GREAT EATS HAWAII

Sunday, October 19, 2014

HAWAII VS SAN DIEGO STATE TAILGATE PARTY

HAWAII VS SAN DIEGO STATE

QUALCOMM STADIUM, SAN DIEGO

Two years ago we visited Qualcomm Stadium to watch our Hawaii Rainbow Warriors lose to San Diego State. I posted a blog then that stated that Qualcomm could possibly have the worst food of any stadium I have ever visited. After a second visit I can confirm that Qualcomm does have the worst food of any stadium. Our college venues in Hawaii serve better food. The food is not only bad and expensive but there is a total lack of variety here. We tried the Oggi's Pizza and Wings and they sucked. As hungry as we were, we did not finish the Pizza or the Wings even after hours of enjoying some beers in the parking lot. Our tailgate hosts had better food. The Chicken and Steak Street Tacos served in the parking lot were superb. We lost the game and our appetites at Qualcomm.

Click below to see my first post of Qualcomm

http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2012/10/qualcomm-stadium.html

ROLLED OFF THE SAN DIEGO TROLLY RIGHT SMACK DAB IN
THE MIDDLE OF QUALCOMM STADIUM

GREAT TAILGATE PARTY IN THE PARKING LOT FEATURED CHICKEN AND STEAK
STREET TACOS. THIS WAS FAR BETTER FOOD THAN WHAT YOU CAN BUY INSIDE QUALCOMM

OGGI'S PIZZA SERVED ALL OVER QUALCOMM STADIUM

THE OGGI'S LIGHTNING WITH PEPPERONI AND SAUSAGE

OGGI'S PEPPERONI PIZZA

OGGI'S CHICKEN WINGS - ONE BITE WAS ALL I NEEDED

AVIARA GOLF RESORT

AVIARA GOLF RESORT

CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA

PARK HYATT AVIARA RESORT

7100 AVIARA RESORT DRIVE

CARLSBAD, CA 920111

760-448-1234

760-603-6801 Fax

www.parkaviara.hyatt.com/en/hotel/golf.html

Golf at Aviara was great experience. This place has an incredible staff that really treats you as a guest and makes you feel welcome. From the Pro Shop to the Starter, Attendants and Clubhouse employees we were treated to exceptional service by employees who seem to really like their jobs and understand customer service. Refreshing to say the least. At check in at Aviara there is a table where you can grab a cup of coffee, pastry or fruit. At the end of the round there a fresh baked cookies waiting for you too. The Golf Carts are all new and include GPS, 12V Charger and USB Port. First cart I have ever been on that allowed you to charge your IPhone. Sweet.....While the fairways were being punched and not too green, the course was in great shape and the greens were great. The Starter called this Arnold Palmer designed course a Botanical Garden and he was right. Beautiful surroundings and views. Loved my golf experience at Aviara. Nice to tee it up at another course where the LPGA plays an event. After our round we headed upstairs to the restaurant for some food and drinks. There was a beautiful indoor dining room but we opted to sit outside overlooking the 18th hole. Our waiter named Phil was exceptional. He was friendly, confident and very accommodating. Without asking he split orders for us to share. A single order of Beef Sliders ended up on two plates both with a portion of soup and one and a half burgers for each of us. Did not ask for this but Phil had it done and it was perfect. Phil shared stories of his past and we had a few laughs as we enjoyed the Sliders, Chicken Wings and Lettuce Wraps. The Chicken Wings were complimentary because we golfed a round and the Pro Shop offered them up as a special. Again Phil went the extra mile and split our order so we could sample both the Buffalo and Avocado Style Wings. We both enjoyed the Buffalo Wings but thought the Avocado Wings could use some heat. The Butter Lettuce Wraps ($13) according to the menu included Adobo Braised Japanese Wagyu which I know as beef. We both would swear that what was in the wrap was Pork. The Lettuce Wraps were missing something to bring all of the flavors together. Needed a sweet and spicy sauce maybe. The Natural Beef Sliders ($16) were tasty little mini burgers especially when you add the pickle. The Tomato Basil Soup was a bit bland. I really liked the menu selections here and would love to go back and try a few more. All in all this was a great golf experience with good food and even greater people. Thanks Aviara. Really enjoyed our day at your resort! Going the extra mile and doing all those extra little things for your customers really makes this an exceptional resort.

AVIARA GOLF RESORT

NOT A BAD VIEW TO START YOUR MORNING ROUND

COFFEE, PASTRIES AND FRUIT FOR GOLFERS

NEW CARTS AT AVIARA

THESE CARTS ARE READY FOR TECHNOLOGY

USB AND 12V PORTS

VIEW OF 18TH HOLE FROM ARGYLE STEAK HOUSE

LUNCH MENU AT AVIARA CLUBHOUSE

BREAD BASKET SERVED WITH TWO TYPES OF BUTTER

BUTTER LETTUCE WRAPS

WRAPS MISSED ON FLAVOR AND WE THINK THIS WAS PORK

AVOCADO CHICKEN WINGS

BUFFALO STYLE CHICKEN WINGS

BEEF SLIDERS PORTIONED FOR TWO PEOPLE

GREAT TASTING LITTLE BEEF SLIDERS

TOMATO BASIL SOUP

FOUND THIS LITTLE CHILI GARDEN ON A CART OUTSIDE

PULLED PORK TACOS

PULLED PORK TACOS

SOMEWHERE IN ENCINITAS, CA

One of my best buddies in the world has been perfecting a recipe for Pulled Pork Tacos for a few years now. After serving hundreds at a charity event and receiving rave reviews it was time for me to step into his home and sample what he said were "tacos that will blow my mind". He said to me that he smokes the Pork Shoulder for 16 hours, makes his own BBQ Sauce and the Coleslaw, Roasted Corn Salsa and Black Eyed Peas. I was impressed with all the work and the presentation when we arrived at his home. I thought we would be eating tacos in the back yard by the smoker but this was an extraordinary sit down dinner complete with cold beer and some good wine. Each dish was presented as its own delicious creation but when combined in a corn tortilla shell the flavors combined to make taco magic. Indeed these were tacos that "blow your mind". Fantastic flavor and texture. I am not just saying this because the cook is my friend. Believe me, I give him shit about everything and never hold back. As a taco lover I wanted to critique his tacos but just could not. There is nothing I could do to improve these tacos. When you add the Smoked Pork, Coleslaw, Corn, BBQ Sauce and Avocado you have the perfect combination of flavors. He cooked the corn tortillas in coconut oil and I was amazed by the fact that they were not greasy at all. Perfect texture of crunchiness without the grease. Damn good! Every component compliments the others in these tacos. The sides however by themselves were also delicious. I absolutely loved the Coleslaw and Roasted Corn Salsa. Coleslaw was perfectly sauced with a combination of mayonnaise and sour creme with a little pickle juice and pickles. One of my favorite Slaw's of all time.

PULLED PORK TACOS WITH CORN SALSA, AVOCADO AND BBQ SAUCE. ADD THE COLESLAW FOR "WOW"

PULLED PORK TACOS IN ENCINITAS

THE TABLE IS SET FOR TACO MAGIC

SHREDDED SMOKED PORK SHOULDER

ROASTED CORN

GREAT COLESLAW

BLACK EYED PEAS

CORN TORTILLAS COOKED IN COCONUT OIL

RAUL'S MEXICAN FOOD

RAUL'S MEXICAN FOOD

ENCINITAS, CALIFORNIA

RAUL'S MEXICAN FOOD

490 S. COAST HIGHWAY 101

ENCINITAS, CA 92024

760-436-8589

After hitting Juanita's Taco Shop and having some Carne Asada and Carnitas, we always make a trip to Raul's for their Crunchy Beef Tacos. Raul's has what me and my San Diego buddies think are the best Crispy Beef Tacos anywhere. I love these tacos big time. One of my favorite tacos ever! On this trip we also tried the Rolled Tacos with Chicken. Wow....these are fantastic. Filled with a good amount of seasoned chicken and topped with cheese and guacamole. Add the hot sauce and you have what just may have surpassed Juanita's as my favorite Rolled Tacos in San Diego. Click links below to see more posts on Raul's and you will see that my love for these tacos has been consistent.

http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2014/04/rauls-mexican-food-encinitas-california.html

http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2012/10/rauls-mexican-food-and-san-diego-coaster.html