Number 160:

Milton's Delicatessen:

This place is just across the freeway from the Del Mar Fairgrounds and I've been meaning to get up there to check it out for a couple of years now (good deli is hard to find here).

Before we left (the wife had a catering gig in Rancho Santa Fe), I looked at their web site and reviews of the place on Yelp and other related web sites. Most said it was pricey (it is) and a number of people didn't care for the service but I had no problem with it.

I had intended on ordering any different number of things but ended up having the French Dip as the waitress assured me that I could get well done roast beef.

The fries were room temperature when my order came (delivered by another employee). I've always said a server should "run" her own food and this is exactly why: the person dropping the order could care less and isn't impacted by a customer leaving a smaller tip...

The meat was good (and a generous serving), they make their own breads inhouse and it was good too (as was the au jus), the iced tea flowed nicely and besides a short wait (less than 5 minutes) to be seated and the cold fries, I'd go back again, if I find myself up that way, 35 miles north of here.

The total for the sandwich and iced tea was $18 and coin, make it an even $22 with tip...

Their web site: http://www.miltonsdeli.com/

A BOOK I HAD BEEN WORKING ON:

Grilled Ribeye Steak Sandwich with Mushrooms, Mayo & Poppy Seed Roll

Chili Cheese Dog...

Pork Tenderloin Sandwich

Cheeseburger

Italian Sub Sandwich

Mushroom Cheesesteak with extra white American cheese

Italian Sausage Sandwich

NOTE: Click on photos for a larger version

I'm putting together a small cook book about what we eat for lunch.

It started 10+ years ago, when we lived in Squarefield. I'd jump in the truck, drive around town, looking for something, anything new or different to eat. Maybe I'd forgotten a place or something new had opened, anything...

Normally, I'd drive the loop, find nothing and go home disgusted.

It's not much different here in San Diego, a collection of maybe 40 towns the size of Squarefield, just pushed together. It's a fairly large place, there are a number of bright spots but the problem is everything is also 20 miles away.

Of course, that leads to jumping in the truck, checking out this town again and then going home to pout when I don't find anything...

I also tell people that the book is for guys who work at home, retired guys, guys under house arrest, guys who are problem drinkers, shut ins, etc.

There are 30+ items on the list, I have a great title and theme, we've tested all of these recipes and I'm now shooting them in high resolution for print...

THE LIST:
1) Beef Tacos
2) BLT
3) Brats & Beer
4) Burger (numerous styles)
5) Chicken (or Turkey) Salad
6) Chili / cornbread
7) Chili Cheese Dog
8) Chili Cheese Dog Burrito
9) Cheesesteak
10) Club Sandwich
11) Corn Dogs
12) Egg Salad
13) Fruit Salad & Cottage Cheese
14) Grilled Cheese
15) Ham & Swiss on Rye
16) Ham, Lettuce & Tomato
17) Ham Salad
18) Hot Dog (different buns, toppings, etc)
19) Italian Beef Sandwich
20) Italian Sub
21) Italian Sausage Sandwiches
22) Muffaletta
23) Panini
24) Pizzadilla
25) Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
26) Portobello Mushroom Sandwich
27) Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwich
28) Roast Beef Sandwich
29) Salami & Cheese Sandwich
30) Steak Sandwich
31) Turkey with lettuce, tomato & mayo
32) Tuna California
33) Tuna Salad
34) Tuna Spectaculare
35) Tuna Stuffed Tomato

Other Possibles:
Corned Beef on Rye
Pastrami
Rueben
Monte Cristo

UPDATE: Unfortunately, I had to cancel this project recently...

OUR REGULAR MENU:

Beef:
Beef Stew
Hot Roast Beef Sandwiches
Roast Beef Dinner, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
Roast Beef Hash
Shredded Beef Enchiladas
Shredded Beef Tacos

Steak:
Cheese Steaks
Cube Steak
Filet Mignon with Shallot Sauce
Rib Eye Steak
Salisbury Steak
Shish Kebabs
Sirloin Tips
Skirt Steak Fajitas
Smoked Brisket
Smoked Steaks
Swiss Steak
Teriyaki Steak

Ground Beef:
Chili
Ground Beef Tacos
Hamburgers
Meat Loaf
Spaghetti
Stuffed Bell Peppers

Sausage:
Brats in Beer
Chili Cheese Dogs
Corn Dogs
Hot Dogs
Italian Sausage Sandwiches
Kielbasa with Cabbage & Potatoes

Other:
Calzone
Pizza

Pork:
BBQ Pork Sandwiches
BBQ Ribs
Chop Suey
Ham (baked or fried)
Ham Hocks & Beans
Honey Mustard Pork Roast
Pork Chops
Roast Pork
Ribs & Kraut

Chicken:
Beer Can Chicken
BBQ Chicken
Chicken & Dumplings
Coconut Chicken Wraps
Fried Chicken
Salsa Chicken Packets
Roast Chicken
Rotisserie Chicken

Turkey:
Club Sandwiches
Hot Turkey Sandwiches
Roast Turkey, Dressing & Gravy
Turkey Sandwiches

Fish:
Bacon Wrapped Scallops
Catfish
Crab
Red Snapper
Halibut
Lobster
Mesquite Prawns
Prawns with Bacon on a Skewer
Salmon Patties
Trout

Chinese / Japanese:
Beef Tempura
Black Bean Chicken
Cashew Chicken
Fried Rice
Szechwan Shrimp
Tempura Vegetables

Appetizers:
Chips & Guacamole
Chips & Salsa
Deviled Eggs
Green Onion Fritters
Green Onion Pancakes
Nachos
Quesadillas
Salami, Cheese, Crackers & Fruit
Shrimp and Chorizo Quesadillas
Shrimp Scampi
Spring Rolls
Wonton Wrapped Shrimp

Soup:
Cioppino
Egg Flower Soup
French Onion Soup
Hot & Sour Soup
Potato Leek Soup
Shrimp Wonton Soup
Spicy Potato Soup
Tortilla Soup
Vegetable Beef Soup

Salad:
3 Weenie Salad
Chef Salad
Chinese Chicken Salad
Cole Slaw
Cottage Cheese & Fruit
Crab Louie
Cucumber & Onions
Fruit Salad
Garden Salad
Heck of a Jicama Salad
Jicama & Peppers Salad
Mexican Tuna Salad
Moon’s Pasta Salad
Persian Salad
Potato Salad
Shrimp Salad
Slightly Asian Cole Slaw
Wilted Lettuce Salad

Pasta, Potatoes & Rice:
Baked Potatoes
Baked Sweet Potatoes
Candied Sweet Potatoes
Egg Noodles
Fettuccine Alfredo
Fiery Angel Hair Pasta
French Fries
Green Onion Rice
Hash Browns
Macaroni & Cheese
Mashed Potatoes
Pan Fried Potatoes
Pasta with Marinara Sauce
Pasta with Pesto Sauce
Spaghetti with Tomatoes, Capers, Olives & Anchovies
Steamed Rice
Wild Rice
Yams

Side Dishes:
Apple Fritters
Apple Sauce
Artichokes
Asparagus
Baked Beans
Black Beans
Broccoli
Brussel Sprouts
Cauliflower
Cherry Tomatoes sautéed with Red Wine Vinegar
Corn on the Cob
Creamed Corn
Fried Apples
Green Beans
Green Beans a la Romano
Grilled Veggies
Lima Beans
Peas
Pork & Beans
Refried Beans
Roasted Bell Peppers with Balsamic Vinegar
Sauer Kraut
Sautéed Mushrooms
Sautéed Cherry Tomatoes
Stuffed Mushrooms
Whole Kernel Corn
Zucchini

Bread:
Baguette
Biscuits
Ciabatta
Corn Bread
French Bread
Focaccia
Garlic Bread
Sour Dough
Rolls

Dessert:
Bananas Foster (flambé, on the grill, microwave versions)
Banana Pudding
Brownies
Cookies (Lemon Ginger, Date Nut, etc)
Fudge
Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Strawberry Cheesecake
Strawberry Shortcake

Sandwiches:
BLT
Black Forest Ham
Burgers
Cheese Steaks
Club Sandwich
Egg Salad
Fried Ham Sandwich with Lettuce, Tomato, Mayo & Mustard
Good Earth Tuna
Grilled Cheese
Ham & Swiss / Grilled Ham & Cheese
Ham Salad
Portobello Mushroom Sandwich
Roast Beef Sandwich
Salami & Cheese Sandwich
Steak Sandwich with Grilled Onions
Submarine Sandwich
Turkey Sandwich

Breakfast:
Bacon
Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast
Eggs
French Toast
Grits
Ham
Hickory Smoked Ham & Red Eye Gravy
Oatmeal
Omelets
Pancakes
Sausage Links
Sausage Patties
Toast
Waffles

No. 159

The TJ Hot Dog

The Champion's Booth

The Tap Out

LUCHA LIBRE (Mexican wrestling, if the term seems familiar):

And I finally had my first Tijuana style hot dog today (no way I'd eat off of a cart down there), 5 years after we got here...

We'd deliberately stopped by this place to check the hot dogs out ($1.50) and the rest is strictly gratuitous. The (skinless) all beef dog and bun were generic but the full condiment attack made the difference (mayo, mustard, catsup, bacon, sauteed onions, red & green bell peppers). It was amusing despite the cheap ingredients and we may do this experiment at home soon.

The wife ordered the deluxe chicken taco, the Tap Out, with grilled chicken & veggies (spiced fajita style), Poblano sauce & avocado slices - $3.25.

And they also have Mexican Coke (with real cane sugar) in the 12 ounce glass bottles and the whole thing only cost us $7.00.

None of it was bad and the decor was quite amusing (think El Asso Wipo), but it's just one of many in an ocean of taco shops in this town and neither of us would go back.

Their web site: www.tacosmackdown.com

No. 158

Chicken tamale with chili verde sauce, beans & rice...


Shredded beef taco (done the right way)...

EL INDIO:

Today, it was a 2-for-1 kind of day. When I went to pick the wife up after work, we decided to check out a couple of places a block apart.

The first is well known by the tourists, has been in business since 1940 and was recently featured on TV Food Network's "Diners, Drive Ins & Dives".

We had their shredded beef taco, a chicken tamale with chili verde sauce, beans, rice and a Coke ($11.98).

The wife tells me the masa was wonderful, maybe the best she's ever had (they make it all there and are also known for their home made chips). The taco was wonderfully authentic (notice the crumbled cheese), taking me back to how it was when I first got stationed here (1969).

The rice was light and airy and well flavored and the beans are as good as I've ever had and we both agree that we'll be back...

Their web site: http://www.el-indio.com/

UPDATE: We stopped by again a few days later, had another beef taco, the wife had the fish taco and we split a beef enchilada as well. We'll be back at least once more for the Boy to check the place out. It's a little out of our way but we'll stop by if we know we'll be in the neighborhood...