Uno Momento - A Styro Box Containing A Ham & Egg Sandwich..

..Cause this is my blog and "what' evah, I get to do what I want," haha..

I was excited to find another documented Ham & Egg Sandwich from Johnny's R Family Restaurant (off El Cajon Blvd next to the SD Chicken Pie Shop) that dated back October 2007.



But the styro box with Bic pen writing was more interesting to me than the sandwich photo itself. Don't get me wrong, it was a good sandwich. Could've used a little more mayo since everything was on the well-done side, but had lots of deli ham and came with a slice of dill pickle and potato salad. Contents here if you want to see it.

Love my blog so..



Cause what' Evah, I do what I want! ;)

Johnny's R Family Restaurant, 2611 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92104

Post Turkey Day Saturday Ramblings

Wow, I really needed those few extra days off. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, I just chilled and relaxed. I'm not sure what to post so cobbled up a few food related things that happened last week and will just ramble along as usual.



With the right lighting I'm discovering my iPhone 4 takes pretty decent pictures. Steady hands always help of course. Anyway at $2.50 the Hiyayakko cold tofu appetizer at Izakaya Sakura is something I usually order with my lunches. A nice more rustic style with medium firm tofu and extra large shaved bonito flakes. The slices of raw okra is a nice touch. With also some grated ginger all it needs is a drizzle of soy sauce. Bon appetit.



The Unatama-don ($10) was a new offering. Similar to the grilled eel Una-don but adding some simmered onions and then sealed with an egg. A bit messy looking but I enjoyed it a lot, the tamago a wiggly half-done it was and all.

Izakaya Sakura, 3904 Convoy St #121, San Diego, CA 92111

Had a pre-Thanksgiving Japanese Gyoza dinner at friend's.



I was on wrapping duty. I can't remember the last time I done it so I was sort of freestyle wrapping (pfff). Ok not really but let's just say there was a small learning curve and I'm only showing the latter nicer looking ones.. ;)



The friend's missus' recipe for the filling calls for without the use of garlic, but it still had some great punchy flavors with the nira flat leaf chives. Ground pork based of course with finely minced Chinese cabbage (salted and strained of excess moisture) and... And I'll have to ask for the full recipe one of these days.



These were so good fried up to a nice crisp on one side. Honestly better than any I had at any Japanese restaurant here in SD (which majorly lack some kahones in flavor and execution). :P

Then we had Tanmen. From a package obviously but was very comforting with the healthy vegetable stir-fry on top. Many of the fresh vegetables used were from a farm box. Thanks guys!



Last night helped same friends purchase a Christmas tree at Home Depot.



(That's not them in the pic above btw...) Only got some firewood for myself since I'll be gone and in Japan for Christmas.. (Yippie!)



Were some moss on these, probably from the recent rain, but it still burned cleanly. I hate ones that seem to be robbing energy from my starter log instead of contributing as a fuel source that it should, haha. Might go pick up more today.



Darn I never finished my Yakitori Grill project. Maybe I still have time this year. I then remembered watching a cooking show where a guy roasted a quail tied to a string that slowly twirled next to a fireplace. The closest thing I could find on YouTube was this Fireplace String-turned Roast Chicken video. The actual roasting doesn't happen until past midway of the vid. Seems fun. So Colonial!? :)

I then finally opened the package from my big sis that came back in April/May. I had asked for some Ivan Ramen instant noodles. She included a few others along with. Looking forward to be slurping the real stuff soon though.



Today breakfast was at the San Diego Chicken Pie Shop (my part one and two posts on SDCPS) and then I lazily watched Iron Chef. It was seriously the first I turned my television on in at least six months.



Last, you are probably all fowl-ed out by now but I was really impressed with Dave of Dave's Cupboard's recent very thorough frozen pot pie buyer's guide post. The Marie Callendar's that I've been pretty content with barely listed in the lower middle tier! Shown above is a chicken pot pie you can purchase frozen ($2.60) from the San Diego Chicken Pie Shop to go. I think they said 10-minutes in a 350°F oven. If done in a dutch oven by the fireplace, not so sure... ;)

Happy Holidays!

San Diego Chicken Pie Shop, 2633 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92140

Uno Momento - Simple Ham & Egg Sandwich

A Ham & Egg Sandwich from Mr. Pete's in San Clemente. I had this particular over two months ago but I've slowly been rediscovering my love for ham and egg sandwiches for breakfast. In fact so much so I think I'm going to start a new label tag for it today.



BTW, No Cheese please! (They serve it with here). Just some light mayo, lettuce, maybe a slice of tomato, between two nicely toasted white bread. The Deli Ham should be lightly griddled. Eggs medium but wouldn't complain if the yolks were runny. Thank you.

Mr. Pete's Burgers, 420 South El Camino Real, San Clemente, CA 92672

Banh Mi Your Way @ Saigon Sandwiches & Deli

With the rain today it was totally Pho weather but needed to grab something quick and pick up an extra meal that would be a late lunch. A couple of Banh Mi sandwiches fit the bill.



I think my favorite Banh Mi is maybe the Banh Mi Trung (an egg banh mi). When in these parts it's tempting to walk into Cafe Dore next door but sometimes I'm not in the mood to tolerate all the cigarette smoke, and it seemed like a good time to check out Saigon Sandwiches & Deli a few doors over, past the laundromat.




Hungry I'd be having my Vietnamese ham and egg breakfast sandwich here. At SS&D there are actually two egg banh mi's, the number One (described as 'Omelet') and Two (simply listed as 'Egg' - both $3.50). I think they read Trung Chien Cha and Chien Cha Ap La.



These photos were taken with my new shpanky iPhone 4. Forgetting my camera is a rare occurrence but it happens. Anyhow I asked for the yolk in my eggs to be runny...



And Yes, a yumtastic mess it was. The piece sticking out below is the Cha Lua or Vietnamese ham/sausage loaf. FYI the pickled veggies usually isn't included in this but I had asked for it.



And I realized why. Here the pickles are on the tart side than sweet. Next time I might leave them out as suggested. The bread though is really crusty-flaky and light, really great.



A sneak peek of my lunch's BBQ Pork Banh Mi ($3)..



Had lots of meats. I couldn't resist and took a bite. The pork had no sinewy bits and was well marinated and sweeter. Went better with the less sweet pickled vegetables.



Below my first meal at SS&D. The same No. 2 egg banh mi but with regular Ham instead of the Cha Lua.



I had this on the hood of my car a couple weeks ago. Was quite wonderful. I thought they forgot the pickles then but now I know it's how they serve it. Eggs were a nice medium and it's good either way though as you know I tried asking for it runny the second time..



I did think the saltier ham was maybe a better match for my preference. I might order it that way again next time, and with a Durian pastry snack for dessert....? ;)



Saigon Sandwiches & Deli, 4133 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92105

A Quick Bite @ The Original Pantry Cafe

Had some business to attend at the L.A. Convention Center late last week. For lunch had the option of having some inflated mediocre stuff at the food courts, but a coworker and I instead decided to walk a couple blocks down Figueroa to eat at The Pantry.



The Original Pantry Cafe as it is officially called has been open twenty-four-seven since 1924. This means their doors haven't closed in eighty-six years.




Ate here a few times during college days. The food may not exactly wow you but the atmosphere is really great and to be able to taste a history of downtown Los Angeles is definitely neat. On top since I also enjoy having breakfast for lunch (or any other time of day for that matter..) it was an easy decision.



Like most typical waiters here Juan looks mighty serious but he was a super cool guy. :)



I contemplated briefly on the Country Fried Steak or Corned Beef Hash (had them both before and they're pretty good) but ended up with my usual very ordinary breakfast of three eggs (over-easy), sausage, potatoes and white toast. (I know.. *yawn*)



My colleague's scrambled eggs with bacon.



I had a bite of the sourdough and wished I had ordered it. Moist and chewy.



But I didn't regret much else. The large pork sausage patties were nice and salty, the egg whites were a bit runny but I tend not to mind that.

It's always fun to sit at the counter and watch the cooks do their thing. I always wished to have a giant restaurant griddle like that at home..(!) Cook up some omelets by the ladle full and get to use that oversized spatula and bacon presses. :)




The shot of the potatoes before I drowned them in ketchup..



Were so fluffy and great. I imagine the potatoes (Yukon Gold?) are boiled/steamed first before letting them sit in the pan for that final thick coat of crunchy char.



Busy busy behind the counter. Again, fun to watch.



Checking out some condiments while enjoying my meal I totally remembered how my dad used to put hot sauce on everything. Having breakfast at diners like these always reminds me of how much I miss him.



Anyhow, prices were a bit higher than I remembered from the times during my last visits but it still sure did beat any of the lifeless overpriced convention center food. :P



The Original Pantry Cafe, 877 South Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90017