http://www.sdcitybeat.com/sandiego/articles.sec-107-1-north-fork.html As long as Leucadia keeps nurturing little patches of quirkiness like Haggo’s Organic Tacos (1114 N. Coast Hwy. 101), I think my sidewalk-eschewing, new-agey former hometown will remain firmly connected to its funky roots.]]> If you’ve ever wanted to walk straight into a Restoration Hardware catalog, Real Food & Spirits is the place for you.]]> The Flying Pig (626 S. Tremont St.) just notched its two-year anniversary—and it’s definitely hit its stride.]]> Box’d has taken over the corner of State Street and Carlsbad Village Drive (430 Carlsbad Village Drive). It’s not so much a restaurant as a shipping container and a large patch of soft, artificial turf.]]> Iris occupies a busy little twist of residential road at the southern end of Del Mar (2334 Carmel Valley Road); if it didn’t sit just west of Interstate 5, we’d call it Carmel Valley.]]> Some days, the quest to find a cool place to eat (and a fun place to write about) involves getting in my car and driving directly to the next place on my “gotta try” list. ]]> I had such high hopes for Chandler’s Restaurant and Lounge. There it sits, facing the bright, blue ocean, separated from the sand by a particularly fast section of Highway 101.]]> Sometimes, I get an email telling me that "this café serves everybody—not JUST Sabre Springs Swingers!" Nutmeg Bakery & Café in Poway? You had me at swingers. ]]> If you’re looking for a more relaxed atmosphere with no diminishment in quality of food, grab a casual lunch or dinner at Panca Peruvian Rotisserie in Oceanside.]]>  You don’t need me to tell you that Fallbrook, way up in the northern reaches of the county, isn’t exactly where the foodies flock.  ]]> Maybe the battle over the thermostat in our too-cold-for-me house has addled my brain, but I have been pondering the beauty of French onion soup lately. Is it the best soup ever? ]]> I’ve never been one of the cool kids. Maybe it’s the old lady trapped inside my sort-of-still-young body, but I like my hangouts mellow and friendly and far from “the scene,” whatever that is.]]> I feel like I’m on a perpetual search for a non-gourmet breakfast place that churns out food that’s a bit more than mediocre. That’s not a high bar, and yet, somehow, my snooty standards are rarely met.]]> When you eat out semi-professionally, you start to see the same things pop up on menus. Food can be as trendy as fashion, with popular ingredients and dishes (truffle oil, bacon, mac ’n’ cheese) going from exciting one day to tired and overdone the next.]]> Sometimes I demand perfection from a restaurant. I want the whole experience: groundbreaking flavors, flawless service and a creative atmosphere.]]> Although I keep insisting that I should be appointed to the position of Naming Czar (for restaurants, other people’s children, hurricanes, etc.), no one has made it official.]]> Just when I think I’ve hit every little nook and cranny worth trying on the Encinitas stretch of the Coast Highway, a really obvious “I’ve been waiting for you!” contender pops onto my radar.]]> Here’s the thing about North County: There’s a lot of driving involved. It’s spread out; suburban sprawl dominates the landscape east of Interstate 5, and when it comes to restaurants, it can take awhile to locate the charms.]]> With The Craftsman New American Tavern in Encinitas, Wade and Kristi Hageman have created a companion eatery to their popular Blue Ribbon Pizza.]]> My Anglophilia started long ago. I fell in love with the hushed sadness on the pages of Remains of the Day. I went through a phase where my morning began with a milky cup of English Breakfast tea instead of coffee.]]>