Bahia Resort Hotel | San Diego

The Bahia Resort Hotel is a nice tropical getaway on a secluded 14 acre peninsula in San Diego's Mission Bay. It's at a prime vacation location, right on the beach, and minutes from Coronado, Downtown San Diego, La Jolla, and Sea World. The property is huge and fun to walk around in. The staff is ultra friendly and helpful.


The rooms and suites are pretty, and reminded me of an upscale motel room. Most rooms come with a great view, I was in room 623 which was a great location on the second level of the tower hotel. When I opened the sliding doors out to the balcony, you can just see the water of Mission Bay and the smell of the salty sea air. I had a little kitchenette with a small fridge, sink, and oven ( which was used to warm a leftover grilled cheese sandwich from Extraordinary Desserts and a french toast from The Mission restaurant ). The bathrooms are clean, bright, and fully stocked with towels. The rooms were big, with big closets, big flat screen t.v., and big couches. They spare no expense here, and each room came fully stocked with an iHome alarm clock fully capable of plugging in your iPods.


Now if you don't have time to go to Sea World, you don't have to look very far. The Bahia has a seal pool located right at the entrance. Here you won't find Shamu, but you will find Gracie, a friendly Harbor Seal that came to them from the San Diego Zoological Society. Gracie isn't the only wild life you can find here, every now and then you can find ducks quacking about the property.

Now if you order room service, they have a good selection of wine, cocktails, and food. It was my first time ordering room service on my own, and what a treat that was. They told me it would be ready and at my door in 20 minutes. The room service attendant was not only punctual, but really nice and really cared how my stay was going. I ordered the Penne Pasta with Blackened Chicken and garlic bread with crumbled blue cheese and grated parmesan. It was good, and after watching P. Diddy on Ellen with the curtains pulled back overlooking the water, I couldn't help but think how lucky I was, and how much fun it was to eat room service. I forgot to mention that I had a glass of merlot while all this was happening. I learned one thing about room service...do it!


The Tangier Bar is a small and cozy Mediterranean themed bar right near the hotel lobby. It's your standard hotel bar with flat screen t.v.s, but they have a happy hour from 4-7:30 pm. They are open daily from 11:30 am to 2 am.

Now if you get bored you can workout in their small workout room. Or take a stroll. Say hi to Gracie the Harbor seal, or walk along the beach, where you can find wildlife, people doing various water sports, or check out the west side of the peninsula where you will find the Bahia Belle Sternwheeler. Now if you are here on a Friday or Saturday evening, take a ride on it around Mission Bay. Now if you have friend's a few cool ideas would be to start a fire on the beach's many bon fires and sing songs, tell ghost stories, chit chat, or even some impromptu free style rapping. And after you're done you can change into your swim trunks and quietly dive into the heated pool. If that's not hot enough, check out their massive sized jacuzzi. It's open til 11 pm.

The Bahia Hotel resort is a beautiful place to get away, and is a nice break from San Diego's congested Hotel Circle. It's good for families, honeymooners, people on business, and young adults. It's no wonder why it has been a San Diego landmark for over 50 years! Check out their website, it's in depth, honest, and has a cool LiveCam where you can see the premises and the weather in real time!

998 West Mission Bay Drive
San Diego, CA. 92109
Phone: 1.800.576.4229
www.bahiahotel.com

Roppongi | La Jolla

"One of the top five restaurants in San Diego by popularity!" - Zagat Survey


So I went to this amazing Japanese fusion restaurant in beautiful La Jolla called Roppongi. Now Roppongi is a district in Tokyo known for its crazy night life, especially geared for foreigners. I remember strolling through those streets as a teenager. Now from what I remember of the real Roppongi, there is really no resemblance to the restaurant other than the fact that the restaurant has a Japanese theme to it. But I did visit the restaurant during lunch time, and there were only six other patrons there, so that probably had a lot to do with it. I am sure at night this place catches on fire and is hop and poppin just like it's real life inspiration.

Roppongi is a fine dining establishment filled with beautiful Eastern influenced interior design, feng shui, and about a dozen or so Buddha statues strewn about. You can't help but feel very Zen here. It's a beautiful restaurant inside. This is a really good place for vegetarians and for people who want to eat nice, but feel healthy at the end.


On the menu is a great selection of tapas (small dishes) plates. There was Fried Tofu lightly crusted with a ponzu dipping sauce, and a Grilled Portobello Mushroom with Spinach, delicious. I got a Salmon Bento Box which was perfect. Not too much food, but just enough to where I got full. In the Bento Box came Sunomono, Shrimp Gyoza, Seaweed Salad, Ahi Tuna Tartar, and Salmon and rice. You can tell by eating the food a lot of care was put into it.

This place ain't cheap, but every dollar is worth it. The staff is nice, and the service is really good. I've heard that dinner here is amazing and that the sushi and the rolls are works of art. I also hear that the happy hour here is really good and relatively cheap. I definitely recommend this place, there is lots of parking everywhere, and you cannot beat the neighborhood of La Jolla. There is nothing like a nice stroll along the sea air with the view of the ocean after a nice meal. This is a fantastic place for a date or for a small group of friends. There is even a table right next to a fireplace which looked like an ideal place to eat inside.

875 Prospect Ave.
La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: 858.551.5252
www.roppongiusa.com

Surfside Sushi | San Diego

If you love sushi, you will love this place, The Surfside! Located in the heart of San Diego's Pacific Beach district, this neighborhood sushi joint does not disappoint. This is also one of the places I come to frequently when I am down in San Diego. I've never had a problem here when it comes to the food, and the service is friendly and consistent, and they are extremely accommodating to large parties.

You can find the usual sushi items: dynamite, standard rolls ( california, spicy tuna, salmon skin, etc. ),creative house rolls, sashimi, sushi, sake specials, and of course tempura and teriyaki. I usually come here with a huge group, there is something for everyone, whether you're a vegetarian or if you want something cooked and not raw. A bowl of edamame beans is always a great way to start a sushi meal, it comes boiled and lightly salted. For appetizers I highly suggest the Seafood Dynamite, which is a baked dish with rice, vegetables, and seafood topped with a sweet creamy sauce and then baked. I also love the Sea Bass appetizer which just melts in your mouth. As far as the sushi rolls go, all of them are your good standard roll, but the one that sticks out in my mind is their "Crunch Roll!" Oh my goodness, this thing is massive, basically it's a tempura roll covered in a mound of tempura flakes...crunch...and then drizzled with some kind of sweet sauce, I don't know what it is, all I know is that it's friggin good! They have a good selection of beer and sake, and I chose Nigori sake, which was the unfiltered sake and comes in a cloudy milk color. The taste is sweet and light, and reminded me of coconut juice with a little kick to it.



This place is good for celebrating a birthday or just getting together with a bunch of friends. The only negative thing I have to say about this place is the wait. Since it is so popular, getting seated with a big party can take up to an hour. On Mondays they have Happy Hour, which is the best deal because you can get some rolls for half the price. Parking can be tricky as well, there are a lot of metered spots but those get snatched up quick. There are also paid lots where you can park your car for under $8. If the wait is too long, I suggest you stroll down a block to the beach where you can find Tower 23 and get a drink there, or go to Hennesseys ( a pub) where you can get a cheap beer. And after you're done with that drink head on back to The Surfside!

4527 Mission Blvd.
(Between Felspar St. & Garnet Ave.)
San Diego, CA. 92109
Phone: 858.273.2979

Extraordinary Desserts | San Diego

"My sugar is raw, sticky and sweet,
my sugar is raw, sticky and sweet."
-Madonna



This is my absolute favorite place to have dessert in the world! I love Extraordinary Desserts. I remember the first time I came here I was so impressed that I had to come here every time I came to visit San Diego. I love the interior design, the friendly staff, and above all else the food, specifically the dessert! I have been here a handful of times and I am never ever let down. This to me is the high end of desserts without the ridiculous prices. If the desserts here were cars they would be Rolls Royce and Porsches. Everything here is gourmet, from the desserts to the tea selection, to the food.


Chef and Founder Karen Krasne has conceived a artistic culinary gold mine in San Diego. I only wish they had one of these in Los Angeles. From the first step you walk thru their massive glass door, you are blown away by the array of desserts displayed in their case. Each one hand crafted to perfection and served as a work of art. You literally feel like you are eating a 3 dimensional canvas, but even better than the sight of the dessert is the taste. On this particular night a few friends of mine and myself tried the White Chocolate Strawberry Napoleon and the Strawberry Dreams Forever cake... absolutely delicious!


I didn't really have a dinner that night so I ended up ordering a grilled cheese sandwich, which wasn't your typical grilled cheese with cheddar. No, this one had caramelized white onions and emmenthal cheese served with a side of green and black olives.


Extraordinary Desserts is an extraordinary place to bring friends who have never experienced this high end coffee shop. This is the Dean & Deluca of coffee shops. This is also a fantastic place for a late night dessert run, a date, or even a place to escape your worries for an hour or two. Parking a easy after 6 pm its free at the meters, and usually I have never had to walk more than a block to get here.

1430 Union St.
San Diego, CA. 92101
Phone: 619.294.7001
www.extraordinarydesserts.com

JRDN | San Diego

JRDN is one of my favorite restaurants in San Diego. Every time I visit San Diego I have to grab a meal here. Whether it is lunch or dinner, I always end up coming here. I love the interior design, I love the vibe, and most of all, I love the food. The service here is great, always friendly and always consistent.


From the door man, to the hot hostesses, to the happy and attractive wait staff, JRDN is a great place to visit. It's one of those cool "bougie bougie" places you would find in any metropolitan city minus the attitude. This last outing was my first dinner experience at the restaurant and to be honest the experience surpasses dining at lunch here.



On this particular night we came five minutes before closing at 9:55 pm. Yes... we, were that group that restaurant staffs hate, when they come in late, but let me tell you, the hostess and the kitchen / chef were very accommodating and friendly and allowed us to be the last table, which was so nice of them. So tonight we had Wild Mushroom Ravioli, Lobster Bisque, Flat Iron Steak with sauteed mushrooms and Onion Rings, and Shrimp Pasta, washed down with a glass of champagne. I have never been let down by anything at JRDN. Parking is hit or miss, but you can usually get free street parking after 6 pm. And after a meal like this, walking to your car ain't such a bad idea.


Jordan Restaurant
723 Felspar St.
San Diego, CA. 92109
Phone: 858.270.JRDN(5736)
www.jrdn.com

Dewar's Candy Shop | Bakersfield

"My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard,and they're like, its better than yours,damn right its better than yours, i can teach you, but i have to charge." -Kelis

Since 1909 Dewar's Candy Shop and Ice Cream Parlor has been solely responsible for fulfilling the sweet tooth of Bakersfield. Located close to downtown Bakersfield, Dewar's was a gift sent from heaven. As soon as I walked in the joint, the reality of being in Bakersfield slapped me right in the face. I could see why this place has been around for nearly a century, it has so much small town charm. You walk in the entrance and you feel like you are in a scene from a movie. Right away I was in awe of all the kitschy souvenir gifts, stuffed deer head, antique ceiling fans, and local patrons young and old.



They have a wide array of sweet desserts, from the classic banana split to milkshakes, to ice cream sundaes. The service was great and really friendly. But best of all was my two scoop sundae, which consisted of Cookies and Cream and English Toffee, topped with hot fudge, caramelized chopped almonds, and whipped cream. I would go here and skip the health shakes of LA any day. And let me tell you, the prices are amazingly low. Sit at the counter for a memorable experience. I highly recommend Dewar's, it was one of the highlights of my 3 day trek through Bakersfield.

1120 Eye St.
Bakersfield, CA.
Phone: 661.322.0933
www.dewarscandy.com

Little Cave Bar / The York | Highland Park

It was a random Wednesday night and the thought of driving from Mar Vista to Eagle Rock isn't something to really look forward to unless you were celebrating one of your good friend's birthday. Well this night it was my friend Pei's birthday. Now I don't mind driving in L.A. when it's 10 PM and no one is on the freeways. I hopped in my car and put on some great electronica music. Now who ever invented mapquest is a genius, but Highland Park can get confusing, so I used my trusty Thomas Guide. After a few stops to check my maps I found the Little Cave Bar which was awesome. There was free parking everywhere on the street.

To me it was the perfect example of a "Glamour Dive Bar," now you can find these all over L.A. The interior is very dark and it reminded me what a bar would look like if it was Halloween everyday, dark and bats everywhere. I walked in and was greeted with a mix of loud electro clash music and hard rock. Totally appropriate for the scene. The bartender was attentive and nice and sported a mohawk. As a few minutes go by I was brushed with a huge ass ball of fire as the bartender spewed out liquor and ignited a flame right out of his mouth. It was awesome, I've never seen that at a bar, fire breathing bartenders. The place is fun and the drinks are cheap. This bar gets 3 "O"s in the COOOL meter. After an hour of rock music we needed a change of scenery...

5922 N. Figueroa
Los Angeles, CA 90042
Phone: 323.255.6871
www.littlecavebar.com


Proclaimed as, "Highland Park's neighborhood gastropub," the York is a really cool bar. We came here immediately after The Little Cave and it only took a 2 minute drive. We were greeted by a door guy who was friendly. The vibe here is really chill and reminded me of a bar I could find somewhere in Soho in New York City. The atmosphere is dim and is a great place to hang with friends or bring a date to for that last alcoholic night cap. This is a full bar, and you can tell that immediately as you walk in, the selections of liquor was pretty sizeable. They have a few beers on draft and many to choose from. Since it is a "gastropub" they had a menu which served tapas style small plates to bigger plates if you are hungry and came for dinner. The prices are very reasonable and none of the items were over $15. I would definitely come back here! And parking was really easy and free on the street. Los Angeles Magazine hailed it as "one of the best new restaurants in 2007." This bar also gets 3 "O"s on the COOOL meter.

5018 York Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90042
Phone: 323.255.9675
www.theyorkonyork.com