Grapefruit Liqueur @ Vom Fass
Best Things I Ate This Month: April 2016
Vom Fass is a relatively new spot in Hillcrest, specializing in oils, vinegars, spirits, and wine. Months back, they sent along one of their liqueurs—a pink grapefruit concoction. It sat in my cupboard for months. I was hesitant. I expected it to taste like some sugar cereal in liquid form, too sweet and too “let someone else drink it.” And then I had it. Fantastic. Not too sweet at all, but nice and acidic and tasting of real, quality juice. It’d be great in a cocktail or simply on the rocks. Time to check out what other surprises their bottles hold.
1050 University Ave., Hillcrest, vomfassusa.com.
Pork Chop @ Madison
Best Things I Ate This Month: April 2016
Madison in University Heights is an architectural stunner, with a huge, semi-enclosed wooden patio shaped like an inverted wooden ark. I reviewed them for upcoming May issue. It wasn’t all hits. But this pork chop floored us. Pork chops are a dicey proposition, since many are dried-out and rely too heavily on the sauces. But theirs, crusted with sesame and drizzled with balsamic reduction, is one of the best I’ve tasted in San Diego.
4622 Park Blvd., University Heights, madisononpark.com.
Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen @ RakiRaki
Best Things I Ate This Month: April 2016
RakiRaki in Convoy has gotten some buzz for the last year, because it’s one of the first Asian restaurants on Convoy to take modern design seriously. It’s a hip joint. But my first visit there a year ago didn’t reveal remarkable food. I decided to revisit recently only to find a totally revamped ramen menu. And the winner for us was the “Super Deluxe Hakata Tonkotsu,” with extra thick noodles, sizzled garlic chips, five-spice soy pickled egg, bean sprouts, scallions, bamboo shoots, wakame seaweed, and crushed sesame. It was spicy, creamy, delicious. An absolute bonanza in a bowl.
4646 Convoy St., Convoy, rakirakiramen.com.
