Growing up in the Chicago area, the holidays meant snowy hills and hushed landscapes, warm, woolly scarves and mittens, puffy down coats and sturdy boots. It also meant shoveling two feet of snow off the …
December 6, 2017
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Stories by Mary Beth Abate
Surfboard Santa
I’ve eaten many fancy pants burgers
My favorite scene in Pulp Fiction is when Vincent Vega, aghast that Mia Wallace orders a five-dollar milkshake, asks for a taste because he’s “gotta know what a five-dollar milkshake tastes like.” After a brief …
September 13, 2017
Save room for the Mexican chocolate bread pudding
An unabashed fan of Rick Bayless, I was thrilled when Red O finally opened in May. You could make a statement by ordering the tablita for two, a grilled 32 oz. prime tomahawk chop, one-pound …
August 9, 2017
San Diego Reader 2017 Fun issue
Climb the California Tower in Balboa Park Balboa Park’s California Tower at the San Diego Museum of Man was closed to the public in 1935, but after extensive construction and safety renovations it reopened for …
June 21, 2017
San Diego Reader 2017 guide to tacos
Taco means tiny taste of temptation. Satisfaction by a thousand different cuts of meat and veggies. Is it just me, this wacko taco love affair? I don’t think so. Every San Diegan has a secret …
May 17, 2017
It's a slippery, messy delight
Aqui es Texcoco The moniker translates to “Here is Texcoco,” an homage to the Texcoco region of Mexico, largely considered to be the birthplace of barbacoa in that country. The specialty of the house is …
May 17, 2017
Gateway burger garnishes
Burgers. I love them. I’m a traditional sort. Acceptable toppings are lettuce, tomato, raw onion, American or cheddar cheese, and a smear of mayo. At least that’s what I told myself. Somewhere along the line, …
September 14, 2016
Crushes evolve
I love crushes. I get crushes on television shows, on singers, on colors, cookbooks, chefs, and, of course, food. My longest food crushes are enduring passions for buttered popcorn and marshmallow Peeps (nobody’s perfect), and …
August 3, 2016
Nine hundred degrees of pizza
Almost a year ago I relocated from the Westfield UTC area to Liberty Station. One of the most pleasant things about moving to that area is being able to walk to so many restaurants, bars, …
June 17, 2016
Subtle sweet smoke
I lurked for months, surveying the perpetual construction and interminable delays that come with opening a new restaurant in San Diego. I watched in anticipation while huge wood burning grills were installed. I speculated endlessly …
June 3, 2016
San Diego Reader 2016 taco issue
Asada days and adobada nights — A little taste of Loreto in San Diego. by Mary Beth Abate Tacos where you least expect them — Looking beyond standard tacolandia. By Ed Bedford Taco mecca — …
May 11, 2016
Asada days and adobada nights
I spent February and March in Loreto, Baja California Sur, a charming town on the Sea of Cortez that dates from 1697. Small and friendly, the place made it easy to settle into a routine …
May 11, 2016
A line out the door since 1933
Mitch’s Seafood Whenever I’m at family-owned Mitch’s Seafood I think, This is why I live in San Diego. Beer-battered rock cod ($3.05) or seasonal fresh grilled fish and seafood ($3.60) are almost exclusively from San …
May 13, 2015
Don't let the size of the list intimidate you
Solare I can’t think of a better way to spend a lazy afternoon than on the gorgeous patio of this chic Italian eatery. Sip Solare’s Blood Orange Daisy, a sophisticated twist on a traditional margarita …
April 15, 2015
A desire named StreetCar
Doughnuts seem to be having a bit of a moment, but despite my sweet tooth and love for anything deep fried, I've never been much of a doughnut person. I've never swooned over a flashing …
January 10, 2015
My fantasy food day
My day always starts with coffee from Cafe Moto (2619 National Avenue), whether it ends up being a dream day or not. It’s usually in my own kitchen, but my fantasy morning would have me …
September 3, 2014
Cocktails with a personal stamp
I love craft cocktails because I have a hard time following the rules, or recipes. Everything tastes better when you put your personal stamp on it. Bailiwick Wide-open windows, big comfy sofas, and a great …
July 9, 2014
Hookah up in Sorrento Valley
This Thanksgiving, for once, I was neither cooking for a crowd nor eating with a crowd. It’s been an exhausting year, so John and I decided we were overdue for a long weekend of lazy …
December 16, 2013
A first look at Puesto at the Headquarters
Earlier this week I had a chance to preview the new menu from Puesto at The Headquarters, slated to soft open on Tuesday, November 19th. I’ve eaten at the La Jolla location and the Puesto …
November 18, 2013
A love-hate relationship with top-ten lists
The one question I’m asked most frequently is “What’s the best restaurant in San Diego?” Impossible! How can I compare this deliciously fresh, perfectly seasoned, crisply battered fish taco with that subtly nuanced, silky smooth, …
September 4, 2013
San Diego Reader Feast! Issue – Kearny Mesa Asian lunches, best fried chicken...
San Diego restaurants taste-tested for you. Eats for Freelancers | Spirit of Family Dinnertime | More Than Dish or Deal | Accessible Gourmet | Lunchtime in Kearny Mesa | Fried Chicken | Restaurants to Try At Least Once
October 17, 2012
The Spirit of Family Dinnertime
Places where food is created with care, where the service is warm and welcoming, and where you can relax and reconnect with family and friends.
October 17, 2012