San Diego (聖地牙哥) 位在南加州, 是加州第二大城市, 全美第八大城市, 屬於加州最南端與墨西哥交界的城市 (美國共有加州, 亞歷桑那州, 新墨西哥州, 德州與墨西哥交界; 德州的邊界最長, 加州最短), 70 miles長的海灘, 92個高爾夫球場.
San Diego County裡還細分十八個市 (有點像台北市還細分大安區, 信義區; 每個區還細分甚麼里, 甚麼鄉, 甚麼鎮的意思, 因為土地大嘛), 比較有名的幾個是Carlsbad, Escondido, Del Mar, La Jolla, La Mesa, Coronado, Hillcrest, Mission Valley, etc. 亦可按方位下去分.
我這次住在市區的San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina, 所以這次的活動介紹以市中心的為主, 去年我有去Old Town, 請看舊文.
Downtown附近比較有名的有Balboa Park (the largest urban cultural park in the U.S., is home to 15 museums, numerous art galleries, beautiful gardens, the Tony Award-winning The Globe Theatres and the world-famous San Diego Zoo.), Coronado, Little Italy, Old Town. 光是這幾塊區域就起碼夠玩四五天了.
Seaport Village, 14 acre waterfront, 裡面有50間Shops, 13間休閒餐廳, 4間高級水景餐廳 (上圖是Pier Cafe), 週末有很多街頭藝人表演. Opened in 1980, the boardwalk connects with the Convention Center, Marriott Hotel & Marina, Manchester Grand Hyatt and Midway Museum. 4 miles of meandering cobblestone pathways bordered by ponds, lakes, fountains and colorful, lush landscaping. Quarter mile boardwalk along the San Diego Bay. First 2 hours of parking are $1 with any purchase and only $4 an hour thereafter.
Greek Island Cafe 位在Seaport Village, 被它日式立體菜色模型吸引, 雖然那些模型實在不美, 不過一目了然, 對點菜很有幫助.
羊肉排很嫩多汁, Pita Bread沾小黃瓜優格, 味道很清新. 我沒去過希臘, 照片到看了不少, 對那又白又藍的當地建築很有興趣, 對希臘菜的接受度也比墨西哥菜高, 也許下次歐洲之旅應該將希臘列進去, 一嘗道地希臘菜.
(第一張圖是下午五點半沒啥人的樣子, 第二張圖是週日一大早整家店滿滿的人)
朋友Sally推薦的Bread & Cie Bakery & Cafe, 我第一次去的時候是下午五點半, 所以時間有點尷尬. 我點了一杯咖啡, 半個三明治配小碗湯當作晚餐, 咖啡OK, 但是三明治很讚, 尤其那個麵包 (traditional European artisan bread) 很Q, 又Airy, 他們每天烤新鮮的喔. 我第二次去是要回灣區的那個早上, 老公點Quiche, 是我吃過最不膩的; 我點Apple Lattice, 不甜, 而且派皮酥很好吃. 350 University Ave, San Diego, 平日營業時間是七點到七點, 隔壁是Peet's Coffee, 進店消費可以免費停車一小時, 停車場在Peet's Coffee旁邊.
Food Tours: 可以參考A Taste of San Diego, Bite San Diego, Culinary Tour or Restaurant Hop, Brewery Tours, Lo Jolla Wine or Beer Tours. 對Food Truck有興趣的, 可以看看這篇.
Farm Tour: 夫妻檔Robin Taylor and Lucila de Alejandro經營的Suzie's Organic Farm是許多廚師的新鮮食材來源, 每個月的第二個週六的早上十點半到下午二點有一個Farm Tour,每人美金十塊. The tours consist of a 90 minute guided walkabout of our property. Visitors will be allowed to explore the farm and learn from our skilled farm assistants about plants, gardens, and food systems. We try to cover many topics to engage participants about growing food, ecosystems, plant structure and development, home gardening techniques, and will address the meaning and importance of organic farming in a modern and age appropriate context. Throughout the tour we perform hands-on field tests of crops and will harvest veggies for everyone to take home. Please bring grocery bags from home.
Farmer's Markets:
The Hillcrest Farmer's Market是聖地牙哥最大的農夫市場, 每週日從上午九點到下午二點在DMV的停車場舉行 (3960 Normal St). 從1997的35個攤販到今天的125-140個攤販, 包含a wide variety of locally grown in-season fruit, produce, prepared food and hot food items, gifts, arts and crafts, and flowers, as well as weekly entertainment performed by Shawn Rohlf and the Buskers, a local band.
比Hillcrest Farmer's Market略小一點的Little Italy Mercato則是每週六從早上九點到下午一點半在Date St (between Kettner Blvd and State St, 共四條街長). 賣的東西大多和南灣的農夫市場差不多, 但是有比較多攤的肉販和海鮮 (有新鮮的Oyester現買現吃), 飾品類的設計感比較特別多元.
最後一晚的晚餐給了市區的Searsucker, 我們去年八月來San Diego的時候, 這家餐廳才開幕二週, 這次再來這家餐廳還是高朋滿座. 這次只有octopus, saffron aioli + cress salad是和去年點重複, 另外點了Smoked Trout, Grapefruit, Radish + Avocado 沙拉, loin “filet mignon” with lobster butter + cognac 菲力牛排和fennel, fingerlings + yolk都是沒吃過的. 這次看到菜單發現有蠻多新菜, 但是也覺得價錢好像比去年的略高, 不過一年才來一次, 也真的蠻喜歡這家餐廳的氣氛和餐點, 也只好忍痛啦.
Farm-to-Table Restaurants:
The Linkery – 官網上說他們有一個No Tipping Policy, 只收18%的Table Service, 怎麼覺得像是強制收小費啊, 只是換個名稱罷了.
Sea Rocket Bistro – serving a menu of truly local flavor, sourcing food directly from our region's farmers, fishermen, and ranchers. Focus on sustainably harvested seafood, organic produce and pastured meats, as well as featuring great local craft beers and California wines.
Spread – daily changeing menu, all local, all organic. The white chocolate pretzel peanut variety was Chef Tyler Florence's pick for the Food Network show The Best Thing.
Stone Brewing Company – a lot of special events, offer tours.
A.R. Valentien – Family style dinner for 10-16 people served in 4 courses and paired with local wines.
MIHO Gastrotruck (Farm to Street) – uses fresh, local, and thoughtfully sourced ingredients to create hand crafted street food that is affordable, convenient, and delicious.
Mistral – redefines modern French cuisine and use of local produce, dishes seasoned with berbs from the chef's onsite garden. Special Events: 3 course dinner paired with wines from Executive Chef Gabriel Morales's personal 3000-bottle collection. Enjoy a Gondola ride before or after dinner at Mistral.
Whisknladle – Food snobs come for monthly supper club which is limited to parties of 4 or less in the spirit of connecting strangers (every last Tuesday each month).
Alchemy – Internaltional Tapas spot. Dinner with 6 Strangers $48 per person, limit the reservations to 2 per party.
如果你喜歡拍有特色的建築, 可以參考:
Se' San Diego
A new gem in San Diego's skyline, this 23-story, Asian-inspired luxury hotel is a unique experience in art and function. Among the black ebony columns, Nepali carpets, silk chandelier and floating staircase, you'll find inspired and imaginative installations from artists Ken Gangbar, Ball-Nogues, Jennifer Prichard and Joseph Conforti.
The US Grant
Built in 1910, completely renovated in 2006 and boasting 13 presidential stays, this Edwardian masterpiece in the Gaslamp Quarter was the first hotel ever to commission exclusive, original works by living artists. Sleep next to pieces by internationally acclaimed Yves Clement and American artist Gene Locklear.
The Lodge at Torrey Pines
An authentic reflection of the California Craftsman style of architecture, this incredible hotel proudly displays one of the largest collections of 20th Century impressionist and San Diego artist, Albert Robert Valentien.
覺醒的女人最美 