Restaurants

Food Network: Say it ain’t so, Rosie’s Cafe

After three years off the air, Restaurant Impossible returned to the Food Network Saturday, April 20 with a somewhat problematic visit to Rosie’s Cafe on Grand Avenue at Escondido. Food Network Gossip also covered restaurant makeover guru Robert Irvine’s highly eventful visit, but when the smoke from the kitchen cleared, with all due respect to owner Kaitlyn Rose, 32, and her enthusiastic foray into the…


Psycho-Deli Burger hungry for James Beard

Step off cheesy regular burgers, Pechanga Resort Casino can tell Jose Mendoza is going for the glory as the only local chef dishing it out in the prestigious participating in the James Beard Foundation’s 2019 Blended Burger Project. The competition, which has drawn burger entries from 266 chefs nationwide, asks restaurants to create a menu burger that is made with at least 25 percent chopped…



No more Thyme in the Ranch for you, or is it?

Everybody loves the iconic Thyme in the Ranch breakfast and lunch deli that has been humming along with th finest delicacies for nearly a quarter of a century at Rancho Santa Fe. The question now, however, is will the tradition continue now that owners Shane and Dawn Pursell have announced their retirement from the business of making the best lunches and baked good anywhere in…


Tale of two diners: Rosie’s in, Vinz’s out

It was the best of times, for Rosie’s Cafe; it was the worst of times for Vinz Wine Bar/Continental Deli. Grand Avenue Escondido’s restaurant scene this week saw Rosie’s get a reality TV show makeover while Vinz Wine Bar and its associated Continental Deli went bye, Felicia. “Some exciting news from our neighbor, Rosie’s Cafe (formerly Champion’s,)” said Andy Granger, also known as Andy the Barber,…


Celebrity chef hip to orthopedic surgery

Pamplemousse Chef Gets More Time in the Kitchen Building one of San Diego’s most successful restaurants took a lot of hard work and skill, but also took its toll on Pamplemousse Grille owner and executive chef Jeffrey Strauss. “Being on your feet 12-15 hours a day…it finally caught up with me,” Strauss said as he walked the same kitchen floor he’s walked for the past…


Stick Faye’s Fork in it, Pegah’s done

Courtesy of Faye’s Fork food blog. For more, visit Faye’s Fork: http://www.fayesfork.com/about-me/ PEGAH’S KITCHEN 912 S Redwood St Escondido, CA 92025 (760) 739-9265 I was in Escondido to have my car serviced. It was an early morning and all I could think about was chicken fried steak. And country gravy. I discovered Pegah’s Kitchen on my Yelp app and decided to try the restaurant as they…


The Cafe at Harrah’s Rincon Casino

The Cafe at Harrah’s Rincon Casino 777 Harrah’s Rincon Way Valley Center, CA 92082 (760) 751-3100 Last week was Spring Break for Jake and T. To “celebrate”,  my folks got us a free room at Harrah’s Rincon Casino and we had a staycation. The resort is far enough away to feel like you’re out of town, but still close enough to home. On our first night we decided…


Burger Bench on Grand Avenue, Escondido

Burger Bench is the brainchild of one of my hiking / blogging friends 100peaks and in its first year of being open, it has already carved itself a spot in the downtown Escondido culture. Serving up good burgers and a large menu of San Diego craft beer, it is one of those spots you want to go after a long hike in one of San Diego’s many…


Champion’s aside, Rosie’s Cafe now open

Lines out Grand Avenue, tears on half-eaten cinnamon rolls, Champion’s Family Restaurant wrapped it up Friday, Jan. 29, after 44 years in business, the future be damned. Now, almost a year later, bookending Champion’s run is the new Rosie’s Cafe, which soft-opened with little notice on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 117 Grand Avenue in downtown Escondido. Owned and operated by the youthful Kaitlin Rose, under…