Mangoes & Mussels

Going out on a whim is always such a gamble, hence why we have food-finding apps on our smartphones these days.  But sometimes walking into a place you just happen to stumble upon can turn into a tasty surprise.

Having class cancelled always brings about last minute plans, normally to get food.  Today, a close friend of mine and I decided to celebrate the freedom with a drive to La Jolla.  While walking along Prospect Street, chatting about our luck and soaking in some sun, we decided to eat at the next cafe we'd come across.  Being in La Jolla, I braced myself - and my wallet - but much to our surprise we found a nice place, with a great view, and decent breakfast and lunch prices.

Il Covo, La Jolla

Il Covo is a little hard to spot along the street. The restaurant is actually above street level, with a tucked away staircase leading to the patio dining area.  But there's a reason for the second level dining - the view is fantastic...

View from the patio - Il Covo

The Meal

To start, Eve and I shared a plate of fresh papaya, melon, and mango.

Papaya, Melon, Mango Plate - $6 @ Il Covo

The fruit was refreshing, sweet, and drizzled with honey. Every bite came with a splash of cool, natural juice - the perfect refreshment when you're sitting in the sun. 

Now although they serve breakfast until 1pm, I was in the mood for a savory lunch.  I decided on spaghetti con cozze (spaghetti with black mussels). 

Spaghetti con Cozze - $9 @ il Covo

Now this dish was bursting with flavor! The sauce - a slightly spicy marinara - had an abundance of stewed grape tomato halves and whole cloves of garlic, that made their way into just about every bite.  The pasta was cooked al dente, and the mussels retained a lot of the juices of the sauce (specifically the robust garlic flavor), giving a nice blend of spices and seafood.

Try Some, Won't You?

If you find yourself in La Jolla around lunchtime, and you don't want to break budget for a nice lunch with a view, check out Il Covo (map it). Parking, of course, is on the street so be prepared to do a little walking, but why not take advantage of the opportunity to stroll in the sun and feel that light sea breeze on your sun-kissed skin? 

Until next bite, savor the flavor my friends! 

Happy Belly After Happy Family

There's something exciting about trips to Asian supermarkets. Maybe it's the shelves stocked full of goods with labels I can't understand. Or perhaps the crazy old women running you off the side of the aisle with their carts. I thoroughly enjoy perusing the fresh meats & produce - there's always something that looks like it was harvested off of Mars. All these exotic eats look awesome, but how in the world do I prepare this package of something that resembles a squid? Honestly, I don't know what to do with it, but for some reason I want it.

Alas, there's my favorite aspect of an Asian supermarket - the food court. Instead of attempting to make something out of these foreign goods, I like to let the experts handle the preparation. For lunch today, I brought my mom to Zion Marketplace, an authentic Korean supermarket on Mercury Road off of the 163 freeway.  After perusing the aisles filled with various Korean imported goods, we settled down in the small food court right outside the market.

Happy Family

Of the two food stations available, I suggest trying the Korean option on the left (come on, you are in a Korean market).  Happy Family offers a nice selection of various traditional Korean dishes, all for under $10/dish.  

The Meal

After walking through the meat section of the market, I decided to satisfy my cravings and order the bulgogi (marinated barbecue beef) plate for $7.99. 

Bulgogi Plate - $7.99 @ Happy Family

The meat was tender and juicy, with the slight crunch of sauteed onions in each bite. Although it's not in the picture, I drizzled on the house hot sauce, which reminded me of sriracha, for a delicious kick - not too hot, but if you go for it, try a small bit on the side before drenching your meat.  The gyoza (fried dumpling) on the side was paired perfectly with the slightly spicy sauce in the center of the box. The soup was a simple, subtle broth that blended well with the rice and meat.

Mom ordered the traditional dolsot bibimbap (mixed rice cooked in stone pot) for $8.99.  I can't say too much about it, since I didn't get a chance to try it, but I thought this photo might get your mouths watering.

Dolsot Bibimbap - $8.99 @ Happy Family

On the bottom left of the photo, you'll notice a sampling of different kimchi.  After looking around the other tables in the food court, I've come to the conclusion that this little plate of goodness comes with just about every order.

Kimchi Sides - included @ Happy Family

The radish, cucumbers (I think?), and cabbage were so fresh! They all still had a nice crunch to them with each bite.  The cucumbers and cabbage were quite spicy; the radish was mild.  This little plate made the meal that more flavorful and authentic.

Try Some, Won't You?

If you're craving Korean food and don't want to break your budget at some of the popular KBBQ places in the area, give Happy Family a try! It's located in the Zion Marketplace (map it). Parking can get a bit crazy, especially during peak shopping hours (e.g. weekends), so take advantage of the "additional parking" lot across the street. But don't just go for the meal, soak in the culture, peruse the aisles of the market, try some Korean soda (or soju if you prefer) and enjoy the imported flavors that surround you.  

Until next bite, savor the flavor my friends!

Purpose: Eat & Share

Mission: Find. Eat. Photograph. Share. 

Greetings Fellow Foodie,

I'm so glad to have met you along this culinary journey of sorts.  I find it important - obligatory perhaps - that I introduce myself and my purpose here on the interwebs.

The premise of this journey is simple - eat & share. I find that so many people, particularly in my twenty-somethings age range have forgotten that food is an art to be enjoyed and shared by all. The pre-packaged, on-the-go, value "meal" is everywhere. Or how about those "don't eat this" or "eating ___ will induce early adult-onset-diabetes"warnings we hear all over the place.

"No ____ added!"..."____ diet friendly!"..."Only ____ calories!" STOP!

Why is there so much rhetoric surrounding food? Shouldn't the smell or taste just speak for itself? I believe that food should be eaten and appreciated, not limited and restricted in any aspect. It is, after all, a life saving and sustaining force.  Global unity stemmed from the desire to trade food, or more specifically flavor. Spices, grains, fruits, vegetables... the list goes on and on. Your corner grocery store (and America as we know it today) is the result of the age-long search for flavor (among other things, and no I don't want to go into the politics surrounding trade...)

Eat & Share

Now if I could, I'd share a bite of my findings with you, wherever you are, whoever you are. What is knowledge if it is not shared, right? Well until someone at Apple Inc. invents smell/taste-o-vision for the next iGadget, my photos and my word will have to do... I will do my best to cover as many courses and categories as possible, with as small of a bill as possible. Each post will (ideally) contain the following:

- mouthwatering pictures
- names of dishes
- prices
- & where you can get the flavorful find

It seems the possibilities are endless, and I do hope that is the case. I'm glad we're taking this adventure together. Please feel free to comment and share your own findings. Together we'll enjoy what we eat.

Until next bite, savor the flavor my friends.