Monthly Archives: March 2016

Donut Bar

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Mandatory stop on any trip for me, is a donut (doughnut, potay-to/potah-to) shop. So, when I was in San Diego, I went downtown to visit the Insta-famous Donut Bar.

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Ok, so, I went on Sunday morning. Whoops. It was also Easter. Double whoops. Not that that’s a bad thing, but, the line was definitely in place. But, it’s the only day I could make it there, so, I sucked it up and realized that some of the donuts I’ve been seeing pictures of, might not be available, and sold out. I was right. However, there were still some beautiful looking donuts there, ready for me to take them and shove them in my face. 

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First, I got The Homer, because, I mean, look at it. It’s huge and bright, and pretty, and just makes you happy and think of Homer Simpson. If you’re into simpler sweets flavors, this one has your name all DOH!-ver it (wink). The dough has a perfect balance of denseness, but still light and doughy. How do you achieve that? Magic? Unicorn poo? Fairy dust? I don’t know, but I’ll let Donut Bar handle those logistics. Although the icing glaze was pink, it’s sweet and deliciousness was done with a neutral sugary flavor. I’m just glad it wasn’t that artificial strawberry flavor that some other places do. 

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Then, I also got their Mexican Hot Chocolate. I really enjoyed this one. You have the same yeast dough, but this one topped with a rich, chocolate glaze, sprinkled with some pepper for a touch of heat. 

The Shorts:
Name: Donut Bar
Location: 631 B Street, San Diego
The Long and Short: Would I go back? Definitely. But, next time, I’ll get there on a weekday, and on the earlier side. I’ve got a lot more flavors to tackle.
Would I recommend it? For sure. These donuts are large and in charge, just the way I like them. Definitely plan to go close to when the open at 8am so you’ll get first dibs at all the flavors, because they will sell out. 

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Starlite

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This past weekend, I was in San Diego. I was there once before, also for a weekend, so, it was great to be able to hit up some spots that I wasn’t able to before. First stop was at Starlite in Midtown. This restaurant and bar prides itself in its architecture and aesthetic, as well it should, because all the details are pretty stunning. Which, you’ll see as soon as you walk through their hexagonal front doors.

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To start, I had their Starlite Mule (Rain Vodka, ginger beer, lime, Angostura bitters). Now, aside from this drink just looking large and in charge, the contents were just as great. Not too strong, not too weak, and tastes delicious. I mean, I’m not sure what else you could ask for. Well, maybe to keep the cool mug. Oh wait, you can totally purchase that there too. Damn, they’ve thought of everything. 

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As an appetizer for the table, we got Broccoli and Cheddar Fritters (with honey mustard sauce). Definitely order these. The fritters are golden brown and crisp on the outside, and filled with chopped broccoli and cheddar. You get those nostalgic flavors of cheddar covered broccoli you ate as a kid (because slathering cheese over food is a sure fire way to get a kid to eat their veggies), mixed with the light, bready texture and rich flavor of the batter. Dip those bad boys (or girls) in the honey mustard sauce, take a bite, fall in love. Repeat. 

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Then as a main I ordered the Grilled Octopus (marinated garbanzo beans, arugula, smoked paprika aioli and lemon). Well, octopus is one of my favorite things, so, I had to order it and put theirs to the test. Luckily, they passed. The octopus was cooked perfectly, totally tender and lightly crisp from the slight char on the outside. The aioli was a nice component for a bit of dipping, adding a nice smokiness and creaminess to each bite.

The Shorts:
Name: Starlite
Location: 3175 India Street, San Diego
The Long and Short: Would I go back? For sure. After dinner, we went up to their rooftop, which, was just delightful. I’d recommend heading up there at some point.
Would I recommend it? Yes. Whether you’re just in the mood for a good cocktail, or snacks, or, the whole shebang, they’ve got you covered.