Susan and I had such a good time on our food tour of Chicago – it was one of the highlights of our surreal post-Oprah-taping days last September (shout-out to Evie Bernard)– that when we recently received a Living Social offer for a half-price food tour right here in San Diego, we couldn’t resist.
So, last Friday, we put on our stretchy pants and, with vouchers and husbands in tow, headed downtown. We met our Bite San Diego guide, Mindy, and the three other couples in our group at Royal India. When Mindy realized a few people were missing, we all secretly – okay, not so secretly – cheered, thinking, “More food for us!” We would quickly realize that is the last thing we would need!
Even though we were given small plates, the “tasting” at Royal India was their actual lunch buffet and it was all-you-can-eat. What you learn quickly on these food tours is that it’s important to pace yourself. We are not fast learners, though, so we piled up those small plates with heaping helpings of tandoori chicken, basmati rice, pakoras, onion bhaji, chicken tikka masala – and then we went back for more. While we ate, Mindy gave us a little history of San Diego’s Gaslamp District, asking if anyone knew why it had once been called the Stingaree. Michael immediately raised his hand and talked about it having been the Red Light District, filled with prostitutes and con men who would “sting” unsuspecting clients. Mindy, surprised that he knew this, told him he’d get an extra dessert for his correct answer. I was so proud.
At one point, Mindy – a life coach, who laughingly dubbed our tour the “sex and drugs tour” since that seemed to be our theme that day – called San Diego “a bustling metropolis,” which almost made me spit out my curry and which also became a running joke throughout our tour.
From Royal India, we walked over to Berkeley Pizza, where they serve deep dish pizza – stuffed (which we would be soon, too). Now, Michael and I are from New York – that other bustling metropolis – and pizza is serious business to us. In fact, Michael has already put in his request for an all-pizza food tour, and has considered starting a pizza blog. So this could have gone either way. Luckily, they served us their signature spinach and mushroom pizza, which Michael had actually brought home from the Little Italy farmer’s market before. Yum.
The good thing about food tours is that you walk from place to place, so you get to digest along the way and make room for whatever’s coming next. In this case, that was Richard Walker’s Pancake House – and trust me, we needed a lot of room. Richard Walker’s is famous for their apple pancakes which we will definitely be making a return trip for, when the kids come home for winter break. Thick, rich, loaded with Granny Smiths and glazed with cinnamon, these pancakes are the kind of food you savor while making goofy faces and “ooh”-ing and “ah”-ing through every bite. Although I knew I shouldn’t, I accepted seconds, which pretty much threw me over the edge. Larry was equally enamored with the bacon on the side, which, he guessed correctly, was cooked in maple syrup. We will all be Zumba-ing for the rest of our lives to make up for this meal alone.
Once they rolled us out of Richard Walker’s, it was on to Little Italy, which, thankfully, was a good walk from there. We passed through neighborhoods we had never explored before, and it was fun to see the eclectic mixture of old and new buildings.
We could smell Davanti Enoteca, our next stop, before we even entered the welcoming, rustic restaurant. Susan and Larry shared a spritzer, but despite the extensive liquor list cleverly placed on a Susan-sized wine bottle, Michael and I were all about the eating. We were served focaccia on wooden boards set atop cans of tomatoes, and our first reaction was “eh” — until we put it in our mouths. Oh my God!! This was not boring old focaccia. It was stuffed – how? it’s so thin and crispy! – with some kind of cheese none of us could pronounce or remember, and then spread with honey. Seriously, it was one of the most delicious things I’ve ever tasted and I’m getting hungry again just thinking about it.
By the time we headed over to Bottlecraft Beer Shop, we had all slowed down – a lot. We were now strolling rather than walking, and a nap was starting to sound really good. But we still had beer to drink and dessert to eat, so we plodded along. Michael and I slid our beers over to Susan and Larry (remember, Michael was saving room for his extra dessert) to chase their spritzer.
Last stop was Café Zucchero, where we were met with heaping plates of cannolis. You would think we wouldn’t have been able to eat one more thing – and you’d be right. We each ate at least two of them! (Plus, Mindy told me to pack up a couple more for Michael to bring home, and I wouldn’t think of going against her wishes.)
Finally, four hours after we started our eating frenzy, we left our final table and waddled outside, where the bridal party of a big Italian wedding was walking through the street, accompanied by an accordian player. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day! We said good-bye to Mindy and our new partners in culinary crime, and drove home, where we skipped dinner and spent the evening lying on the couch in a food coma.
Bite San Diego has three other food tours available in La Jolla, Coronado and Old Town, which we just may have to try, too — once we can fit back into our stretchy pants.
This post originally appeared on my former blog, StyleSubstanceSoul.
Liz Hughes says
Wow! I would have needed a major nap after that experience. Thank you for sharing your experience. I’ve been to Royal India but the other restaurants are new to me.
I love Living Social and Groupon. They offer a great way to experience new places, restaurants, services, etc.. I have received a foot massage with my son, ocean kayaking with my husband, two for one cupcakes and family portraits for a ridiculously low price. It’s a great and innovative service especially during hard economic times.
SUZIE Q. says
I never know what you will be writing about when I click on your website in the morning – but I know I am never disappointed. You made the tour sound so fun (and delicious) my husband and I can’t wait to try it. Serious or funny, I love you ladies.
Beverly says
Welcome to my home with all the amazing restaurants closeby. We are walking with friends to Davanti tonight. Living downtown has the perks of so many great choices for places to eat. To save money, we use coupons for our meals and find great deals!
Shelley says
Darn…I must have missed that Groupon!! How do we get notice of the tours in La Jolla, Old Town etc….??? Can’t wait to try some of these restaurants!!! Loved the post!
Laurie Doyle says
Great piece!! Susan looks SO happy with that bottle of wine:):) Hope you all drank it:)