The Tin Can - Doods Foods, Burgers and Booze, San Diego, USA

https://thetincan1.wordpress.com/

Big D has been bugging me about this place for forever, so finally we're here, mainly to just shut him the hell up!

From the name you might surmise that the beers here are all served in cans, and you'd be correct, no drafts.  Which is just fine because lot's of local micro-breweries these days are canning, so you can get some pretty great beers via The Tin.  They also have a full bar so I can continue to fuel my ever increasing interest in all things whiskey.

Let's head in!

It also happens to be open mic night, which, prior to hearing anyone play or perform, looks quite douchy/terrible/lame.

The stage looks great though.

Do you think Dennis likes this?  Well, it's not gonna be punk rock, so I think that's a big no.  But, we're here for the burgers and booze any way, so sing on bitches, sing on.

One of the specials of the night is a beer and a shot of whiskey for $6

Hell yes I'm in!

The beer is good and so is the whiskey, I'm slowly sipping both as there was a bit of a drive to get here.  A very easy drive I might also add.  This place is located in lower Banker's Hill, almost to downtown.  I'm sure there's a new trendy hip name for this area like "Airplane Approach"  "Hill Down"  or "Upper Town"  but I don't know or care.  What I do care about is that it's right off and on the freeway, so getting here is a pretty easy deal.

Looking cool so far.  Minimal on the pretension.  It has the feel of a dive that serves straight up good grill type food, and some entertainment, which I think is what they are shooting for.

So far so good Dood.

A massive pile of bacon, nice

D's burger

Nice buns....  thanks  ;-)

Probably the coolest range hood in town

 And on to our order.

I'm having the Dood Original, a standard burger and fries as the name implies.

D is having the Flying Cheeseburger.  Double meat, double cheese, double bacon.

Mine

It was really super tremendously delicious.  The bun was a little tall, and the burger is not large by any means, but with a little smash you can get it in your mouth.  Great meaty taste and good balance of flavor with the tomato and lettuce, etc...  Nice crispy crust on the burger too, but not dry by any means, as you can see.   

The fries, at first glance, do not appear to be awesome.  However, they are absolutely fresh cut, and then fried, and then a light seasoning is applied to them as well.  Slightly crispy on the outside and piping hot on the inside.  Just the way I like.  If you like super crispy I'm sure you could order them that way, the Dood is right there in the window, just ask him.

The Flying Cheeseburger

Uhmmmmm, yeah, tell me I'm not getting this one the next time

Super great meal and drinks.  I love this place!

The free music was mehhhh.  Lot's of questionable hipsterish clientele were arriving as we were bailing out to get away from the noise.  Maybe we weren't drunk enough to think that the music was good, or maybe it just wasn't.  But when I overheard the woman next to me say "So, the dodgeball tournament is coming up again"  we had to get the fuck out.

DVA

The Rabbit Hole, Normal Heights, USA, Patriots vs Ravens, Ravens suck!

http://rabbitholesd.com/

Still my favorite place for all things food/drink/sports?  Hell yes!

A quick 4 block walk and we've arrived.  Our preferred seats at the bar are open and ready.  

And WE are ready for the Patriots vs the hated Ravens.  

I'm getting the day started with a Bloody Mary, spicy, thick, and strong and loaded with Skerry Pickles, delish!

If you need more info on Skerry Pickles, here's a link, they are great!

http://www.skerrypickles.com/

HG is having a Margarita, equally strong and yummy.

Both are made by this awesome dude.  Honestly, we love this place for a lot of reasons, the food, locations, etc...  but this guy is a big part of why we keep coming back.  Happy, nice, funny, great to talk to, terrific drinks.  

I'm talking about the Jack-a-lop, obviously.  Michael is OK too, I guess...

We aren't enjoying it today, being a Saturday, but they have a pretty good Hoppy Hour you might want to try...

We are here for the brunch, and then some.  Meaning maybe a burger, etc..

But first we start with the Smoked Duck Wings, with house made chile pepper BBQ sauce.

Uhmmmmm yeah,  



I believe, just by their appearance, that they are smoked first and deep fired after.  And yes, Duck!

The standard offering is sauce on the wings.  I requested it on the side because I feel the flavor of the duck is masked too much by the sauce, but the sauce is great, so I want it to.  I want to alternate bits, in the sauce, and sans-sauce.  HG wishes that we just had'em like they make'em.  Git your own next time HG!  Have'em your way!

What a great day!

 The game is on and it's time to make a toast!

I am all about the whiskey/Scotch these days, so when I need to crank up my bloody or beer, this is what I'm turning to.  Collier, from what I remember it was really nice.  Smooth and flavorful.

On to the Mac-n-Cheese

Add lobster for $2?  Stupid question, YES!!!!!!

All the fried blobs on top are lobster, and there is so much that it coated the whole top of the Mac.  And, honestly, I don't remember what it tasted like, but I remember it being cheesy and I remember that i liked it, so get it!

Next on tap, to soak up all the alcohol we're drinking watching this GREAT GAME, is the burger.  Meat Love Burger, as listed on the menu to be exact.  The bacon was awesome and the meat in the burger was juicy and delicious.  The fries are always hot, crispy, and delicious.  Comes with house made ketchup also which to alternate between Heinz is good.  For me, with every bite, it's a bit heavy on the smokey flavor. 

Soft and buttery brioche bun, super melty cheese.

YEAH!!!!!!!

As the Pats head down the field to complete the clobbering of the Ravens we try another whiskey and set back to enjoy the victory.  

Things that suck

1) The Baltimore Ravens

2)  Dogs with sweaters

3)  Chickens with mustaches

4)  14 cats

Things that DON'T suck

1)  Whiskey

2)  Having fun

3)  Rabbit wings

4)  Killin it

DVA

Milo's NY Style Pizza, La Mesa, San Diego, USA

Milo's with Milo

 

Welcome to the inagural episode of "Meals with Milo"

 

Who is Milo?  Not important at this point.  What are the meals all about?  Not important either..  Just the fact that I'll enjoy eating and writing about it will be enough, for me at least.

 

Confused?  Me too.... On to the meal! 

 

This is, without a doubt, my favorite NY Style pizza in La Mesa.  Yes, my favorite.  Whether we're on Marie or Meade, when I need a solid pie, have to have my pizza fix, Jones'in for... for.... I don't know what rhymes with Jones'in, so sorry.....this is who I call. 

 

Delivery is hot and fast, they are ready for you, any time. 

That's what we want and that's what I'm talking about!

 

They even have an app, or the ability to text your order in, or whatever (it's too hi-tech for me so I won't go into more details and I don't utilize it.  I also really enjoy the direct person-to-person contact over the phone, cause normally I've already enjoyed a beverage by the time I call so I'm cranked up for the convo, or someone who will remain nameless (Tom), is in the background and is drunk and yelling at me and making the whole thing confusing and difficult, and hillarious).

 

So use whatever mode of communication you prefer.  If you happen to live within their delivery radius stay home, if not, head on in.  It's worth it.

 

 

http://www.milospizza.com/

 

Standard box.....   :-{O      Wait, what just happened?

 

Standard NY Style

 

Meaning = perfect

 

 

The crust is light and crisp, there is also a subtle yeasty hint to it that I love, with a good pull and chewyness that I need, but it's not tough, it's just perfect.

 

The topping to crust ratio is also perfect.  Flavorful ingredients, not drowning the pie.  Balanced, that's what this is, balanced.

 

My favorite thing has to be the onions though.   I love a pepperoni/sausage and either onion or mushroom pizza.  But this is the only place I know, or have enjoyed, that uses red onions and slices them SUPER THIN and then they get all crispy and carmely and amazingly delicious.

 

Amazing

 

Perfect

 

 

Delicious

 

Milo liked it to, he told me

 

DVA

 

 



Berkeley Pizza, San Diego, USA, Chicago Style Pie

http://www.berkeleypizza.net/

This is gonna be a no bullshit post, so hold on to your ass

The BEST Chicago Style pizza in San Diego

Yeah, I said it.  You know my loath of words like "best" "favorite" etc.... but for this pie, on this night, I gotta use it.  I offer only one caveat, and that's an apology to Hollywood Pies, who I think is the best Chicago style pie I've ever had, but you guys skipped town and Hollywood is not a place I'll enthusiastically travel to for so many reasons.  So, back to the here and now....

It's been a while since my last Berkeley pie.  So long ago in fact that they now have 2 store front locations, whereas previously you had to know the number of the dude and they would only deliver, maybe you could pick it up, but there was no restaurant, no store, just super cool schizznizzle.  But, I digress.  I am at the North Park location, getting a pie to go.  It's raining, I've just finished a hot yoga class, the boys are sore, and I'm hungry.   Three doors down and here I go.....

A pretty cool interior, intentionally sort of stark, urban, rustic.   And shockingly laking of people.

Two TV's. One showing sports and the other with a "Cool Hand Luke" style movie.

This is over the entrance to the kitchen and it's HUGE.  

I LOVE this oven.  No pretentious wood, italian, brick, blah blah blah here.  We're making pizza and the only thing we need from the oven is heat.  No need for added flavor, there's enough in the pie.  Berkeley's is serving pizza, not charcoal.

Random kegs of beer abound.  Another coolness-ness

Here's a dozen taps and there's another row of a dozen of them to the left, and there appeared to be another 20 or so of unused taps on the ready when business picks up, my guess.

Ommegang.  Yes please.

OK, enough of that shit, let's fuck this pie up.

A very cool old school pizza box.

Yeah, I forgot to get a shot of the whole pie.  But you have to remember that I'm STARVING!!!!!

The first impressions are good.  It weighed about 57 million pounds and had my car smelling of all things pizza.  The slices come apart easy, holding their own on the way to the plate.  Firm but not hard.  What did she say?!?!?

Ohhhh mama!  Get fricken ready!

Sausage and pepperoni.

It's delicious.  So good in fact that I don't even think I chewed the first slice on the way down.

I took a bit more time with the second one, in order to properly inspect and explain, and so I don't choke to death also :-O

So the first thing I notice is the sausage which, as I requested from the sole employee at The Berk, was a complete layer of sausage, which I think is a thing....  And I say this because you can, at most Chicago places, order either a complete layer of sausage or sporadic chunks, and I request the complete layer, of which some areas near the crust appear to have been abandoned.  But really, this is quite a small gripe.  The sausage is plentiful and flavorful and the pepperoni has just the right level of spice and balance with the sausage, and completely coats the pie.

Now to the crust.  It seem not a true "Chicago Style" I have to say.  Meaning that it should taste and feel similar to a pie crust (apple, cherry, etc.. you get what I'm trying to say...)  and this Berkeley pie crust has the texture, ever so slightly, of a new york/east coast pie.  However, it has structure to it, holds up to the weight of what's going on above it.  Don't get me wrong, I love it, and I think it works beautifully, in perfect harmony with the rest of the show.  Firm yet not hard (like Lefty's.  Try them and you'll see.  Down in the corner there is so much cornmeal or something bad that it turns into a rock.  Like eating an old chocolate chip cookie that has been sitting out for a week.  Bad).  

Although most do as do I, eat this style pie with a knife and fork, you should be able to pick it up and eat it like a slice, which is what it is....  And you should be able to, and you should want to cause it's so fricken good, eat the WHOLE crust without putting it down, and you should want to.  There should be no pile of crust on the plate at the end.  No pizza bones!

Pizza bones = bad

2 slices down and I need another, sofaking good

On to the tomatoes and cheese.

Nice big chunks of tomato packed full of flavor.  You can taste the balance of acid to sweetness exploding in your mouth.  And a nice light coating on the pie too.  Not too soupy and not too sparse either.  Just right.

Lastly the cheese.  

Stringy and salty, the glue holding together this collage of ingredients together.  A nice thick layer smack dab in the middle.  Like a molten chocolate lava cake where you slice into it and it oozes out.  

Although this is a large thick pie it's not overly filling.  That may sound retarded to some of you, but it's true.   Don't get me wrong, it will fill you up, but it won't knock you out for the night and won't sit in your belly like a ton of bricks.

Great flavors, great ingredients, right here close to home.

Eat there, take one home, get it delivered, do it how you want, just do it, you'll like it.

DVA

Devine Pastabilities, The Torpasta, San Diego, California

http://www.torpasta.com/

I'm not sure about you, and I'm not sure about me either for that matter, but the thought of pasta stuffed in a sandwich peaks my interest. 

It was late one night that I saw this on some really stupid tv food show, but the sandwich really caught my attention. Yeah, sure, the owner has a story about how he was 9 and dreamed up this idea and used to make them at home and yatta yatta yatta, not sure how much of it I'm buying, but it is CERTAINLY enough to draw me out of the house to check it out, and it's not a far drive so let's roll!

First, beer me!

It's located in a mini mall on Midway near the Broken Yolk.  A nice selection of beers on tap, fairly comfy booths, a few tvs located throughout.  My expectations are set fairly high right about now, and I'm super hungry, this is looking, and smelling pretty good!

So the whole idea centers around pastas of various types, stuffed to order inside an italian role, presented on cool stands that hold the sandwich vertical.

We peruse the menu and while were trying to decide the waiter asks if we need some help making a selection.  We begin a discussion on the meatballs, because we are near to selecting the spaghetti and meatball one, obviously, and the waiter informs us that they have a vegi version and the meatballs are from Trader Joe's...at which point I start to pucker...  Why would they not make them here?  What else are they getting at Trader Joe's, or elsewhere for that matter???  Hmmmm, I'm on high alert!

We end up ordering the fettucini with alfredo sauce, adding broccoli and sausage, and.... 

The spaghetti and meatballs

Both are packed super full and on top are lots of sausage pieces and a few meatballs, on their respective sandwiches....  Bursting might I even say.  I'm so stoked right now!

And then we eat

And then we realize that the only sausage and meatballs are the few on top and the rest of the sandwich is pasta and sauce, which isn't bad but to pay the extra couple bucks for the meat we were expecting a bit more than a few pieces on top.  Kinda lame.

And we keep eating and we start to realize, both from the flavor and the view of what's going on in the kitchen which you can view from the dining room, that they aren't actually cooking anything here.  Sure, they're boiling some pasta, but they don't make the bread and aren't making the sauce, nor the meatballs nor sausage.  They are opening jars and slopping it out.  

Boo!

This is the classic scenario of someone that has an idea but really doesn't know jack shit about cooking or running a restaurant or making good food.  Just a great idea with poor execution.    If you like the flavors of "Home Town Buffet" or if Walmart had a restaurant the flavors here might just be right up your alley.

For me, I want to shove my Torpasta (that I didn't finish) right up

 the owner of this place's alley!

Go somewhere else for lunch

Better yet, have one of these!

DVA