Rubio's Fish Tacos Gets Better and Better

There was a time not that long ago that if you told people you were having a fish taco you would hear choking sounds and see heads shaking NO, sort of the same reaction you would get today if you said you wanted a rat taco or a donkey burrito.  Back then a fish taco was exotic, unusual, and there was only one place in town to get it and that was Rubio's in Pacific Beach.

Well, times have changed and now just about every lousy restaurant has a fish taco on their menu - most of them pretty average.  And though we owe Ralph Rubio a lot for importing the baja fish taco to the states and onto the menus across the US, I have to say that the Rubio's fish taco has lost some of its luster to some tough competitors like The Brigantine (best fish taco in San Diego) and South Beach Bar and Grill in OB.  So sue me if I haven't been to Rubio's in a while, but after coming back I think I'm the one who needs to be battered and deep fried for my long absence.

TIP:  Looking for a last minute stocking stuffer?  Get them a Rubio's Gift Card!

You see, a lot has changed at Rubio's, starting with food being served on actual plates in the San Diego locations.  What?  Plates?  Like a real restaurant?  That's right.  Though you still order at the front the food comes out looking all nice and pretty on a plate, which is nice.  And the food is definitely kicked up a few notches, like the gourmet shrimp taco with bacon and avocado and Mexican cheese on top.  This is good stuff, the shrimp cooked right (meaning not overcooked) and the salty savory flavors all blending together into a perfect concoction of deliciousness.

Getting shrimp right is hard.  Down the street is a incredibly popular Mexican restaurant that was transplanted from Old Town (you know which one) and their shrimp are so rubbery that if you dropped your taco it would bounce back onto your plate like a superball.  This Rubio's shrimp taco puts their version to shame - at a fraction of the price.

I also went for the habanero mango mahi mahi taco and it blew my mind!  The sweet mango contrasted nicely with the hot, but not too hot, habanero chile.  But it was the fish that was the star, a fresh and clean tasting piece of mahi that was tender and moist, perfectly cooked - not fishy at all.  I also had the langostino taco, frankly expecting a disappointment but finding myself surprisingly happy with its lobster goodness.  Seriously, I was forced to go to (of all places) a restaurant owned by (of all people) Carlo's Santana's wife and I ordered a seafood enchilada where the filling could have easily have been string and band aids.  It was terrible!  Even in an expensive restaurant like that lobster can be a disappointment and lantostinos (aka "is it really lobster"?) even higher risk, but this taco was delightful.  I want another one now!  It's a seasonal offering but if you see it on the menu you should not hesitate - get it.

Of course you have to get at least one battered fish taco at Rubio's and it's still very, very good.  The fish has a nice flavor to it and the batter is crisp and light - it may no longer be the best in town but you can do a lot worse than this.  And on Tuesdays after 230 they're only a buck and a half, which is enough motivation for me to come back.

The shrimp burrito was very tasty, perhaps a bit light on shrimp after having those great tacos but not short on killer flavors.  I liked it but there are better burritos in the various taco shops around town so maybe next time I skip this one and stick to the tacos.  Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad burrito!  It's just a bit more pedestrian when stacked up to it's taco cousins.

In the end was the churro.  Like the fish taco, there are a lot of mediocre and downright bad churros out there so I was highly skeptical.  But one bite and I was smiling.  The Rubio's churro has a nice crisp crunch to it and a freshness that tells me that they took some care in this.  If it's overly sweet with the cinnamon sugar, pass it to me.  In fact, gimme it now!  If VG Donuts made churros, this is the one.  Don't let the kids order it and you not get any.  Order one for yourself.

So I left Rubio's with the same sort of excitement and satisfaction I had years ago when I first discovered them and ordered my first fish taco.  Who knew that some of the best seafood and fish tacos were hidden in one of the most obvious spots in San Diego?  Go back, rediscover Rubio's and order something new and I'll bet you'll be smiling as big as me when you leave. 

Rubios
Various San Diego locations

Arrrrrrggg.... Pirates Beware!

SAN DIEGO PIRATE SHIP ADVENTURE

I recently had a chance to check out the Pirate Ship Adventure, a new San Diego attraction that promised cannon ball fights and action packed adventure!  You've seen the beautiful tall ships on the harbor by Anthony's Fish Grotto.  The Star of India from the 1800's, The Californian ship, a replica tall ship built for the 1984 Olympics, and the HMS Surprise, the ship used in the movie "Master and Commander".  All beautiful ships, all incredible experiences.  Cannonball fights with giant BOOMs in the Summer, the sails hoisted for a trip around the bay that you will recall so many times your friends will hate you. 

This isn't one of those ships.

No, the Pirate Ship Adventure "ship" doesn't raise any sails at all - nor could it if it wanted as they're mere props.  As the boat chugs out to the bay from Harbor Island on diesel power, the "Yo Ho, Yo Ho" singing and music begins.  OMG, it's a live version of Pirates of the Caribbean!  

The crew is dressed in pirate apparel and the guests are coaxed into doing pirate imitations.  Arrrg, Happy Birth---day to you, matey.....  I wanted to cringe. I mocked people on the Old Town Trolley but here I was, San Diego's expert on the wrong ship! Not Penny's Boat for sure! 

But at least I wasn't one of these guys!  This group was new to San Diego and one of them had the bright idea to spend an afternoon on a pirate ship.  And someone in that group had the brighter idea to dress up!  Well, whoever it was isn't living this one down.  While there are "rum runner" events aimed more at adults later in the day, the day time trips are strictly for the  Chuckie Cheese crowd.

Let's talk about that.  If you're a grandparent, this is one great adventure!  If you're a parent looking for a neat birthday idea, look no further.  And if you are a kid, beg your parents to take you on this!  Giant squirt guns in the bay, singing pirate songs, guys in pirate costumes shouting "ARRRR", this is a fun way to spend an hour or so on the bay. 

Kids will have fun looking for the treasure and the cast, I mean crew, are really entertaining.  And you do get to see San Diego from the water, an essential activity for any tourists.  It's better than a Harbor Cruise if you have kids.

Of course, adults would much rather be on this ship.  That's the Californian, a true tall sailing ship.

Or this one below!  Crap!  I hope no one on that boat saw me!

But as much as I mock it, the kids are just happy as can be on the Pirate Ship Adventure.  So I give it a big thumbs up if you're in the right demographic (ie: kids, parents with kids, grandparents with grandkids) and a big thumbs down if you're looking for an authentic sailing adventure on the bay.  I know, it seems so damn obvious and I'm sure I will soon have angry pirates at my door but I have to tell the truth here.  Don't get me wrong - I think anyone with small kids will love this activity.  But adults with adults or older kids would be better off skipping this and going on a real sailing ship.

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San Diego Wine and Food Fest Coming Nov 14-18, 2012

GET READY FOR THE BEST FOOD EXPERIENCE IN SAN DIEGO!

I can't wait for the holiday season to start.  I know, it's a bit early to be thinking about composting the pumpkin and defrosting the turkey but not too early to start planning to go to the San Diego Wine and Food Fest! 

Before I forget - DISCOUNT TICKETS courtesy of Local Wally!  Just type WALLY as the promo code.

So here's the lowdown.  On the Embarcadero, the area that sticks out into the bay behind Seaport Village, San Diego celebrates the best it has to offer in wine and food.  Just about every top restaurant is there serving up tasty bites that represent the some of the best local bites.  I know what you're thinking, you've been to too many "tastes of ____" events where the food is crappy pasta in a plastic cup but that's not this event.

I mean, look at this!  Crab Bisque?  No, you're not in line at Costco begging for a microwaved chicken finger!  Let's see some more food.

Don't you want to just reach over her shoulder and grab that and run?  But guess what, you don't have to because you can get your own!  And there's more and more and more to try!  Every booth has something you'll want to try, from gourmet mac N cheese to crab claws to seared filets.  And the restaurants are the big names in town, not a bunch of chain restaurants but places you want to eat at.

Scallops?  All you can eat?  Well, I can eat a ton of them and I did.  I'm surprised they didn't ban me from the booth, but there is plenty more where this came from.  I can't resist, one more food photo.  I know, I'm forcing you to look at these.

Tweezers to pace the greens on top just right?  That's right, it's that kind of event.  I have to say it again, I've been to lots of events just like this and the San Diego Food and Wine Fest is the only one that delivers what it promises - it's the BEST of San Diego.

If you know San Diego then you know that wine isn't our forte, but don't worry that you'll be drinking Almond Champagne from Temecula.  The San Diego Wine and Food Fest features lots of wineries from all over as well as local beers and spirits.  Let me put it this way, get a hotel room!  Seriously, the best way to do this event is to get a nearby room and make a weekend of this.  (OK, Local Wally has discount hotels but this isn't an advertising plug, it's a good idea!  I just got a room at the cool new Hilton for $115 from my site!)

There are a bunch of events you will want to check out.  The basic ticket is the Saturday tasting event but you don't have to wait until the weekend to have fun!

•  SWISH (Wed):  Come out to play after dark at this fashionably chic downtown tasting featuring up to 25 of the edgiest wineries and breweries. See and be seen as you mingle your way through this walk around beverage tasting and step outside to dine al fresco at our food truck block party featuring San Diego's hottest restaurants on wheels.
• THE VAULT (Fri)  An exclusive and elegant evening for collectors of fine wine, The Vault: Reserve Wine Experience & Silent Auction sets the stage for wine enthusiasts to taste the pride of the vine from 160 wineries and spirits producers. Exciting silent auction items such as large format bottles, libraries, and decanters will take the spotlight this year with proceeds benefiting the American Institute of Wine & Food culinary arts scholarship programs.
•  8 DEGREES LUNCHEON (Fri):  Join two of San Francisco's finest Italian wine and culinary masters for a once-in-a-lifetime tasting experience of Barolo wines from eight decades of the 20th century. An intimate and exclusive 12-person luncheon at the newly remodeled San Diego Marriott Marquis' Marina Kitchen, guests will relish in an expertly paired and prepared menu by award-winning chef Suzette Gresham-Tognetti and wine expert Giancarlo Paterlini. 
• CELEBRITY CHEF LUNCHEON (Sun):   Join nationally acclaimed Celebrity Chefs Gavin Kaysen of Café Boulud in New York City, Gale Gand of TRU in Chicago, James Cambell Caruso of La Boca in Santa Fe, Bernard Guillas of The Marine Room in La Jolla, Katsuya Fukushima of Daikaya in Washington, DC, RJ Cooper of ROGUE 24 in Washington, DC, Chef Kerry Simon of Kerry's Gourmet Burgers in Las Vegas, NV, Michael Antonorsi of Chuao Chocoaltier in San Diego, CA and 15 legendary wineries in an unforgettable dining experience.

So get your tickets now before they sell out and make sure you type WALLY in the coupon code to get your discount.  Here are a few tips if you plan to go.

1. Arrive early and rush the gates like it's a Who concert.  Early is good, late is bad.
2. Come hungry.  There is plenty to eat and you'll be bummed if you wasted your appetite on a McMuffin.
3. Grab that Sadie Rose bread when you come in.  Best bread in San Diego! 
4. Bring a sweater as it can get chilly from the wind.
5. Bring some sort of tote (you'll see)
6. Make sure you stop at the Stella booth as you not only get a beer but a free Stella glass.  Repeat 4 times and put glasses in your tote (now you get it??)
7. Don't be pushy but don't be shy.  Try it all!
8. Take the trolley or a taxi home or get a hotel so you can drink and enjoy all that the event has to offer.  Trust me, you won't want to say NO when they're pouring such good wine and beverages.
9. Bring your best friends - this is a fun event!

Hopefully by now you get my point that you need to go!  It's the unofficial kickoff to the holiday season and a great new tradition you should start with your friends.  There's a reason why it sells out and why people come year after year and now there's no excuse why you shouldn't be there as well.  See you there!

LOCAL WALLY
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San Diego Restaurant Week 2012 Preview: Rendezvous Del Mar

I grew up in the Bay Area where there are more Chinese restaurants than there are Starbucks and the food is consistently authentic.  San Diego also has some great Chinese food, mostly in the Convoy Street area, but if you're in the North County there really hasn't been much choice.  OK, sure there are PF Changs but those who know Chinese know that PF's the El Torito of Chinese food.  Worse is Pei Wei, and don't even get me started on Panda Express.

So with so many McChinese restaurants in North County (yes, even Chin's Szechuan falls into that category), excuse me for not trying Rendezvous in Del Mar.  A Chinese "bistro" setting, I thought it was a PF knockoff and avoided it for years.  Well, I was wrong.

For San Diego Restaurant Week 2012, Rendezvous is offering a $30 meal that includes an appetizer, and entree, and a dessert.  It's one of the better deals as unlike PF Changs the portions are big and the food, well, let's talk about that.

The seared ahi appetizer might not be a traditional Chinese offering but the quality and quantity was impressive.  Underneath the ahi was a refreshing salad with a touch of ginger and rice vinegar, really nice.  This appetizer is an entree in any other restaurant and a good pick for seafood lovers.

We also ordered the Honey Glazed Spare Ribs dusted with five spice.  These were good but a bit less moist than I had hoped.  I'd get them again as I could tell they had the potential to be great.

Next up was the Honey Walnut Shrimp.  Now let me tell you, I have had this dish in more restaurants than I can remember and most of them were terrible.  For this dish to succeed the shrimp must be huge, they must be crispy, and the mayonnaise based sauce must be delicate enough that you don't even taste the mayo.  These shrimp succeeded on all levels, without a doubt the best Honey Walnut Shrimp I have ever had.  Outrageously good and again, a huge portion.  I went to Pei Wei (don't laugh, I was hungry) the week before and their portion size was more appropriate for a Happy Meal so it was great to see portions like you would see in a "real" Chinese restaurant.

Wait - is Rendezvous not a real Chinese restaurant?  From a food perspective, absolutely solid.  They also own the Dumpling House in Convoy, a tiny place with authentic foods and long lines of Asians and foodies waiting outside.  It's one of San Diego's best dim sum houses and totally authentic, so Rendezvous has the creds.  But unlike the Convoy restaurants where service can be confusing and chaotic and the dining area down home and sometimes weird, Rendezvous is upscale enough that you can take your date or spouse here without having to act like you're a crazy foodie nut on the hunt for authentic food no matter what the setting.  Come in jeans and you'll be fine, though a pair of slacks works nicely here as well.

And also unlike most Chinese restaurants where the wine selection is worse than Applebees, Rendezvous has a great wine and beer selection.  In fact, if you like what you're drinking or picking up food to go they will even sell you a bottle at near retail price.  That's really good to know as I hate it when you find a good restaurant wine but can never find it again in a retail store.

Next up was the rack of lamb with a nice "Mongolian" sauce on it.  Marinated four hours, topped with teriyaki sauce, it was another winner.  Order rare as the meat continues to cook once cut and our medium rare was a bit closer to medium once we ate it, but maybe you're not taking as many photos of your food before you dine as I do ;-)

Now here's a crazy dish - Three Cup Chicken done up Taiwanese style.  It's wings with the ends chopped off so the bone marrow flavors the broth.  The flavors are deep and complex and the dish as authentic as Chinese home cooking, which is where the chef usually makes this dish.  It's a hard one to do in a restaurant setting and the respect for the dish shines through.  Outstanding!  Get this one - it's truly authentic and very delicious.  You won't find this one at PF McChangs.

They also do a lot of vegan and vegetarian dishes and the whole gluten free thing for your Prius driving friends.  I ordered the tofu and eggplant because I love tofu..  It wasn't until it arrived in the hot pot that I remembered that Panda Express does a tofu and eggplant dish.  A really average tofu and eggplant dish.  But this one wasn't average at all, it was fantastic.  A bit of spice, a lot of flavors, and steaming hot.  Good pick and great for your even your non-vegetarian friends. 

Last but not least, dessert.  Chinese restaurants often have terrible desserts so my expectations were very low.  I ordered a banana rolled in eggroll skin, deep fried and dusted with cinnamon sugar  with whipped cream and caramel sauce.  OK, let me tell you that this was the best dessert I have had in a long time.  Better than Thomas Keller's desserts in Napa.  Better than George's at the Cove.  Simply one of the best desserts period.  The crispy outside first reminds you of the fair (good thing), but then the soft sweetness of the cooked banana comes through.  A dip into the whipped cream and caramel and there is simply nothing better, a playful yet sophisticated dessert that you would never expect in a Chinese restaurant.  It's worth coming here for Restaurant Week just for this dessert.  Trust me!

So in the end, did I like Rendezvous enough to go back?  Absolutely.  Though not every dish was fully successful, the ones that were far exceeded my high standards.  Unlike the chain Chinese restaurants where every dish is an American adaptation, I like that Rendezvous worked hard to keep their standards up and didn't dumb down the dishes to fit a McChinese audience, which would have been very easy to do in an upscale Del Mar location.  Authentic Chinese in a nice setting, it's a winner.

So when you're trying to decide where to go for Restaurant Week, make sure Rendezvous is on your list.  And get that dessert!

Local Wally

Coming soon:  DrinkUpSanDiego.com, the complete guide to San Diego microbreweries!

I found it. Best Burger in the World.

As some of you know, I have been searching for the best burger in San Diego.  I actually gave up after my doctor said "WTF??" after checking my cholesterol.  I swear Doc, I've only been eating chicken and salad, I SWEAR!

Well, the other day my good buddy Aaron invited me out to The Rider Club, a dive of a place in San Clemente.  It's a beachy place but full of the sort of pretentiousness that I typically rebel against.  What, no french fries?  No catsup?  No mustard?  Tomato?  Get out of here.  Is he the Burger Nazi?  I've been to too many places like that where the food doesn't live up to the hype so went in with some apprehension.  You line up and the line is never short.  You place your order off the chalkboard.  What do you want?  A burger?  A Carnitas Sandwich?  A hot dog?  Or, gasp, a healthy mushroom or veggie burger?  And what cheese on top?  It's a buck more.  Add bacon or an egg, chili's or avocado, another buck.  No fries.  I said that so don't ask.  And what beer?  That's right, they rotate their eclectic beer selection.  No PBR, no Bud Light, only the good stuff.

The idea behind The Rider Club is Slow Fast Food, meaning they use the best ingredients and food takes a while to make.  I ordered the burger, medium, with bleu cheese.  That's it.  And here it is.

So I have eaten a lot of burgers but my buddy was just about cracking up when I took a bite and proclaimed it be best burger I have ever eaten!  Tons of flavor, the patty wasn't smashed like a school burger but loose and tender.  The flavor, oh my God, the flavor was out of this world and has me dreaming of going back to San Clemente just for another bite.  And the bun was perfect, a soft roll but hearty enough to hold up.  I hate it when a burger bun disintegrates before the last bite.  The chips were super crunchy and I didn't even miss not getting fries, which as you know I love.

If you love burgers, you have to go here!  I know it's not San Diego but it's close enough and worth a road trip.  Trust me, this is the finest burger in the land.  Forget about everything you think a burger should be and bite into one of these and I guarantee you that you will be singing the praises of The Rider Club.  Thank you Aaron, and thank you Rider Club.  It's good, it's really really good!

San Diego Rants and Raves

So I was in my local Trader Joes the other day and this woman with 3 kids (including a baby) were checking out.  She had $100 to spend and had to put back a few things.  She wasn't mad or anything, it was just life.  Well the checker behind her saw this and had the bagger put the things she put back into her bag, then whispered to the manager that she would pay for it.  Who does this?  I mean, that almost made me choke up like I was watching the ending of Brian's Song.  The woman was very appreciative but never knew that the cashier took care of it.  Bravo to Trader Joes!

On a different topic, I was trying out a local hotspot called HapiFish the other day.  I heard that the happy hour was the-bomb-dot-com (LOL, isn't that the dumbest thing?  I heard that one on TV the other day and was so stupid I wanted to use it ironically so hope you forgive me).

 

I got their happy hour special taco, a California Roll "taco".  It was, well, weird.  I mean, it was good enough but I think this creative fusion has gone too far.  When we watch the various cooking competition shows like Chopped and they bring out the weird ingredients, you can always tell the chefs who are punting because they either make a quesadilla or a taco.  "Your secret ingredient is sheep eyes and Red Vines - you have 20 minutes!"  How about a deep fried eyeball taco with a Red Vines quesadilla??  What is this?  Next Food TV Network Star?

I also got their special fries.  Here they are.

Lots of locals really do believe these are the-bomb-dot-com (there I go again with the irony!) and while the idea of fries coated with chili oil and bleu cheese was tasty, the overall result was a bit soggy and a bit greasy.

Last but not least the waitress went on about how it was "tuna night" and how I could get nigiri for $2.  I ordered "two" and a plate arrived with 4 pieces.  Cool.  I chowed down thinking it was good, not the best, but for $2 an order definitely worth it.  The bill came and it was $10!  I asked why and she said that if I said "two orders" they bring out the standard plate of two pieces for $5.  I waited for her to say "my bad, let me just charge you the $4" but it became the waiting game for who spoke next and I crumbled under the pressure and said "no problem".  But it IS a problem when a restaurant messes up an order and doesn't fix it.  So not hapi at HapiFish.

Later I was telling the story to my younger and more hip nephew who said all of his friends LOVE the HapiFish HapiHour - then added that they all just get bombed there so maybe that's why.  There you go, the-bomb-dot-com again!

ONE MORE STORY

The Linkery in North Park is one of those cool, hip restaurants that you might find in Portland.  I love local foods and love sausages so popped in for some lunch.  Their specials were either a fish taco (weird for a sausage place, am I right?) and a sausage taco!

My buddy got the taco and I was not impressed.  You can find some great fish tacos in this town and this one just didn't have that much going for it.  My buddy gave it a 3 out of 5 stars, said it was good but I could tell he wasn't raving about it.

My lunch was even weirder.  The sausage was good but seriously, a sausage does not belong in a taco!  Take this same sausage and put it on a grilled ciabatta roll, that makes sense.  This did not.  I ended up eating the second taco without the tortilla and cabbage and the sausage was good, but not Portland good.  The fries were fried in beef fat which sounds disgusting and really just made them heavy.  Duck fat yes.  Beef fat no.  Deep regrets for not going down the street the the Carnitas Snack Shack.

GOOD CATCH IN ENCINITAS

Union Tap and Grill in Encinitas is a cool place and yesterday I was lucky enough to get a table overlooking the sidewalk with the cool ocean breezes.  I got the Fish and Chips and a beer.

OK, now this was pretty good!  They use bass for the fish and the flavors were nice and subtle.  I hate it when you order a fish dish and the tables around you all look as your food arrives thinking "what is that smell??" and not in a good way.  But this fish was piping hot and delicious and the portion size big enough for two.  When was the last time that happened???  The fries were good enough, not really a good example of kennebec fries (which should be super crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside) but decent.  Really good dish, I would get this again.

Well, my wife is calling me to come outside as it's daytime and beautiful.  It's just another day in San Diego, the-bomb-dot-com (no irony this time).

The Best Things to Eat at the San Diego Fair, 2012

The San Diego Fair starts this Friday and I can't wait.  It's the symbolic kick off for Summer and this year they're doing a cool deal - $24 for all 24 days!  You can go again and again, which sounds insane but think about it - now you can try ALL the food.  No more wondering if you should get the bacon wrapped turkey leg or the Porkabello Kebab.  I know, these are big decisions!

But to the regular guy who only goes to the fair once or twice a season and who doesn't want their final photo of them clutching Deep Fried Chocolate Covered Bacon ("What was he thinking??!") it's time to get selective.  And that's where Local Wally comes in.  I tasted all the food at the fair and now present to you the BEST food at the San Diego Del Mar Fair, 2012!

Smothered in a tangy sauce, the pulled pork and tri-tip sandwich are as good as you'll find at your local San Diego BBQ joint.  Tender and flavorful, the pork beats out the tri-tip by a small margin but both are worth the calories.  You won't feel too guilty eating these, either.  Of course, that Pork Chop on a Stick is intriguing as well.  On a stick!??  How cool is that!

If you like the idea of people pointing at you with deep envy, get the 4 pound bacon wrapped turkey leg at Bacon-A-Fair.  It's the size of a football and you can even suggest that you are going healthy because it's mainly Turkey!  On the Paleo "caveman" diet?  This is your stop!

If you have never had Australian food, it appears they are big on deep frying potatoes and dipping them into Ranch Dressing, Nacho Cheese Sauce, or Sweet Chili Sauce.  Ahhh, those Aussies know how to live!  Don't miss this - I know it sounds disgusting but a tempura battered slice of potato dipped into decadent heart stopping sauce is the stuff that fair food memories are made of.  Say, why is that EMT guy hanging out there?  I hope it's because he knows good food when he sees it!

 My wife disagrees with me on this one.  She likes Hot Dog on a Stick.  But I like any food stand that stacks up rows of corn dogs in the window, glistening under the heat lamps with a sheen of deep fried goldeness.  The batter isn't as sweet as HDOAS, but that's OK with me.  I can go to my mall and get Hot Dog on a Stick, but I can only get this once a year at the San Diego Fair.

 San Diego has a lot of fish tacos.  I love the crunchy ones served at The Brigantine in their bar and the grilled ones served at OB's South Beach Bar.  But when you're at the fair, the best ones are at the Palapa.  Fried and crispy, at first I was taken aback by the flour tortilla but in the end this was a worthy contender.  Certainly miles ahead of the terrible fish tacos served at Petco Park (labeled as "Rubios" but not even close to what you get at a Rubio's outside the ballpark).  Nice people at this stand, too.

Tasti-Chips has been around for a long time, making fresh cut potato chips, and no one does it better.  Light and crispy, some puffed up like you might find in a fine French restaurant, you can smother them in sauces but why ruin a good thing?  This is the number one essential "don't go home without them" food stop.  Listen to me, I know what I am talking about!  Local Wally loves French Fries and these Tasti-Chips are one of my all time favorites!

Not all fair food has to be terrible for you.  The Greek Gourmet serves up the Best Gyros at the fair, thanks in a big part to Mary Papourlias-Platis, otherwise known as the CaliforniaGreekGirl.  A San Diego coastal local, Mary's gyros is more than decent fair food, it kicks butt on the Daphne's of the world.  And I like it that she doesn't tempura batter it and fry it, though if another booth did I guess I would have to try it.

The Lobster Shack makes it debut at the fair this year and I know what you're thinking.  Lobster at the fair?  Whaaaa???  But yes, this guy is a real lobster guy (just look at him!) and he's cooking up real live lobsters in these giant steaming pots.  Lobster Roll, Lobster Dinner, and all at a price that's fair in any venue outside the fair, and a bargain inside.  $25 gets you a lobster dinner - it's a lot, but didn't you just fork out $4 for the same ear of corn that Ralph's is selling 3 for a buck?  These are nice people taking a big risk with selling lobsters at the fair so make that trek into the infield and splurge a little.  Isn't this better than that deep fried Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich?  Remember, it's in the Infield so don't go looking up and down the Midway for the lobsters.

You'll find a lot of places selling BBQ'd corn but this stand near the exhibit halls is the best.  With a smokey char'd exterior and piping hot kernels, you won't do better.  Add some hot sauce and spices to kick it up, or just smother it in butter, it's wholesome goodness that will remind you of being a kid.

OK, this is crazy but the BEST bite at the San Diego Fair 2012 was found at the Gingerbread House.  It isn't macho like a giant turkey leg, in fact it's downright dainty, but the cookie dough on a stick with fudge topping and nuts is by far the best thing I ate this year.  Guaranteed to put a smile on your face, I suspect that people will be lining up for these once the word gets out on how good they are.  Whatever you do, don't buy one and share it!  You're going to want your own.

The Biggest Disappointment Award this year has to go to Bacon-A-Fair for their PorkaBello Kebab, a Mushroom stuffed with Gorgonzola Cheese and wrapped in Bacon.  You're going to see them on the skewers and want one but try to resist.  The bacon is flaccid, the mushroom is just a mushroom, and the cheese is nonexistent.  It looks great on the grill but it's a toss in the trash after one bite.  I love Bacon-A-Fair but this is a fail.

NOTABLE LAST BITES

You have to love any stand that has Indian Fry Bread AND Thai Chicken!  Fry Bread is like it sounds, a slightly greasy deep fried dough that you can put toppings on.  With cinnamon sugar it was a bit like a churro.  Worth considering.

Funnel Cake is a standard, a doughnut-like batter dunked into hot oil in a stringy form factor.  I got mine with ice cream and hot fudge but everything got soggy so I suggest a basic powdered sugar topping to keep it nice and crispy.

Nutty ice cream bars and cute girls at the fair, what's wrong with that?  Grant's does a great job with ice cream desserts.  When you want a good quality ice cream bar, head to Grant's.








See you at the San Diego Fair in Del Mar!  And don't forget, you can get more Local Wally at www.LocalWally.com and my soon to be launched site on the San Diego Microbrew Scene!