The ABCs of Eating in San Diego

I am a confessed foodie - eating out is a favorite activity of mine, whether it be lunch, dinner or brunch. Dinner on Friday night is a nice way to start the weekend, although Sunday brunch always seems sort of decadent.

I remember being intrigued when I first starting visiting California and noticed the Health Department postings in the windows denoting whether the eatery was an A, B or C. I had no clue what that meant, but like most folks here now know that the ABCs of eating in San Diego are determined by the state Department of Environmental Health, based on inspections.

So, it's not at all like a Zagat rating. But it's an important rating scale nonetheless.

The A (90 - 100 points, substantial compliance with the law), B (80 - 89, needs improvements in structure and/or operations) and C (79 or below, which is failure - WOW, I remember in school C was average!!) signs denote the sanitation and food safety levels as determined by the most recent inspection. There are major violations, minor violations and good retail practices and these are indicated in the inspectional reports. And eateries can be closed when health hazards exist and cannot reopen until corrections are made and written permission is obtained from the department.

Guess I wouldn't want to eat sushi from a B, and certainly not a C. :)

Come to think of it, I have never been to even a B.

A Rant on Grocery Stores

This is a rant - let me warn you right now. But it might strike a chord with a few of you.

I love living here, in part due to all the great produce and fruits that you have access to. It was decent back East, at least during the spring and summer, but nothing to compare to what we have here. Maybe some people take it for granted cos you are used to it, but it is still wonderful for me.

But shopping for produce at the grocery stores drives me (and my wife) nuts.

First, the quality is often not that great. Clearly the farmer's market is the way to go (and we get there as often as we can - better and fresher produce, more variety, etc.). Henry's (recently purchased by Whole Foods) is pretty good as well, as is Jimbo's. Sometime the quality is good and other times the fruit and vegetables look pretty scary - you have to wonder how they can think people will buy this stuff! The inconsistency is troubling, and so unpredictable. Trader Joe's produce is pretty good too but more expensive.

But what really irks me are the prices. When you do any sort of comparison between what you pay for the identical items at a Vons or Alberstons, vs. getting it at Henry's, for example, it is appalling. It is not unusual to see prices at the big guys almost twice what you pay for elsewhere for the same things, AND for lesser quality. It really grates me, since it happens all the time. Sure, it's easier to just buy the strawberries at Vons for $3.79 a quart rather than make another stop at Henry's to get them for less than half the price. But you start feeling taken advantage of. Man, it starts to get expensive to eat healthily.

Yes, I understand these are big stores with big staffs and big expenses, but you have to wonder.

Does it bug you too? Or am I overreacting here. Just curious.