Brian "Irregular Man About Town" T.'s Profile

"Beer Lap, Beer Lap. Hoooooooooooooooo!"

San Diego is very lucky to have a velodrome. There are not many around in the US.

Not only do we have this great velodrome, but we also have a very long track racing season on it, have great Tuesday Night Races 6:30-9pm, a great deal of talented riders, and it is FREE!

If you want to ride on the track, there are classes that you can take. They will even provide you with a decent bike to use. I recommend it.

The Velodrome is one of the best things about living in San Diego. I recommend bringing layers as the canyon breeze gets chilly at night. Also bring snacks and beers to share. It is pretty much a wonderful BYO-Whatver chill scene here.

It is recommended you bike over. And if you are a bike geek, there definitely is a good amount of bike porn on and off the track to oogle.

Come out on Tuesday ! Cheer on the racers and have a great time, For FREE!

This truck has a friendly staff serving up some delicious food at fare prices.

I have yet to try the soyrizo chili fires, but friends have told me they are really good.

I usually go for the regular fries, which are anything but. Oh, and they come with fry sauce. Fry Sauce is a glorious thing. Hope they never stop using this stuff.

I am also a fan of the avocado melt, which is toasted whole wheat bread, gooey swiss cheese that stretches out forever when you sink your teeth in, avocado, and arugula pesto. It is the perfectly balanced and has this tangy bite to to it that pairs perfect with the rich smoothness of the avocado and swiss.

I can eat one of these and salad for lunch everyday of the week and I'd be a happy camper.

I usually eat something from Food Farm SD at TNR at the SDVelodrome. It isn't too heavy either, so biking isn't much of a pain after eating it. I highly recommend the good folks at Food Farm SD.

You can paint a turd but it don't make it taste any better.

20+ taps fail at being populated correctly, shitty food, and trashy ambiance.

Main Tap, did you really think having clear taps with tacky led lights was gonna fool moi?

I think not. Next bar please.

Outside of sharing Homebrews in a home or garage or backyard or tree or scenic cliff somewhere, this is most definitely my favorite place to drink in San Diego.

BLAH feels like home to me. Heck, it kinda is my home away from home. The entire place radiates Beer Zen. Everything works to really put me in my happy place. Zen? Happy Places? OK, Imagine a peloton of about 180 kittens riding bicycles outside your window this moment. We good? Now, Let's turn the page. DING!

LIGHTING:  I have been known to walk out of bars due to the lighting alone. Lighting can really change your mood. BLAH has lots of warm down lighting sprinkled throughout that invigorates and inspires. Maybe the best of all is the glass front that allows the space to really breathe and be a part of the Normal Heights neighborhood. It leaves me connected and not trapped. These two things really work in harmony. One without the other would simply not work.

COLOR & TEXTURE:  The lighting works harmoniously with the colors and textures. Dark Wood, that floor, patina galore, that big Hamms! and all the vintage bottle, cans, and other beer memorabilia. Looking at those beer cans makes me realize that typography and design was really at its best in that case. One of my favorites is the hypnotic Olympia "It's The Water" sign by the self-serve water tap it beats most TV shows.

SOUND:  It is on the louder sound, but it used to be much louder and I'm glad that was reduced. It is the good kind of loud now. It is the that loud buzz of sound and excitement that a good party has. Not super loud, but that socially loud. Also, the place always seems to be playing the music I like for some odd reason.

BEER:  All the aforementioned factor in to the enjoyment of beer. When it comes to beer, I feel that BLAH owners and staff take the best care of their beers of any establishment in San Diego. The lines are cleaned and changed when they should be. Everything is stainless. The glasses are clean, proper, as are the pours. I have drunkened lots there and never have I been handed anything but perfect works or art, science, whatever. The list is great as well. Lots of local, but not all IPAs, there is variety in SD and they really show that. There are also imports from Germany, Belgium, France, etc. Honestly, just writing about this is inspiring me to walk or bike over for a beer. Oh, and also AleSmith Speedway is often served with a little piece of dark chocolate.

It is seldom that I go in and don't find a beer I really want. Well, last night that kind of happened. For some odd reason I have been in German-style beer mode as of late. Wanted a Munich Dunkel, Altbier, Helles, Dortmunder, Marzen, or Kolsch. They didn't have that, but I instead got an Alpine Ugly. I can't really complain because Alpine is one of my favorite breweries.

AUTOMATIC BREWING:  One of the owners and one of my favorite brewers brews right on site. The thing that really strikes me about his beers is the fact that they taste like they have a lot of heart and soul in them. Beer is a technical art. It involves engineering, various maths and sciences and it is also an art form. Brewing beer is best made by industrious craftsman, thinkers, BrewGeyvers. Even though all this is true, the brewer with this and passion makes the awesome beers. This is the case with Automatic Brewing. It is great beer made for the right reasons and that really shines through. They taste like professional homebrew and I say that as the ultimate compliment. Some of my favorites have been: Light Whitening (Belgian Wit with Spices), Coffee Rain (One of the best coffee beers), Insider Belgian Cream Ale, and Quartz IPA (A super Nelson Hop beer brewed with Alpine).

FOOD:  Let me first disclose that I am a Pescetarian. I'm bummed about the Smoked Pizza not being on there anymore, but all their pizza is great. I am a bit of a Pizza Nazi and yes, the crust, sauce, and cheese all get thumbs way up. So, that makes 5 places I will eat pizza in San Diego area (yes I am a total Pizza Nazi). I really like how fresh and perfect the food is prepared. The mussels are good and teh special seasonal salads are wonderful. Farm to Table has become a buzz phrase, but I see it like this. Food should be Farm to Table in the same respect that all beer should be Craft in the same respect that all tomatoes should Fresh and be hand-formed. It make me really wonder how disconnected some of us must have become in order to spell these things out. Eat and Drink Well. Respect and love your food and it will do the same back.

BIKES:  Blind Lady also gives back to the Bike Community and offers bike commuter discounts. Beer and Bikes from the best Beer Bar in San Diego, what's not to love.

FILMS & ART:  They often have art shows and show films. Big Lebowski and Career Courier were seen here.

It is all about harmony and Zen at Blind Lady Ale House. If you see me here smiling with beer deep in meditation, now you know.

So, I went to visit Julian Cidery and learned that it is not brewed in Julian or California for that matter. It is also not brewed with Julian Apples.

However, it is real cider and and made the right way.

They are talking about eventually putting in a cider brewery in Julian and making a reserve cider using local apples.

I was a little bummed out to learn this.

Now Delivery to North Park, South Park, University Heights, Kennsington, Normal Heights, Hillcrest, and probably you if you are within spitting distance of those hoods. Some city heights, etc.

Also, beer on tap available. Racer 5 IPA, Paulaner Hefe, Stone Pale, and Ballast Point Yellowtale currently being poured.

It takes an awful lot to impress me when it comes to food (or anything for that matter) anymore. Sure, I will eat just about anything, but that doesn't mean I am blown away by my staple nosh.

Sea Rocket Bistro to me was something that so many eateries in San Diego are not-- gentle and graceful.

They craft dishes that whisper an caress. Dishes that have nuances and subtlety. Sea Rocket really has finesse.

My Alesmith Lil' Devil on draft was truly a perfect pour and not at ice cold temperature for once. This is important to me. I mean if I didn't want to taste my beer, I wouldn't have ordered it in the first place. My friend ordered an imperial stout from Stone that was also perfect. Sea Rocket only had 4-5 beers on tap and the fact that they had those 2 beers is highly respectable. 5 big fat stars on great beer done right.

Appetizers we choose were a cup of mushroom bisque and steamed clams in a white wine sauce with bread. The Mushroom Bisque was a pureed soft velvety goodness, heavy cream, little bits of mushrooms, and just enough spicing. The clams were delicious and the sauce was not overbearing. The bread while good, was nothing to write home about. A bit too airy, soft, and white. It made me wish I had some of my dense sourdoughy beer bread with me.

So Sea Rocket Bistro, if you are reading this, get bread with a more texture, denser structure, flavor, and a nice crust would be nice.

After some deliberation and food debate, we decided on the scallop entree. Arriving minutes later was a stunning presentation of smoked mash potatoes topped with some forest green sauteed greens and 3 jumbo scallops pan-seared rare with a lemon infused olive oil drizzling. It looked stunning. It tasted and felt just as wonderful. The scallops were cooked absolutely perfect, as were the greens. The mash potatoes really blew me away. The smoke was subtle and the texture of the mashing was to my personal preference, some skin on and some little lumps left in. It was the type of artful cooking that makes you eat the bites slowly and quietly.

I was wondering how these smoked mash potatoes were done.  I looked on the menu for perhaps another smoked dish that would clue me in to a smoker being used on the pre-mashed potatoes. No such luck. I asked about them and discovered liquid smoke was actually used. I was a bit shocked. It was such a subtle smokiness that the chef must have used a the slightest amount.

The water came in a big fish shaped bottle to pour as you like at your table. A great idea that the Linkery also does. They also do something else that the Linkery also does. Sustainable and Local foods and an 18% gratuity automatically added to your bill. It is kinda an odd thing to do considering I usually tip more than that, but oh well.

Finally the atmosphere was perfect.  Soft lighting, cute minimalist modern tables, and cool duct tape and cardboard school of fish sculpture handing from the ceiling.  It was also commendable they played music that didn't make me want to jab cutlery into my eardrums. In fact I heard Waylon Jennings "Only Daddy That'll Walk The Line" which had me grinning and geeking-out. During the meal, I heard Nina Simone, Johnny Cash, and some Jennifer Charles.

While on the pricey side of things, Sea Rocket had us pleasantly full on some beautiful food and beer.  Upon exiting we discovered a sign that said if you bike there you get 10% off your bill.  I hope more eateries around San Diego start catching on to that idea.

Brew crafted on premises and pizza. Need to explore more, but for now.
Tried The Jetty IPA and No Surf Cream Ale. Delicious.

Must come back.

KFC Double Down Reviewed:

A pop culture icon pissing on Earl Of Sandwich's grave with both-middle fingers up yelling, "Fvck bread in it's fvcking ass!" This is shock & awe performance art hell bent on self-promotion. It's 2010 defined.

When I say defined, I mean, as in.., ok, ...if 2009 were in the dictionary most likely a photo of Lady Gaga would be next to it in reference to pop culture. Thus far in 2010, I must say without a doubt, a photo of KFC's Double Down is this equivalent.

This "sandwich" would twitter and blog lots. It would steal and break things and stay way too late at every party it attended. It would snort coke off wangs and titties. Then it would post lot's of egotistical images of it all of facebook the next day. You remember that mugshot of Gary Busey a few years ago? This "sandwich". Anytime this "sandwich" gets out of a car it is sure to flash it's shaved cooter. If only to assure it is constantly on the covers of every magazine in the grocery store check out line. In a way, the Double Down is genius. A whole lot of THINK for UNTHINK.

This "sandwich" might get taken off the KFC menu, likely due to future lawsuits, which would only up its already infamous celebrity status. Currently, the State of California doesn't have a 3-day waiting period or any waiver to sign in order to get a Double Down.

That all said, I must be provide service to preserve this performance art. After all, I am first and foremost, a documentarian with a penchant for the arts.

The Double Down is two Original Recipe Chicken filets with 2 slices of Cheese, 1 Monterey Jack, 1 Pepper Jack, 2 Strips of Bacon, and Colonel's Sauce (which falls somewhere between a Southwest Ranch and Mayo. KFC, calls this creation a sandwich in direct defiance to truth. But, then again, KFC's new slogan is UNTHINK, which reminds me of Apple's slogan from years ago. Either way obviously Culinary Orwellism. 2 + 2 = 5, Meat - Bread = Sandwich.  I think it sounds like KFC's spin on Chicken Cordon Bleu.

Perhaps shocking, this thing tastes good and I admit I really wish it didn't.  Although, I'm sure a good deal of flavorists and food scientists were behind this invention, so it manipulates your mouth and nose the way that well-designed chain fast food should. It is even saltier and spicier than most fast food, so all the more to get the people addicted, right?

After I ate and an hour or so past, I didn't feel ill at all. So, I decided to write KFC the following:

KFC,

Long time eater, first time writer.

I think I have some ideas that could really take the Double Down to the next level.... See More

1. The wrapper that the Double Down comes in should be printed with the inner-office joke emails that inevitably circulated the day that this "sandwich" was pitched at headquarters.

2. Billboards featuring a Double Down-gagged / mock ball-gagged John Montagu (4th Earl of Sandwich) look-a-like bent over with Colonel Harland Sanders behind him lashing his bare behind with a riding crop. Your big new slogan, "UNTHINK" above this image.

3. The cardboard box that the email-wrapped Double Down comes in should be shaped like a coffin.

4. Double Down should be available with a 40oz. of Colt 45. - It should be specifically Colt 45, because Billy Dee aka Lando Calrissian is it's famous pitchman. You might wanna serve this 40oz in a limited edition Star Wars cup. Trust me on this.

5. End Of The Fvcking Line combo meal aka The Double or Nothing Combo Meal should also be made available featuring 2 Double Downs, 2 Colt 45 40z, and a Straight-Edge Razor Blade in lieu of Potato Wedges.

Respectfully,
Brian Trout

Saguaro's! Saguaro's! Why have I forsaken thee?

Your neon beacon has shown me the way. Your super stoked-to-be-alive (possibly high out his mind) Saguaro Cactus with raised arms open to the sky and rockin' that sweet-ass sombrero, has enlightened my soul.

You have given me shelter, warmth, and comforting foods in times of strife. When I knocked you answered, "How may I help you?"
and answer I did, "A Bean and Cheese Burrito please."

Thank you Saguaro. Thank you for being a friend. Thank you for making one of the finest bean and cheese burritos. Thank you for your smoky pepper hot sauce in the little containers and your zippy verde sauce. Thank you for always being there, when all others mocked my hunger with locked doors and signs flipped around to read, "CLOSED".

In Burritos' Name,
AMEN.