Try Cali Banh Mi in Convoy District
Plus: LV News Update, Hummus and Dips at Farmers Market, Park After Dark, Holy Family Christian Closet, LV Family Reunion, and Padres Must Deal with Big Brother
We found ourselves eating lots of Mexican food lately. Hence, we were ready for a change. We texted the Carnivore sidekick and asked him to give us a recommendation for some good Convoy District food. He suggested Cali Banh Mi at 4425 Convoy St. #200A, right near the Balboa Avenue intersection. After confirming that he would be willing to have lunch with us—as long as we were treating—the three of us headed up in the direction of the Convoy District to try out this restaurant.
I checked their website to make sure they had something for non-meat eaters, and I was really pleasantly surprised at the number of things we could eat while still having enough items for the Carnivore to choose from. The very extensive menu consists of bowls, banh mi, sandwiches, spring rolls, and more with protein consisting of beef, chicken, shrimp, pork, tofu, and soups such as curry, beef stew and noodle. The beef dishes included ribeye and sirloin steak. For bowls, you have a choice of base, and sauce with added options. For full menu, check here.
Steve decided to try the Fried Tofu Bowl with a base of rice noodles and Saigon sauce. You can see from the picture that it was quite a large serving. It included daikon, carrots, sprouts and mixed greens. He thought it was very tasty and felt healthy. He liked the Saigon sauce.
The Carnivore (and sometime Omnivore) decided on the Surf and Turf Bowl on a base of brown rice with Saigon sauce. It included large shrimp, ribeye beef, carrots, daikon, mixed greens and peanuts. He said the beef was tender and well-seasoned and the shrimp excellent. Hard to believe he could only eat half; he took the remainder home for dinner. He pronounced it… wait for this… “Awesome!”
Since Banh Mi is one of my favorite things, I ordered the Black Pepper Shrimp Banh-Mi. The roll was very crunchy and delicious. The sandwich included pickled daikon, carrots, cucumbers, cilantro, garlic mayo and black pepper. I omitted the jalapeno. It was so good. I also ended up bringing half home for my dinner. The shrimp was cooked just right and seasoned perfectly.
Cali also has a full selection of acai bowls, smoothies, drinks and desserts.
The restaurant is located in a strip mall with plenty of parking. Give it a try. I think you will enjoy whatever you order.
LV News Update
—Farmers Market: The Love, Linda Farmers Market will be held today August 18 from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Linda Vista Plaza Shopping Center. Pay a visit and get some fresh fruits and vegetables. Check out the article further below about a new Farmers Market vendor—Brothers Products—and what they have to offer in terms of hummus, dips, sauces and other delicious Mediterranean-themed products.
—Treeline Park Social: The next step in the Treeline Park Social Project will take place this Saturday August 20 at John Baca Park from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Residents are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and hang out or simply view the installed art piece. The installed art piece will be on public display from August 20 to October 20. You can read more about the Treeline Park Social Project in a previous issue of the Linda Vista Update; click here to read.
—San Diego Festival of Books: The SD Union Tribune’s 6th Annual Festival of Books will be held Saturday August 20 on the USD campus. As explained on the event’s web site, the Festival of Books is an event for book lovers of all ages, where one can enjoy workshops, activities, photo booths, live entertainment, and discussions with award-winning authors. Admission is free. Check out the list of authors who will be on hand by clicking here. Register here to attend the festival.
Farmers Market Vendor Spotlight
Hummus and Dips/Sauce at Brothers Products
Believe it or not, football season is just around the corner. Yes, it’s that time of the year to start pondering the prospects of your favorite team, to begin contemplating the chances of Tom Brady winning another Super Bowl, and to once again predict what will prevent the LA Chargers from making it into the playoffs. Just as importantly, it’s time to think of what kind of snacks you will be eating and drinking while sitting in front of the TV, watching all those games.
Just as a football team must decide on whether it will stick with the same quarterback that started last season, enthusiastic fans must decide on whether they plan on sticking with the same game day snacks that served them so well in previous football watching seasons.
In case you have grown a little tired of the traditional bean dip/guacamole dip with tortilla chip routine, and if you are perhaps in the mood for something more exotic, then I have a suggestion to make. Give your taste buds a treat and pay a visit to the Brothers Products vendor booth at the Love, Linda Vista Farmers Market, where you will find a fantastic selection of hummus and Mediterranean-themed spreads and dips. It’s a great place to experiment with various dips, so you can determine which ones you will end up serving for this season’s football watching.
As many of you already know, Mediterranean-themed diets are all the rage these days, with everyone touting the health benefits of such food, as well as the tastiness. Hummus is one of those popular Mediterranean food items. People all over the world have jumped on the hummus bandwagon.
According to Wikipedia, hummus is “a Middle Eastern dip, spread or savory dish made from cooked, mashed chickpeas blended with tahini, lemon juice and garlic. The standard garnish in the Middle East includes olive oil, a few whole chickpeas, parsley, and paprika. It is usually eaten as a dip, with pita bread.” Hummus has been eaten in the Middle East since the 13th century. And today, the popularity of hummus has grown rapidly outside its area of origin. According to one internet source, global hummus market is estimated around $811.9 million as of 2020 and is expected to break $1 billion by 2026.
At the Brothers Products vendor’s booth, you’ll find traditional hummus selections, but also such selections as roasted garlic, cilantro, roasted red pepper, and chipotle hummus. You’ll also find an amazingly wide range of dips and spreads. I tried the Three-Layer dip, which consisted of pesto, sundried tomatoes, feta cheese, olive oil. It tasted very Mediterranean, and it went in an excellent manner with both the Pita bread and the falafel chips, which are also sold at the booth.
Mohammed, who was working behind the counter (and who happens to be one of seven brothers involved in the Brothers Products family-based company), commented that one of their most popular dips is the Brothers Mix, which contains chickpeas, garlic, cilantro, spinach, basil, olive oil and salt. I tried it. Needless to say, it tasted great. I could see myself eating this dip on a Sunday afternoon while the Chargers are blowing another fourth quarter lead.
I also tasted the Kitchen Sink dip, which sounded intriguing with its ingredients of artichoke, jalapeno, carrots, roasted red peppers, black beans, chipotle, lemon juice, and olive oil. Betty tasted the Olive Tapenade dip and thought it would make an excellent appetizer when offered with crackers.
They also make special dips for special occasions, like the Super Bowl dip, which is sold only in the weeks leading up to the big game.
In addition to the hummus, dips and spreads, pita bread and assorted chips, you can buy such items as olive oil imported from Lebanon, and desserts like baclava.
Make sure you visit the Brothers Products booth next time you’re at the Farmers Market and see for yourself how the company carries out its mission of “sharing the wonderful flavors of the Mediterranean food with all consumers.”
LV’ers Flock to Parks After Dark Movie Night
On August 12, the Linda Vista Neighborhood Park and Recreation Center hosted a highly successful Friday night event. As part of the City’s Parks After Dark program, LV families were able to enjoy a variety of jumpers, face painting, a mobile gaming experience, good food provided by the Up in Smoke food truck, and an outdoor showing of Space Jams: A New Legacy.
The Linda Vista Neighborhood Park and Recreation Center is one of three parks in San Diego that makes up the city’s Parks After Dark Program. The program brings fun activities to the park on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and will continue to operate through August 27. The program is made possible by the San Diego Parks Foundation, the city of San Diego, the County of San Diego, and the Price Philanthropies Foundation.
Holy Family Christian Closet
The Linda Vista Update has been publishing weekly for two years. Sometimes people ask how we can keep coming up with new and interesting articles about Linda Vista. I would like to say it is through difficult investigative work, including pounding the pavements for stories, but that would only be partially true. Many times a reader of the LV Update will contact us with s situation that we were unaware of and which then makes for an interesting story. Such is the case with a recent email from local resident Theresa Clark who told us of a well kept secret of Linda Vista – the thrift shop known as the Christian Closet at Holy Family Catholic Church (1957 Coolidge Street). It intrigued us so we recently contacted Ms. Clark and were amazed to hear about the Christian Closet and all that that is done by a group of volunteers under the auspicious of the St. Vincent de Paul Society on the grounds of the Holy Family Catholic Church.
The thrift shop operates from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm on Saturdays. The items they sell include clothing, both adult and childrens, household goods such as sheets, pots and pans and more. Prices are very reasonable ranging from about 25 cents to $2.00 at the highest. Volunteers go through the donations twice a week and only put out for sale things that are clean and whole, and as one volunteer said, things she would use herself. Unusable items are recycled, if possible, or disposed of. Once a month, on the 4th Saturday, items that have not sold for two months are put out for a 25 cent sale. This is from 8:30 am to 9:30 am.
In addition to the thrift store, every Friday they hold a food pantry give away in the church hall from 8:00 am to 10:00 am. Food is donated by St. Michael’s parish in Poway, and there is usually bread such as tortillas from Carnival and donuts from Yum Yum. St. Raphael’s in Rancho Bernardo also provides donations. There is no registration for food distribution, and all that is required is that you give the your first name and the number in your family. There is no requirement to be Catholic, or to claim a certain financial status, but you must be a resident of Linda Vista.
Also, boxes of food stuff are prepared and put in the church office for requests from our homeless population. The St. Vincent De Paul Society may also help with other things like rental assistance or other emergency assistance. This type of assistance may require a home visit from two Vincentians. Volunteers are available for donations on Tuesday from 8:30 am to 10:00 am, Thursday 8:30 am to 11:00 am, Saturday 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and in the Church office. Monetary donations are always welcome as well as clothing and household items. Make sure the clothing is clean and undamaged. Electrical devices cannot be accepted. Canned goods are welcomed. Let them know if you would like to become a volunteer.
I think you will agree this is a wonderful thing being done in our community. If you are interested in showing your appreciation by donating or otherwise assisting the St Vincent De Paul volunteers in their work, here are some contacts: Theresa Clark – 619-517-4293; Joanne McBride – 858-354-7571; Amparo Pinon – President of St. Vincent De Paul Society and Spanish speaking – 858-334-3952
LV Family Reunion Returns
After a two year hiatus, the Linda Vista Family Reunion Picnic returned to the Linda Vista Neighborhood Park and Recreation Center this past Sunday (August 14). This community tradition brought many local families with ties to Linda Vista out into the warm summer sunshine. These long time residents and former residents enjoyed the time eating, listening to music, and sharing stories about the good old days.
When asked to offer their favorites memories of growing up in Linda Vista, the following comments were made by some of the enthusiastic reunion attendees:
“Going to the Linda Vista Theatre. We had so much fun there.” (Linda Marquez)
“Eating at Bill’s Burgers.” (Abel)
“Everyone came to the Rec Center, and to the Teen Center where we had our own Linda Vista band.” (Linda Johnson)
“Family.” (Anna Marquez)
“The Wagon Train restaurant down where Hazard Center is today. Also, I remember how we had to walk through a canyon (where Genesee Avenue is today) in order to get to Kearny High School.” (Woody Labrador)
“Boxing at the Boys Club. And the diversity of the community. You grew up with it every day.” (Andre)
“Making friends while playing Little League baseball.” (Greg Delgadillo)
The Linda Vista Update looks forward to seeing an even bigger LV Family Reunion next year.
Commentary
The Padres’ Big Brother Stands in the Way
Editor’s note: Faithful Padres fans have certainly experienced a series of dramatic ups and downs these past couple weeks. The Soto trade, followed by a soul crushing sweep by the Dodgers, followed by the bad news about Fernando Tatis, has rocked our Padres world. The below essay was published a few days ago by the San Diego Union-Tribune. I submitted it based on the newspaper’s request for reader responses to the Juan Soto trade and how it might affect the fate of the Padres. We are re-publishing the essay for all of our LV Update Padres fans to read and mull over. It’s a bit skeptical about the Padres’ hopes for success, but long-time Padres fans can’t help but be a bit skeptical.
The overwhelming sense of euphoria felt by Padres fans immediately following the recent Juan Soto trade is certainly understandable. In fact, it was entirely justified. After last year’s late season collapse, followed by Fernando Tatis’s injury, San Diego was in dire need of a sign of hope. Everyone in town felt the confidence level rocket upwards when they heard the trade news. We suddenly felt emboldened. I heard the words “Now we can take on the Dodgers” mouthed by numerous fans.
But a warning is in order. Euphoria must be tempered by reality. At the risk of sounding like a Debbie Downer, if measuring up to the Dodgers is the Padres’ goal, chances are good that we are once again bound for disappointment. As this past weekend’s dismal encounter in L.A. demonstrated, the current version of the Dodgers may be too great an obstacle to overcome. They remain the talented, glamorous, and popular “Joe Hollywood” big brother to the Padres’ little brother down the road. I am not sure anything can change the nature of this decades-long sibling relationship in the near term. Fellow San Diego Baby Boomers well-versed in a couple of old sitcoms will understand why I make such a claim.
Th recent death of Tony Dow—the actor who played big brother Wally in the late 50’s/early 60’s sitcom Leave it to Beaver—reminded me of the significance of this big/little brother relationship. As any Leave it To Beaver fan knows, the Beaver, as played by Jerry Mathers, was always doing something goofy. He meant well, but he frequently found himself getting into awkward situations that required him to be bailed out by his parents, or even Wally. On the other hand, Wally was the cool older brother--a good athlete and popular with the girls. He seldom experienced any problems. Despite many Leave it to Beaver episodes, this fact never changed. Every script was written with this fundamental concept in mind. What Padres fans must understand is that we are living in a sort of sitcom of real life, one in which the little brother Padres (Beaver) are scripted to be subservient to the cool big brother Dodgers (Wally).
If you don’t quite buy my baseball sibling relationship theory, I draw your attention to another Baby Boomer era sitcom. In The Brady Bunch, middle daughter Jan always felt inferior to her older sister Marsha. That golden child Marsha possessed the good looks, was popular with the boys, and seemed to carry herself with a certain style that Jan could never pull off. San Diegans, let me be frank, the Dodgers are Marsha, and the Padres are Jan. Substitute Jan’s memorable lament of “Marsha, Marsha, Marsha” with the oft-heard equivalent of “Why can’t we beat the Dodgers?” and there is no escaping the validity of this claim.
How do the Padres rewrite this script? Perhaps by finally winning a World Series. There’s just one thing standing in the way. Uhm, yes, that darn big brother!
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I’ll like to try that one carnivore ordered!! Looks delicious!!!