San Diego’s Oldest Restaurants
A checklist of San Diego’s oldest restaurants Restaurants come and go, but some are more popular and stick around for decades. Here’s a quick checklist of some local San Diego restaurants that have...
View ArticleRecipe: Caesar’s Mushroom Sauce
Caesar Pastore’s restaurants featured his family’s well-known ravioli dishes, homemade spaghetti and tagliarini with a brown mushroom sauce. Carlo Pastore created this recipe in 1913. It resembles...
View ArticleRecipe: Lubach’s Shrimp Cabrillo
Back in the day, Lubach’s (1956-1990) was one of the go-to places in San Diego for your three-martini business lunch. Dark mahogany walls. Red leather booths. Cheerful fireplace. Seafood. Salad bar...
View ArticleAgua Caliente Murals
California Theatre building in downtown San Diego is now endangered. Sign the petition to save it. What are today known as the California Theatre (or Agua Caliente) Murals are three advertisements...
View ArticleRecipe: Grant Grill’s Drambuie Flambé
How about a little holiday cheer, or a simple way to trim those eyebrows? A classic, after-dinner drink from The Grant Grill, in San Diego’s U.S. Grant Hotel. Back in the ’50s, they had a habit of...
View ArticleHappy 75th Anniversary, Marine Room!
This weekend 75 years ago, The Marine Room (and Mermaid Cocktail Lounge) opened, and has been deliciously serving La Jolla and San Diego ever since. Congratulations! Check out The Marine Room’s first...
View ArticleThe Rendezvous’ Hamburger Size
On the northeast side of the U.S. Grant in downtown San Diego, there is today a multi-level parking structure for hotel guests. Prior to 1970 on that spot, there was an older parking structure which...
View ArticleMarilyn Monroe at the Hotel Del
In 1958, director Billy Wilder and crew came down from Hollywood to the Hotel del Coronado to shoot exteriors for his film Some Like It Hot. The comedy showcased the talents of Tony Curtis, Jack...
View ArticleRecipe: Whaler’s Grog from the Whaling Bar
A little holiday tummy-warmer from times past! Here’s a simple, hot-cocktail recipe from the old Whaling Bar at the La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla, California. Whaler’s Grog, La Valencia Hotel Recipe...
View ArticleRecipe: Victor’s Salad from Victor’s Tijuana
Victor’s Salad Recipe for the original Victor’s Salad, from Victor’s Sombrero, Tijuana. The recipe below is based on that published in a 1972 cookbook. It has been modernized and quantities have been...
View ArticleRecipe: Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas from La Plaza
This is the family recipe for chicken enchiladas baked in a mild sour cream sauce, from Helen Hernandez of La Plaza, Mi Burro and Hernandez’ Hideaway restaurants. Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas La...
View ArticleAloha Cafe, Tijuana, 1948
View of Main Street [Avenida Revolución], Tijuana, 1948. At right is the border region’s first pre-tiki bar, Aloha Cafe, established 1928. The Aloha Cafe (1928-2011) Tijuana’s first pre-tiki bar, was...
View ArticleHappy Independence Day from Classic San Diego
The travels and experiences of thousands while serving in the US Navy helped to inspire later Polynesian and Tiki crazes. Many of these servicemen came through San Diego at the US Naval Training...
View ArticleRecipe: Chicken of the Gods from Bali Hai
Chicken of the Gods This is a classic entrée from Bali Hai’s midcentury Cantonese menu, and to this day is remembered fondly by many San Diegans. Bali Hai Restaurant is an iconic Tiki Modern...
View ArticleLast-Minute Tiki Gift Ideas
How about putting a little history under the tree? Back my kickstarter project by pre-ordering a copy of Ninety Years of Classic San Diego Tiki for your favorite Polynesiac today! The book won’t be...
View Article13 Days ’til Tiki –“Tiki Mugs of San Diego” Limited Edition Collector’s Poster
We’re at the halfway mark of this Kickstarter! Here is a sneak peek of the backer reward Tiki Mugs of San Diego, a limited edition collector’s poster available separately for $40 or together with the...
View Article12 Days ’Til Tiki – New Kickstarter Video!
12 | The Kickstarter Video We just posted a brand-new video to our Kickstarter Project Page. Take a look here, pledge to the project, and share with your friends! Thank you for all your support!...
View ArticleIn Remembrance: Classic San Diego Restaurant Closures in 2018
In Remembrance… With sadness and a bit of forlorn nostalgia, we remember some of the classic San Diego establishments that have shuttered in 2018. Restaurants come and go, but when a family favorite...
View Article7 Days ’Til Tiki – Inside the Desert Oasis Room
Thank you for all your enthusiasm and support for this project! We’re at halfway to the goal and a week out from the deadline to fund. If you haven’t already pledged, or are thinking of grabbing some...
View Article6 Days ’Til Tiki – Limited Edition Poster Update
We just received printing quotes for the limited edition Tiki Mug poster, and they’re looking good! 6 | Limited Edition Poster Update Printing a full-color poster can be accomplished in many ways,...
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