How to brunch in Sunny San Diego
I spent the weekend in San Diego with my cousin Felicia and my friend Katie. Naturally I just want to talk about the food. Here’s where we ate.
Spot 1: Madison on Park
Because some Millennial stereotypes are true, we stopped here for brunch. Not drag brunch, sadly, but the food, drinks, and company more than made up for that. We ordered a pitcher of mimosas; first Blue Dream, in adorable glasses accented with flower pedals. This was a blue-green spiral, cold-pressed lemonade and ginger mimosa that indeed tasted like a blue dream… a Blue Lagoon dream, maybe? Anyone? Then we ordered the Black Magic pitcher, an organic lemon, apple, alkaline water, blood orange agave, and activated charcoal mimosa that had me claiming I saw Goody Proctor with the devil. Then they brought day shots— maybe to quiet my Puritan cries, who can say. We also ordered food— I mean, why not?— French toast sticks for the table, a paleo bowl for me, Chilaquiles for Katie and Papas Locas for Felicia. Everything was delicious, the decor was bewitching and the music was— well, you get it.
“I did wander day-drunk on the street and almost buy a puppy from strangers.”
I wasn’t actually dancing naked in the woods after, but I did wander day-drunk on the street and almost buy a puppy from strangers. I definitely lived deliciously.
Spot 2: Duck Dive
In keeping with the mythical creatures theme of the day, the next place we stopped had me feeling like quite the little mermaid. We were served the Blue Kung-Fu, made up of vodka, house-made blueberry cordial, fresh lime juice, mint, and red bull blue, in a punch bowl in the shape of a shell with a rubber duck floating inside. We ate shrimp ceviche and ahi poke, followed up by a less-in-theme but amazing chocolate chip pazzookie. I didn’t even use a dinglehopper for that— I just dove in hands-first.
Coffee Shop Success
S3 Coffee Bar
Our last stop, on a more serious note, was a great, atmospheric, photographable coffee bar that opened right before COVID-19 hit and are only now finally able to reopen their gorgeous interior— I highly recommend supporting them! There was an all-white phone booth with a neon sign, and the whole place felt like my childhood bedroom Barbie-dream house goals with white, pink, and blue everywhere. They serve a gorgeous rainbow coffee, and the chai latte I got was blue and delicious, as was the chia pudding and avocado toast with smoked salmon and prosciutto— seriously mouthwateringly good. The owner was so sweet, please help them out if you can, so worth it! #coffee #avocadotoast
