Cardiff by the Sea, Pt. 3: The Birfday
Monday morning was July 6th, my bro's birfday. We woke up and saw the evidence of the magical wizard sticks posted against the wall. We also woke up to the smell of Father Funk's Cachapas cookin'.
Made fresh just for the birfday boy. You take one of these corn pancakes, fill them with queso fresco and butter, and fold them in half and watch the cheese melt. You can only get these in Venezuela, or at Café Choroní, plug.
Then it was time for the birfday boy to open his gifts. This card was custom made by my parents, it features a picture of my bro at age 6 busting open a smurf piñata.
He got a Dada poster.
And from yours truly, a Wayang, an Indonesian shadow puppet.
After the Cachapas and gift presentation, we took another walk in Encinitas.
We came across this car dealer on our way to the burrito spot. Nice whips.
Los and Liz recomended we go to Juanitas for the bomb burritos.
You could smell this joint from blocks away. That's how you know it's legit.
Father Funk, bringin' that New Mexico flava to South Cali, anxiously awaits his burrito.
I mean, we get plenty of burritos in NM, but Cali burritos are something else.
We got those "California" burritos. They have french fries inside.
Game over.
In order to digest the steak, bean, rice, sour cream, guacamole, french fry filled goodness,
it was back to the beach.
Sigh.
Andy chillin' in the shade.
We all took quick showers and headed to Zenbu, my brother's favorite sushi spot for lunch.
This place was pimp. Great Sushi and 22oz. Sapporos.
We ordered a bunch of stuff, Shrimp Tempura roll, Spicy Tuna roll, California roll, Spicy Scallop roll, Seaweed salad, and Ahi Tuna salad, to name a few.
After the food Liz ordered a round of Patron. I was impressed. Even Father Funk took one.
Awesome intensity, Liz.
Happy bros.
There was a huge fish tank full of goodies that they would take out and cook straight out of the tank. After my shot I took it upon myself to follow the fishies.
This f'er was enormous.
After Zenbu, Father Funk and Mother Salsa went home to start cooking the special birfday dinner. The rest of us, Los, Liz, Andy and I went on a beer run when suddenly Liz suggests we do another shot of Patron. Again, awesome intensity, Liz. He headed to a familiar place, the Office.
And then this classic photo manifested itself.
Yup.
We had a nice buzz walking back to the crib. Father Funk
was already hooking up the Corn, Black Bean, Avocado Salad with Cilantro dressing.
A traditional Venezuelan dish was being prepared, Pabellon Criollo.
Carne Mechada, Black Beans, rice, and fried plantains.
Incredible. Andy was really enjoying this feast, it was his first time having Venezuelan.
Again, the only place you can get this in the states is Café Choroní, plug.
Los was totally happy having all this go down in one day. I think he was having an amazing 30th.
For desert, "Underground Cake," which consists of yellow cake covered and filled with dulce de leche, and Quesillo, which is like a carmelized flan. The meal was complete. Make a wish!
A happy brother with his wife surrounded by his family and good friend Andy.
It was a memorable trip. It was a classic. Los, Andy and I stayed up and talked,
made fun, and reminisced for a while until it was time to call it a wrap.
What a weekend in Cardiff by the Sea. Been missing all of you for the past couple of days.
posted by Enrique at
10:06 AM
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