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Following Rachael Ray way to see
varied sights of San Diego
By SANDRA KELLY
SAN DIEGO – Since I have family in San Diego, I’ve visited there fairly often, but perhaps the time that was the most unusual fun was when I used a “Rachael Ray $40 a Day” show as a guidebook.
Were those places and the menu items Rachael ordered really as she presented? I wanted to know.
Since I was house sitting for on Coronado Island and had a car and plenty of time available, I set out to have breakfast at Big Kitchen, lunch at Point Loma Seafood and dinner at Old Town Mexican Café. On that show Rachael also cooled off at Moontime Creamery, but I never made it there. Nor did I visit all three of the other places in one day.
I did eat on less than $40 for all three, but no one could comfortably consume the meals she featured in one day. Remember, Rachael just nibbles on camera. Besides, rushing around to eat would mean missing other good stuff. The variety of locations for the restaurants featured presented me opportunities to stop by some of San Diego’s best known and lesser known attractions.
Breakfast at Big Kitchen
Big Kitchen is near Balboa Park, site of the San Diego Zoo. The place frankly looks a bit seedy upon first glance, like many popular local spots in cities. But, on what atmosphere it has. This place was selected one of the Best Neighborhood Restaurants in 2002 by Bon Appetit. On the morning I visited several local characters were seated around the counter, chatting about the mundane specific to people who see each other regularly. In front of each was a scrumptious looking plate of food.
Big Kitchen has menu items named for celebrities who eat there; the Whoopie (Goldberg) is a straight forward, eggs, bacon, potatoes, toast and orange juice. Among omelet selections is one made with tofu. You can even check out the menu in advance at the restaurant’s website.
Once you are stuffed – and you will be if you eat everything on your breakfast plate – it’s time to hit the San Diego Zoo or browse the museums in Balboa Park. My first trip to the San Diego Zoo was an all-day marathon, but since then I take it in small parts. It is more fun to really stop and watch the animals and not zoom by to the next exhibit.
Likewise, you should take time to visit Balboa Park’s gardens and 15 museums, which also cannot be seen in a hurry. Through Dec. 31, the San Diego Museum of Natural History Museum is hosting an exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
In other words, allow at least one day for the Big Kitchen area.
Point Loma
Lunch with Rachael was at Point Loma Seafoods near the San Diego International Airport and a variety of parks with fascinating exhibits, benches for sitting and watching the water craft or trails for walking.
Point Loma Seafoods purchases seasonal seafood from local fishermen and stocks such an array of fish and shellfish that the display cases are works of art. You can buy the raw product to take home to cook or order from the menu and sit outside to eat and sightsee.
The atmosphere at Point Loma Seafoods is casual and energetic; likely you’ll wait in line to get served, but it’s worth it. The place recently added sushi, too. Check out its website, which has a video on filleting fresh fish.
The Point Loma area is one of the more beautiful sections of San Diego if you like being outside in a leisurely setting. It’s also beautiful to sail near, which I did one year as I watched the America’s Cup boats practicing when the U.S. still held that cup. Special points of interest in this area include the Old Point Loma Lighthouse in the Cabrillo National Monument Park, which honors Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo who arrived there in 1542.
In this same area, you can also visit the Cancer Survivors Park installed by the Bloch Foundation and dedicated in 2002. The walk and its art make it a restful and thoughtful place. Among its appeal are message stations that offer standard advice to anyone diagnosed with cancer, such as “Get a second opinion.”
Café in Old Town
On the third day, I sought out Rachael Ray’s Old Town Mexican Café, but not until I had strolled through Old Town San Diego and listened to a free concert.
At Old Town Mexican Café, the preparation of the food is part of the attraction, both to diners and to the passers-by who gather at the window to watch the “Tortilla Ladies” prepare the breads. The women made some 7,000 prepared-from-scratch corn and flour tortillas a day, according to the restaurant management.
It takes time to savor the atmosphere at this restaurant and its impressive margaritas. No matter what you order, you likely will not be able to eat everything on the plate put before you. Servings are generous and colorful, suitable for a dinner in California’s first city.
Yes, the food was as “yummy” as Rachael says.
Ferry ride
While I used a car to get to the restaurants, I could have traveled via public transportation, even from the island of Coronado. A ferry runs regularly from the pier in Coronado across San Diego Harbor to downtown. Its dock across the bay is close to restaurants and a downtown mall. A ride on the ferry also provides a closer look at North Island Naval Base and any carrier in town since the ferry makes a stop at the base.
In San Diego Harbor, you will find results of the city’s “Urban Trees” public art project. Each year, artists are invited to submit a proposal for a tree sculpture that will be installed along the harbor. The creations are whimsical and colorful.
Coronado
Although there are plenty of places to stay along the harbor in San Diego, anyone who wants a truly relaxing atmosphere, but still have access to all the attractions, might Coronado Island appealing. Accommodations range from the redone Del Coronado (very pricey, and coincidentally owned by the same company that just bought The Homestead in Hot Springs, Va.) to several smaller inns, such as Crown City Inn & Bistro, a dog friendly place where I stayed on a recent trip.
If you do check out Coronado, visit Coronado Brewing Company restaurant on a Tuesday night. Kids eat free then and a magician entertains. Another good spot to eat, especially for Sunday morning breakfast, is at the clubhouse restaurant at the public golf course.
At the very least, if you are staying on the mainland take the ferry to Coronado for a visit. Bike and buggy rentals are available near the landing.
Resources
Port of San Diego
Midway Museum
Maritime Museum
Rachael’s Restaurants:
Old Town Mexican Cafe
Point Loma Seafoods
The Big Kitchen
Rachael Ray
Map
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