When we first started coming to Del Mar in the mid 1990's, we would come for 6-8 weeks during the summer, during racing season. Initially we stayed in the Torrey Pines area, usually at what is now the Hilton Torrey Pines. Breakfast was expensive at the hotel, so we were constantly looking for cheaper eats. One of our favorite finds was the Hideaway Cafe in Solana Beach. 150 Acacia Avenue 858 755 3388 (no web site). On a summer morning you could expect to wait for a table, as there are only three tables outside and about six tables inside. During racing season you might also see the likes of Bob Baffert, Darryl Vienna (trainers) or Corey Nakatani, Alex Solis or Jose Valdivia eating breakfast with one of the owners that they ride for. Yes, jockeys do eat, but not much. Everyone would be studying the racing form and discussing the races for that day. It was great fun, and on top of that you could get a fantastic breakfast.
Since those days 15 years ago, we have eaten there dozens of times. When we lived in Del Mar we would go often, especially in winter, when there were no lines. Today I get there less often, but only because it's a bit of a drive for me now.
The restaurant is aptly names, as it is hidden away on a tiny street behind Highway 101, and right near Fletcher Cove in Solana Beach. The sign is practically fully covered by ivy. If the weather is nice, sit outside. Inside is pretty crowded. The waitstaff is fantastic. If you're a regular, they will soon know your name what you want to eat. Most of the waitresses are family members and have been there for years.
The food is basic, but well prepared. Eggs and bacon or sausage with toast and hash browns is as good as you can get anywhere. I love their hash browns, they make them nice and crisp. Hawaiian french toast is another favorite. They use Hawaiian bread sliced thin, dipped in an orange batter, grilled, and topped with powdered sugar. No syrup necessary. Omelettes are delicious and come with any ingredients you want. Huevos rancheros are good for those in the mood for a Mexican breakfast. There are often breakfast specials, some of them you can't believe anyone could eat. One that I like but don't get anymore because it's so bad for me, is the Atomic Pile. Here is what it is: a large plate of hash browns +two eggs any style+several strips of bacon or sausage+covered with cheese+toast or pancakes. It's a heart attack in the making. My kids used to love it, and I would have to taste it.
Prices at the Hideaway Cafe are very reasonable. No fancy overhead keeps the prices down. Your overall experience will be one of great food at an affordable price, in a cozy, home like atmosphere. I hope you like it.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
It's a Myth that you Can't Buy American
The other day I got an email from my friend Judy, and I am blogging today based on what I learned from her email. It was about how one person can make a difference. A physics teacher tells the story that if there were one grasshopper on the railroad tracks it would make no impact, but if there were a billion grasshoppers on the tracks think about what might happen.
In other words, if I do something it won't mean much, but if everyone who reads this also does the same thing, and they pass it on, and so forth and so on, it will make a big difference.
What am I talking about? I'm talking about buying American. How are we going to protect our manufacturing industries and jobs if we don't support American made products. I know that every time you go to Wal Mart or Target you see many products made in China or some other third world country. To me the idea of small children working to produce a product is abhorrent. I would rather pay a few pennies more and know that adults were producing the item. Here's some of what I found out after a bit of research.
A hose nozzle at Lowe's is made in Mexico. A hose nozzle at Ace Hardware is made in the U.S. Did you know that Hershey's candy is made in Mexico? I will buy a different brand from now on. My favorite Colgate toothpaste is made in Mexico, but Crest is made in the U.S. G.E. light bulbs are made in Mexico, the generic store brand is made in the U.S, and the G.E. bulbs are more expensive. Check out http://www.blogger.com/www.madeinusa.org or http://www.blogger.com/www.stillmadeinusa.com for more items you can buy that are made in the U.S.A.
My next stop was Trader Joe's, one of my favorite places to shop, but today was a disappointment. I was checking labels to see where their products originated. My favorite cold cereal, Barbara's is made in Canada. That's better than China because children didn't make it, but it's still not American. I may have to change brands.
Most products in Trader Joe's carry their own label, thus the country of origin is NOT listed. All they say is "distributed and sold exclusvely by Trader Joe's, Monrovia, California." This gives you no information as to it's origin. I know the FDA is looking into laws requiring country of origin to be included on the label, but that may be a long way off. Supermarkets are starting to label fruits and vegetables, and this is a great help. But so many things are made abroad, and we should at least be able to know where they come from if we want to.
So, here's what I'm doing and I hope you will try this to, and pass along the idea to others. That's the way things get done. Pick out five items that you buy regularly and see where they're from. If they're not from the U.S. try to find a similar item at a similar price that's made here. How else are we going to save jobs and show the big corporations that we don't want products made by little children? There is power in numbers, and we can make a difference. America still produces food, clothing, furniture, electronics and much more. Let's support these companies and keep Americans working.
In other words, if I do something it won't mean much, but if everyone who reads this also does the same thing, and they pass it on, and so forth and so on, it will make a big difference.
What am I talking about? I'm talking about buying American. How are we going to protect our manufacturing industries and jobs if we don't support American made products. I know that every time you go to Wal Mart or Target you see many products made in China or some other third world country. To me the idea of small children working to produce a product is abhorrent. I would rather pay a few pennies more and know that adults were producing the item. Here's some of what I found out after a bit of research.
A hose nozzle at Lowe's is made in Mexico. A hose nozzle at Ace Hardware is made in the U.S. Did you know that Hershey's candy is made in Mexico? I will buy a different brand from now on. My favorite Colgate toothpaste is made in Mexico, but Crest is made in the U.S. G.E. light bulbs are made in Mexico, the generic store brand is made in the U.S, and the G.E. bulbs are more expensive. Check out http://www.blogger.com/www.madeinusa.org or http://www.blogger.com/www.stillmadeinusa.com for more items you can buy that are made in the U.S.A.
My next stop was Trader Joe's, one of my favorite places to shop, but today was a disappointment. I was checking labels to see where their products originated. My favorite cold cereal, Barbara's is made in Canada. That's better than China because children didn't make it, but it's still not American. I may have to change brands.
Most products in Trader Joe's carry their own label, thus the country of origin is NOT listed. All they say is "distributed and sold exclusvely by Trader Joe's, Monrovia, California." This gives you no information as to it's origin. I know the FDA is looking into laws requiring country of origin to be included on the label, but that may be a long way off. Supermarkets are starting to label fruits and vegetables, and this is a great help. But so many things are made abroad, and we should at least be able to know where they come from if we want to.
So, here's what I'm doing and I hope you will try this to, and pass along the idea to others. That's the way things get done. Pick out five items that you buy regularly and see where they're from. If they're not from the U.S. try to find a similar item at a similar price that's made here. How else are we going to save jobs and show the big corporations that we don't want products made by little children? There is power in numbers, and we can make a difference. America still produces food, clothing, furniture, electronics and much more. Let's support these companies and keep Americans working.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Are Smoothies Really Good For You?
I love a good smoothie, but have always tried to stay away from the commercial blends, knowing that anything that tastes that good can't really be very good for you. I hate to say I'm right, but I am. Check out the nutritional content of some of your favorite blends at Jamba Juice for example. The acai supercharger (acai is good for you, right?) is 420 calories. That's pretty high for a snack. Aloha pineapple smoothie is 500 calories. The citrus squeeze, which is not really a smoothie, but just a blend of juices, is 300 calories. And a specialty smoothie is 634 calories. The good news is all of these are low in sodium. The bad news is they are loaded with sugar.
Here's a alternative. Making your own smoothies can be healthier and less than half the calories. I'll give you an idea for making your own from scratch, but the same thing can be done buying store bought non fat yogurt.
Try making homemade soy yogurt. It's delicious, cheap, and you'll never know it's soy. Buy basic non-sweetened soy milk. Pour in a glass jar and stir in 1Tablespoon basic plain yogurt. Screw the cap on the jar, and put in a large kettle of hot water, then cover the whole pot with a towel and let it sit for 5-6 hours. You should have delicious, thick, yogurt. Add stevia for a little sweetness, some of your favorite fruit (I like strawberries, fresh or frozen and 1/2 banana), and a little fruit juice. If you want to really keep the calories down add reduced fat cranberry juice and a few ice cubes. The whole thing will total about 150 calories, with no added sugar and absolutely delicious. This is great as a snack, or add flax seed and have it as a breakfast drink. Enjoy. If you can't eat or don't like soy, just use cow's milk yogurt, unsweetened. It's just as good, but the yogurt is fun to make.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Grain Fed vs. Grass Fed Beef....Pros and Cons
My friend Sandi contacted me this morning and asked me where she could buy grass fed beef in our area. Being the detective that I am, I quickly found her several markets and butcher shops selling grass fed beef. Then I decided to investigate the topic myself and to find out for myself why there is such a controversy over grass fed or grain fed beef. I did a bit of research, and here are my findings. Much of the information comes from John Robbins, who is an author and advocate of diet to help save your life and the world. His website is http://www.foodrevolution.org/ if you want to read more.
In the beginning, cows, sheep and other grazing animals ate grass exclusively. This is because they are endowed with the ability to convert grasses into food they can digest. They possess a rumen, a 45 gallon fermentation tank in which resident bacteria convert cellulose into protein and fats.
Traditionally, all beef was grass-fed beef, but in the United States, where most companies are only interested in the bottom line, most beef is feedlot beef. The reason? It's faster and so more profitable. Years ago, steers were four or five years old at slaughter. Today, they are 14 or 16 months. You can't take a beef calf from birth weight of 80 pounds to 1,200 pounds in a little more than a year on grass. It takes enormous quantities of corn, protein supplements, antibiotics and other drugs, including growth hormones.
Switching a cow from grass to grain is so disturbing to the animal's digestive system that it can kill the animal if not done gradually and if the animal is not continually fed antibiotics. The E. coli virus that was isolated in the 1980's is a result of grain fed cattle. The perfect conditions for microbes that can harm or kill us have been created.
Grass fed beef is actually healthier, lower in saturated fat, higher levels of omega 3 fatty acids, four times higher in Vitamin E than grain fed cattle.
As well as nutritional advantages, there are also decided environmental benefits to grass-fed beef. Grass fed beef consume less energy and it is far less polluting. With grass fed cattle, animal waste is returned to the earth to help fertilize the grass they eat rather than piling up in waste piles.
Finally, a happy steer is a healthy steer, and from a humanitarian perspective, grass fed animals are not forced to live in confinement. The animals are not forced to endure the miseries of factory farming.
The negative side of grass fed beef is of course, the cost. It is definitely more expensive, but for many of us interested in where our food comes from and how it is raised, the extra cost is worth it. There are several local markets that carry grass fed beef. Whole Foods and Henrys and HomeGrown Meat Market in La Jolla are just a few places where grass fed beef is available. There are also several farms in the area, including RC Livestock 760 723 9193 where you can buy the beef directly from the farm, but you must buy a half cow. Also, check out http://www.searocketbistro.com/. It is such an interesting website. It will show you where our local food comes from and how it gets here. I found it very informative.
So next time you go shopping, think about the beef you are buying. I'm all for saving money, but there are some times when you need to spend a little more to protect your health. This might be one of those times.
In the beginning, cows, sheep and other grazing animals ate grass exclusively. This is because they are endowed with the ability to convert grasses into food they can digest. They possess a rumen, a 45 gallon fermentation tank in which resident bacteria convert cellulose into protein and fats.
Traditionally, all beef was grass-fed beef, but in the United States, where most companies are only interested in the bottom line, most beef is feedlot beef. The reason? It's faster and so more profitable. Years ago, steers were four or five years old at slaughter. Today, they are 14 or 16 months. You can't take a beef calf from birth weight of 80 pounds to 1,200 pounds in a little more than a year on grass. It takes enormous quantities of corn, protein supplements, antibiotics and other drugs, including growth hormones.
Switching a cow from grass to grain is so disturbing to the animal's digestive system that it can kill the animal if not done gradually and if the animal is not continually fed antibiotics. The E. coli virus that was isolated in the 1980's is a result of grain fed cattle. The perfect conditions for microbes that can harm or kill us have been created.
Grass fed beef is actually healthier, lower in saturated fat, higher levels of omega 3 fatty acids, four times higher in Vitamin E than grain fed cattle.
As well as nutritional advantages, there are also decided environmental benefits to grass-fed beef. Grass fed beef consume less energy and it is far less polluting. With grass fed cattle, animal waste is returned to the earth to help fertilize the grass they eat rather than piling up in waste piles.
Finally, a happy steer is a healthy steer, and from a humanitarian perspective, grass fed animals are not forced to live in confinement. The animals are not forced to endure the miseries of factory farming.
The negative side of grass fed beef is of course, the cost. It is definitely more expensive, but for many of us interested in where our food comes from and how it is raised, the extra cost is worth it. There are several local markets that carry grass fed beef. Whole Foods and Henrys and HomeGrown Meat Market in La Jolla are just a few places where grass fed beef is available. There are also several farms in the area, including RC Livestock 760 723 9193 where you can buy the beef directly from the farm, but you must buy a half cow. Also, check out http://www.searocketbistro.com/. It is such an interesting website. It will show you where our local food comes from and how it gets here. I found it very informative.
So next time you go shopping, think about the beef you are buying. I'm all for saving money, but there are some times when you need to spend a little more to protect your health. This might be one of those times.
Friday, November 13, 2009
A Game Bridges Generations
In a few weeks the Grand Hyatt in San Diego will host the bridge nationals. This is the biggest event in bridge, and is held once a year. Lucky us, we can go to the nationals this year without incurring big travel expenses. As an avid bridge player I have been looking forward to this event for months, and it's finally here.
What's so great about bridge? Many who don't know the game may say it's just another card game. To quote Warren Buffet, who loves the game and plays regularly "making inferences and working well with a partner-are invaluable in broader life. I really do recommend it to people. " He once famously said that if he were playing bridge a naked woman could walk by and he wouldn't notice. Mr. Buffett will be at the nationals, as will Bill Gates, another lover of the game. Bridge has deception, it's got analysis, and you can play with your opponent's head a little bit. Many doctors recommend bridge to seniors to help keep their memory sharp. Remembering every card in every suit is no easy task. Some of the best players I know are well into their 80's.
Bridge developed out of the game of Whist, and by the 1920's was gaining in popularity. Lou Hoover loved the game, as did Samuel Goldwyn and Louis B. Mayer. It continued to gain in popularity into the 1960's, before being edged aside by TV and other distractions, but never again would it reach that fever pitch.
Enter the internet and online bridge. Bill Gates is part owner of Bridge Base Online, my choice for online bridge, and 100,000 others sign on to this site every day. It's a chance to play bridge, be social, and if you want, watch some of the great players. The site is FREE, and what could be better in this down economy? The game is definitely graying, as the average age of membership in the ACBL (bridge league) is now 69. However, things are changing, in fact many schools are now offering bridge as an activity. A nine year old just became the youngest life master ever. I'm still working on becoming one.
I'll be at the nationals at the end of the month, with the hope of becoming a life master myself. I also hope to get a chance to see some of the great players, and maybe even get a chance to play with Warren Buffett or Bill Gates. They'll both be there playing, and what a thrill it would be to play against one of them. The great thing about bridge is that every hand is different and there is always something new to learn. It's kind of like life. Ups and downs, highs and lows, but always, always interesting.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Fernando Botero: Larger Than Life
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There are so many museums, galleries, and art exhibits in Southern California, you really have to pick and choose what you attend. One exhibit I did not want to miss was the Fernando Botero exhibit at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana. So I called a few friends, and we made a day of it, going up to view the exhibit, lunch (of course) at the museum restaurant, and then a little shopping at South Coast Plaza.
I first discovered Fernando Botero in the early 1990's. We were in Avignon at the Palace of the Popes, and they were having an exhibit of his sculpture. You can't miss his work. Everything is larger than life. As he describes it, he volumnizes his people. We saw bronze sculptures of men, women and horses that were absolutely enormous. You wonder how they were all transported there and at what cost. He has had more exhibits worldwide than any living artist.
The exhibit at the Bowers was mostly paintings, in fact it was a retrospective of his paintings. His early work, in the late 1950's shows his style developing and also the influence of the great masters that he studied in Madrid. He is Colombian by birth, came from a very small town, but his artistic ability was recognized early and he was sent to Spain to study the great masters. You can see the influence of Van Gogh, Goya, and early religious art in his paintings. We had a wonderful docent who gave us volumes of information on both the artist and work. We all just loved the exhibit.
Out of convenience we decided to eat at Tangata Restaurant, adjacent to the museum. The restaurant is managed by Joachim Splichal restaurant group. Joachim opened Patina Restaurant in Hollowood over 25 years ago, and has since built a restaurant empire. His most successful restaurants are his chain of bistros, called Pinot. Unfortunately I cannot recommend anything about Tangata. The food and service were both below par, although the restaurant itself is very attractive. It is rather pricey, and with that you get attitude. So, we had our $22 lunch and were on our way. One group of women went home after lunch, but me and Debbie went to South Coast Plaza to shop.
Now I'm not much of a shopper, but my friend Debbie is a shopper extraordinaire, and she had a few things she needed, so I tagged along. Yes, Debbie, you're a great shopper. Debbie needed three things, and found them all at good prices within an hour. She was like a woman on a mission. She knew just where to go and sometimes after a 30 second glance around the store she knew they didn't have what she needed, and it was off to the next store. I escaped South Coast Plaza without buying a thing. That is quite an accomplishment. All in all, the six of us had a great day, and we missed Regina, with her car stuck in her garage with no way out.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Things to Have in Your Home for Emergencies
Whether you live alone or have young kids running around the house, chances are at some point a mishap may occur. Be prepared. This list of items is free or cheap, and when there is an accident you'll be prepared. Just remember, if there's ever a question about the severity of your accident, call 911 immediately. Here's my list of things to help in case of emergency.
1. Elastic Bandages..Use these for wrapping sprained or strained joints,. Use the RICE method: rest the affected area immediately, ice the area to decrease swelling, compress with elastic bandage, elevate the sprained area. Seek medical attention if needed.
2. Bag of frozen peas...Acts as an ice pack, it is very malieable and can conform to any body part.
3. Neosporin. Use neosporin for cuts and scrapes. Wash any cuts with soap and water, then apply a thin layer of neosporin.
4. Tweezers...Use tweezers for removing stingers or ticks.
5. Credit card...Use the card for scraping off the stinger from a wasp or bee.
6. Aspirin...mixed with water, aspirin creates a paste. Apply this paste to insect bites to help relieve inflammation. If you think you're having a heart attack, call 911, then take an aspirin to prevent blood clotting.
7. Oral antihistamines...use for more serious allergic reactions such as food allergy, plant allergy or hives. Call 911 if you experience swelling in the face, lips, tongue, or throat, or if breathing is compromised in any way. I experienced this myself once when eating shrimp. Everything swelled and I couldn't breathe. Luckily I had liquid Benadryl on hand, which saved the day.
8. Candy. Use candy for hypoglycemia, which usually occurs in individuals with diabetes when there is too little glucose in the blood. A person may feel sweaty and clammy. Candy is a quick fix.
9. Rubbing alcohol...Apply rubbing alcohol to your ear to remove water that may have entered the ear during swimming or showering. By applying to a cotton ball, it will help to evaporate the water trapped inside the ear.
Stay safe so you don't need any of these, but if you do, they could be a lifesaver.
1. Elastic Bandages..Use these for wrapping sprained or strained joints,. Use the RICE method: rest the affected area immediately, ice the area to decrease swelling, compress with elastic bandage, elevate the sprained area. Seek medical attention if needed.
2. Bag of frozen peas...Acts as an ice pack, it is very malieable and can conform to any body part.
3. Neosporin. Use neosporin for cuts and scrapes. Wash any cuts with soap and water, then apply a thin layer of neosporin.
4. Tweezers...Use tweezers for removing stingers or ticks.
5. Credit card...Use the card for scraping off the stinger from a wasp or bee.
6. Aspirin...mixed with water, aspirin creates a paste. Apply this paste to insect bites to help relieve inflammation. If you think you're having a heart attack, call 911, then take an aspirin to prevent blood clotting.
7. Oral antihistamines...use for more serious allergic reactions such as food allergy, plant allergy or hives. Call 911 if you experience swelling in the face, lips, tongue, or throat, or if breathing is compromised in any way. I experienced this myself once when eating shrimp. Everything swelled and I couldn't breathe. Luckily I had liquid Benadryl on hand, which saved the day.
8. Candy. Use candy for hypoglycemia, which usually occurs in individuals with diabetes when there is too little glucose in the blood. A person may feel sweaty and clammy. Candy is a quick fix.
9. Rubbing alcohol...Apply rubbing alcohol to your ear to remove water that may have entered the ear during swimming or showering. By applying to a cotton ball, it will help to evaporate the water trapped inside the ear.
Stay safe so you don't need any of these, but if you do, they could be a lifesaver.
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