Catharine Kaufman

Kitchen Shrink

Kitchen shrink: Spearheading May’s plates with spring’s sexy little asparagus

May 19, 2025 at 8:05 a.m.

Years ago, when I was helping a girlfriend prepare a special meal for her fiancé and future in-laws, we planned an elegant menu starting with a Caesar salad and lobster...

Kitchen Shrink: Busting medieval migraine myths – and wrestling those monsters to the ground

April 28, 2025 at 4:33 p.m.

In honor of National Poetry Month, deciding to laugh rather than cry, this victim of frequent migraines is going to voice springtime tribulations in verse. Pounding, throbbing, dizzying, flashing disco...

Acton heroes — a team of budding business moguls
(Catharine Kaufman)

Acton Children’s Business Fair: From popsicle stands to future brands

April 14, 2025 at 3:30 p.m.

On Sunday, April 6, at La Colonia Park in Solana Beach, budding CEOs brought big dreams to life at the second annual Acton Academy Del Mar Children’s Business Fair. This...

Marni Freedman, co-founder and executive director of the San Diego Writers Festival.
(Enrique Lopez)

San Diego Writers Festival celebrates storytelling, poetry, publishing, and the joy of reading

March 23, 2025 at 3:17 p.m.

Whether you’re a literary lion, an obscure writer, an aspiring poet, a bibliophile, a scribe suffering from writer’s block who needs a swift kick in the pants, or simply a...

Kitchen Shrink: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket – if you can even find them

March 18, 2025 at 2:43 a.m.

The mighty egg is spring’s special thing embodying fertility, reawakening, and rebirth. While this precious package provides the cornerstone for the season’s major festivals, especially Easter and over, it’s always...

The cover of “Walking Each Other Home – Zachary’s Mission: A Hospice for Children”
(Illustrated by Roksana Barwinska)

Local author launches debut picture book to help families navigate through life’s toughest journeys

March 11, 2025 at 4:14 p.m.

John Masiulionis, a recent San Diegan transplant and dog daddy to a precious and playful two-year-old Shih Tzu/Maltese named Little Forest, also has a soft spot for kids, especially those...

Author Phyllis Schwartz
(Paul LeaVesseur)

Local author launches her third rhyming book with a quirky hook

February 21, 2025 at 8:48 a.m.

On the heels of National Poetry Month Phyllis Schwartz will be launching her third rhyming picture book on March 7 titled “Laggie and Grillo: An Unlikely Friendship” between a lizard...

The patio at Mille Fleurs.
(Courtesy of Mille Fleurs)

Ruby Jubilee at Mille Fleurs in Rancho Santa Fe: Celebrating 40 years of world-class dining and fond memories

January 31, 2025 at 6:02 a.m.

Monsieur Bertrand Hug is as rare as a bottle of 1945 Romanée-Conti. The French expat owner and ambassador of Rancho Santa Fe’s beloved Mille Fleurs for the past 40 years,...

Holiday sangria from Parakeet Cafe (Regina Gutiérrez)

Let’s get this dinner party started

December 4, 2024 at 8:00 a.m.

Here's a buffet of possibilities for your holiday hoopla

Kitchen Shrink: Let’s get this dinner party started – A buffet of holiday hooplas

December 2, 2024 at 7:06 a.m.

‘Tis the season to crawl out of your hibernating holes, kick up your party heels, clink your crystal Champagne flutes together, and share some holiday mirth. December’s a celebratory month...

Some of the offerings on the menu at Elvira in Ocean Beach (Arlene Ibarra)

On the Menu: When in Elvira, do as the Romans do

September 7, 2024 at 8:01 a.m.

Authentic Ocean Beach osteria-pizzeria from the Cesarina team combines classic cuisine with family recipes

The Kitchen Shrink: Stay Hydrated my Friend. . .Eat your Water!

August 21, 2024 at 4:51 p.m.

Nobody wants to look or feel like a shriveled Turkish apricot, a sun-dried tomato, or a Thompson raisin. As temps climb, especially in August and September in SoCal, so does...

Kitchen Shrink: Butter me up! – A croissant by any other name would still taste as rich!

July 19, 2024 at 1:35 p.m.

Philanthropists have had hospital wings, schools, libraries, parks, and benches named in their honor – but a croissant? That’s refreshing! I never aspired to an eponymous pastry but those are...

Kitchen Shrink: The 31 Flavors of Summer (and we’re not talking ice cream)

June 18, 2024 at 4:31 p.m.

The summer season is revving up at the speed of burning briquettes with an embarrassing number of flavors to please a variety of tastes and palates. Unlike the minimalist flavors...

The Sweetheart Tea Party at Seacrest Village

Kitchen Shrink: Does your mom like tea parties or coffee klatches? Happy Mother’s Day either way

April 30, 2024 at 10:52 p.m.

Whether your mom enjoys a cup of joe or a spot of tea, here’s the perfect Mother’s Day plan:It’s Jolly Good Teatime!Since my native land is Canada, once a British...

Spring into April with lighter, greener, healthier food options

April 13, 2024 at 7:01 p.m.

April has become a holiday hog, snagging a long list of spring festivals, celebrations and other events that highlight fertility, rebirth, rejuvenation, freedom, pranks, funky foods, planetary health, literary pursuits...

Spring into April with lighter, greener, healthier food options

April 8, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.

Kitchen Shrink: A spring conversation

April 3, 2024 at 5:42 p.m.

April has become an embarrassing holiday hog, snagging a long list of spring festivals, events, and celebrations that highlight fertility and rebirth, rejuvenation, freedom, the national pastime, pranks and humor,...

Not all onions are created equal in flavor and pungency, making some varieties more suitable for certain recipes, like rings.

Kitchen Shrink: If an onion rings, answer it – the tearjerker of the culinary world

March 12, 2024 at 9:39 p.m.

“I will not move my army without onions.” — Ulysses S. GrantUbiquitously beloved, the mighty onion and its close botanical family are embraced by practically every cuisine across the...

If an onion rings, answer it – the tearjerker of the culinary world

March 12, 2024 at 12:48 a.m.

“I will not move my army without onions.” — Ulysses S. GrantUbiquitously beloved, the mighty onion and its close botanical family are embraced by practically every cuisine across the...

If an onion rings, answer it – the tearjerker of the culinary world

March 10, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.

“I will not move my army without onions.” — Ulysses S. GrantUbiquitously beloved, the mighty onion and its close botanical family are embraced by practically every cuisine across the...

Kitchen Shrink: Let’s leap into February with an herbaceous spirit

February 10, 2024 at 12:40 p.m.

We have an embarrassment of holiday riches all converging in the shortest month of the year: Black History Month, Chinese Lunar New Year (Wood Dragon), Presidents’ Day, Valentine’s Day, Groundhog...

Pineapple is a vitamin C-rich food that helps amp up production of collagen, which gives structural to bone tissue along with skin, muscles, tendons and ligaments.

Ideas to help you bone up on choice foods for the new year

January 17, 2024 at 9:01 p.m.

Alas, as I sit in a sterile cast room dangling my mangled foot over the examination table and watching a tech wrapping my limb like an ancient Egyptian mummy, I...

Sushi Lounge Point Loma is at 1304 Rosecrans St.

On the Menu: Let the good times roll at Sushi Lounge in Point Loma

January 14, 2024 at 7:01 p.m.

Katie Rooney and Frank Interlandi had a meeting of the minds to launch a sushi t when their paths crossed at Sushi on the Rock in La Jolla. She started...

The Cobb salad at Froggy's by The French Gourmet in Pacific Beach.

On the Menu: Leap on the bandwagon with Froggy’s by The French Gourmet

January 3, 2024 at 6:18 p.m.

Froggy’s is back after a 12-year sabbatical with owner/Chef Michel Malecot taking a leap of faith recently reopening the doors on Turquoise Street, just a hop, skip and a jump...

The award-winning ancho braised beef short rib taco made by Chef Marcus Twilegar at the San Diego Bay Food and Wine Festival’s 11th annual Grand Fiesta (aka the Taco TKO Competition).

Pacific Beach’s Chef Marcus Twilegar wins the Taco TKO Competition handily

December 30, 2023 at 6:37 p.m.

What happens in Vegas doesn’t necessarily stay in Vegas.Just ask Chef Marcus Twilegar, the self-taught, culinary master who started his career washing dishes and bussing tables there before transplanting to...

Many countries lay claim to the origins of stuffed cabbage rolls, which s for the several renditions of them as a holiday dish.

These easy dishes can make for cozy, stress-free holiday cooking

December 14, 2023 at 8:52 p.m.

While it’s the most wonderful time of the year, it’s also a holly jolly, logjammed season filled with anxiety, angst, perpetual motion and time crunches. So for all the whirling...

These easy dishes can make for cozy, stress-free holiday cooking

December 14, 2023 at 7:12 p.m.

While it’s the most wonderful time of the year, it’s also a holly jolly, logjammed season filled with anxiety, angst, perpetual motion and time crunches. So for all the whirling...

Kitchen Shrink: Easy, cozy December dishes

December 8, 2023 at 7:18 p.m.

While it’s the most wonderful time of the year, it’s also a holly, jolly, log-jammed season filled with anxiety, angst, perpetual motion, and time crunches. So, for all the whirling...

The vegan poke bowl at Yum Zab! in Pacific Beach.

On the Menu: Yum Zab! will bowl you over in Pacific Beach

November 30, 2023 at 5:25 p.m.

The husband and wife team of Klin and Ai Sritong had been hungrily yearning to follow in their family ’ footsteps by taking the path of intrepid restaurateurs. That path...

Luxurious boiled spiny lobster surrounded by fresh tomatoes, lemon, herbs and melted butter close-up on a black stone. horizontal top view from above

Here are some fun food games to eat up for fall

November 12, 2023 at 8:00 p.m.

As temperatures drop, daytime shrinks and chilly breezes bluster in, many of us wallow in the fall blues. Instead, let’s celebrate the harvest with a rich bounty of hearty roots,...

Co-owner Jose Nunez makes machaca in the kitchen at Margarita’s Restaurant in Ocean Beach.

On the Menu: Rise and shine fiesta-style at Margarita’s in Ocean Beach

November 12, 2023 at 7:44 p.m.

If you’re craving authentic Mexican fare to kick-start your day and rouse your taste buds, there's no need to cross the border or go any further than Ocean Beach. Jose...

Kitchen Shrink: How to get your just desserts on Turkey Day

November 8, 2023 at 9:49 p.m.

Four centuries ago, the Pilgrims and of the Wampanoag tribe used creative culinary genius when they improvised for the dessert course during the inaugural Thanksgiving feast in Plymouth, Mass....

How to get your just desserts on Turkey Day

November 8, 2023 at 6:01 p.m.

Four centuries ago, the Pilgrims and of the Wampanoag tribe used creative culinary genius when they improvised for the dessert course during the inaugural Thanksgiving feast in Plymouth, Mass....

The De La Casa Bowl with grilled chicken at El Prez in Pacific Beach.

On the Menu: Cocina, comedy and cocktails under one roof at El Prez in Pacific Beach

November 2, 2023 at 3:44 p.m.

If Abraham Lincoln were alive today, and happened to lumber into Pacific Beach’s lively El Prez, he would likely be greatly flattered and delighted to discover he was the inspiration.The...

Kitchen Shrink: Kicking off autumn with some fun food games

October 29, 2023 at 9:35 p.m.

As temps drop, days shrink, and chilly breezes bluster in, many of us wallow in the seasonal blues. Instead, let’s celebrate the harvest with a rich bounty of hearty roots,...

On the Menu: Big Easy sass spices up Point Loma at Cane Patch Kitchen

October 15, 2023 at 4:00 p.m.

Ebony Broadway, a flamboyant transplant from New Or-leens, found her life’s mission when she met business partner and culinary kindred spirit Tony Smalls on the farmers market circuit at Hillcrest,...

An artist's rendering of how bar Ella will look once remodeling is complete.

On the Menu: Pacific Beach resident is transforming iconic Bub’s into the sophisticated bar Ella

October 4, 2023 at 6:28 p.m.

When Todd Brown, owner of the Pacific Beach iconic sports bar and wing t Bub’s at the Beach, tattered his last tot after a 25-year run, he ed the food...

Kitchen Shrink: The nerdy and nutty professor – smart, spreadable school lunches

September 22, 2023 at 10:41 p.m.

With schools back in full swing, I’ve noticed that the nut butter options in the supermarket aisles keep occupying more and more real estate every season, spilling over to neighboring...

Barbie's pink caprese salad includes seedless watermelon, basil leaves and mozzarella cheese.

Tickled pink with nutritious and fun Barbie fare

September 13, 2023 at 5:09 p.m.

As the Barbie phenomenon resurges with this summer's movie exceeding the billion-dollar sales mark worldwide, I would like to ride the wave with some healthful, pink-pigmented (her favorite color) food...

Tickled pink with nutritious and fun Barbie fare

September 13, 2023 at 3:56 p.m.

Fresh pastas of many colors from Pasta Design

On the Menu: It’s all in the construction at Pasta Design in Point Loma

September 10, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.

Laura Rodriguez, an architect by trade, has used her skills and ion as an artisan to build a thriving Italian restaurant called Pasta Design, a name reflecting her profession. Rodriguez’s...

Tickled pink with nutritious and fun Barbie fare

September 7, 2023 at 9:01 p.m.

The Hummus Where the Heart is bowl at Our Green Affair features a kale and quinoa base with hummus, alfalfa sprouts, cucumbers, tomatoes, pickled onions and sunflower seeds topped with a cilantro tahini dressing.

On the Menu: Our Green Affair – A sassy little salad, soup and sandwich spot in Pacific Beach

August 31, 2023 at 2:25 p.m.

Sisters Jackie Gleicher and Jeanette Gaistman (the younger of the pair) have been fantasizing about “a ion project” since childhood — to establish their own healthy eatery after finishing their...

Tickled pink with nutritious and fun Barbie fare

August 24, 2023 at 12:01 a.m.

Kitchen Shrink: Tickled pink with some healthy and fun Barbie fare

August 23, 2023 at 10:43 p.m.

The Cali Kebab has french fries, chopped tomatoes and onions along with feta or a jack/cheddar mix, a protein and sauce.

On the Menu: Liberty Station’s Kebab Craft is a labor of love for husband-and-wife team

August 17, 2023 at 4:43 p.m.

Liberty Public Market at Point Loma’s Liberty Station is like a United Nations of food courts. You’re pulled in by a collage of heady aromas from warm, woodsy cinnamon, smoky...

The Pittsburger is among football-inspired burger options at Break Point Pacific Beach.

On the Menu: Break Point Pacific Beach can be right up your alley

July 31, 2023 at 7:12 p.m.

Break Point Pacific Beach is definitely not your old-timey, dingy bowling alley and eatery filled with the jarring clang of pins crashing down and the reek of sweaty rental shoes,...

Peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums, cherries and various hybrids are examples of stone fruits.

A guide to summer’s best stone fruits

July 19, 2023 at 5:01 p.m.

The produce industry, in collaboration with creative growers, has sparked a major hybridizing frenzy, increasing the diversity of the stone fruit family by leaps and bounds with striking colors and...

Stella Jean’s waffle cones are made with a blend of gluten-free flour and flax meal, brown sugar, cinnamon, pure maple syrup, coconut milk, vegan butter and a pinch of sea salt.

On the Menu: Stella Jean’s Ice Cream in Point Loma is a spot to chill out this summer

July 16, 2023 at 4:01 p.m.

If you’re a certified frigophile, use a sweltering summer day — or any day — to check out Stella Jean’s Ice Cream scoop shop in Point Loma (others are sprinkled...

Kitchen Shrink: A guide to summer’s best stoners around town

July 13, 2023 at 11:46 p.m.

The produce industry in collab with creative growers have sparked a major hybridizing frenzy increasing the diversity of the stone fruit family by leaps and bounds with striking photogenic Technicolors...

The Strawberry Oat Crumble is among vegan ice cream options and is always on the menu at Stella Jean's Ice Cream in Pacific Beach.

On the Menu: Pacific Beach’s cool new spot to chill – Stella Jean’s Ice Cream on Garnet

July 5, 2023 at 9:45 p.m.

Attention ice cream fanatics! Don’t wait for a sweltering summer day to check out Stella Jean’s Ice Cream scoop shops sprinkled throughout San Diego County and beyond.The quaint, white picket-fenced...

Kitchen Shrink: Grill, Daddy, Grill

June 14, 2023 at 11:22 a.m.

Perhaps the recent excavation of prehistoric roasting pits in eastern Europe unearthing charred remains of woolly mammoth bones and crude culinary implements provides early evidence of the celebration of the...

There are six dining options at Mission + Garnet Food Hall.

On the Menu: Mission + Garnet Food Hall is not your father’s food court

June 1, 2023 at 9:25 p.m.

Pacific Beach’s iconic Denny’s at the corner of Mission Boulevard and Garnet Avenue and its famous Grand Slam has been benched. This past February it was replaced by a new...

Phatties Bake Shop has a long list of gluten-free and plant-based or vegan options in pastries, cakes, cookies and more.

On the Menu: Phatties Bake Shop in Point Loma is sweet on vegan and gluten-free treats

May 14, 2023 at 4:01 p.m.

Through serendipity I discovered Phatties Bake Shop while on a lengthy flight to the Outer Banks of North Carolina to visit my husband, Larry. The woman sitting next to me...

Avocado toast can be served any number of ways, including with an egg.

Mother’s Day breakfast treats tailor-made for moms of all tastes

May 10, 2023 at 3:22 p.m.

Mothers — both real and fictional — throughout the ages have been treasured, adored and honored since the ancient Greeks held spring festivals to worship Rhea, Mother of the Gods....

Mother’s Day breakfast treats tailor-made for moms of all tastes

May 10, 2023 at 3:13 p.m.

Mothers — both real and fictional — throughout the ages have been treasured, adored and honored since the ancient Greeks held spring festivals to worship Rhea, Mother of the Gods....

Mother’s Day breakfast treats tailor-made for moms of all tastes

May 7, 2023 at 6:01 p.m.

Mothers — both real and fictional — throughout the ages have been treasured, adored and honored since the ancient Greeks held spring festivals to worship Rhea, Mother of the Gods....

Parakeet Cafe, Vegan “Carne Asada”<br/><br/>

Discriminating foodies flock to Parakeet Cafe in Carmel Valley

May 6, 2023 at 10:15 p.m.

This past March, Carol Roizen and Jonathan Goldwasser, co-founders and owners of the whimsical, hip, and organic Parakeet Café in Carmel Valley’s sophisticated, bucolically-designed One Paseo, hosted a media lunch...

A wide assortment of dishes are offered at La Clochette du Coin in Pacific Beach.

On the Menu: Ooh la la! La Clochette du Coin – the name rings a bell!

April 30, 2023 at 7:04 p.m.

If you happen to be strolling along Pacific Beach’s Cass Street on any given weekend and notice a baguette-long line trailing down the block to another county, it’ll probably lead...

Parfait Paris provides macarons in abundant colors and flavors.

On the Menu: Parfait Paris – a croissant and crepe paradis in Point Loma

April 16, 2023 at 4:01 p.m.

If you want to feel like Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron traipsing through the cobblestone streets of the bohemian Ménilmontant neighborhood in the springtime, you’d better put on a snappy...

The nautically-themed Captain's Quarters has recently opened in Pacific Beach.

On the Menu: Captain’s Quarters drops anchor in Pacific Beach

April 4, 2023 at 10:14 p.m.

Captain’s Quarters — a nautically-themed, highbrow speakeasy — has come ashore to Grand Avenue in Pacific Beach.Stationed at its helm is San Diego native Matt Spencer, who said he caught...

Kitchen Shrink: Pedal to the metal – Let’s do some spring cleaning

March 31, 2023 at 9:46 p.m.

The only heavy metals you should be gushing over are the rock bands Led Zeppelin, Def Lepppard, and Metallica. Many heavy metals, even the ones necessary for metabolic function, can...

Green Goddess dipping sauce<br/><br/><br/>

Kitchen Shrink: A feast for the ‘Eyes’ with lovely spuds on St. Paddy’s Day

March 16, 2023 at 6:06 p.m.

In my globetrotting days, I stumbled upon an eatery in Wales with a tater-centric menu that served only potatoes done dozens of ways. As a die-hard fan, I indulged in...

Potatoes come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors.

It’s not just Irish eyes that smile on the power of the potato

March 15, 2023 at 3:31 p.m.

In my globetrotting days, I stumbled on a restaurant in Wales that served only potatoes done dozens of ways. As a die-hard fan, I indulged in multiple dishes, each more...

Little Lion Cafe's Friday Take Home Dinners change weekly, with dishes priced a la carte.

On the Menu: Into the Little Lion den on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard

March 11, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.

If you're lucky enough to be surfing at Sunset Cliffs or strolling through the quaint Ocean Beach neighborhood on any given morning, you might stumble on the Little Lion Cafe,...

Buffalo chicken pizza is among options at Pizza Guys in Pacific Beach.

On the Menu: Not just any pie in the sky at Pizza Guys in Pacific Beach

April 10, 2023 at 6:15 p.m.

Where else can you find an artisan pizza pie with more amalgamations than the Powerball, more regional flavors than an international airport food court and more eye-popping colors and textures...

On the Menu: Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern – Point Loma’s gourmet pub with a view

February 10, 2023 at 5:01 p.m.

Where else can you park your boat at a private dock with a marina, then swagger into a warm, woodsy watering hole to quench your thirst and indulge in a...

Red velvet pancakes are a natural for Valentine's Day breakfast.

Paint the town red velvet on Valentine’s Day

February 9, 2023 at 6:01 p.m.

Valentine’s Day is coming Tuesday, Feb. 14, and this year treat your sweetie to some red romance courtesy of red velvet indulgences, whether a cheery breakfast or brunch, tipsy or...

A wide assortment of food and beverages is available at Miss B's Coconut Club in Pacific Beach.

On the Menu: Come out of your shell at Miss B’s Coconut Club in Pacific Beach

January 28, 2023 at 10:28 p.m.

Miss B’s Coconut Club is just a frisbee toss to the beach, between the street and the boardwalk at the corner of Santa Clara Court and Mission Boulevard.It evokes a...

Raglan Public House in Ocean Beach is named after Raglan, a popular surf spot in New Zealand.

On the Menu: Ocean Beach’s Raglan Public House is a Kiwi palate pleaser

January 18, 2023 at 4:00 p.m.

While traipsing through the wop wops of New Zealand almost two decades ago, intrepid explorers P.J. Lamont and Matt Baker were mesmerized by the cult following of a hole-in-the-wall burger...

Kitchen Shrink: A sad lobster tale and other food stories to kick-off the new year

January 14, 2023 at 8:36 p.m.

It’s a new year, and while a lot of us are recovering from too much holiday cheer, I’m peering into my culinary crystal ball for some educated predictions, trends, and...

From meat to fish and vegetarian options, there is a taco for everyone at City Tacos.

On the Menu: City Tacos brings a wide assortment of taco options to Pacific Beach

January 6, 2023 at 9:37 p.m.

Gerald Torres, whose friends call him Gerry, is a legend in the taco scene around town.His life reads like a choppy novel — part adventure, part horror and part inspirational....

Kitchen Shrink: You’d better watch out – some holiday humdingers are coming to town

December 24, 2022 at 3:34 p.m.

This time of year, even the most dietary disciplined among us can easily succumb to seasonal temptation from rich hors d’oeuvres and calorie-dense cocktails to fatty fowls, an oink, oink...

An assortment of brunch burgers are available at Pacific Beach AleHouse.

On the Menu: Pacific Beach AleHouse – hop to it for the holidays

November 30, 2022 at 8:28 p.m.

“He was a wise man who invented beer.” — Plato (427 - 347 B.C.)Beer snags first place for the most popular alcoholic drink in the world, and is probably the...

Fingerlings or other mini potatoes can be roasted with autumn spices, Himalayan pink sea salt and a drizzle of truffle or grape seed oil.

Tantalizing sideshows of the Thanksgiving feast

November 10, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.

We all know the turkey is the star of the Thanksgiving spread, but like in a circus, it would be nothing without its troupe of fun and flamboyant sideshows. So...

Tantalizing sideshows of the Thanksgiving feast

November 10, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.

We all know the turkey is the star of the Thanksgiving spread, but like in a circus, it would be nothing without its troupe of fun and flamboyant sideshows. So...

Swashbuckling pirate figures hang from the ceiling at Fiddler's Green.

On the Menu: Get your sea legs (and lobster tails) at Fiddler’s Green in Point Loma

November 6, 2022 at 7:42 p.m.

Ahoy, mates! Fiddler’s Green, a Point Loma fixture that’s merely a few fathoms from San Diego Bay, set anchor at the corner of Shelter Island Drive and Shafter Street some...

Kitchen Shrink: The tantalizing sideshows of Thanksgiving

November 4, 2022 at 9:05 p.m.

We all know that the turkey is the star of the Thanksgiving feast, but like a circus extravaganza, would be nothing without its troupe of fun and flamboyant sideshows. So...

Enjoy ocean views while eating fish tacos at Sandbar Sports Bar & Grill.

On the Menu: Sandbar Sports Bar & Grill – where the surf meets the flat screen in Mission Beach

November 2, 2022 at 2:02 p.m.

Celebrating its 21st birthday this year, Sandbar Sports Bar & Grill, reaching its age of majority, has stood the test of time as a favorite SoCal watering hole and taco...

Kitchen Shrink: A hearty fall line-up of Alphabet Soup

October 19, 2022 at 11:42 p.m.

Last week when I heard the raspy voice and phlegmy cough of my dear friend over the phone, I offered to bring her some homemade chicken soup. I then realized...

Breakfast Republic features dangling whisk-shaped light fixtures, along with quotes and puns engraved in the wood farmer tables.

On the Menu: Rise and shine with OB’s Breakfast Republic

October 19, 2022 at 3:01 p.m.

“I went to a restaurant that serves ‘breakfast at any time.’ So I ordered French toast during the Renaissance.” — Steven Wright“All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast.” — John...

Loaded avocado toast at Mavericks Beach Club.

On the Menu: Mavericks Beach Club is a Pacific Beach lollapalooza

October 6, 2022 at 2:57 p.m.

If the divine ocean breezes with jaw-dropping views of the Crystal Pier from the upstairs balcony of Mavericks Beach Club don’t pull you in, then perhaps the fresh, coastal Baja...

Kitchen Shrink: How to gracefully slide into fall foods

September 25, 2022 at 10:28 p.m.

As we transition into autumn, truly my favorite season, our body clocks, appetites, and palates have to reset to shorter, cooler days, heartier foods, and more earthy, robust flavors. I...

The Big Zac and fries from Plant Power Fast Food

On the Menu: OB’s Plant Power grows its vision for the future of fast food

September 13, 2022 at 3:01 p.m.

In January 2016, a triumvirate of like-minded vegans put down roots on scenic Sunset Cliffs Boulevard to launch their revolutionary brand of plant-based eateries resembling the traditional fast-food operation. Plant...

Wagyu beef is served in many ways at Swagyu Pacific Beach.

On the Menu: Putting the swag in Wagyu in Pacific Beach

August 29, 2022 at 9:33 p.m.

Chef Steve Brown, creator/owner of the sizzling Swagyu brand, has recently added the Pacific Beach Swagyu flagship restaurant to his collection.The brand includes Swagyu Chop Shops (butcher shops for online...

Ginger basil nectarine marmalade<br/><br/>

Kitchen Shrink: Bottling up summer’s bounty

August 28, 2022 at 10:54 p.m.

A sweet friend invited me to her home the other day and handed me a large crate. She grinned with that proud air of hers as she swept her arm...

GoodBar's Angus beef GoodBurger is dressed with American cheese, pickles and GoodSauce.

On the Menu: A hungry diner walked into a GoodBar – Point Loma’s neighborhood hot spot

August 12, 2022 at 3:01 p.m.

Attention, gastropub fans and folks who love the hoopla of karaoke, live music, big-screen sporting events and stand-up comedy with a warm and welcoming Point Loma vibe. GoodBar’s sure to...

At Pacific Beach Ice Cream Co. customers can eat a treat on site or take a pint home for later.

On the Menu: Chill out this summer at Pacific Beach Ice Cream Co.

August 1, 2022 at 9:13 p.m.

When you enter the quaint, cheery ice cream shop at the corner of Grand Avenue and Cass Street your olfactory seems to be playing tricks on you as a homey...

Olive, date walnut and sourdough are just some of the flavors of baked goods at Wildwood Flour Bakery.

Wildwood Flour is a new place for bread, baked goods and more in Pacific Beach

August 4, 2022 at 10:42 p.m.

Sometimes it takes a village to launch a dream. Just ask Noah Orloff and Lauren Silver.The duo still watch in awe at the long lines out the door of their...

Kitchen Shrink: Seasonal sips and tips for an inflation-proof summer

July 23, 2022 at 9:19 p.m.

Ahh, ’tis the season for chilling and grilling, but alas, we’ve all been burned badly by the obscene food prices rapidly heating up. Take heart. You can still enjoy summer’s...

The t's albacore sashimi is one of owner Michael Lowe's favorite dishes.

On the Menu: Sushi and tapas make for a t effort in Ocean Beach

July 18, 2022 at 3:01 p.m.

When locally sourced, organic sushi collides with flamboyant Spanish-style tapas served with a side of ocean breezes compliments of the Ocean Beach Pier, you know you’ve arrived at The t....

Bub's at the Beach offers its Steakums in three varieties.

On the Menu: Bub’s at the Beach offers fun food with a side of puns in Pacific Beach

July 7, 2022 at 6:16 p.m.

There are times when people just want to kick back at a relaxing place to eat and maybe get some laughs.Bub’s at the Beach could fill that need.“Sometimes you don’t...

At Surf Lounge in Pacific Beach you can get a cup of coffee and a surf board.

Pacific Beach’s Surf Lounge is full of beans and boards

July 5, 2022 at 2:01 p.m.

The rich aroma of fresh brewed, fair-trade coffee streams from the beverage cart outside the cozy, kitschy, sustainable surf shop on Turquoise Street, the original Gordon and Smith surf shop...

Kitchen Shrink: Have a field day with plant-based foods this summer

June 19, 2022 at 10:43 p.m.

A friend of mine, who happens to be a diehard carnivore, cried on my shoulder the other day about her weight gain and assorted digestive ails. Her doc recommended a...

A marinated salmon plate is one of the specialties at the Point Loma Fish Shop.

On the Menu: Seafood lovers fall hook, line and sinker for Point Loma Fish Shop

June 12, 2022 at 4:01 p.m.

About a dozen years ago, a salty crew of guys had a vision to navigate the shoals of fast-casual seafood dining in Southern California. Only a month after owners Billy...

A chicken sandwich at Dirty Birds Bar and Grill.

On the Menu: At Dirty Birds Bar and Grill you can eat, drink and be messy

June 2, 2022 at 3:08 p.m.

If you like the Zen of waves crashing on the beach, the buzz of diehard fans cheering for their favorite sports teams, and more amalgams of chicken wing flavors than...

Furikake salmon, kimchi ahi, rice and garlic edamame from It’s Raw Poke Shop.

On the Menu: It’s Raw Poke Shop is a splash of aloha spirit in Ocean Beach

May 14, 2022 at 4:01 p.m.

The line outside the little Ocean Beach poke t at the corner of Newport Avenue and Bacon Street can be longer some days than the chain of Hawaiian Islands. That’s...

The Kitchen Shrink: Motherly love in the kitchen

May 8, 2022 at 10:41 p.m.

With Mother’s Day quickly approaching at the speed of ice cream melting in a microwave oven, I would like to pay tribute to Mildred, my mom, (and all the moms...

Sliders are among foods you might try during the Coast of Pacific Beach restaurant walk.

Bring your appetites and sneakers for the Coast of Pacific Beach restaurant walk

May 5, 2022 at 5:05 p.m.

Who says you can’t walk and chew food at the same time?Take a leisurely stroll along Pacific Beach’s charming coast between Ocean Boulevard and Dawes Street while sampling savory and...

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