Rubios to Host Beach Cleanup in Oceanside May 11, 2013

Look, we eat a lot of fish tacos in San Diego.  We love them and we love Rubio's.  But every now and then it's time to think about the fish that are not wrapped inside a tasty tortilla and topped with delicious salsa.  The oceans could use a little help and on May 11th, 2013, Rubio's is hosting the beach cleanup in Oceanside from 10-2 starting at the pier (200 North The Strand, Oceanside).

But don't think of the Rubio's Beach Cleanup as one big drag!  Dang, it's a party with free food, cooking demonstrations, surf lessons, face painting, live music, art exhibits, and tons more games and activities. And how cool is this?  The trash that is collected will be turned into art!  That's recycling taken to the upper limit.  And for those of you who don't care about a clean beach, this is your day to toss your trash into the surf because there will be plenty of people to pick it up!  But of course that's a big fail  - instead, get out there and help out and you'll not only feel better about yourself but will be helping out the fish and sea creatures that you love to eat as well as keeping San Diego beautiful.

And speaking of responsible taco eating, Rubio's is all about making sure that there are fish tacos for generations to come with their focus on sustainability.   That's cool because the oceans really are getting fished out so it's good to know that you won't see sharks fin tacos on the Rubio's menu any time soon.

So come out the Rubio's Beach Cleanup on May 11th in Oceanside!  We really are so darn lucky to live here in San Diego so grab the family and help keep our beaches clean.  And it will be fun, I promise!

Local Wally

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The original local guys guide to San Diego.... since 1996

Make Pizza, Not War at Sammy's Woodfired Pizza

Recently I declared a War on Vegetarians.  I've got nothing against them personally and I am sure that most of them are very nice and someone has to take care of all those cats but vegetarians drive me crazy!  Just try going out to dinner with them - Want to go to Flemming's Steakhouse?  Gross!  Um, how about Roys of Hawaii or the Fish Market or The Marine Room???  No, no, and no!  Ah, let's get some Mexican food!  No, there's lard in everything there.  Sushi?  Forget it.  Pasta, you can eat pasta!  No, I'm allergic to glutton.  So where?  Oh God, please, not Ki's!  

Of course, going out for pizza is nearly impossible with a vegetarian. They're bound to find a billion reasons why they can't eat there.  Unless you take them to Sammy's Woodfired Pizza.  What?  That's right!

The other day I was trapped into dining with a vegetarian and I braced myself for the worst.  Could Sammy's satisfy both vegetarian and meat lover? 

In case you didn't know, Sammy's has been around for 23 years so it's easy to forget that they once were one of the most hip places to get an unusual pizza - this is back when gourmet pizza seemed like a contradiction and items such as Thai Chicken Pizza and Chinese Chicken Salad were fresh and innovative.  Of course, times change and those items fell out of favor and were removed from the menu but due to customer demand Sammy's not only returned the classics but spruced up their dining rooms and even added handcrafted cocktails at some of their locations.

Additionally, they have a ton of vegetarian and glutton free options so you don't have to sacrifice your dinner just to keep them happy.  But can you really keep both sides of the war happy?  Let's see.

We started with the Chilled Roasted Vegetable Salad, made with organic spinach, fresh mozzarella, edamame, artichoke, yellow tomato, red bell pepper, red onion, fresh organic basil, lemon, balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.  Of course the vegetarian gave it a 10 and I had to admit it was very tasty, a nice tang to the dressing and lots of flavors and textures. OK, it was really good.  And look at how stunning the presentation is.  I wasn't expecting that from a pizza house.

Next up was a really crazy volcano sized mountain of greens.  They call this salad the Red Quinoa and its made with golden beets, tomatoes, avocado, red onion, wild arugula, parsley, almonds, mint, scallions and topped with a citrus chili vinaigrette.  Now I don't expect meat lovers to have any clue what quinoa or kinwa is but vegans are all over this like it's better than a rib eye steak.  I don't know, could a grain mixed into a salad really be any good?  I was skeptical.

Heck, I was wrong again!  I really dug this salad.  Hey you, Mr. Vegan, stop smirking.  Even meat lovers should check this salad out as it was not only tasty but oddly enough it was almost hearty, a description that never goes with a salad.  It also saves well in the fridge as a leftover for a couple of days, which is also weird but it's true.

Time for some meat.  Or more specifically, chicken meatballs done up with an Asian sauce with a side of housemade pickle slices.  Oh yeah baby, these were good balls!  Well that didn't quite sound right but you get my point - a nice appetizer.  And the pickles were so good that you might want to hide them from the vegetarians.

Time for some pizza.  Here's the classic Thai Chicken Pizza, one of the most popular pizzas at Sammy's.  It was good, a bit undercooked on the crust but perfect when I brought the leftovers home and heated it up.  By the way, you DO know the best way to reheat pizza, don't you?  You simply put it in a frying pan on medium heat, cover it while it's heating back up.  The result is crispy crusty bottom and piping hot top.  It was good at the restaurant but even better at home heated my way.

The vegetarian picked the Burrata and Pesto pizza and dammit if it wasn't better than my meat option!  The cheese was thick and the pesto gave a nice complexity to the flavors and melded well with the fresh tomatoes and man oh man did I just say that the vegetarian pizza was better?

So in the end perhaps my War on Vegetarians was a bit too George W.  We CAN all get along if you dine at Sammy's Woodfired Pizza.  So the next time you're stuck dining with a crazy picky vegetarian know that you can win both the battle and the war just by going to Sammy's.  With great vegetarian options that even meat lovers will appreciate, there is no way everyone doesn't go home happy.

Local Wally
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Win 2 Dinners for San Diego Restaurant Week 2013!

I started the year on a crazy detox Paleo thing where I couldn't eat beans (so long Roberto's), rice (see ya sushi), grains (oh no, no more Honey Bunches of Oats!), and any sort of pasta or breads or even, gasp, French Fries.  Yes, I went healthy since my blood pressure is skyrocketing and my cholesterol climbing faster than a monkey in a banana tree. But life is about balance so when I heard San Diego Restaurant Week was back (Jan 13-18), I decided to screw the Caveman diet and get back to where I once belonged - even if only for a night.

But if I was going to splurge the calories, where to go?  After all, San Diego Restaurant Week features some our best restaurants serving up delicious food at affordable prices.  It's a great time to try new places and new things but where or where shall I go?  Well, if you know me you know that making big decisions like that drives me nuts so since I live in North County it's back to my favorite, Del Mar Rendezvous.  And guess what, you can win a couple of free dinners there thanks to Local Wally and Rendezvous!  Yea!

So let's talk about the Restaurant Week offer at Del Mar Rendezvous.  They have three dinner options - pick from the $25, $30 or $38 menu.  All three offer the same appetizer and dessert options with the difference in the entree selection.  But before you start, you'll want to join their free Loyalty Program because that's how you get half-off bottles of wine and $.88 glasses of wine, beer or sake on your second round during Restaurant Week.  What??? That's right, half off - and it's good stuff, too - Rendezvous has a great wine selection.  The loyalty program also gets you a free entree on your birthday month, free dessert on your anniversary month, and lots of other free stuff.  Hey, free is good!

Dining with crazy vegans or glutton free fanatics?  No need to compromise your dining experience as there are special menus just for your picky friends.  But I eat everything so let's go.

I started with the BBQ short rib slices over a nice spring mix salad.  A bit like Kalbi Ribs, it has a nice flavor but without the bones.  A bite with the salad topped with a bit of chili oil and it was a winner.

The second appetizer we ordered was the dumpling sampler.  Del Mar Rendezvous' chef is Tony "Cu Jung" Su, the son of the same people who own the crazy popular Dumpling Inn, a hole in the wall place in the Convoy area that attracts lines of foodie-centric fans.  So yes, I will have the dumplings.  Let's pick one up... darn they are slippery!

Splash!  Dang it! Oh well, the chili oil went nicely with the fresh dumpling and I understood why people line up for these at the parent restaurant.  The Ha Gow dumpling filled with shrimp was my favorite, a bite size pop of delicious freshness.  I could eat a dozen of these on my own.

The Chilean Sea Bass was a crispy explosion of flavors with a distinctive sweet chili sauce over a bed of bok choy.  Sweet Chili Sauce is so popular that you can get it at Trader Joe's now but there's nothing like the real thing that doesn't come out of a bottle.  It's more complex with deeper flavors and without the cloying sweetness.  The fish had great texture and flavors and the dish was another winner.

I was lucky enough to get invited to the kitchen to watch my lobster dish being prepared.  Things get fast and furious back in the tiny kitchen and these guys were hustling to make sure no one had to wait very long for their food.  That's the lobster before it hit the fire, a nice portion.

Here's the lobster dish all done.  It's a salt and pepper lobster with a nice five spice flavor and a chili pepper seasoning.  The onions and bell peppers were so delicious that by the time we were done there wasn't a speck of food left on this plate.  Go ahead, pick up the lobster tails with your hands and dive in.  There's no elegant way to eat this dish but it's so tasty you won't care!

Finally it's time for dessert.  As I've said before, Chinese restaurants are not known for their desserts so it's easy to dismiss them as an afterthought.  And Del Mar Rendezvous even allows diners to skip dessert during Restaurant Week and get $3 off their tab.  But why?  Why, why, why??  The Xiagjiao is one of all time favorite desserts.  It's surprisingly simple, a banana wrapped in a thin dough wrapper and deep fried until it's soft and sweet, served with fresh whipped cream and drizzled with chocolate and caramel sauce.  Every time I have this I swear it's one of the best things I have ever eaten and I'll swear it again - get this dessert!

In the end, a fabulous dinner and experience at Del Mar Rendezvous.  And now, it's your turn to dine there on me, compliments of Dan Schreiber, the managing partner at the restaurant.  Here's how you win!

LOCAL WALLY DEL MAR RENDEZVOUS CONTEST RULES
Win a dinner for two at Del Mar Rendezvous, a $76 value, good through the end of Jan. 2013.  To enter just do the following:

1. Like my FB page and get one point:  http://www.facebook.com/localwally
2. Like my San Diego Beer Guide page and get another point:  http://www.facebook.com/drinkupSD
3. Like Del Mar Rendezvous's FB page and get another point!  This is so easy!
4. Post this blog on your FB page and get 2 bonus points!  Make sure you add the url of your FB page below in the comments section so I can give you credit and let me know when you "like" my pages.
5. I'll pull the winner on Jan 23rd and get the card to you. 

Good luck, and thanks for reading Local Wally's Blog to San Diego!

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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
The original locals guide to San Diego.... since 1996
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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!