Carlsbad and Escondido for 2 weeks

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Don't let Steve scare you away from Orfila. They've got a new winemaker from Paso Robles and there are some pretty nice wines now. I was just there yesterday.

I'll give them another try sometime, if that's the case. Since DD, SIL and DG live in Encinitas, I'm down there periodically.

When I was there in April 2012 the reds were high alcohol overextracted and one-dimensional fruit bombs, with massive amounts of tannin; I'm sure they let the grapes hang until they were very high Brix, then made sure there was lots of stem and seed to add tannin. I suspect there was generous oak as well, but I couldn't be sure because the fruit and tannin overwhelmed everything.

The whites were mostly semi-dry, one-dimensional in flavor, and soft when poured. As soon as the wine warmed up the soft quickly changed to flabby and bittter phenolics came forward and soon dominated whatever other notes might have been present.

The only thing I fount decent was the port.

 

[eal]

We went to see South Pacific at the Welk Theater last year and it was surprisingly good - very entertaining! And the underlying message about racism was handled well.

 

[Betty]

Wow! What great info! Thanks so much.

The Fish Market sounds like a must when we head down to San Diego. Your suggestion to sit at the outside bar is great. We sometimes do that at restaurants back home if we can to bypass the extremely long lines. But this one being on the water makes it even more appealing. Thanks for the hint.

Also, we like funky, so The Sand Crab sounds like a fun place. If I recall correctly, we've been to a similar type place somewhere in Florida. We are New Englanders, so we are used to eating lobster "in the rough" and love doing that...only this time we'll try it with crabs. The messier the better.

Thank goodness we'll miss Restaurant Week. I'd really go bonkers if that was in the mix.

Betty

 

[buzglyd]

Wow! What great info! Thanks so much.

The Fish Market sounds like a must when we head down to San Diego. Your suggestion to sit at the outside bar is great. We sometimes do that at restaurants back home if we can to bypass the extremely long lines. But this one being on the water makes it even more appealing. Thanks for the hint.

Also, we like funky, so The Sand Crab sounds like a fun place. If I recall correctly, we've been to a similar type place somewhere in Florida. We are New Englanders, so we are used to eating lobster "in the rough" and love doing that...only this time we'll try it with crabs. The messier the better.

Thank goodness we'll miss Restaurant Week. I'd really go bonkers if that was in the mix.

Betty

As long as you're at the Sand Crab, you should head down the road a bit and pop into The Lost Abbey for some fine beer. It's in an industrial park like most breweries here.

Lost Abbey specializes in Belgian style. Port brewing specializes in West Coast IPA style.

Tasters are $1. Best deal on Earth.

 

[Fisch]

Some thoughts from someone who lives in Escondido:
BBQ - Fat Ivor's in Valley Center is close by. Very casual. Phil's BBQ is better but quite a ways away.

Fat Ivor's is 10 miles from Welk. Phil's BBQ is 12 miles.

 

[hjtug]

Cuscatlan Salvadorian Cuisine (Grand Ave., Escondido)
New ethnic restaurant & very popular, but I haven't used my certificate yet.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cuscatlan-comida-salvadoreña-escondido-3

We discovered the papusas of Cuscatlan a few years ago at a restaurant with the name "Worlds Best Pizza" on El Norte Parkway. Last May when we went there it was closed with no sign about a new location. We asked around in the shopping center and finally found someone who told us they thought it moved to somewhere on Grand Ave. We couldn't find it there since we were looking for the old name. We found a Latino grocery store and someone there told us the new name and location. We were very happy to find it.

What a great thread! One more question...is the theatre at Welk good? I see they are having a production of Anything Goes the week we will be there and wondered if we should go.....are these national touring companies ?

We enjoyed "Man of La Mancha" there a few years ago.

 

[BJRSanDiego]

Fat Ivor's is 10 miles from Welk. Phil's BBQ is 12 miles.

ha ha.... good one.... Ya, that extra 2 miles is a bit. :rofl:

I guess I was thinking about the original Phils in Point Loma, not San Mucus. :hysterical:

 

[topcop400]

We recently stayed a week in Carlsbad. Oceanside is 8 miles North. Every Thursday night there is a street fair in Oceanside with a lot of great food booths and live music. We loved it. The street fair is right behind the Wyndham property there.

 

[hajjah]

Welk Resort, where to stay?

Rather than starting a new thread, I'd like to know which building or section to request our 2 bdrm unit? We are heading to the Welk Resort next weekend. I have not been to Welk in about 10 years. I am traveling with a friend who has some limited mobility, but she can walk up a few steps. I never want to hear anyone over my head, so I plan to request a top floor unit. I read on Trip Advisor that there are some units that are only one floor? I don't remember much about the resort. Oh, also it was suggested to request an end unit away from the construction. Where can I find a map of the resort?

Is is normal for the resort to grant requests for the newly renovated units at Welk Resort? We're not in the villas or the mountain units. We will have a rental car, but I would like to take my friend to Hollywood since she's never been to the west coast. Is it worth it to drive the rental there, or should we try to find a tour bus? I really don't drive past two hours, but I might be willing to take the drive. Thanks for the information about where to dine via restaurant.com certificates. I've had two for some time that I can use while in CA. I think we'll try Trader Joe's for our groceries.

*** I just found the resort map here on TUG.
I've now been on TUG for the last hour or so reading the reviews. I cannot find the information on which units have been updated. I really would be disappointed if we travel from the east coast to CA and not enjoy the unit. Are there flat screen TV's in any of the units, updated kitchens, etc? I am so sorry for asking some of the same questions that may have been listed previously, but most of what I've read is not updated. I want to hold off calling the resort until I get some feedback. I have another week before our departure.
I was able to find information about a tour to Hollywood, but I'm wondering if I should drive the car and pickup the bus tour from Hollywood. Is it worth it for the two of us to take the car? I would be the only driver, but I'm concerned about the drive back to Escondido.

 

[hjtug]

Is is normal for the resort to grant requests for the newly renovated units at Welk Resort?

The resort reps have always been positive about trying to meet our specific unit requests.

 

[hajjah]

Thanks for your help.

 

[Carlsbadguy]

If you want funky and like burgers try Hodads in Ocean Beach and East Village San Diego

 

[Liz Wolf-Spada]

If you like museums, you should definitely go to Balboa Park. I really like the hands on science museum, Ruben Fleet Space Museum. There are many other museums there.
Liz