Have
you ever taken another trip while already on vacation? Adrian and I have done that a couple of times
and it happened again while we were vacationing in Las Vegas a couple of years
ago. Once, we went on a road trip to the
Grand Canyon. Last time we were in Vegas,
we decided to escape to California for a day or two. And we made it all the way to La Jolla and
San Diego. Best spur of the moment
decision ever! First of all, we escaped
from the craziness and excruciatingly torrid temperatures of Las Vegas in July,
and got to cool off in the Californian mild weather. Second, we got to see a new place, experience
some thrilling sensations while touring the city in speed boats, and sample the
scintillating culture and charming food.
Although
we had plenty of authentic Mexican food in the Old Town of San Diego, the restaurant
I’d like to focus on today is Finch’s Bistro & Wine Bar in La Jolla. I
have to be honest – I wasn’t quite convinced that I wanted to post a story
about this charming little local spot, but I recently stumbled upon the
pictures we took while lunching there and the great time and exceptional food
we enjoyed that I thought it’d be a shame not to share some recommendations
with you. Maybe you’ll find yourself in
the sunny city of San Diego this winter and Finch’s is definitely worth a stop.
It certainly lived up to the high ratings when we paid a visit.
Since
you’re already familiar with my voracious love for beets, the Beet the Heat Salad was a must for me. And it was so worth it – a mountain of fresh
greens coated in a light, sort of creamy and mustardy vinaigrette. The sweet red and yellow beets beautifully
balanced the acidic pickled red onions and tart, citrusy blood orange slices. The salad was topped with a perfectly tangy
and crunchy pistachio crusted goat cheese.
Overall, the salad was colorful, bright and packed with texture and
flavor.
Adrian
opted for the Veggie Frittata, which
was a perfect golden brown and was nicely complemented by the Yukon gold
potatoes and the medley of colorful vegetables on top: zucchini, portabella
mushrooms, acidic roasted red peppers, plump tomatoes and delicate, fresh
parsley. And let’s not forget about the
generous dollop of velvety and delicate goat cheese. Perfection!
The Roasted Organic Chicken Salad Sandwich
was loaded and accompanied by garlicky, skinny herbed fries with sea salt
sprinkles and a homemade fancy ketchup on the side. The sandwich was creamy yet light and tart
thanks to the crisp grapes. There were
specks of grain mustard throughout and nutty, crunchy toasted pecans which only
enhanced the depth of flavor. And the
lightly toasted crusty ciabatta bread incorporated this bundle of
deliciousness.
The Red Snapper en Papillote was so simply
prepared yet packed with flavor. It was
fork-tender, melted in your mouth and it came in a bag. The fish was airy and mild while the potatoes,
tomatoes, artichokes and kalamata olives gave it a nice kick. Delicious, colorful and stunning!
The
good thing after this fabulous lunch was that you still had room for
dessert. I opted for the Finch’s Parfait, which had layers and
layers of crunchiness and tartness, sweetness and fresh berries. It was light and perfect for brunch, too. And it came in a wine glass; how fancy is
that?
Adrian
on the other hand preferred the amazing Mascarpone
Stuffed French Toast stuffed with a florally mild mascarpone cheese,
drizzled with a sweet and dainty roasted banana syrup and served with fresh berries. It was utter bliss – crusty on the edges and
soft in the middle. Heaven!
And
did I mention the cold, fizzy, bottomless mimosas and the trio or European reds
that were perfect for our lunch? On top
of that, the atmosphere was just as gorgeous as the food – a small patio tucked
away on a side street, a beautiful water fountain and a generous local
clientele.
So
if you ever find yourself in the vicinity of San Diego, do yourself a favor and
stop by Finch’s Bistro & Wine Bar
in La Jolla and check out this hidden gem!
As
you can see, I’m back from our annual trip to Romania. There’s no better time to be at home with
family than Christmas, don’t you agree? Soon,
I’ll share with you recipes and winter traditions from Romania and Transylvania
but until I manage to successfully organize my ideas and thoughts in my jet
lag-fogged mind, Finch’s Bistro &
Wine Bar will keep you company.
Poftă
Bună! (Bon Appétit!)
Restaurant
Information:
Finch’s Bistro & Wine Bar
7644
Girard Ave.
La
Jolla, CA 92037
Phone:
858-456-4056
