Sublime macaroni - and in my back yard?

To start out this blog, we immediately have to go to the dictionary. Why? because I think too many times we all use words that we truly don't the meaning of them. This one happens to be the name of the restaurant: Sublime Pizza

sub·lime (s-blm)

adj.

1. Characterized by nobility; majestic.

2

    a. Of high spiritual, moral, or intellectual worth.

    b. Not to be excelled; supreme.

3. Inspiring awe; impressive.

Simply put, this macaroni was impressive. I took my two girls here, after noticing a sign that said they offered over 15 flavors (types) of macaroni and cheese. These being my kids, they wanted nothing but the plain ol' fashion kind - named and ordered here as the "Purity". A little of mozarella, Béchamel sauce, and some white cheddar round out the cheeses used in their dish. Cooked perfectly and served hot, the kids could hardly wait for me to take an untainted photo. The top was browned just enough to have that crunching toppting that we all fight over - kind of like the crispy flakes and sides on a Thanksgiving Turkey baked to perfection. Ten minutes later, my daughter pushed her plate back and said "that was amazing", my other daughter "yummy, let's come back here". That is exactly what I like to hear, and have to agree. We'll be coming back to Sublime to try the other flavors and see just how good they hold to this recipe.

Sublime Pizza - www.sublimepizza.com/  Located in 4S Ranch area of San Diego

Starlight star bright... enjoy your dinner here tonight - San Diego

The Starlight is one of those places that, if you've lived in San Diego, have definitely passed a hundred or more times, but have you gone in yet? Just up from the airport and down the street from El Indio - is the Starlight.  This has become a favorite of mine - quaint retro styling, and servers that seem to be people you just want to invite to sit down with you and chat. The produce and products come largely from local places (so I'm told) and if you choose to come - make sure you have a reservation or be prepared to wait. It has two great bars - a swanky one up front for people watching, and one out back for those evenings that being outside in San Diego makes living here and paying high property tax all worth it.

Ok, so I digress... the Macaroni and Cheese here is a staple. They don't sway too much from the standard noodles and cheese - but it is always made perfectly and comes served at the right temperature. As you read my blog you will see that I tend to like those that blend other ingredients, but this will suffice! The cheeses taste like a blend of feta, parmesan and cheddar - but it is only my guess. The topping is a blend of bread crumbs browned and allows for the heat to be kept inside until you want to eat. As  you can see we couldn't wait for the picture to be taken, so a couple bites have exposed the creamy sauce just waiting to be savored. We paired this with a bottle of Cab Franc and an arugula apple salad. All amazing.

Here is the full version of the poem:
Star Light Star bright,
The first star I see tonight,
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have the wish I wish tonight.
(19th Century Poem)


I think I got my wish that night...


Starlight  www.starlitesandiego.com/


Disclaimer: no one knows I write this blog when I go in... no one gives me "free Mac and Cheese" and certainly does not pay for what I write.  However, if you want to, feel free to contact me!

The one that started it all... Willi's Wine Bar (Santa Rosa)

This is a travel piece of sorts... not San Diego, but many people go up the coast to Sonoma County I just had to include it.  I had mentioned it previously below (um, yes... a year ago - apologies to my 2 followers!)


Just north of Santa Rosa is a tiny little place, that in ~2002 became Willi's Wine Bar. I was living up there at the time, and just happened to go in for a "quick bite" when I found that they had a Mac and Cheese on their menu. I seem to remember asking them if this was for the kids, and the reply was... "oh no... this is no kid's macaroni".  Since it is a wine bar I ordered some wine, salad and then asked for the Macaroni. It was like nothing else I have tasted. The cheeses were subtle and not over powering. In the perfectly baked dish was not only macaroni but at that time I remember, baby tomotoes, onion, and even some cauliflower. It was perfect. To top it off it was baked to perfection - you know when you have to slightly tap the top of the macaroni to get to the gooey noodles and insides... this was that!


A trip back over the summer (yes, my blogging is months behind, again) yielded the same experience. The picture above is from the summer - I paired it with some asparagus and an Arnold Palmer. I am salivating just thinking about it. It is a must stop if you are traveling anywhere near the wine country. www.williswinebar.net


On a side note... I was recently wandering the streets of Paris, France - when to my surprise, I was standing in front of Willi's Wine Bar. I found out that this place had been a expat mainstay for over twenty years. Since it was somewhere near lunch time, I went it and had lunch. No macaroni... but the filet mignon, wine, salad and of course french bread made up for it. Tres bien, magnifique!  I am sure the Santa Rosa establishment is aware of the Paris location as they had a similar logo - never confirmed any relationship - so if anyone is reading my blogs and wants to ask - please comment!  www.williswinebar.com


Willi's gets the highest rating... 

Take Solace in something Urban - Northpark

First of all, the picture I have taken her is terrible - sorry about that... my BlackBerry flash decided to stop working completely.  The night I got this delicious (but small) cup of M&C was a strange one. I was not planning on going to Urban Solace, but at a switch of a moments notice, dropped in to sit at the bar, have some biscuits, glass of wine, and try the mac and cheese. It was raining this evening (yes this is one of my older posts I was mentioning - from late April) and I was painting just down the street at the Art Academy.

The M&C was deliciously filled with baby tomatos, onion and rather heavily sprinkled with breadcrumbs. When I mixed it all together that made every bit taste a bit of bread crumbs, so I was unable to single out the cheese flavors from the past from the onion - you get the picture. Regardless - the small cup was worthy of a second visit that I manage a month or two later. At that visit my sister took part in the duckaroni - a M&C infused with duck. I only had one bite of that, so will have to visit again to do a 'round 2 writeup'.

If your in the area, this is definitely a must visit, but with the tavern right around the corner - it will have to increase it's portion to keep up.

Urban Solace is located in Northpark, just south of University on 30th.

urbansolace.net

One of San Diego's Finest - Cafe Chloe

I would have to say that this has to be one of my favorite restaurants serving macaroni and cheese that I have ever been to - with exception of Willi's Wine Bar in Santa Rosa -soon to be written up in my new "travel" section :).  Cafe Chloe always delivers the freshest, hottest, and most well balanced mac and cheese. Their recipe consists of a simple pasta and cheese combination with bread crumbs and bacon cubes, baked to perfection.   I have never been let down by getting this dish here - once you have this, venture on to trying anything on the menu and you will be happy!

A little known fact is if you are by yourself - order the half size or "kids portion" as the larger portion is just too much of a good thing. I pair this with a green salad, side of bread, and an Arnold Palmer that is to die for - lemonade mixed with some sort of lavender ice tea.

Cafe Chloe is located downtown San Diego (9th and G streets)

Cafechloe.com

Dining at Donovans (with child in tow)

Donovans is more know for their exquisite steaks and wine offerings than their pasta ala fromage, so when I met a client at Donovans and just happened to have my daughter with me, we had to try the mac and cheese. I thought - what a great idea... we'll use it as a one of our kid surveys. What we found was mac and cheese that on any other day would pass as sufficient, but that night we went it was far less so. The pasta and cheese was not worthy, it was dried out, and tasteless. I thought for sure we would get something that could be paired with a fine chardonay, yet maybe mixing milk in would have been better. To top it off the heat lamp or last few minute broil cooked the top a little too much - and you all now by now how much I enjoy baked M&C...  For the kids, it was ok, a little bland, but for one of the lower priced meals on the menu it will be ok.

Donavans is located in UTC area, also known as Golden Triangle (La Jolla)

Holy Cow! Fried Macaroni Balls

Bonnie Jean's gave a different form to the macaroni and cheese - that is fried, and in a ball! I was a little skeptical at first, but these were delicious. I had them as an appetizer, not know how large the portions were going to be of fried chicken, fried pickles and fried corn. So... you probably sense a trend here - at Bonnie Jean's it all about the fried food - though my lunch partner had a good bowl of ox tail. Back to the macaroni... the innerds of the ball were very good, creamy and simple yet flavorful cheesy taste. The outer breading was a little much after the first ball, and I ended up scooping out the M&C for the second too. 

This review was at "Bonnie Jean's Soul Food Cafe", Bonniejeansoulfood.com, in San Diego (note: The staff and restaurant are nice, but located not in the best area of town, so I would suggest lunch!)