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Lick the Plate: Foodie fun at Del Mar racetrack
For me, the horse racing at Del Mar has always been a secondary attraction behind the eclectic mix of big name and local bands they have brought in over the years. Of course I would bet a couple races,...
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Licking the Plate at Moonlight Beach
One of my favorite weekend activities is to get on my bike and ride into Encinitas to run some errands. My route always takes me through Moonlight Beach and in the summer I will make a pit stop at the...
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Lick the Plate: The retro Old School Shave Ice bus serves up some cool!
If you’ve driven on D Street in Encinitas just west of Coast Highway 101, there is a good chance you have seen the colorful, 20-foot-long school bus that has been delightfully repurposed as an Old...
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Lick the Plate: Introducing the Carlsbad Ranch Market ‘groceraunt’
First off, I will give credit where it’s due on the term “groceraunt” as it came from the note I received from Carlsbad Ranch Market owner Vince Grillo describing it as a combination grocery store and...
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Lick the Plate: Head Carlito’s way for killer chicken in Oceanside
If you did not get the movie reference in the headline, here is the background on that. “Carlito’s Way” is a 1993 movie directed by Brian De Palma starring Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Penelope Ann Miller,...
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Lick the Plate: Good vibes at Mozy Cafe in Leucadia
To be honest, I’m not a big fan of the phrase “it’s all good” as it always seems to be followed by a “bro” or similar and said in many situations that are honestly not “all good” at all. That said, if...
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Lick the Plate: Talking food and fashion at Lorielle in Leucadia
Over the past 20 years of living in Encinitas, there are certain people who I’ve run into on a regular basis at local restaurants, bars, and fun events like Leucadia Art Walk and Summer Fun on the 101....
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Exploring 127 West Social House and Chef Eric O’Connor
When I venture out of The Coast News territory for a bit of restaurant exploring, my travels usually take me down toward San Diego. I thought it was time to head in the other direction for a change and...
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Lick the Plate: A slice of funky Leucadia goes up in flames
I was on a plane Sunday night flying back from Michigan to San Diego and had a list of work-related projects to tackle. One of those was writing a 30- and 15-second radio spot for Mozy Café for an...
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Lick the Plate: Sports bar nirvana on the beach at Tower 13
There is a stretch of Cardiff-by-the-Sea along the beach just south of San Elijo that is always a treat to drive though as it has limited development other than the smattering of restaurants and bars...
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Lick the Plate: Celebrating 10 years in North County
It dawned on me recently when someone asked how long I’ve been writing Lick the Plate that 2019 marks 10 years. That’s roughly 500 columns give or take as we officially started in April of 2009 and...
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Lick the Plate: The many reasons to love Milton’s
There are many ways to describe a “foodie” these days, but in my mind, it has always been loosely defined as someone who takes pleasure in exploring a wide variety of food from many cuisines and price...
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Lick the Plate: Staycation at the Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa
Before I get into my recent staycation, I’d like to mention how fun the restaurant/bar 20/Twenty is on the property. Named for its picture-perfect coastal views, 20/Twenty is perched atop Carlsbad’s...
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Lick the Plate: Style and substance at Blade 1936 in Oceanside
I’ll just come right out of the gate and say how much I’ve enjoyed my two visits to this place. There is a lot to love about Blade 1936, so I’ll start with the basics. First a bit on the historic...
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Lick the Plate: Check out Beach Hut Deli in a booming downtown Oceanside
First off let me start a bit of background on how this story came to be. Several of my co-workers in Oceanside have been showing up lately with really fabulous looking sandwiches. They were like the...
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Lick the Plate: Solid BBQ in the burbs at WR Kitchen & Bar in Carlsbad
I will admit up front that it was difficult for me to envision worthy BBQ happening in the suburban enclave of Bressi Ranch. BBQ has always been either an urban or rural experience for me and the...
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Lick the Plate: Herb & Sea dazzles on D Street in Encinitas
I’ve always been impressed by businesses, teams, bands and restaurants that are at the top of their game … firing on all cylinders like a finely tuned engine so to speak. Restaurants that pull this off...
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Lick the Plate: Eating around town with Trouble in the Wind
Once in a while I come across a band that is so tight and whose music is so accessible, that I do my part to turn people on to them. Lick the Plate takeover columns are a good vehicle for that and a...
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Lick the Plate: Good things from 2019
It was a fun year of Lick the Plate in The Coast News and celebrating 10 years writing this column was right up there at the top of good things that happened in 2019. There is so much going on in the...
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Lick the Plate: Get a jump on a healthy 2020 with Rootshine
A few years back when I was fully immersed in the Cross-Fit craze there was always talk of what supplements and diets worked the best for that fairly intense workout lifestyle. One that consistently...
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