Review | Kitchen Konfidence

A Visit to the Valle de Guadalupe [Mexican Wine Country]

June 5, 2016 by Brandon Matzek

I’ve had this article on my to-do list since the beginning of the year, and I’m so glad that I’ve finally gotten around to it. Late last year, Jorge and I spent an incredible weekend in the Valle de Guadalupe located two hours south of San Diego near Ensenada, Mexico. Think of it as the Napa Valley of Mexico. The area has been producing wine for over 100 years, and is responsible for 90% of the wine made in Mexico. Surrounded by rolling, rocky mountains, the valley has an ideal climate for growing many different grape varietals. Its expansive desert landscape is dotted with wineries, hotels and roadside farm stands where there’s a big focus on local and sustainable practices. We went to several amazing wineries and restaurants throughout the weekend, and I’m sharing highlights below along with plenty of photos!

Crispy Fish Taco Recipe + The Best Fish Taco in San Diego

July 29, 2015 by Brandon Matzek

You guys are in for a treat today! Two treats really.

A few months ago, Jorge and I went on a hunt for the best battered fish taco in San Diego. Given the massive amount of fish taco options available, we decided to start our search by polling friends, family and fellow foodies about their favorite spots for fish tacos. This poll resulted in these top 3 restaurants/trucks (also vetted on Yelp): Mariscos Alex, TJ Oyster Bar and Oscar’s Mexican Seafood. After we found a favorite fish taco, I then made my own Crispy Fish Taco recipe paired with a spicy Chipotle Crema. This week, I’m sharing my pick for the best fish taco in SD plus my fish taco recipe over on Salt & Wind, a food and travel blog by Aida Mollenkamp. Continue reading for photos from the hunt plus links to the winner and recipe.

The Patio’s Plumosa

October 21, 2014 by Brandon Matzek

Jorge and I had a suuuuper tasty brunch at The Patio on Goldfinch recently. I’ve got highlights from our meal below along with a recipe for their mezcal-based Plumosa cocktail.

Let me start by saying that The Patio on Goldfinch is one gorgeous restaurant. Lush living walls. Reclaimed wood accents. Marble counter tops in hues of red, gray and deep green. The space is luxurious yet still comfortable and approachable. Led by executive chef John Medall, The Patio on Goldfinch is the sister restaurant of The Patio on Lamont in Pacific Beach. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner (and everything in between), The Patio has an eclectic, modern menu and a killer cocktail list. Oh, and they’ve also got an entire room dedicated to cheese called The Cheese Cave. That’s right, a cave of cheese.

Jorge and I sat in the back area surrounded by natural light flooding in through the massive skylights above. Behind us was a towering wall of cascading ferns and philodendron. My eyes danced about the space, taking in all of the thoughtful details. Overall, A+ for atmosphere. Now, let’s get to the food.

Romesco’s Cucumber Martini

September 9, 2014 by Brandon Matzek

It’s about to get all sorts of tasty up in here.

Several weeks ago, I had an outstanding meal at Romesco in San Diego with my boyfriend Jorge. David Nelson, a friend and food writer extraordinaire, also joined us for the afternoon. Romesco, known for its upscale Mexican-Mediterranean cuisine, is a must-visit restaurant by Chef Javier Plascencia. Jorge and I had a fantastic experience at Misión 19, another Chef Plascencia hotspot, just months earlier in Tijuana, so I had a feeling that Romesco would be a treat. And let me tell you. It was. Continue reading for highlights from our meal at Romesco, plus a recipe for their super tasty Cucumber Martini.

The Slutty Negroni at Sea & Smoke

June 1, 2014 by Brandon Matzek

Sea & Smoke is the latest restaurant by one of San Diego’s top chefs, Matt Gordon. He’s also responsible for my favorite restaurant, Urban Solace, and Solace & The Moonlight Lounge, an Encinitas hot spot that I like to call “Suburban Solace.” All three well-designed restaurants specialize in some seriously tasty New American cuisine plus a craveable selection of craft cocktails. Aside from the drinks, what I love most about these restaurants is that their menus change with the seasons, allowing for a new, exciting experience each time I visit.

Jorge and I had brunch at Sea & Smoke this past Sunday, and I’ll have to say that, once again, Matt Gordon does not disappoint. The lovely libation pictured above is a new cocktail at Sea & Smoke called The Slutty Negroni. Made with rye, Cocchi Americano Rosa (an Italian aperitif wine), and dry vermouth, this red-hued beauty is a perfect way to down an ounce or two of whisky. The Cocchi Americano Rosa adds intrigue while mellowing out the burn of the rye. Dry vermouth is added for balance. Continue reading to get a recipe for Sea & Smoke’s Slutty Negroni plus highlights from our brunch.

Avocado Caesar Salad [Giveaway]

August 12, 2013 by Brandon Matzek

For those of you following me on Instagram, you know that I am currently on vacation with the man in Portland and (soon to be) Seattle. But right before I left, I whipped up a super delicious salad that I just have to share with all of you. This recipe for Avocado Caesar Salad features hand-torn hearts of romaine tossed in an avocado caesar dressing, golden crisp crostini, and paper-thin shards of salty Parmesan. Classic caesar salad dressing is thickened with a raw egg yolk. This version uses a whole avocado instead. I wish I could take credit for this ingenious switch out; however, this dressing is courtesy of Gaby Dalkin’s new book Absolutely Avocados. Rich and creamy, avocado caesar dressing tastes similar to the classic version with the addition of some grassy notes from the avocado. It’s pretty darn tasty stuff.

So let’s get back to Absolutely Avocados for a moment. Can I tell you that I am mildly obsessed with this book? Living in San Diego, I have easy access to a plethora of avocados. I have a number of friends who have trees in their backyards, and they love to share any excess fruit. So I am always looking for avocado recipes. With recipes like The Ultimate Chorizo Gravy–Guacamole Loaded Nachos and Mediterranean Avocado Pizza, this book is packed with inspiration. And guess what? I’ve got a copy to give away to one lucky Kitchen Konfidence reader!! Continue reading below for a recipe and giveaway details.

Puesto’s Red Michelada

May 24, 2013 by Brandon Matzek

If you are currently on the hunt for that perfect cocktail for Memorial Day weekend, stop here. I’ve got one for you. This Red Michelada comes from one of my new favorite Mexican hot spots, Puesto. The most basic micheladas are made with beer, hot sauce, lime and salt. Puesto’s Red Michelada is made with a bold blend of beer, fresh tomato, tomato juice, roasted jalapeno, onion, orange juice, lime juice and hot sauce. Finished with a chile-salt rim, this tall glass of Mexican deliciousness is spicy, savory and surprisingly refreshing. Enjoy one of these Red Micheladas grillside while you soak up some gorgeous afternoon sun. I know that’s what I’ll be doing this Memorial Day.

In addition to this spicy libation, the man and I enjoyed a number of other tasty treats at Puesto including a flight of tacos, shrimp ceviche and two frosty paletas. Continue reading for the recipe plus a recap of the entire lunch.

Gingham’s Fried Brussels Sprouts

February 19, 2013 by Brandon Matzek

The man and I recently had a fab lunch at Brian Malarkey’s Gingham, and I just had to share the details. Located in La Mesa (east of San Diego), Gingham is nestled amongst a series of quaint little shops and galleries. As I strolled down La Mesa Boulevard passing windows filled with antiques and nicknacks, I just couldn’t believe that a street like this even existed in La Mesa, an area I thought was fairly devoid of art and culture. Pleasantly surprised, I continued on towards the restaurant enjoying the beaming rays of mid-afternoon sunshine.

Brian Malarkey, a finalist on Top Chef Season 3, is the Chef/Owner of a number of well-known restaurants around town including Searsucker, Burlap, Gabardine, and Herringbone. He’s also a host on The Taste (with Nigella, so jelz), and recently released a cookbook entitled Come Early, Stay Late. Basically, dude is blowin’ up. I’ve met Brian on a number of occasions over the last several years, and I’ll have to say that he really is a nice guy with a big personality. His personality really shines through at each of his restaurants. Gingham not excluded. Continue reading for the rest of my experience (with plenty of food porn) plus a recipe for Gingham’s Fried Brussels Sprouts.

Hibiscus Lemon Drop at Uptown Tavern

October 7, 2012 by Brandon Matzek

So the man and I recently had dinner at Uptown Tavern here in San Diego, and I wanted to share our experience. Uptown Tavern is a newer addition to the Hillcrest restaurant scene. Located in the old Ono Sushi spot, Uptown Tavern is serving up some intriguing cocktails and delicious comfort food. It’s food you can easily recognize with the volume turned way up. After browsing the menu, Jorge and I decided to theme our dinner: Bacon Extravaganza. From appetizers to desserts, everything we ate had some bacon in it. Before we embarked on our bacon journey, we decided to start with two cocktails – Hibiscus Lemon Drop (recipe below) and Kiwi Tini. Bright and balanced, these drinks were the perfect way to kick off a bold, flavorful meal. Continue reading for more highlights from our dinner at Uptown Tavern.

San Diego Restaurant: Snooze

February 1, 2012 by Brandon Matzek

Cooking inspiration can come from many different places including the internet, cookbooks and magazines. I also find restaurants to be a great source of inspiration. These San Diego restaurant reviews will recount my experiences at some of my local favorites and new hotspots. At the end of each review I’ll also provide you with some takeaways that can be put to use in the kitchen.

Snooze
Pancakes $7.50 for a large, $3.00 for a small
Eggs Benedict, $6.50 for a half portion
3940 5th Avenue
Hillcrest
619-500-3344

“You have to try this new brunch place called Snooze. It’s seriously amazing. Pancakes to die for.” A recommendation from a friend still fresh in my mind as I walked into the latest additional to the Hillcrest restaurant scene. Bright and lofty, Snooze is a modern yet casual locale just opened in November of 2011. As I walked behind the host to my table, I couldn’t help but smile at the restaurant’s playful design. Clean lines, bolds colors and interesting textures had my eyes gleefully dancing about the space. Sitting alone at a table for eight I eagerly browsed the menu well-knowing I was going to need some space to accommodate all of the tasty dishes I planned on ordering. Continue reading for the rest of my experience at Snooze in San Diego.