stag's lunchette

As a transplant from Texas/San Diego, the Bay Area hasn't always been home, though it's funny how quickly it's started to feel like that. Recently, I took a little trip to the East Bay to explore Oakland. With coffee shops, beer bars and delicious restaurants on the rise, I knew I'd find something feastly, which is why I wasn't surprised when I decided immediately that I could easily live there (well, if I wasn't so obsessed with San Francisco). 

My friend and I had lunch at Stag's Lunchette, a small eatery in downtown Oakland. With a weekly rotating menu, amazing and unique sandwiches and soup and even some side dishes (brussels sprouts!) I was pretty thrilled. 

Please forgive my crappy iPhone pics. 

mexican grilled chicken sandwich YUM

cheese and broccolini crostini for the vegetarian

an excellent collection of knick knackery

{Stag's Lunchette is located at 362 17th Street in Oakland. }

inspired by locals: juan from MIHO gastrotruck

all photos courtesy of MIHO gastrotruck

Last week, I was privileged to meet with Juan Miron, co-founder of MIHO Gastrotruck [my favorite place to eat...ever]. Besides making the best food [again...ever], it was a particularly special meeting because Juan is essentially my idol and role model, a local celebrity, if you will. I was probably more excited to talk with him than if I ever in a million years had the chance to chat with Johnny Depp...or someone like that. I have been a ridiculously huge fan of MIHO for years and despite Juan's growing business with several new projects in the works, he happily agreed to meet me for a beer [Societe The Apprentice] and we chatted food and business for a good hour and a half. Best. Day. Ever.

How did MIHO Gastrotruck begin?

My wife [Farra] and I met in college at explored our passion for farm-to-table food. We would host underground beer dinners as a creative outlet.We charged people just to break even but it would include four courses and beer pairings and was more more like a six hour party where people would come hangout out and sample cheese and meat boards and 10 or so beers and special kegs. We presented it like a pop up restaurant in the living and dining room of a house with white linen silverware and glassware. Kevin [co-owner] and I met in 2008 working at The Linkery and when we told him about the dinners, he was in.

[Umm... can I do that? Who's with me?]

You mentioned that you worked at Starbucks for a while. How did you decide to up and leave a stable job with benefits in order to follow your dream for MIHO?
I left Starbucks and just decided to go and work with no bar tender experience, I just moved up. It was fun to be in the night life, getting to taste beer, wine and good food. It was nice meeting people and then going out with them until 2 or 3 a.m. and not waking til 10 a.m. I didn’t worry about it. I just hoped something would work out.

What were the biggest challenges you faced when starting your business?
Money. We took out a personal loan. It was a big risk, but it was fun. We worked for three months, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at my house on a business plan and then worked at The Linkery at night to raise capital We used to say whenever we launched a truck and it's super sunny and we don’t feel like cooking…we'll just go to the beach and not cook!

How has MIHO evolved over the years?

The menu used to change every two weeks but it was cost restrictive and challenging. The menu has always been inspired by international street food sourced from local farms.

What were the original menu items?

A harissa burger [grass fed beef, caramelized onion, bib leaf lettuce, harissa aioli and a bun] as well as chicken banh mi, tofu banh mi, cochinita bebil, Yucatan slowly grazed tacos, which we're bringing back during anniversary week, salad and fries.

Currently, what is your long-term goal for MIHO?
Our biggest goal is to tap into traditional catering without the truck. We get a lot of truck catering and we really want to establish MIHO as a food entity and not just a food truck.

[MIHO will most definitely be catering my wedding. Nom.]

Your truck is pretty, your food is always presented beautifully and all MIHO-related stuff just looks so....good! What is your secret?

Kevin and I are both into fashion,music and design and we wanted to incorporate that into our product. We didn't see ourselves slinging food off of a truck but creating a "MIHO Experience..." like you're listening to music, you have eye candy, you get to know the staff and most importantly you get there a break from everyday life.

Where does "MIHO" come from? I always thought it was a reference to "my son" [hijo] in Spanish.
You're sort of right, but it's mostly a fusion of me and Kevin's last names [MIron/HO]

So where do foodies like you go out for dinner?

I love El Take It Easy, their fried oysters with peach oil sauce and fried ham or their fish tacos with kimchi and chevre OR their carnitas tacos. Plus they have amazing cocktails. They get credit they deserve. They're putting out Baja cuisine, which makes sense with the TJ and Ensenada influences here. I also like Starlite's brunch, Jayne's Gastropub, Farmhouse Café and Gabardine [Chef Chad White is amazing].

What about food trucks? Who does a good job?
Neither of us have ever eaten at another food truck in San Diego!

"We're not out for making money…. but we want to watch people enjoying the product and inspiration." 

Juan Miron 

Co-Owner of MIHO Gastrotruck

{Stay tuned for MIHO Gastrotruck's anniversary the week of June 18 for special menu items
and new and exciting project announcements!}

a pretty day (and a great cafe)

Holy guac I'm behind. Maybe because it's because I'm so absurdly excited to see my bestestestest friends this weekend (oh yeah and did I mention we'll be attending that music festival... don't know if you've heard of it... I think they're calling it...'Chella these days...?) So I guess my mind has been elsewhere (DR. DRE ON THE MAIN STAGE SUNDAY...okay I'm done I swear). But I've had some pretty fabulous days lately.  A few weekends ago, co-worker Amanda and I explored Solana Beach, a town I pass every single day but have never explored. It's a haven for anyone interested in design, it's quiet in the best way possible and it's home to the cutest boutiques ever. 

the store/backyard of my dreams

any chance to cuddle with a pup [i need a tan]

zinc

curried lentil + coconut soup, gouda, artisan bread and a yummy salad

Clearly, it was a good day plus I made a few spontaneous purchases that I can't really afford {click here except mine is in mint green and here to see} and we had an incredible lunch at zinc, my new favorite cafe. The soup [featured above] was really pretty amazing and reminded me a LOT of India. Wah.

super stylish salad

Since the relocation of my internship, I've been forced to explore a new area of downtown San Diego, obviously searching for the best places to grab a quick lunch in the middle of a busy day. Salad Style, located just a few blocks from San Diego Magazine on F Street, creates some of the freshest and best salads I have ever tasted.

Besides this, there's usually reggae music playing and they have very cool light fixtures made from wine bottles.

I have ordered the caesar salad both times I've been there. Typically, there is absolutely nothing unique about a caesar salad. But at Salad Style, the caesar comes with crisp romaine, cojita cheese, avocado, hearts of palm, yellow corn, toasted croutons and the option to add grilled chicken. This "caesar with a twist" definitely hits the spot.

Today I sampled the couscous, which seemed to be infused with curry and had lots of currants throughout the dish.

But so far my favorite little treat from this hole in the wall is their tomato, pesto and garlic bruschetta. Crunchy tostini with a perfect layer of homemade pesto and topped with fresh and sweet tomatoes that had been marinated in garlic. Now that's a snack!
(Sorry for the poor quality, iPhone photos... it's all I had!)