Harney Sushi Oceanside Chef Wins 2010 San Diego Bay Food & Wine Fest Award

Harney Sushi in Oceanside near the train station is one of my favorite restaurants for lunch. Now the 2010 San Diego Bay Food and Wine Fest folks agree and awarded the Chef of the Fest award to Oceanside's own chef Robert Ruiz with his tantalizing dish "The Cunning Lengua." Although I'd be chicken to try this dish, I think the use of local and seasonal Fuyu persimmons was brilliant.


Here's the dish: Cunning Lengua - Very Clever Beef Tongue

- Sapporo style braised Newport beef tongue

- Whole roasted matsutake mushrooms from Washington state

- 3-d demi-glace slowly loved into existence over 3 days and sliced as sashimi

- Crisp fuyu persimmon from Fallbrook

- Chili spiced fresh shredded daikon radish

- Fresh minced ginger and micro shiso garnish

According to Harney Sushi, this dish is not served on their regular menu, but sitting at the sushi bar, you can ask for your own special creation.  Better yet, Harney Sushi Oceanside CA is now having daily happy hour specials: 

Photo Courtesy Harney Sushi

5:30-6:30 Monday through Friday at Harney Sushi Oceanside 

(bar seating only) Food specials from the late night happy hour along with--

$5 large hot sake

$5 flavored sake and nigori carafes

$1 off all draft beer

Zenbu Cardiff by the Sea's Sushi Place

We've just begun to explore Cardiff by the Sea, California which is the southern-most coastal part of Encinitas in North San Diego county-just 20 miles north of downtown San Diego. Cardiff is known for it's State Beach, endless sunshine, and good surf. With Zenbu in the neighborhood in addition to the other restaurants in this little piece of heaven, and good food with good service becomes another trademark of Cardiff.

Zenbu is located in the same plaza as well known and loved Seaside Market at 2003 San Elijo Ave in Cardiff by the Sea, CA 92007. Open the dark and mysterious door and you enter the world of chic, small, and intimate sushi culture, but fear not! My husband and I visited Zenbu for our 19th wedding anniversary this year because we were too tired to go far and it was a week night. That said, Zenbu was worthy of our anniversary even if we needed to travel a distance. We sat at the sushi bar and enjoyed the show from the 3 sushi chefs and the service of our waitress (for drinks, edamame, and anything cooked). The chefs are truly artists and fun to watch. We met another local couple who was out on a date night.

Now I must be honest...I love sushi bars...but I don't really do sushi. I'm a California & Philadelphia roll kind of girl, and I love miso soup, and most cooked Japanese foods. My husband on the other hand, loves all seafood including sushi and sashimi. Our sushi chef treated us to a roll that was beautiful as a starter, even if I pushed the raw fish over to my husband and ate what was inside. We also had the Zenbu Roll which may become my new favorite. Honestly sushi lover and land lubber can't go wrong.

Since the kids were home, we felt obliged to take them some food and the California Roll is now someone's favorite. We've picked it up twice now for a dinner on these hot nights when I just couldn't bear to cook and it was just one of the kids and me.

For the younger crowd (meaning not middle aged like us)...this is really a good date place and friend spot. Wet Wednesdays seem especially fun and affordable.

Call for reservations: 760-633-2223 or takeout. Enjoy.

Jitters Coffe Pub in Oceanside Serves Up Hot and Cold

In typical American fashion I drove south on Coast Highway (old 101) in Oceanside in search of a Starbucks. Why Starbucks? Because I figured there must be one nearby and I wanted a coffee... It's not that Starbucks makes the best coffee, the only good coffee, or even affordable coffee, but that it's safe and familiar. This morning, however, I was fortunate enough to spot "Jitters Coffee Pub" at the southeast corner of 510 N Coast and Surfrider Way before I came to any chain establishment. That's one of the best things about Oceanside, CA; it's full of jewels and gems that make it a real town.

Jitters is lovely inside. It really does feel like a little neighborhood pub, but serving breakfast (not just sugary treats), coffee, Chai, teas, bottled drinks, gelato, and a healthy dose of reality. Plenty of local newspapers, plenty of local people, and some really cool looking dreadlocks behind the counter. My chai latte was perfect and under $4. Perfect spot for breakfast or to linger over a coffee and the newspaper - close enough to walk from the beach and our vacation home too! - (760) 967-7886