The Best Things I Ate This Month: September Main Dish

Photo of Vanilla-Melon Gazpacho at Terra American Bistro

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Vanilla-Melon Gazpacho @ Fig Fest

Last Sunday, while the rest of the city was zombified over a plate of football nachos—a good majority of the city’s food scene was at San Diego Public Market. Them, and about 20,000 figs. My personal favorite dish reminded me yet again why I need to get out to see chef Jeff Rossman at his La Mesa restaurant, Terra (I haven’t been since he moved… two years ago). For a super-hot day, Rossman created a not-too-sweet vanilla-melon gazpacho with lumps of fig and blue crab meat in the center. Perfect for the day, perfect sweet to the crab’s salt-savory. Go bug him and demand he make you one at his place of business. Terra American Bistro, 7091 El Cajon Blvd., La Mesa, 619.293.7088.

Photo of Wood-roasted lobster at Sea & Smoke

Wood-roasted lobster @ Sea & Smoke

Look. It’s a mall restaurant. Don’t go in there expecting chef Matt Gordon and top-notch designers Bells & Whistles to have recreated North Park in Del Mar. But Sea & Smoke—the newest installment from Urban Solace gang—is the best thing to hit mall food in quite some time. Sit on the patio at the Flower Hill Promenade location. Order up the wood-roasted Maine lobster, which he gives a little bordertown love with a jicama-corn-chili stuffing (plus butter, naturally). Sea & Smoke, 2690 Via de la Valle, Del Mar, 858.925.8212.

Photo of the Classic Pie at Blue Ribbon Artisanal Pizzeria

Classic Pie @ Blue Ribbon Artisanal Pizzeria

November, we’ll be doing a special issue of SD Mag dedicated to pizza. Aside from an issue dedicated to rainbows, this is probably the next best thing. In my search this week, I stopped by a well-known neo-favorite in Encinitas. And was floored again. The “Classic” at Blue Ribbon—helmed by fine-dining chef gone pizza maker—is a lumpy, leopard-spotted little wonder, with uneven chunks of tasty fennel sausage among crimini mushrooms and fresh mozzarella. Post-alert spoiler alert: It’s making the list in November. Blue Ribbon Artisan Pizzeria, 897 S. Coast Hwy, Encinitas, 760.634.7671.