeves is the widespread belief that healthy food means sacrificing taste and pleasure, or that's it's absurdly expensive. While you can expect plenty of "fancy" food on this blog, there will definitely be an equal amount of finger-licking, hole-in-the-wall, goodness that anyone can indulge in.
So what else can you expect besides pictures of food and a name/address? Frankly, I want to be the alternative to your Yelping, Foodspotting, Urbanspooning, Googling and not only point you in the right direction of where to eat, but give you an insight into the best/healthiest dishes on the menu. Besides, I've never been one to color inside the lines, so you can count on several "off the menu" items that I've whipped up at various places.
By now I'm sure you're wondering who/what qualifies me to be this foodie expert....it started when I had my first taste of food outside of breast milk. I was never given Gerbers or packaged anything. I'd like to think that was the foundation for a good palate. Secondly, being Latin, everything centers around the table- in my country a meal can go from the early afternoon through the night. Moreoever, I was never allowed to look at a children's menu; nor did I ever want to- always fighting to be an adult since grade school and despising parties/events where the children sat somewhere else.
Needless to say, before my teenage years I enjoyed everything from pizza and chicken fingers to escargot, Pecking duck, beef tongue, and gusanos de maguey. I'm no Anthony Bourdain, but there's nothing I won't try at least once.
As a triathlete, 9/10 times a year I travel (at least in the last few years), is for training or a race. I have one rule when I travel: I will find the best (not necessarily the most expensive) places to eat, and I WILL eat there. To me there is no point in traveling- whether you're in North Dakota or Thailand- without exploring foods unique to that area. That is living. That is culture. That is experience.
Lastly, I will also be crituiquing these places on service/overall experience. I value consistency, and great service as much as the quality of food.
Over the next couple of weeks I'll be busy posting about places I've been in the last 2 years- and mainly those I'm very familiar with to be fair in judgment given the time lapse.
Thanks for reading and look forward to helping you find that one dish that makes you just sit back, take a moment of silence, and be thankful you're alive ;P!