A slice of New Jersey at Spirito’s Italian Diner in Carlsbad
I’ve been daydreaming about a food-centric trip that includes a tour of old-school Italian diners, which are common in New Jersey. Ideally, this trip would...
Lick the Plate
Celebrating summer solstice Del Mar style
There are many things about the summer solstice that have always appealed to me, and for many years, I celebrated it in a big way....
Old-school goodness at Don’s Country Kitchen Oceanside
The name alone elicits visions of hearty portions served up by a friendly staff....
HomeState, Tanner’s bring bold concepts, flavors to South O
In my ongoing series highlighting some of the excellent dining options in South Oceanside, this week, I’m featuring two of the neighborhood’s newest additions, HomeState...
Heritage Beer Co. shines bright among South O dining gems
My work commute from Leucadia to the northernmost border of Oceanside along state Route 76 often leads me to take Coast Highway 101 back to...
Licking the plate with the Beacon’s sunset bunch
Finding a sense of community where you live, however you manifest it, just makes life better....
Ultimate comfort food at Bread & Cheese Eatery
I fondly recall the simplicity of grilled cheese dipped in tomato soup from childhood — a cherished comfort that epitomized life’s little pleasures. When my...
Jorge’s Mexicatessen arrives in Leucadia
For those of us still grieving the loss of Karina’s Taco Shop, the arrival of an equally iconic and storied Mexican restaurant to take its...
Encinitas church serves up heavenly Lenten fish fry
Growing up Catholic in Michigan, Lenten fish fries were (and still are) prevalent, extending beyond the Catholic community. In fact, one of the metropolitan Detroit...
Sago brings modern dining to historic Encinitas building
The building where Sago resides, alongside the La Paloma Theater and Moonlight Music and adjacent to the classic Encinitas sign, could be considered the most...
Peace Pies is back and better than ever
I remember the day vividly in September 2019 when the building housing Mozy Café, Shatto & Sons, and Peace Pies was destroyed in an all-consuming...
Sky’s The Limit Foods elevates plant-based to new heights
Once in a while, I come across some young culinary entrepreneurs who seem to have that combination of passion, work ethic, smarts and, most importantly,...
Lick the Plate’s 10 kitchen essentials
As we entered the new year, I was doing my annual deep clean and reorganization of my kitchen and was quite proud of how I’d...
It was a fine year to Lick the Plate
Here are some of my top culinary experiences of 2023 and a short wish list for 2024....
Authentic deli goodness at The Pastrami Stand
Turns out there are a lot of folks like me in the area craving classic, simple versions of deli sandwich classics....