Dinner Thursday – misread an email from my sister recommending a restaurant and strolled 5th looking Pho Express (it’s on 6th we discovered later when we rechecked the email). Since we couldn’t find the Pho restaurant, we decided to stop at Croce’s (remember Jim? – Time in a Bottle & Bad, Bad Leroy Brown). Jim’s wife, Ingrid owns this neighbourhood restaurant – not cheap, but great food, atmosphere, and live music.
Todd and I started with a Caesar salad and a bottle of St. Michele’s Cab Sauv (visited the winery in Washington in the summer of ’12). Todd ordered the Grilled Duck entrée served with barley risotto.
I had the fork-tender short ribs and garlic mashed….so yummy!
Our waitress, Rita, informed us that Croce’s is moving at the end of this year – the lease is up and the landlord has rented the lower level to a venue that plays loud music that would interfere with Croce’s.
Friday
– we returned to Balboa Park to begin exploring some of the museums. The buildings at Balboa that now house museums were created for the 1915 Exposition. We purchased the Passport – good for each of the 14 museums and the Zoo over the next week.
Our first visit was to the Museum of History where the interactive Bottled & Kegged exhibit detailed the history of brewing in San Diego from the time of the Natives and Spanish to Prohibition to today.
San Diego is home to over 65 craft breweries! (We will explore a few before our vacation ends….).
The museum also contained artwork, artifacts, and displays highlighting San Diego’s history (Kumeyaay culture, Spanish settlement, Mexican era and the early American period).
The Model Railroad Museum was a sight – a model train buff’s dream – metres upon metres, room after room of various sizes of trains, trolleys, and tracks running through miniature San Diego city and surrounding landscape.
The Natural History Museum was impressive. Hundreds of bones and fossils of land and sea animals and birds found in San Diego and area, dating back to pre-ice age, are on display. Animated volunteers are around to share their knowledge and enthusiasm.
The Japanese Friendship Garden is a work-in-progress (a larger area is under construction, set to open in 2015).
A winding path directs you around blooming azaleas, Japanese bushes, bamboo, water fountains, bonsai trees, and a koi pond.
The Automotive Museum houses a number of motorcylces and cars through the ages. The Cadillac display was quite impressive; a far cry from my CTS.
Lunch in the park at Prado was excellent – great food and amazing décor.
I ordered the Smoked Turkey Breast with watercress, cranberry relish, garlic aioli on homemade focaccia. It came with a marinated veggie salad and homemade chips….so good….so much….couldn’t finish….
Todd ordered the Fish Tacos. The grilled Mahi Mahi was served with red cabbage-jicama slaw, mango-jalapeno salsa, mango mustard, and corn tortillas. No comparison to the fish tacos the other day – better presentation, better accompaniments, better taste….
…can’t believe a week has gone by already….Don’t want to leave this great weather with beautiful sunrises…
