Brad P.'s Profile

I finally made it.

From Yelp's earliest moments, some of the most boisterous food reviews from these parts have come from the kindred neices and nephews of Uncle Frank.  So, to come here today, for the very first time is equally satisfiying as it is humiliating for knowing that I am *that* out of the loop.

Like the default order of lumpia at a philipino restaurant, I tend to order the briskit when I step into a bbq place for the first time (although Texans I've found may steer me toward the beef ribs - get it?).

Despite having come of age during college in a land where vinegar and pig flesh equate to the word barbeque, I've admittedly evolved into quite the briskit rut. (and, hook me up with a toothpick, while you're at it)

Like meat? Come see Uncle Frank.

Awesome 3 way vibe (eating, bar, pool hall) that makes anyone feel at home.

Minus points for no iced tea.  Huh?  Also, what is up with faux, synthetic, squishy, roll it up as a ball *WHEAT* bread with the meat?  What, did Wonder go out of business. Hello?

When you decide to take a 12 month haitus from yelping, and you find yourself ready to resume, you just might find that it's harder than you think to find the right re-entry point for your 'rebound' review.

Alas, my great pride in being an unincorpated neighbor yet unabashed fan of 'the city' (The City of Redwood City, that is), inclines me to contribute to the delightful renaissance happening in the revitalized downtown.

So, I figure I may as well get back off the schnide with a review of the place I ate last night.

With the kiddos being well looked after by the grand parental units, Mrs. Brad P. and I spontaneously went urban and picked Yokohama for date night (Barack's got nothing on me).

It being a warm and solstice-influenced evening, we sat on the perimeter of the dining area, just inside of the sidewalk al fresco patrons. Inside of us, the vacant decor, while unremarkable, came across as, well, unremarkable.

The next impression, the menu, was a glorified take-out 3-fold paper menu. I found myself instinctively drifting toward the safest option of ordering the sushi combo (ala ordering a chicken burrito at a new tacqueria, or pad thai at a new thai place, or bun at vietnamese, ok, you get the idea).

The Mrs. (who, only finally recently has come around to raw fruits of the sea) knowingly disapproved and sent me back to revisit the menu.  Our resulting order:

- Edemame (hello, cracked sea salt!)
- Pork Potstickers (crispy, hot, succulent)
- Spicy Tuna roll (savory, if safe)
- Dragon roll (insane, delicious, delectible, complex)
- Tuna and scallion roll (refreshing although of all dishes we wished we would had dropped this for something more adventurous)
- Large Sapporo (duh)

The Dragon roll was truly ridiculous (deep fried shrimp inside roll wrapped with avocado, unagi, drizzled with roe and house-made shaved dried smoked fish)

How do I know the thing about the dried fish? I asked the proprietor about "what was that shredded goodness on top of the dragon roll" and she told me and suggested I ask for extra next time.  Noted!

As a nice topper offer, they brought refreshing chilled cubes of cantelope and watermelon with some powdered sugar.

Maybe it was not expecting a lot, but wow, I walked away very satisfied, encouraged and pleased with dining out in the city.

Cliff notes:  Wife's reviw (admittedly, not a Japanese food officianado, yet an eager eater with good taste): "I like the food here more thank Kaygetsu."  Noted!

Setting: Saturday night in Samuel P. Taylor, sites 31-35.  Eleven kids 7-and-under safely tucked into their tents. Thirteen grownups, huddling around the fire-pit as the mercury dipped below 50 degrees, kicking this 40th birthday party into higher gear with every log thrown onto the blazing coals.

10:26 PM.  And lo, the 5 liter (yes, I said liter) "keg" was kicked. And there was much rejoicing! For we still "had it".

PHOTO: http://static.px.yelp....

10:26 PM. Enter Ranger Rick (I kid you not, Rick was the name on his uniform), who sauntered his way into our campsite wielding his sturdy flashlight and the power vested upon him by the State of California, and who proceeded to stand and deliver an Academy Award winning speech pleading the case of the campers within earshot who were likely to think our humor was somewhat less hysterical than perhaps we did. If we had been more poised (and less frozen) I think we may have given him a standing O.

PHOTO: http://static.px.yelp....

These campsites are gorgeous, set at the base of an ancient grove of redwood trees, each site with its own fire-pit, access to running water, and easy stroll to clean and pleasant restroom facilities, garbage dumpsters and the like.

With access to a network of great trails along including an easy stroll meandering alongside the adjoining creek, this site is outstanding for a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of urban life - provided you are not so unfortunate as to be situated within earshot of these boisterous birthday revelers.  

The sites are relatively close to each other, so consider putting "earplugs" on the camping list right before "eggs" and right after "early morning blend" on your alphabetized camping checklist if you value sleep.

Minus one star for the copious amounts of poison oak in the brush, and 85 pound raccoons who fearlessly help themselves to cleaning up unattended-to dinner plates immediately upon sundown.

Plus one star for the eloquence and class of Ranger Rick.

The Fleet Center is a cool interactive science museum with a lot of hands-on exhibits to entertain and educate people from 3 to 93.  We had fun interacting with the audio and visual exhibits, and the kids (predictably) were more interested in the hokey play structure in the "kids zone."

The IMAX theater is also pretty cool, as the screen is huge (duh) and spherical.  It's like watching a movie from the inside of the world's largest ping-pong ball.  We saw a 50 minute film on dolphins, and it was pretty spectacular.  One IMAX movie a day is included on those San Diego Go Cards that are worth checking out for tourists like us.

From here, lots of easy access to other cool things to do in Balboa Park, so make a day of it.

Owned and operated by the San Diego Zoo the Wild Animal Park is located about 45 minutes outside San Diego.  Or is it?  As you approach, it says "San Diego City Limits" just before you arrive.  Weird.

Since we had our San Diego Go Cards, we were eligible for the package that included park admission and a narrated tour on the trolly bus that they call a "safari".  The tour was actually quite cool, and lasts about 20 minutes going around their fabricated African savannah chock full of herbivores who are able to peacefully co-exist (think giraffes, elephants, antelope, rhinos, zebras, and so on).

I really couldn't imagine coming here and not going on that tour at the least.  There are any number of ways to spend lots more money including a private jeep safari or riding up on the "hot air" balloon platform.  

Everything's pretty expensive, but the good news is that the money goes to species preservation, and they really do a great job advocating for the animals, which is cool to be able to support.

It can get hot out here (it's inland).  Hey, it's supposed to be Africa, so of course it's hot!

In the need for household basics for our vacation apartment, we fired up our GPS and put in Trader Joes and found our way here.

Like about every other TJs I've been to in my life, the parking lot is a mess.  This one has the signature tiny spaces, and it's part of a bigger mall, so it's cut-throat to park.

Compared to TJs in Northern California, the selection here seemed slightly different on the fresh and prepared foods, and maybe a bit better.  I could be making that up, as we were on vacation so everything seems better.

Included in the cost of our San Diego Go Cards (http://www.gosandiegoc...) was a one-hour San Diego Harbor Tour on a ferry boat with San Diego Harbor Excursions.  We arbitrarily chose the North Harbor tour, as that was the one offered at 10:00 AM which was an ideal time of day to see the harbor.

Highlights:
+ Enthusiastic and compelling narrator who pointed out and described everything to see.  
+ Seeing sets of Navy Seals on rubber boats heading out to sea for diving exercises.
+ Seeing dolphin trainers working their dolphins in teaching them to look for underwater explosive hazards.
+ Seeing jet fighters soaring overhead.

Lowlights:
+ Spending the majority of the time gripping the kids arms so as to avoid their fatal plunge off the side of the ship.

This was a lot of fun, and interesting too.  I would have gone for the two hour version, but the kids had had enough.

Thanks to the reviews from the yelpers, coming here for lunch after going to the IMAX down the way at the Fleet center was a no-brainer.

Water's Cafe has both an excellent kids menu (hot dogs, quesadillas) and fresh healthy and sophisticated options for adults.  I got a half sandwich with soup and got a salami sandwich on artisan bread with a really nice cup of curry chicken coconut soup with a name that I didn't recognize.  The Mrs. had an Indian chicken salad wrapped in naan, which she was happy with.

Most notable is the outdoor seating in the garden outside a museum courtyard. Sun-splashed and protected, it's nice to eat amongst pristine lawn surrounded by sculpture and cloaked with the hypnotic sounds of wind-chimes.

Just outside the gates of the tranquility of the Japanese Gardens in Balboa Park sits the Tea Pavilion which is a lovely spot to grab some refreshing lunch and set a spell on the adjoining patio at a table under an umbrella.

The food here is all Japanese food including cold soba noodle salads, and steaming bowls of udon soup.  The broth on the udon was perhaps a bit too strong, but I couldn't care less, as the surroundings were so nice.  Grab some edamame and some tea, and let your mind calm itself down.

If you're lucky, someone will be playing the organ next door at the world's largest open air organ park (who knew there was such a category).

For a family with boys aged 3 and 6, Lego Land is, I dare say, a great time.  There, I said it.

The good:
+ Lots of rides and activities that are interactive, and actually fun.
+ Surprisingly decent food options (if you're looking)
+ Ventriloquist comedy show was really funny
+ 4D movies were actually cool
+ It wasn't crowded (wow, we lucked out... makes all the difference in the world)
+ More than a few actually cool rides.

The bad:
- Waiting 30 minutes for the new Egyptian firecade was completely worthless
- Park map ink smelled like dog-doo.  We were checking our shoes for like an hour before we figured it out.
- It's expensive (we had the San Diego Go Card which was a good way to go)
- It can get hot and easy to get dehydrated at $4 per bottle of water.
- $10 for parking

Tips:
Find a way to go when it's not HOT.
Find a way to go when it's not CROWDED.
Hunt for ticket bargains or package deals.
Two days is plenty, one may not be enough.
Volvo's get free parking.