Here's a review for your North County residents. Leucadia Sushi is located on North Coast Highway, north of restaurants such as Jamroc and Cap'n Keno. Basically, where Leucadia really gets funky - not in a bad way, but in a decidedly low-brow, relaxed way. On a side note, I've been wanting to visit Cap'n Keno, for the hell of it. Spaghetti dinners are $2.95. I'm not expecting much, but it's intriguing.
I had a $25 gift certificate from Restaurant.com for Leucadia Sushi so we decided to try it last night when I was sick of turkey leftovers. It was empty except for a group of 4-5 diners, but I think it may be a new restaurant. Here's what it looks like; it's one of those sushi boat places.
The sushi was pretty cheap (around $4 for two pieces of nigiri), and a fairly decent quality considering the price. It definitely can't compare to nicer places like Sushi Ota, Station Sushi, Tomiko or Tajima... but if you're looking for someplace cheap, this is better than your typical cheap joint in, say, P.B.
Overall, I'd say it could be an ok happy hour spot if it attracts some more business. There's a coupon on their website, and of course, you can get a gift certificate off Restaurant.com. The honey and I ended up paying about $28 after the coupon, including tip, two teas, 4 orders of nigiri, and 3 rolls.
The restaurant doesn't offer enough to make me want to come back, because I'd prefer to hit the Tomiko happy hour, which is in Encinitas, which would end up being slightly more expensive, but much better sushi and a much better ambience.
The final word
(1-5 rating: 1=BAD, 2=mediocre at best, 3=ok, 4=wow, pretty good!, 5=one of my all-time favorites)
Food (Taste, Quality): 2.7
Value: 3.4
Service: 4
Ambience: 2
Memorable Experience: 2
Price: around $4 for nigiri, and $7-14 for rolls.
Menu recommendations: I liked the salmon nigiri and the albacore. The tuna wasn't very good. Their dynamite dishes had too much creamy mayo-like sauce.
Notes:
Would I make a point to go again, paying full price?: Probably not, given the other better sushi places that are closer.
recipe from: milk and honey cafe I used 3 tablespoons of Maeda-en Sweet Green Tea instead of 2 Tb matcha because it's what I had on hand. My pound cake turned out much lighter because of this substitution. The flavor was light, not too sweet and both my very Japanese grandma and her very Japanese friend loved it. I can't wait to try baking it again but with proper matcha. The closest thing I can compare it to is castella.
I'm pretty sure the following is the funniest thing Work Dad has said in a long time:
I was surprised that I liked Michael. When you said he was from Europe, I figured he'd come in all, like in tapered pants with square shoes and looking down on us for being American... all smoking a cigarette like they do over there in Europe.... with their hand all flipped up and stuff, all like "oh, I am Michaaael. Americans are fat." Stop laughing. You know how they are over there... with their tight dress slacks and fancy shoes and all...
Ohhhh, Work Dad.
-K.
Hey guys,
Hope y'all had a wonderful weekend!
I've probably mentioned before that I really like Restaurant.com. They sell $25 restaurant gift certificates for $10, and they often have 80% off sales, so I usually buy the $25 cert for $2. Deal!
They're having this nice little promotion now. I can enter up to 30 friends' email addresses and they'll send you a free $10 gift certificate. (Of course, expect to be getting emails from them.... that's why I use my spam email address). But they're not that frequent.
So, if you'd like the free gift certificate, let me know. If I don't already have your email address, private message me with it.
Much love,
HapaLove
http://hoobears.wordpress.com/
A new form of procrastination!
Hey all my wonderful neighbors,
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope that you are all enjoying the holiday, have much to be thankful for, and are close to family and friends... if not physically, at least in spirit.
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday... I just love the togetherness of sitting around the table, and of course you all know my thing with food. :) This year is extra special for me, because it's my first year hosting my family. I am really enjoying all the cooking, because I've always wanted to do all these recipes my way. And I'm thankful for getting a break from traveling this year. No traffic!
I'm thankful for all of you... I've been on Vox for a couple years now, and it's been a hoot. The interactions have been great and even resulted in a couple of "real life" friendships. And, I'm happy to say, my Vox has been pretty much Internet-weirdo-free. I enjoy hearing what's happening in all y'alls lives, and I hope you're having a terrific weekend.
My present to myself this Thanksgiving - taking today off. It takes all the stress out of the prep. Ah, what a fine day.
During the past couple of years, the honey and I have been trying to shift our priorities a little bit and focus on eating good food. I'm not boycotting any particular kind of food, or non-organic, or anything like that, but in general, we've put a little more of our budget towards buying locally grown vegetables and pastured meat and dairy products from pastured animals when we can.
Now, it's a lot easier to do this in southern California than in most areas. California, I think, is really the land of milk and honey. We have access to a broad diversity of food year-round. So, why not take advantage of this bounty, I figure.
The growing local food/slow food movement has been great, in terms of broadening our access to these foods. It's easier now than ever before to find a farmer's market, get a CSA subscription, find out what's in your food both at the grocery store and in restaurants. I hope that this translates into the passing of a better food safety bill. I also hope that market forces can shape the future of our food system. Already, we are starting to see a rapidly growing market for ranchers that produce pastured meat, and local farmers. I think that's great.
Over the last couple years in particular, I've learned that cooking is an art that one can never master. Even the world's best chefs haven't mastered every type of cuisine - it's just impossible. There's always something to learn in cooking. And yet, simple cooking is always pleasureful. Just taking a few really good ingredients and making a simple dinner is sometimes the most satisfying activity I can think of. In Italy more than anywhere else, they get that.
Cooking and sharing good food, to me, is also a vehicle for friendship and love. Sharing thoughts and experiences over a home cooked meal is a wonderful way to deepen a connection with someone. Cooking for someone is a very tangible, gratifying way to show my friends and family that I care.
I'm thankful for all the good ingredients we have in this state, and for all the people who've helped me learn how to cook, and for those who come over and enjoy my cooking. (or smile and pretend to!) Good food, a simple pleasure.
I don’t think you noticed me falling in love with you. But I thought I’d ask, just in case.
