Lick the Plate: Valentina blossoms in Leucadia
A fresh concept to cater to that crowd was inevitable and happened recently with the birth of Valentina restaurant in Leucadia....
David Boylan
A slice of Detroit at Benito’s in Oceanside
Benito’s, one of my favorite Detroit pizza joints, has opened a Benito’s Café in downtown Oceanside where they do a whole lot more than pizza....
A sake & sushi education at Kai Ola
I had great things to say about Kai Ola when they opened in Leucadia and they have since found their way on my list of...
Taste the Himalayas in Carlsbad
OK, so I should probably clarify up front that the name of the restaurant is Taste of the Himalayas (TOH) and they have several locations...
14 ways to express your foodie love this Valentine’s Day
So I’m going to admit up front that I’ve never been a big fan of joining the masses on Valentine’s Day in a somewhat forced...
Mighty fine food and fabulous cocktails at Cutwater Spirits
Once in a while I have to break out of the North County bubble for a Lick the Plate adventure that takes me somewhere new...
Fabulous chef driven Chinese/Korean at Chiko
There was a lot of buzz leading up to the opening of Chiko, located in the building formerly occupied by DB Hackers, Jamrock, and most...
Much amore for Buona Forchetta Encinitas
It’s such a pleasure as a writer when a column flows from my mind like conversation with a good friend. And even easier when that...
The beauty of food, travel and surfing as told by Jim Kempton
As a surfer on the fringes of the insider industry scene, the chance to meet and record a Lick the Plate radio show with an...
Lick the Plate Highlights of 2018
North County continued to see an expanding restaurant scene, especially along the coast in Encinitas, Carlsbad and Oceanside. As always, Lick the Plate tried to...
The Fabulous Hacienda de Vega in Rancho Santa Fe
For years I’ve heard good things about the original Hacienda de Vega in Escondido then in Carlsbad and when I heard they opened in early...
Kennedy’s Meat Company brings prime cuts to Escondido
It took a tip from a friend to turn me on to Kennedy’s in Escondido and I’m grateful as this place should be a regular...
Delightful Asian Buns arrive in Carlsbad at Harumama
It’s been almost five years now since Blue Ocean Robata & Sushi elevated the restaurant scene in Carlsbad with their innovative mix of Japanese Robata,...
All about Eve
First off, I just love the name Eve and it brought to mind an old-school movie of the same name called “All About Eve,” hence...
Lick the Plate: Umami Japanese delights in San Marcos
Umami Japanese opened in San Marcos on Nov. 1 but was running like an established restaurant when I visited during their second week open....
