I recently took a trip to Southern California with my boyfriend, and had a great time. There was the wonderful San Diego weather which mixed nicely with a packed schedule (more to come on activities) and great dining. I definitely did my research before, turning to San Diego Magazine and friends who were familiar with the area for advice. Here are a few reviews of the places we ate.

San Diego & Coronado Island

Fatburger - This deserves the title as the best fast food burger. With a crispy slightly charred crust and bun that wasn’t overwhelming, Fatburger delivers in juicy grilled goodness. The fresh onion rings and rich homemade chocolate milkshake (made with Blue Bell ice cream) really took the cake. I thought it was light years better than the other West coast burger staple, In-n-Out Burger.

Overall Rating: A-

Rockin’ Baja Coastal Cantina - Probably the worst meal we had the whole trip, we wandered all through the Gaslamp District (and passed a ton of great looking places) and stopped here in favor of cheapness. The mix of seafood and Mexican was a good choice for us (since I love Mexican and he loves seafood), so we tried it out. The guacamole was good, not amazing, but the salsa bar was pretty good. I ordered the dirty tacos with steak instead of carnitas, which came with a wicked spicy chipotle sauce and grilled onions. The boy got suckered into a Baja Bucket with weirdly flash-fried shellfish, which was pretty gross.

Overall Rating: C

Peohe’s - Part of the Chart House restaurant group, we went to Peohe’s for the view and Hawaiian fusion. It’s a bit of a cheesy, touristy destination, but the food was better than expected. The coconut crusted onion rings are amazing. The rest of the menu is quite similar to the Chart House. My only complaint was that the main dessert had macadamia nuts, and I’m allergic. We ate on a covered patio on the water and were really amused by the birds that literally divebombed into the water to get fish.

Overall Rating: B

Ortega’s Mexican Bistro - This was a great Mexican place in the Hillcrest neighborhood. We started with some tasty guacamole, made table-side with grilled lime. BF had some chicken mole enchiladas and the huitlacoche and portabello taco trio. It’s pretty funny how huitlacoche (”corn smut”) is marketed, when it’s really just corn fungus (like a tumorous mushroom). I had the Kobe beef burrito for my entree, which was really simple and delicious. Stuffed with Kobe beef strips, charro beans, jack cheese and avocado (I declined the huitlacoche-porcini mushroom sauce), I thoroughly enjoyed this upscale burrito.

Overall Rating: B+

La Jolla

Brockton Villa - The home of the infamous “coast toast” and a fantastic view, this was one of the best breakfasts ever. We shared a coast toast, and I ordered blueberry pancakes while BF had the “bagel tower”. The pancakes were huge, lightly dusted with powdered sugar and had hints of orange and vanilla. The fresh blueberries put it over the top. The bagel tower was amazing and full of house-smoked lox. A bagel sliced in three with alternating layers of cream cheese, tomato and onion. Kind of like a breakfast club sandwich. A seriously delicious start to the day.

Overall Rating: A

Powell’s Sweet Shop - A very cool little candy shop in La Jolla (with multiple locations), Powell’s features candy from all over the world. They also have rarely seen U.S. candies (cherry bombs for example) and an impressive wall of Jelly Bellies and M&M colors. In addition, they have homemade gelato, specialty sodas, and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory on infinite loop in a mini kids “theatre” in the back (complete with Wonka Bars). It’s everything fun and whimsical should be. As a candy lover, this is going in my book as a favorite spot to stop for something sweet, along with Fiona’s Sweet Shoppe in San Francisco.

Overall Rating: B+

George’s California Modern - I searched and searched for the best restaurant in the area, and George’s At the Cove consistently came up. Add in that friend of mine told me how amazing their casual menu was, and I had to check it out. I’m so glad I did. The recently renovated restaurant had a hip but calming ambiance, and service was superb. We started with appetizers and drinks. I ordered a bee sting which was colorful and refreshing with kumquats floating in the drink and a slight sting of honey. I had the romaine, celery heart and fennel salad which was amazingly fresh and included a delicious white-bean olive bruschetta and freshly shaved thick curls of parmesan. I practically licked the plate it was so good. BF had a special which was spotted prawns lightly grilled, which he declared the best shellfish he had ever eaten.

We ordered the Niman Ranch 28 day dry aged Cote de Boeuf for two, which took a bit of time to come out. After a 20 minute wait, our waiter brought out a quick almost amuse bouche for us, compliments of the chef. We were treated to a wild mushroom house made ravoli with spring peas. Absolutely amazing. By the time the actual entree arrived we were both stuffed. The beef was delicious, perfectly seasoned with salt and boasting a delightful crispy crust.

And we couldn’t resist dessert. The stuffed donut holes with dip came out with a trio of sauces and were filled with caramel, strawberry or rubharb. The meyer lemon sauce was tart and light, the dulce de leche decadent, and the choloclate was rich and smooth.

I’ve eaten at a number of fine restaurants in the DC area and have to say that this was one of the best meals I have ever had. But, I’ll let you know my thoughts after Citronelle and The Inn at Little Washington (one day).

Overall Rating: A+

Del Mar

Roberto’s - Hands down the tastiest casual Mexican place I have ever been. I would eat there every day if I could. I got the rolled tacos (basically a crispy little taquito) with beef and sour cream. Amazing and with a side of guacamole a perfect fit. Weird as it is, the refried beans were my favorite of all. BF got a combo fish taco and beef burrito. For a unique side, he tried the jalapeno marinated carrot slaw.

Overall Rating: A

Malibu

Geoffrey’s - we stumbled upon Geoffrey’s thanks to a Zagat Guide iPhone search for a place with a view. We were definitely not disappointed. I had the roasted corn chowder which was sweet with corn and lumps of crab meat and a spicy kick from roasted pasilla chiles. Followed up by a really great casear salad with parmesan croutons. BF had the lobster cobb salad with the best avocado he’d ever had. The food was good but not anything special, but the view made it all worthwhile. Along with the gorgeous ocean view we enjoyed checking out the super expensive vehicles in the valet and on the drive down the 101.

Overall Rating: B-

December always brings a full calendar to the DC area, and it seems there is an endless stream of parties, food, and shopping to be had. Everyone can be a socialite in December!

SHOP TO IT (SHOPPING AND INDULGENCES)

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, right? Two sparkling events are happening this week from the diamond industry. The Baubles and Bubbles event at Chas. Schwartz & Son in Mazza Gallerie tonight will feature special pricing on $5 million worth of diamonds (from 2 to 10 carats). Talk about bling! Mervis Diamond is also having their annual trunk show this weekend in Tysons. Stop by for a fabulous opportunity to get something sparkly for that special someone.

SCENE AND BE SEEN (EVENTS AND PARTIES)

Friday night just keeps getting better. Start the night at Midtown where they are rolling out the red carpet to host a charity event for Becky’s Fund, which is sure to be a blast. A $20 donation to fight domestic violence is suggested, and the happy hour starts early at 5 PM.

After that, make sure you stop by the City Tavern Club from 8 PM to midnight for a not-so-naughty drink in honor of the 75th Anniversary of Repeal Day. The Repeal Day Ball is a classy soiree featuring some snazzy drinks and jazzy costumes, so make sure to dress the part (sophisticated cocktail attire is recommended). It may be a recession, but we can still drink to old times. Visit www.dccraftbartendersguild.com to purchase tickets. Can’t get enough of the CTC? Their annual Santa Soiree is Saturday night. This black tie event is sure to be an affair to remember.

Get into the holiday spirit by taking part in a DC tradition. The Mormon Temple’s (no, not the Magic Kingdom) Festival of Lights is happening right now at their Visitor Center. Be dazzled by displays of Christmas cheer. For those with a wilder side, make sure to check out Zoo Lights at the National Zoo. Cuddle up with that special someone with date night at the National Zoo this Saturday, December 6th. Tickets are only $30 per couple for FONZ members and $40 for non-members. Starting at 5:30 PM, warm up the night with hot chocolate and gingerbread men, and a cuddly plush animal gift.

A personal note, the Alexandria Singers will be having their annual holiday concert, “A Mall and the Night Visitors” on Sunday, December 7th at 3 pm at Bishop Ireton HS in Alexandria. Come out for good family fun and an entertaining musical event. Yours truly will be there with bells on. Purchase tickets online at www.alexandriasingers.com. Make sure you mention my name when you buy!

EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY (FOOD AND DRINK)

Holiday treats include on of my favorites, cookies! Check out Rock Creek at Mazza on Saturday, December 6th for Baking for the Holidays the Rock Creek Way at 10 AM. For $65 per person, you can enjoy a class from the pastry chef for healthy holiday desserts, including cookies and gingerbreads. That’s a deal when you factor in lunch and goodie bags! Santa will also be making an appearance at the mall from 9-10:30 AM, so come early to get in the holiday spirit!

A new matchbox is opening in DC. For those who love the Chinatown staple for great pizza, brunch, and more; make sure to visit the newest location at 521 8th street SE (near E). matchbox opens on Friday night.

P.S. For more great events - check out my latest issues of The Scene in Bisnow.

If you love toffee, then look no further than Enstrom’s. My mouth waters at the very thought.

Enstrom’s is a family-owned and operated Colorado based toffee company that has been making toffee treats for three generations. How did I become so hooked?

My mom’s family is from Colorado, and every year since I was little, my grandma sent my family a box of this addictive toffee. I like it so much that I often send it to friends as well for gifts. I look forward to the traditional brown and gold box each year, and want to spread the word about how good it is.

What makes Enstrom’s so great? Taste, texture, everything! It has a crunchy bite and a buttery melt-in-your-mouth goodness to it. There are whole almonds nestled in between rich toffee, smothered in milk or dark chocolate and finished with a fine dusting of ground almonds. 

It’s good cold or at room temperature (you can store it in the fridge for freezer, and can be thawed and re-frozen with no damage to the candy). I think part of the reason I love it so much is because it doesn’t interfere with my nut allergies. I can enjoy without the worry!

But Enstrom’s does more than just toffee. They have gourmet chocolates, chocolatey-nutty popcorn, seasonal chocolate peppermint bark and more.

Enstrom’s is currently engaged in a social media campaign. You can find the company on Twitter and Facebook, engaging with their fans and offering information on recipes, promotions, and more.  Not only that, but Enstrom’s is a certified Kosher candy, and they recently launched a blog called Kosher Gift Giving, which gives great gift ideas for year-round giving.

COMMENT TO WIN a 1 LB. BOX OF ENSTROM’S FAMOUS ALMOND TOFFEE

Leave a comment detailing what your family (food) tradition is. Whether it’s sweet, savory, salty, crunchy, or none of the above, I want to know what food means "holidays" to you. Make sure to leave your e-mail address so I can contact the winner for their mailing address. A 1 lb. box of Enstrom’s will be sent directly to you, just in time for the holidays! Contest ends on Monday, December 1 at 5 PM.

Happy Thanksgiving!

It’s Thanksgiving weekend, and if you’re not too full, then it’s the opportune time to take advantage of some killer sales and wicked parties.

SHOP TO IT (SHOPPING AND INDULGENCES)

Black Friday is tomorrow, and more than ever stores are seeking to draw consumers in with huge discounts, online and offline. If the thought of waking up at 4 am to hit the crowded malls makes you queasy, then look for online discounts.

With Black Friday comes Cyber Monday, and here in DC you can attend an event by Shop.org to help the cause for online shopping. Shop.org will provide lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe, laptop computers with high-speed Internet access, and will raffle off thousands of dollars in gift cards to shoppers. Shop@Lunch made easy.

Tax free shopping in DC this weekend on purchases that are $100 or less. Stock up on gifts for yourself and others. Look for more local deals from Washingtonian. Bethesda Row is a great place to start the shopping fever!

Shop for a good cause next Wednesday, December 3rd. The Carpenter Shelter for the homeless in Alexandria benefits, while you save! 50% of the proceeds go directly to The Carpenter Shelter. Shop goodies from local designers showcasing their chic apparel, accessories, jewelry, arts and services at HUGELY discounted savings (up to 70% off). 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM at the Westin in Alexandria. Check out the event on Facebook for more details.

Ann Taylor Loft, J. Crew and Banana Republic are featuring sales with up to 40% off. Stock up on professional looking winter wear.

• Ann Taylor Loft has 40% off already marked down sale prices.
• J. Crew offers an extra 20% off from mark downs if you enter the code EXTRA20 online through December 1.
• Banana Republic has 40% off of cold-weather items (think sweaters, gloves, etc.) through December 1.
• Work off those holiday pounds with cute and comfy clothes from Lucy. 40% off outerwear and up to 30% off already marked down items through December 2.

Looking for a special holiday or New Year’s Eve dress? Check out one of my favorite stores, Cusp, which has great sales and is offering free online shipping with with the code THANKS and an order over $150. Stock up on cute gifts for under $50 such as hand-knitted purple gloves ($34), a Bobbi Brown limited-edition lip gloss trio ($45), and shine on with super shimmery Lippmann Collection gold nail polish ($15).

Pre-order the latest book from Harry Potter series author J.K. Rowling, set to release on December 4. The Tales of Beedle the Bard are sure to delight, as all five of the wizarding fairy tales that appeared in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows are featured in this treasury of tales. Barnes & Noble is offering it for $7.59 for B&N Club members. An extra 5% will be taken off if you order online. Amazon is even cheaper with a standard edition for $7.14. For the really hardcore fan, a special hardcover collector’s edition is offered for $100.

For some family holiday fun, check out the Polar Express in IMAX at the National Museum of Natural History. Check out http://www.si.edu/imax/ for details and showtimes.

SCENE AND BE SEEN (EVENTS AND PARTIES)

Thanksgiving weekend features parties all week. A few highlights:

WEDNESDAY

• The exclusive Shadow Room is having a pre-Thanksgiving bash tonight. RSVP for complimentary admission (which means free for ladies until midnight, and free for gentlemen until 11PM with RSVP). Absolute Addiction is promoting.
• The newly redesigned Eyebar is having its own Thanksgiving Eve bash, with no cover and open bar for all, starting at 10 pm. Gobble, Gobble! Go to Primo Productions for more detail.
• Itching for a Dewey Beach reunion? Head to Clarendon Ballroom for their annual Thanksgiving Throwdown, featuring Kristen and the Noise. HiBall events sponsors. Come early for $10 admission, and get in for only $5 with two canned goods. Prices increase through the night.

THURSDAY

• Spend time with your family you turkey!

FRIDAY

• My friend (and new Wizards girl) Lyndsay is hosting an event at Midtown on Friday night. (For those who don’t know, Midtown is the new Play.) The Little Black Dress party is sure to be filled with beautiful people, so make sure you dress to impress.

In other news, select summer 2009 shows are now on sale at Wolf Trap. Take advantage of purchasing Disney’s High School Musical tickets (which are sure to sell out) and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. TLOTR will feature the complete film in HD with performances by a live orchestra, chorus, and soloists. HSM will be arriving on September 1-6, 2009 and The Lord of the Rings is coming August 28-29, 2009. For more fun and to purchase tickets (including Riverdance and 42nd Street), go to Wolf Trap’s website.

EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY (FOOD AND DRINK)

Thanksgiving is all about food. And, what better way to celebrate food than to share with others. Washingtonian is creating a Thanksgiving recipe box, where readers can submit and share their favorite family recipes.

This is a great time to think of others. Consider volunteering at a local shelter or food bank. Many need extra help for the Thanksgiving holiday, but consider volunteering at another time. Help is needed year round. If you can’t volunteer your time, please volunteer your dollars. Check out Food and Friends, Capital Area Food Bank, So Others Might Eat (SOME), Bread for the City, and the DC Central Kitchen.

Union Jack’s new Ballston location is hosting a grand opening next Thursday, December 4th. There will be a free buffet to sample food, and lots of fun to be had for all. Could be a great overflow spot for Rock Bottom’s Wednesday night $1 beer debacles.

Tomorrow I’ll be posting information for a contest to win a 1 lb. box of Enstrom’s toffee. If you’ve never had it, I highly recommend you get into it. More to come…

NOTE: Posted this a bit early this week with the holiday in mind. Check back every Thursday for a weekly round up.

Woodmont Grill in Bethesda is one of my new favorite restaurants. Although it is a bit overpriced, the food is really good, so it makes it worth the trip. Formerly Houston’s restaurant, Woodmont is a local favorite that serves good comfort food. I compare it to a combination of Sweetwater Tavern and Daily Grill.

AMBIANCE

Woodmont is a bit dark inside, which reminds me of Daily Grill. Although it’s dark, it feels homey and cozy. The restaurant features live jazz nightly, which provides nice background noise. The booths are warm, and the table chairs are comfortable (though a bit weird at first due to the leather structure).

FOOD

The menu is fairly small, but sometimes less is more. The spinach and artichoke dip was chock full of spinach, but lacked any discernable artichokes. It was pleasantly dense and cheesy, and served with decent tortilla chips and a side of sour cream and salsa. A close cousin to the Cheesecake Factory version, this one was more satisfying.

I had the Hawaiian ribeye the first time we dined, and it was delicious. Ordered medium, it came perfectly pink in the middle with a nice crust. The "Hawaiian" seasoning tasted like a mix of pineapple, soy sauce, and ginger. The loaded baked potato was an odd side dish choice, but was good as well.

BF had the ribs the first time, which were a decent sized portion with a sweet flavor. The ribs were petite with little bones, and the sauce had a kind of Sysco flavor to it. The coleslaw was mediocre, it looked similar to the amazing coleslaw (thick cut and not "soupy") at Urban BBQ, but sadly did not have the same addictive bite. Overall, a kind of blah dish.

We tried the house and caesar side salads, both of which were tasty. The caesar dressing had a great flavor and plenty of cheese and croutons, and the house salad was beautiful. Cheese, corn, egg, crispy bacon pieces, croutons and tomato are arranged over mixed greens to create a pleasant blend of traditional flavors. To top it off, an amazing hunk of cheese toast comes with the house salad. Salads are expensive on their own at $10 and $11, but order with an entree and get one for $5.

The second time, I ordered the french dip sandwich with a side of horseradish sauce. The french dip comes on superb (house baked?) bread which was thick, buttery and perfectly toasted. The roast beef is sliced thin and unlike some versions, it’s neither fatty nor salty. French fries are thin crispy strands, and definitely up there in quality. For $17, it was a bit expensive for a sandwich, but well worth it. BF declared it the best thing he’s eaten in a long time.

BF ordered chicken fingers. These were battered chicken fingers with an almost cracker-like crust that reminded me of the ones served at the Great American Restaurants chain.  They were pale in color and flaky in texture. The first bite or two seemed awesome, then got progressively worse. Served with fries and coleslaw, it was a big portion, but not sure it was worth the $16 price tag.

One of my favorite things to order at Woodmont is the lemonade. It’s refreshingly sour, and refills are free. I honestly go back there just for that - I’m a bit of a lemonade freak. If you’re looking for good lemonade elsewhere, try M&S Grill. It’s fresh squeezed and tart.

For dessert, I was disappointed that all of the choices had nuts (walnuts or pecans), so we were left with the ice cream sundae. It was a simple pleasure, really good vanilla bean ice cream (in fact, it tasted almost homemade) served alongside a gravy boat of deliciously rich hot fudge that you could pour as you like. The only thing that was missing was a cherry. For $8 though, you could buy your own pint and hot fudge.

SERVICE

The first time we dined, it was a bit busier and we had to wait about 15 minutes. The server was slow to refill our water and bring any special requests (i.e. extra napkins or salad dressing). The second time, the server was extremely attentive and everyone pitched in to serve and bus tables. Our food came quickly and we were in and out in less than an hour.

LOGISTICS

Parking is easy if you go on a weekend, a free public garage is just across the street. Otherwise, there is metered street parking, paid garages and a valet parking lot.

Sparkle Rating: 4 out of 5 Carats

Overall: Great food, good location, nice setting, but overpriced. Consistently good food and service. Top menu choices include the french dip, house salad, and lemonade.