Once Pueblos 2019

Once Pueblos
Found a cool place in the valley called Once Pueblos.
https://oncepueblos.com/
It's a twist to traditional Michoacan style food.

Another beautiful view and site in the valley

Their dining room which is super echo-y

We did their 6 course tasting menu which is really nice.
The wine pairing though is such that we are not quite blown away with the wine quality. If we do this again, likely we will BYOB

Worm salt and orange to go with the Mezcal

A little glass of smoky Mezcal, very nice

Super cute Amuse-bouche of some kind of tortilla with goat cheese and salsa

It is quite tasty but still no idea what it was

First course: tostada with tuna, with ashes 

 

Unique take on Tamale where the middle tamale piece is slightly sweet, with a tomato soup

 

3rd course is a fish that has been cooked perfectly

 

4th course is a sweet corn tamale with pulled pork. Never had this flavour combination before and it's quite good

 

5th course is loaded beef rib

 

Palette cleanser with Avocado ice cream

Beet crepe with Guava quince paste

Addison 2019

Addison meal 2019
I was tipped off that they will get their Michelin star this year. So we tried to go there during Bill's birthday to try their menu.
https://www.addisondelmar.com/

Their Menu page 1

Thier menu Page 2

First is the lighting in the restaurant is very dim so pictures didn't turn out great.

Our half a bottle wine choice for the night (and yes, super overpriced)

We took their 4 course meal instead of the 5 or 10 course tasting menu.
Their service is excellent and i can see the coordinated serving attempts.

Their palette cleanser at the beginning, with a granita and cream

A goat cheese puff which is their amuse bouche

My appetizer choice: sake cured Kampachi

Bill's appetizer choice: Langoustine rolled cigar style

My 2nd choice: Coquilles ST Jacques (which means scallop) and this is a unique dish and quite successful

Bill's choice: coddled farm egg that's also quite delicious

My choice for entree: caramelized saberfish

Bill's choice: Duck  A la orange

One of ours came with a side with almost a croquette thing on the side

Another palette cleanser before we go to dessert course and this is quite lovely, with granita and some fruits 

My dessert choice: Tarte au chocolate

Goat milk ice cream on the side

Bill's choice: Gateau Epice with a quince jam

Their free complimentary surprise dessert of chocolate truffle and a perfect macaron

Restaurant week 2019

San Diego runs restaurant weeks twice a year, where you can dine at a discount.

Marine room restaurant week publicity

Usually my birthday occurs in the fall time restaurant week =)
and this year Marine Room happened to be high tide + sunset + restuarant week altogether this year. So i picked it for my birthday location this year!

The Pacific ocean from the restaurant window, with La Jolla backdrop 

Ambience is lovely but the restaurant is crazy busy by 730pm
 Glad that we had the reservation at 530pm and we enjoyed the sunset and got out before it got crazy

I had the lobster bisque with surf and turf. Bill had the blue crab timbale with Branzino.
both nicely prepared and cooked well

Ya, exposure not great but check out the surf behind us!

Playing with the lighting at light

Same lighting at sundown

The legendary lobster bisque. It's really good! with a yuzu cream fraiche to add at your leisure

Blue crab timbale that's very nicely balanced

Surf and Turf.. yum

Branzino with blue crab base

Their dessert trio. Not sure if that's truly good 3 dessert though..