Melodie "MarketingMelodie" T.'s Profile

5 Stars for how fresh and flavorful everything tastes
5 Stars for customer service
5 Stars for just being awesome

We wanted to cook a delicious Italian dinner at home so after reading many raving reviews, we decided to go to Assenti's to pick up ingredients. Their shop feels really homey right in the heart of Little Italy.

Although our intention was to make our own sauce and use their fresh pasta. After looking around a bit, the Raviolis looked too tempting to pass up! They were in the frozen section but were made that very week. And of course we couldn't decide on just one so picked up 2 packs of Ravioli: Ravioli di Zucca (Italian Squash) which was absolutely delicious! It has a hint of sweetness that pairs perfectly with their homemade sage butter. The other type of ravioli we got was Piemontese. This was more savory and hearty which paired  perfectly with their homemade marinara sauce.

Dinner isn't complete without dessert so we picked up their freshly made Tiramisu to go along with our meal.

The man who worked there was extremely helpful in giving us advice on the right sauces to pair with each type of pasta. I also told him my preferences for wine and he picked out the perfect bottle! He was just so helpful which made the entire shopping experience great.

Bringing home all the elements, heating up the different sauces and raviolis still gave us the home cooking experience with out all the work! The final product was a delicious dinner with 2 types of amazing ravioli enjoyed with fine wine and topping it off with Tiramisu!

My previous review was based on my experience practicing here as a yogi . This review is mainly based on La Jolla Yoga Center's Teacher Training program. The training transformed my yoga practice in so many positive ways.

I researched several different Yoga Teacher Training programs and there wasn't a single program that even compared to how comprehensive the one offered at LJYC was.

YTT Teachers: Not only does the owner Jeanie and several other instructors teach, they bring in Master Teachers from around the globe. Normally the price to practice with these teachers alone are high but it's all included in the Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) program. Each Master Teacher educated us on different elements of yoga which really helped me be more well rounded with my yoga knowledge. It also helped me understand the importance of being open minded to many teach and learning styles for yoga. Master Teachers included: Bryan Kest, Erich Shiffman and Martin Kirk.

The program is designed to inspire you to find your own calling as an Instructor. When I completed the training, I immediately felt ready to go off on my own and teach. I really felt empowered through all the knowledge I accumulated.

If you're having a tough time making a decision on whether or not you'd like to do the training, I would say go for it! You won't regret your decision. I left with many great memories, confidence and I made amazing friends during my YTT journey. I cherish my experience in the program and recommend it 100%.  

Recommendations for the studio:
- For Teacher Training, they give you a giant binder of notes, handouts, slides etc. This needs to be printed double sided! My heart was broken for the trees when I saw how thick the paper binder was and even more so when the handouts could easily have been cut in half by printing double sided.
- The yoga center needs a recycling bin. I constantly see plastic water bottle in the trash which doesn't match up to the peaceful environment the center is creating.
- They graciously offer complimentary tea for guests. However, they have paper cups which need to be doubled because the tea is hot. Since  there no way to recycle these cups, they're tossed in the trash. Since they offer free tea, they should put up a sign letting guest know that if they'd like to enjoy the tea they can bring their own reusable mugs

This review is for Subway shops in general. This happens to be the Subway closest to me. I'm not a fan of Subway. It's probably my last choice for a sandwich at any time.

Recently I ordered the Veggie Delight. It was far from any type of delight. Since it's a veggie sandwich I expect them to add more cheese. They gave me a couple thin slices of cheese. In addition they make you pay extra for avocado on the Veggie Delight. Avocado is usually included in veggie sandwiches because it's a substitute for the meat.

I paid extra for the avocado so was extremely disappointed to find that they skimped on the avocado, so much that I could barely taste it.

The bread from Subway doesn't taste fresh so combined with the skimped ingredients, I'm definitely not a fan. Although this review is mostly about one sandwich I've had other Subway sandwiches before and can't say that I have anything better to say about the other sandwiches either.

I'm choosing to give 2 stars instead of 1 because Subway does have some pretty good lunch deals if you're looking for a healthier alternative to fast food.

3.5 Stars! I'm not a food truck connoisseur, in fact this is one of the few food trucks I've tried since I'm a bit hesitant to eat food from a moving target. However, it was during Comic and I needed fuel to get my geek on.

Super Q Food Truck was among a few other food trucks parked by the Convention Center that actually had vegetarian options. I ordered their Grilled Cheese sandwich with caramelized grilled onions, stuffed with Mac n Cheese on Toasted Sourdough bread. It was DELICIOUS! Every bite got devoured and I'm now a believer that food truck dining can indeed be tasty.

The reason I only give 3 stars is that even though I had a delicious grilled cheese, the meal cost me $10. This was not even including a drink. A grilled cheese sandwich at a nice sit down restaurant costs less than $10. When I think food truck, I think quick, cost efficient, food on the go. The dish did come with a side of potato salad. The potato salad tasted like something I would buy out of a tub from the grocery store so I didn't feel it added any value to my meal.

Overall, I may purchase the grilled cheese sandwich again if I see the Super Q Food Truck around and I'm hungry. However, I won't be chasing  around a truck so I can shovel out $10 for a grilled cheese sandwich no matter how delicious it tastes.

I've had Tabe on various occasions and while I appreciate the concept, their tacos are overpowered by the toppings (lettuce, sauce, etc)

When Tabe used to host Taco Tuesdays, I ordered a portobello taco at the Murphy canyon kitchen. The portabello tacos where cut in strips and I'm pretty sure there were only 3 mini strips of portobello in my taco. If I order a portobello taco, I want to taste portabello. I was reminded of this today when Tabe was catering a private party I attended. Once again I ordered a portabello taco. Since the first time I've had this taco, it's changed. The mushrooms were cut up finely and there were grilled onions mixed in. The mix actually looked delicious but I really couldn't taste it by the time my taco was slathered with salsa and lettuce. I found myself looking for the "meaty" part since I felt like most bites consisted of tortilla and salsa or lettuce.

The actual flour tortilla for the tacos doesn't have the fresh taste from homemade tortillas. I also prefer corn tortillas since they taste more authentic to me.

This review is really 2.5 stars but I'll go with 3 for the sake of this place being a favorite for Yelpers and that they do offer veggie options.

$2 Well Drinks, delicious Mac n Cheese, a night of laughs at a comedy show with no drink minimum or cover. What more could you ask for on a Monday night? I just learned about their Monday night comedy shows and am happy to have a cool spot to recommend for a Monday which is normally a pretty low key night in San Diego.

I saw this place listed as a "gay bar" on Yelp but was told it's very open to everyone. I definitely felt comfortable once I arrived. The comedians rotate every week so you never know what you're going to get as far as entertainment. The ones that performed that night  were pretty decent. I definitely found myself laughing the majority of the time.

The set up was a bit odd. The stage looked like it was made up for a high school talent show. The seats were arranged kind of weird so not every seat faced the stage.

Our server was very friendly and personable. I really appreciated his attentiveness to our group.

I've only been here once so can't speak to the what it's like all the time, but I do highly recommend this place for a good laugh on a Monday night!

Rubios has definitely grown on me as a good option for fast casual dining . When I'm not in the mood for something as filling such as Chipotle, Rubios is my preferred spot.

Their food is always fresh. I guess I wouldn't expect anything less with a place that has "Fresh" in it's name. If I order tacos, I always get corn tortillas which are warm and soft.

I'm not a fan of their salsas. They don't have much texture. They are slightly savory but don't stack up to other salsas I've enjoyed at other places.

I love adding avocado to enhance my Mexican dishes. I'm not sure if they put something in the avocados at Rubios to preserve it but for some reason it always lacks flavor.

They have great customer service at this location. I often customize my order and they're always very accommodating to my requests.

Not too much exciting to report on Rubios but I do appreciate their offer of quick and healthy options.

Watch out Yelpers! I learned Jujitsu moves that I'm ready to use if I ever find myself being mugged, robbed, or stalked! Stalked may be more relevant with all our Yelp, Foursquare, Twitter and Facebook check-ins!

I was intrigued by the invite to this event, 12-2pm. Normally the events are at night and involve drinking at a bar. This event was during the day and involved working out with other Yelpers. My intrigue was enough for me to click RSVP!

Highlights
*Aside from learning jujitsu I watched some other demos that looked extremely intense but fun!

*Awesome sponsors! Thanks Rubios, Gaglione Bros., Mix 1, Popchips and others for your generosity.

*Picture perfect photo opp set up, I got some action photos that I'm sure will end up online somewhere.    

*I left with Yelp bum gloves, a Yelp Watch and Yelp wristband! Let me just say Yelp has the best SWAG ever, I actually use it, rare with swag I receive from elsewhere.

*As always it was fun hanging out with Yelpers, catching up with old friends and meeting new ones!

THANKS YELP! I'M READY TO KICK BUTT!!!

Man vs. Food is their claim to fame but their savory, spicy and delicious Mexican food is what keeps their lines long during dinner hours.

This place is officially home to my favorite salsas! I'm not usually a salsa gal, but their salsas with fresh fruits and veggies have won me over. Just to describe a few, their salsa verde has fresh cucumbers. They also have a sweet/spicy salsa with pineapple bits.

Their Veggie burrito is humongous both in size and flavor! The onions and other veggies are truly sautéed  to perfection! The guacamole is fresh! Make any meal  PRO meal with just a couple dollars! Your upgrade includes, rice, beans and a drink with free refills.

The decor is eclectic! Make sure to check out the Gold bathroom on the right side.

PRO TIP: They have a coveted GOLD Champions booth. At this booth you receive a bell to ring and someone will appear at your service, you get real utensils and a giant goblet full of chips. This booth must be reserved at least 24 hours in advanced. I highly recommend it for special occasions such as birthdays.

Since House of Blues Gospel Brunch is an ongoing event, I figure it deserves its own review page separate from the House of Blues Yelp page.

I attended the Gospel Brunch for the first time this past Sunday and had a soulful good time!

FOOD: They have a good variety of Southern Comfort items along with a made to order omelet station and dessert bar. Here are some of the items I tried. I stuck with vegetarian but they have plenty of meat options too!
- Made to order omelet- The omelet chef impressed me with this ability to flip 2 omelets at once, one in each hand! They have a variety of fresh veggies, meats and cheese, I recommend this!
- Cheese Grits- This was ok, I couldn't really taste the cheese
- Sauteed Veggies- The onions, squash and zucchini were delicious
- Roasted Breakfast Potatoes with Peppers & Onions-  I enjoyed these, these were very flavorful
- Mac n Cheese- Creamy and delicious! I remember liking the Mac n Cheese at the House of Blues a few years ago, then when I came back to their restaurant 6 months ago they weren't on the menu. I was happy to see the Mac n Cheese part of their brunch.

DESSERT: The only dessert that really stood out to me was the Banana Bread Pudding, YUM! The cookies, brownies, pastries were all average. They had a mini waffle station but the waffles were a bit stale.  

DRINKS: Bottomless mimosas! We also ordered hot tea, but the water for the tea was lukewarm, rather than hot. They have coffee and a variety of juices all of which are included with your ticket.  

TABLE SETTING: The table setting SUCKS! Tables are lined with a cheap red and white checkered picnic type cloth that's extremely lumpy so you constantly feel like your drinks are going to tip over. They need to invest in nicer table clothes.

ENTERTAINMENT: The Gospel band really lifted my spirits! They were engaging, fun and interactive! Although this was my first time attending any type of Gospel performance, I can definitely appreciate their passion for singing and being on stage.  

PRICE: Ticket price is $40 per person. Yes this seems high for brunch, but keep in mind you're also paying for entertainment. While normal brunches cost $20-$30, the Gospel brunch offers and interactive and entertaining performance while you dine.

I definitely recommend checking this out at least once to add variety to your brunch rotation! If given the opportunity, I will definitely come back!