Tacos & Cervezas in Tijuana

Jocelyn
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Tacos & Cervezas in Tijuana

When I moved to San Diego back in 2008 it wasn’t all that safe to travel to Tijuana – people had even stopped going over for an afternoon of cheap tacos and beers. As things started to change all I heard were nightmare stories about how long it took to cross the border on the way home and I lost interest and all but forgot about it. Then, I had lunch with a girlfriend who had recently spent the day there with her boyfriend and had lots of recommendations – I was sold. The following weekend we made our way down on a Saturday afternoon for a day full of eating and drinking.

We were starving by the time we made our way to the border, parked (it seemed like a nightmare even finding a paid lot that wasn’t full so we ended up parking in the outlet mall parking – I probably wouldn’t recommend this if you were planning on staying very late or overnight in Tijuana, but it worked for us), and walked across we were starving. We decided to grab a cab and head to a nicer restaurant and I am SO glad we did.

We had an incredible lunch at Mision 19. The owner also owns Bracero Cocina in San Diego’s Little Italy – if you live in San Diego or are planning a visit and want some upscale Mexican food, please GO HERE. Mision 19 was just as good and half the price. For appetizers we had tuna tartare, octopus and a scallop parfait. Then we split a pork belly and baby back rib entree which, not exaggerating, might have been one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. The drinks were yummy and the service was terrific. They also had a tasting menu that I would do the next time around, especially if we went for dinner.

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After lunch we were stuffed and walked about a half mile or so to another restaurant that had been recommended to us, Verda y Crema. Not needing any more food at the moment, we drank some mezcal and sangria and hung out at the bar. The restaurant was cute and the menu looked great – I’d definitely come back again to eat.

After drinks we strolled around Avenida Revolucion, just soaking in the scene, live music spilling out from restaurants and bars, donkeys painted like zebras on the street corners and touristy stores filled with tchotchkes.

Calle Sexta is known for its bars, but, unfortunately it seemed to be a bit early for the bars we wanted to check out to be open. We happened to wander into a not-open La Mezcalera which looks like it’s back patio is pretty cool at night.

Last but not least, we made our way to “Taco Alley” which is exactly what you’d think – a row of taco shops on a street. We sampled some carne asada, adobada and chorizo tacos from Las Paisas and Tacos El Paisano – everything was yummy and cost about $1 or less – a must stop if you’re in TJ for the day!

At that point the sun was starting to set and we figured we had a long wait ahead of us so we made our way back to the pedestrian border crossing. We were back in America 18 minutes later. I was surprised – and elated! Maybe Saturday evenings aren’t a popular time to make your way back to (or into) America?

Tips!

They have Uber in Tijuana and it is SO cheap. We easily had service everywhere because you can pay Verizon $2 a day when you’re in Mexico with their newer international options so it was simple and much more comfortable than cabs.

If you have Global Entry bring your Global Entry card and you can access the Sentri line. It wouldn’t have made a terribly big difference the day we went but I can see it being a life saver in the future. Of course, if you are traveling with people who don’t have Sentri or their Global Entry card, you’ll just be sitting on the other side of the border waiting for them.

So, whether you live in San Diego or are coming to visit, heading down to Tijuana for the day can be a fun (and cheap!) adventure. Next time we’re planning on checking out the beach or making our way farther south to Rosarito, Ensenada or Guadalupe Valley for some wine.

A Wedding in Brooklyn

Jocelyn
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A Wedding in Brooklyn

We kicked off the 2016 wedding season in Brooklyn, NY in June.  There a million and one restaurants, bars and things to do in NYC so I won’t tell you where you HAVE to go – I’m no New York expert, but here are some (mostly) foodie highlights from our trip:

Brooklyn

meadowsweet – Located in Williamsburg, we went here for lunch but if we had had the chance, I would have loved to come here for weekend brunch. Regardless, lunch was delicious. The pasta and fried chicken sandwich came highly recommended by our waitress so I decided on the latter. It was delicious! And not too large, so I was able to eat every bite and not feel (too) bad. The sandwich came with some delicious french fries as well. We capped it off with a bottle of white on the patio and then made our way back down Bedford Street.

The Ides – located in The Wythe Hotel where the wedding took place, the Ides is an indoor/outdoor bar/restaurant on the 6th floor with amazing views of Manhattan. We didn’t eat here but made sure to swing by for some drinks and amazing views. This place definitely turns into a scene (both day AND night). It’s also a gratuity-free establishment but they seem to make up for that with the drink prices.

We also came across some great recommendations in Bushwick that we’ll have to try next time!

Urban Rustic – we came here for some breakfast sandwiches. They were nothing to write home about but did the trick. Their lunch menu appeals to me a bit more if you’re in the mood for a sandwich. It’s also right next to McCarren park if you’re feeling a little picnic.

Manhattan

ABC Kitchen – close to Union Square, we were lucky enough to go to the rehearsal dinner here where I felt like we tried everything on the menu. From roasted beets with housemade yogurt to housemade ricotta with strawberry compote, crab toast and salmon with the most delicious carrots I have ever eaten to a delicious cookie plate. That was only about half of the food that we ate but trust me…everything. is. amazing. The ambiance was great and they’re connected to the ABC Carpet & Home store.

Bubby’s – we put our name here for brunch and spent our 45 minute wait time wandering around the High Line that began right across the street from the restaurant. I had a simple (and delicious) Turkey B.A.L.T, but the fried chicken biscuit, lobster roll and mac and cheese were all delicious.

No trip to New York disappoints, and this one certainly did not. Can’t wait to visit again. Have some favorite restaurants in NYC? Let us know!

48 Hours in Portland

Jocelyn
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48 Hours in Portland

We decided to head to Portland at the end of October. Not exactly prime weather time to go to Portland, but that also meant less tourists and cheaper flights! Since we were only there for a short time we decided to stick to the city – next time I definitely want to rent a car and check out some waterfalls and wineries!

We did get our fair share of rainy Portland weather – but that didn’t stop us from eating and drinking our way through the city! Here were our top spots:

Eat!

Clyde Common – I came across this restaurant on another blog. The restaurant describes itself as a tavern with a European flair – it looked yummy and was close to our hotel (downtown).  We had an amazing waiter who gave us delicious recommendations and we shared some of their plates. They also had a great selection of cocktails – highly recommend!

Voodoo Doughnuts – another stop on the Portland tourist trail. But, why not? The donuts were crazy, ridiculous and oh-so-sugary good.

Pok Pok – if you’re planning a trip to Portland someone will probably recommend that you go to Pok Pok. Being that I love Asian food, especially Thai, it seemed like a no-brainer to me.  They’ve expanded to other locations and even have some in LA, but we hit up the original. Located in the Division/Clinton area, it’s a cab ride from downtown. We would have loved to check the area out more but the weather wasn’t cooperating with us. They also don’t take reservations unless you’re a party of 6 or more, so instead of chancing a long wait at night, we decided to go for lunch. We shared a handful of things and everything was delicious – make sure you order the wings!!

Departure – this wasn’t a restaurant I was expecting to find in Portland – it felt like kind of a scene and was definitely more dressed up than what I consider the rest of Portland to be (in my 48-hour stay). However, the food was delicious and yes, more Asian cuisine! If you want a dressier night while out in Portland, this isn’t a bad place to go! They also have rooftop patios if you end up there with good weather.

Salt & Straw – on Sunday we made our way to the Alphabet District in Northwest Portland, up the hill from downtown. Wander along 23rd and 21st street for shopping, food, drinks and dessert! I’m not sure if it was time for dessert but we had heard only amazing things about Salt & Straw (that’s ice cream in case you hadn’t hear of it). If you’re in the mood for a cold, sweet street, definitely stop by! This also has apparently made it’s way to LA – so keep that in mind if you’re in the LA area!

Drink!

Stumptown Coffee – we’ve become a bit of coffee snobs at my office over the past few years, mainly drinking Blue Bottle coffee, grinding our own beans, pour over, hot black coffee. When we made our way into Stumptown I decided I was in the mood for cold brew, despite the cloudy and cool weather outside. Best. Decision. Ever. We all have our own taste but I still think it’s the best cold brew I’ve had to this day. Bonus: you can buy cold brew in milk cartons and cold brew nitro in cans there too.

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Deschutes – living in San Diego, now one of the biggest craft brew scenes in the US, I’ve become a beer snob and like to snob it up in other big beer towns. We found ourselves at Deschutes during a torrential down pour and sampled many of their beers. I found it all pretty delicious, and they have some yummy bar snacks as well. The ambiance was warm and cozy which was nice on such a rainy day.

Rogue Ales & Spirits – we then made our way over to Rogue, which had much more of a dive bar feel, but had just as many (if not more) delicious beers to try! Also in the downtown area, an easy stop on a brewery tour if you’re staying or playing downtown.

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Taste on 23rd – by the time we made our way to the Alphabet District on Sunday I was ready for some Oregon Pinot Noir. We wandered into Taste on 23rd – while the place itself didn’t seem like anything to write home to me, they had plenty of wines to choose from, plus food and beer!

All in all our Portland trip was a success – but I can’t wait to get back in the summertime and check out more of the outdoor offerings!

36 Hours in Vegas

Jocelyn
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36 Hours in Vegas

We decided relatively last minute to make a weekend trip to Vegas which meant flight prices were already climbing.  With no traffic we could make it from San Diego to Las Vegas in about 4 ½ hours so we decided it was worth saving a few hundred dollars and turning the weekend into a mini-road trip.

Tip: leave as early as possible on Friday.  Friday traffic is bad enough and we’d be fighting people on their way to LA, Riverside, Palm Springs and Vegas, as well as anyone just generally on their way home.  We got out of San Diego around 2:30pm and made it to our hotel by 8pm.

Where to Stay

There are plenty of options in Las Vegas but since we were trying to do this trip on the cheap (relatively) we chose The LINQ – a newer Caesar’s property midway down The Strip that was $110 a night with Total Rewards.  The rooms were nice, although the shampoo, conditioner and body wash was in bulk dispensers in the shower, like a gym locker room, which I understood was reducing waste, but still seemed a little low rent.  The location was hard to beat – you had The High Roller ferris wheel and the promenade full of different bars and restaurants.

Where to Eat

Like hotels, there is no shortage of food options in Vegas.  Since we arrived relatively late and took a bit to settle in, have a few drinks and change, we decided to go to Chayo, a higher end Mexican restaurant in the hotel.  I wouldn’t go back.  The food was just okay – and definitely not worth the price, especially for someone who lives 20 minutes from the Mexican border.

Serendipity 3 – if you want larger portions, or a good base to get you through a day of pool parties or gambling, look no further.  We had extra large bacon, egg, and cheese bagel sandwiches and ridiculously overpriced mimosas.

Jaleo – a tapas restaurant in the Cosmopolitan. Not the first time we had eaten there and again did not disappoint.  From bacon wrapped dates to seafood croquettes and paella, everything was delicious.

What to Do

We spent Saturday at the pool at The LINQ – a good alternative if you don’t want to spend the money going to a pool with a popular DJ.  Good music, lots of young people, giant beer pong and pool jenga, plus free entry made it an easy choice.  Day beds and cabanas were available as well.

Gamble! This was my first time really learning how to play black jack (yes, I have known 21 equals black jack) so we spent a few hours each night gambling at O’Shea’s, a bar in the promenade next to the hotel.  Good music, beer pong and a fun vibe make a little different than just gambling in a casino.

Bars! We didn’t end up making it to any clubs this trip, but instead hung out at AmeriCAN (also in the promenade).  They have over 70 beers from around the country, plus games like beer pong and giant jenga.

Chandelier Bar – if you’re going to have dinner at Cosmo, or before you head into Marquee, I always like to stop and have at least one drink at the Chandelier Bar.

And…that was it.  We got on the road at 10am on Sunday to avoid horrendous traffic that I had been warned about, and was home around 3pm, after a 25-minute detour to the slowest McDonald’s I’d ever been to.  While the drive could have been worse, I think I’ll stick to flying in the future!

Foodie Heaven in Puerto Rico

Jocelyn
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Foodie Heaven in Puerto Rico

Okay, I know, when someone says “let’s go to Puerto Rico” the first things you think about are probably beaches, boats, and fruity rum cocktails.  Let’s be clear: all of those things happened on my trip to Puerto Rico, and I have some tips for all of those things, but one of my favorite parts of this trip was the FOOD.

First off, this wasn’t a couples trip, I made the trip to PR for a bachelorette party.  All of my suggestions would be completely appropriate whether you’re doing the same or traveling as a couple though.

Where to Stay

We chose to stay at La Concha Renaissance San Juan Resort.  It’s a Marriott property for those who like their points.  It was in the Condado area (about a 15 minute cab ride from Old San Juan), had numerous pools and was right on the beach.  Ticked all of the boxes for a bachelorette party.

What to Do (besides eat):

A booze cruise and snorkel trip with Salty Dog.  The marina is about an hour away from San Juan, so they can arrange transfer for you, or you can drive yourself if you have a rental car. However, if you plan to take part in the booze part of the cruise, I suggest you just let them arrange transport.  You get about 5 hours on the boat and ride out to Icacos Island.  (I believe there are other islands you may go to, but we went to Icacos).  Unfortunately, as soon as we got there it started to rain, and lightning, and thunder.  The lightning and thunder passed quickly but the rain never really let up.  Of course, if you’re snorkeling you’re getting wet anyway so it’s not the biggest deal.  We were on a catamaran boat that had a bit of shelter and they put up some additional covers and we were fine.  They fed us a great lunch, and as many rum drinks as you could have.  While I can’t speak for other boat companies, I would highly recommend Salty Dog, they were really laid back and fun.

Explore Old San Juan.  There are lots of cobblestone streets and little shops (many are pure tourist traps) and lots of little bars and restaurants.  We ate dinners and went out to the bars at night here as well, but it’s worth a morning or afternoon of wandering around.  Very close by your can check out Castillo San Cristobal, a large fort overlooking the water.

RELAX! We had a short time in Puerto Rico and wanted to make sure we got some pool and beach time in, so we did!  Especially for those who don’t get to live at the beach year round like I do, I think devoting a day to relaxing is perfectly fine!

Finally, the food!

Where to Eat

Marmalade: AH-MA-ZING.  We did a tasting menu here the first night and ended up with 14 courses of delicious seafood, meat, pastas, and so on.  Perhaps not the best place to go on your first night of a bikini vacation, but we did.  Tip: if you make a reservation for 9pm (or later) the tasting menu is a bit cheaper.  Marmalade is in Old San Juan so after your 14 courses you can walk around to different bars and walk off some of the food!

Asere Cubano Kitchen: You guessed it, Cuban food! We tried the different Cuban meats and some seafood and everything was delicious!  Tip: Asere is located in La Placita, so make reservations for a Friday night – they close down the streets in La Placita and everyone buys drinks from the bars and drinks at tables outside.  Here you’ll get a more local feel!

Dragonfly: Back in Old San Juan, but craving something a little different?  Dragonfly is Latin Asian Cuisine.  I love pretty much all Asian food so I was sold before we sat down.  The restaurant looks small when you walk in but there is a large space downstairs filled with tables – I’d still recommend making a reservation though.  We had everything from sushi to dumplings to spring rolls and tacos.  For the third night in a row I consumed way more food than necessary but… I can’t say I regret a single bite!

Caficultura: on the last day we didn’t have any activities planned and were flying out later in the day so rather than get sandy or sweaty (okay, well, it was pretty humid walking around that day) we went into Old San Juan for the day. If you find yourself there around brunch, I’d highly recommend stopping here.  It’s small and there was a little bit of a wait, but my sweet potato crepes filled with chicken sausage and goat cheese hit the spot.

One last tip: while there are many bars in Old San Juan (and other neighborhoods in San Juan) La Factoria is a must-visit if you find yourself out in Old San Juan one night.  It’s a number of different rooms all with different vibes and music, filled with tourists and locals alike.

Whatever you do, wherever you stay and whatever you eat, I’m sure you’ll have a great time in Puerto Rico – what’s not to love?

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