A Visit to a Little Italy Restaurant - Trattoria Fantastica

A visit to Little Italy in San Diego is a real treat, whether you choose to simply stroll and take in the atmosphere, or better yet dine, shop and explore all that Little Italy has to offer. 

A recent visit was both a visual and a gustatory delight. 

As a self-confessed foodie, dining out is always a pleasure. And finding a Little Italy Restaurant like Trattoria Fantastica where we could dine streetside to take in the views was a most pleasant surprise. 

Trattoria Fantastica, one of 7 restaurants by the Busalacchi family, is a casual, comfortable eatery with a wonderful Sicilian-influenced dinner menu...a fine selection of antipasti, pastas, pizzas, seafood and other dishes. Dining and the service at Trattoria Fantastica FELT like Italy, and the food was excellent. 

My pasta dish - Affumicato - was outstanding. Idaho Potato Gnocchi, Smoked Chicken, Sun Dried Tomato, Peas, and Pink Cream. We opted for take out cannoli because we had overindulged. 

Little Italy's Trattoria Fantastica is a great value - a winning combination of charm rustic décor, great service and wonderful food in the heart of Little Italy. 

Trattoria Fantastica is located at 1735 India Street just below the Little Italy arch. Call  (619) 234-1735 or email (info@trattoriafantastica.com) for more information or reservations.

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All content copyright © 2010 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

 Mission Trails Regional Park in San Diego CA is a 5800 acre urban park about 8 miles northeast of downtown San Diego, affording residents and visitors a wonderful opportunity for hiking, walking, mountain biking and discovering the flowers, trees and wildlife that inhabit the area. 

Mission Trails Regional Park was occupied by the Kumeyaay and the Visitor and Interpretive Center provides an excellent educational opportunity to learn more about these Native Americans with reading materials, classes, displays and more.

The Mission Trails Regional Park is also the site of the Old Mission Dam and Lake Murray, where boating is allowed. There are miles of trails for hiking and beautiful vistas. 

Mission Trails Regional Park is easily reached just a few miles from the 8 freeway, off Mission Gorge Road.

I had the opportunity to spend some time at Balboa Park yesterday with some out-of-town family. This is part of a terrific sculpture outside one of the many museums in the park.

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All content copyright © 2010 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

Sometimes you get more out of the visuals than a lot of commentary.

For a place like Balboa Park in San Diego, California, with a reputation as one of the nation's largest cultural urban parks, this is so true. With 15 museums, a variety of gardens, wonderful theatres, stunning architecture, and lots of green space Balboa Park near the downtown area is a real treat, even if you only have time to walk around.

William Johnson also wrote a wonderful post about the Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park - do stop by and check it out.

Enjoy the tour. Perhaps it will wet your appetite to visit fabulous Balboa Park sometime.

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 If I can provide more information about San Diego real estate and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

All content copyright © 2010 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits 

This buiding has fascinated me from the first time I saw it when out showing property in San Diego. I had been by it 3 or 4 times but there was never a good time to stop and snap a pic since I had clients following me.

Today was the day...and I drove out of my way as I headed home to snare the photo.

This is the Tower Building - it houses the Tower Tattoo Parlor (which is actually a restaurant and a tattoo joint)

AND The Tower Bar.

Turns out The Tower Bar is pretty popular - check out the Yelp reviews. They have a website but I couldn't get it to load. In any case this building is certainly one of the more unusual in the area.

They are located at 4757 University Avenue in San Diego.

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If I can provide more information about San Diego real estate and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

All content copyright © 2010 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

The Andrews Gallery in Leucadia (Encinitas) recently moved to new digs downtown. It is sad to see the Gallery, and director/owner Drew Snyder, leave the area. 

Andrews Gallery added so much to the artistic community in Encinitas and we will miss them. From their wonderful art exhibits, musician, and art openings, Andrews Gallery made a significant mark that will not be soon forgotten. 

And it's sad to see the building standing empty once again.

But the move for Andrews Gallery is a very good one - they are now housed in the heart of Little Italy in San Diego, a burgeoning area of shopping, galleries and restaurants. And I have no doubt the stellar shows that Drew curates will continue to impress, and their reputation in the artist community will continue to grow.

I have gotten to know Drew pretty well during their 16 months in Leucadia, and I see even greater things ahead for Andrews Gallery and look forward to watching them prosper. 

If you are a friend of Andrews Gallery, be sure to visit them in their new digs downtown. And if you haven't gotten to know them, then you certainly should. Their first show in the new place JUST opened on Tuesday, February 23. 

The Andrews Gallery can be found at 2400 Kettner, Arts Complex #212, San Diego, CA 92101, (817) 235-2404.

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If I can provide more information about San Diego real estate and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.

All content copyright © 2010 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

Yes, it's true. Foodies in San Diego are getting excited. 

Restaurant Week will hit San Diego January 17^th(that's THIS Sunday) and lasts until Friday January 22nd. 

San Diego Restaurant Week is a terrific way to dine at your old favorites, or explore some new eateries with special menus and reduced prices. No tickets are needed but because of the popularity of this event, reservations are pretty darn important (probably essential). 

The San Diego Restaurant Week website gives you the opportunity to search for places to eat by cuisine, location, price and name. There are dozens of restaurants (over 180) participating with a wide range of food styles and prices ($20, $30 and $40 for 3 course meals). Many restaurants are downtown but they go as far north as BlueFire Grill in La Costa/Carlsbad (walking distance from MY house) and a number of places in Del Mar.

Orange County and Los Angeles (offers 2 weeks) also offer their own restaurant weeks:

Orange County Restaurant Week

Dine LA Restaurant Week

So take your appetite for good food and try out one, or more, of the great places to dine in San Diego during Restaurant Week, January 17 through the 22^nd.

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All content copyright © 2010 Jeff Dowler "The California Relocation Dude" Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

Being a foodie, I gravitate toward new restaurants, dining out, and just eating in general. San Diego surprisingly has quite a selection of restaurants, many of which are not celebrity chef eateries, nor on the list of the Best Places to Eat on Zagat. But if you are interested in culinary tours in San Diego, A Taste of San Diego tour is well worth your time and money, and lots of fun, to explore some of the non-mainstream places to eat.

A Taste of San Diego is a culinary tour in San Diego that will surprise, and delight you - here's why!

A Taste of San Diego is not a tour of the tourist spots, or the restaurants owned by celebrity chefs. In fact, chances are you won't have heard of these places and they likely aren't in the guide books, with few exceptions.

But the locals know. And these restaurants have been in business for a significant amount of time in most cases (one as long as 76 years!!)...without the benefit of websites (again, a few exceptions), glitzy interiors, and food that looks like it stepped off the pages of Gourmet with prices to match.

So, if you:

• Are looking for a fun way to discover some great food in some hidden spots in San Diego (plus see some interesting areas of the city)?

• Want to give a special friend or family member and great gift (Christmas is coming, you know).

• Are you visiting from out of town and want to have some good food that is NOT a chain eatery loaded with tourists?

• Want to try some foods you may never have had...

Then book a culinary tour with A Taste of San Diego.

I have the great pleasure of doing just that yesterday, courtesy of owner/founder Annette Legaspi. We met at Seau's: The Restaurant in Mission Valley, the first restaurant on the tour to talk and for the video interview I did (check it out below).

And of course I got to sample Mama's Combo (chicken and beef teriyaki with rice, a special recipe of the Mother of owner Junior Seau [NFL All-pro linebacker with the New England Patriots and formerly with the San Diego Chargers, and of the Junior Seau Foundation), their special offering for A Taste of San Diego tour attendees.

There are two tours offered: (1) TOUR 1 from 9:30 - 2:00 with breakfast and lunch, hitting 7 - 8 area restaurants; (2) TOUR 2 from 3 til 6 with 5 or 6 restaurants. You can make your reservation for A Taste of San Diego tour on their website.

Here is the tour I did (the restaurants MAY vary depending on the tour day and time given when the restaurants operate). And by the way the food was great, and more than I could eat by myself (it's best shared with another person):

Seau's (Mission Valley) - about 14 years in existence; Mama's Combo

Nicolosi's Italian Restaurant (Allied Gardens) - 57 years; Torpedo Sandwich

Chicken Pie Shop (North Park) - 76 years; chicken pot pie

Chiquita's (City Heights) - 42 years; carne asada crispy quesadilla

Pt. Loma Seafood (Pt. Loma) - 32 years, with great views of the marina and downtown; ceviche

El Indio (San Diego) - 69 years; fruit burrito (dessert)

Some other restaurants you may find on the tour include Los Quatros Milpas, Penchita's,, the Old Town Mexican Café, and El Coyote Grill. 

A Taste of San Diego is a fun way to explore some out-of-the-way places with really good food. Fancy , it's not. And if you want trendy, forget it. But if you want to sample "a meal of tastes" from some long-standing places that aren't in every guide book, and experience some of the local color, a culinary tour of San Diego with A Taste of San Diego will bring a smile to your face and a very full stomach. Don't eat before you go - trust me.

For a discount of 20% use code JD2010 for purchases of $150 or more, good until June 30, 2010.

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All content copyright © 2009 Jeff Dowler "The California Relocation Dude" Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits

I've been working with a young couple trying to buy a home in downtown San Dieog near the university. Not a short sale, and they are open to condos and detached homes. THere are some wonderful neighborhoods, and some that are not.

We found a terrific condo in the Kensington area of San Diego, next to Normals Heights. This is a wonderful neighborhood, with all sorts of amenities just a short walk away, and some wonderful, and historic housing.

In driving around the area within a block or so I happened upon this one home that was really decorated to the hilt. This is just PART of the fron yard. The holidays are alive in Kensington (San Diego) California!

The country's largest air show, the MCAS Miramar Airshow, will be here in just a few days.

Featuring the famed Blue Angels commemorating the 63^rd anniversary of the U.S. Air Force, and, this year, the 9-plane Canadian Snowbirds, this air show has been a tradition for more than 50 years. There are both ground and air demonstrations, along with the opportunity to talk with military personnel, check out military equipment, memorabilia and, of course, the usual refreshments.

The MCAS Miramar Air show will be held at the base on Miramar Road in San Diego. Parking is free.

If you have never seen the Blue Angels, well, they are something to see AND hear (I last saw them at Hanscom AFB in the Boston area). Visit the official Blue Angels website for more information and tickets. [photos courtesy of the Blue Angels official website]