TRAVEL FOOD BLOG: 2013-14

DAD'S SANDWICH: SACRAMENTO, CA

10/5/2013

It was the second road game, but first road trip of the season when the Clippers visited Sacramento on Friday, Nov. 1. I was disappointed that was back-to-back scenario, if only, because I couldn’t go to Dad’s Sandwiches on S Street near downtown twice.

Yes, Dad’s is that good.

I first heard about Dad’s two years ago. I wrote about the Clippers, but was not among the group that traveled regularly. Apparently, it was discovered by a member of the Communications Department in one of the free weekly newspapers in Sacramento under the headline: “Best Sandwich in the City.”

Since then, it has been dubbed by a number of people I know who have been there in more grandiose terms like “best sandwich in the world” or the greatest thing my tastebuds have touched in the history of lunchtime. Okay, so that last one was particularly ridiculous.

 

TACO SURF: LA JOLLA, CA

10/5/2013

This year on Clippers.com, Clippers radio announcer Brian Sieman and I will attempt to bring readers some of that same experience. We will write intermittent accounts of some of the best local places we grab a bite to eat on the road, including comments from other members of the traveling party when applicable or available. The first food-related entry in our 2013-14 travel blog is a review of Taco Surf, a Mexican food restaurant in Pacific Beach, Calif. a few miles from the UCSD campus where the Clippers held training camp.

Taco Surf, located on Mission Blvd. in Pacific Beach, has been around since 1989. It is a corner lot with parking in the back or along the street and the Pacific Ocean less than 100 yards to the West. The place looks a lot like you would imagine a San Diego taco shop might look near the beach. There are two doors in the front plastered with stickers from bands and skate and surf companies. It is reasonable to assume there is 24 years of local music history slapped and stacked on the glass center of the entryway. The ceilings and walls are adorned with surf boards and beachy artwork, there are two televisions playing old surfing videos and 91X the local alternative-rock station was playing faintly in the background.

Photo of Mexican food in San Diego