Friday, December 19,2014
North Fork

Local Tap House is the hangout Oceanside needs

Creative gastropub food makes it more than your average bar

“Revitalization” might not be the right word when talking about the various interesting eateries popping up around Oceanside, but there’s a brash energy to our county’s northernmost beach town that’s unlike its crunchier neighbors to the south.

Friday, December 5,2014
North Fork

Yoshino Japanese Deli serves up fresh, bright rolls and bowls

Fish so good, you should get to this Carlsbad shop early

By Jenny Montgomery

I’m finally coming clean with my ineptitude after a visit to Yoshino Japanese Deli in Carlsbad, where the fishy delights are so good, I can’t be expected to eat as slowly as I’d have to with chopsticks in hand.

Friday, November 21,2014
North Fork

Hungry Bear banishes bland sandwiches

Steak subs should lure you to this Escondido shop

By Jenny Montgomery

Then along comes the plentiful menu at Escondido’s Hungry Bear Sub Shop (302 W. El Norte Pkwy.) to smack me upside the head and tell me that I do love a good grinder, especially one that’s done as brilliantly as this North County star does them.

Friday, September 19,2014
North Fork

Beach Plum Kitchen: quality, charm and ice cream

Carlsbad outpost offers sweet and savory starts to your day

By Jenny Montgomery

My taste buds, if not the rest of my body, are pretty pumped about working their way through the menu at Beach Plum Kitchen, a polished new locale in Carlsbad (6971 El Camino Real, Suite 201).

Friday, September 5,2014
North Fork

The Curious Fork has passion, a few glitches

Solana Beach café and shop offers classes and Blue Bottle Coffee

By Jenny Montgomery

The Curious Fork (512 Via de la Valle, Suite 102) is a café, shop and cooking school all rolled into one.

Friday, August 22,2014
North Fork

Expansive menu at KC’s Tandoor worthy of exploration

Small Encinitas outpost is tops at the exotic and the more familiar

By Jenny Montgomery

For such a sprawling swath of real estate that encompasses what’s called “North County,” there’s a surprising dearth of decent Indian restaurants.

Friday, August 8,2014
North Fork

Café Cantata hits the sweet spot with good coffee

Caffeine is star at Del Mar café, while food is an afterthought

By Jenny Montgomery

Coffee is clearly where Café Cantata shines and where its passion lies. I loved the deliciously creamy cappuccino, topped with a thick head of glorious foam.

Friday, July 25,2014
North Fork

Company Pub & Kitchen is uneven but earnest

Poway’s answer to the gastropub is better than suburban chain restos

By Jenny Montgomery

Company Pub & Kitchen is trying to bring the humble-yet-sophisticated feel that defines a gastropub to this corner of the county, and it gets points for coming close.

Friday, July 11,2014
North Fork

French Corner wows with classic pastries and humble classics

Authenticity is the key in this small Leucadia outpost

By Jenny Montgomery

French Corner Café & Bakery in Leucadia (1200 N. Coast Hwy. 101), helmed by chef / owner Alexandra Long, is trying to bring a little bit of that authentic French eating experience to our everyday lives.

Friday, June 27,2014
North Fork

Green Dragon Tavern & Museum is solid and unexciting

New Carlsbad outpost of food and colonial history makes for an odd mix

By Jenny Montgomery

Have you seen the confusingly massive colonial-style building looming over Interstate 5 in Carlsbad? That's the Green Dragon Tavern & Museum, a new outpost of dining and Revolutionary War curiosities in a town better known for suntans and Legoland.