Parallel 33: A Full Report & A Recipe for Pomegranate Martinis
With our stomachs properly empty and eager, my husband Daniel and I arrived at Parallel 33 in San Diego’s Hillcrest neighborhood promptly at 8:30 on Friday night.
At the Bar
While we waited for what the maitres d’ assured us would be a prime table, Daniel and I tried two unique and delicious drinks in the bar. He got a Pomegranate Martini (my copy-cat recipe is below), also known as a “Tears of a Prophet.” The cocktail was a beautifully deep rose color with just the right amount of sweetness - similar to a Cosmopolitan but better.
I savored a “Golden Buddha” which consisted of Captain Morgan’s Spiced Rum and Ginger Beer with crystallized lemon rind pieces as a garnish. Since Daniel and I are seasoned drinkers, it’s hard to find a drink that’s truly unique to us. But these two cocktails were definitely new to our palettes, and so our visit to Parallel 33 was off to a promising start.
In the Booth
Although the wait in the bar was quite a bit longer than the “3 minutes” we were told when we walked in, the fantastically cozy booth was worth it. Daniel and I felt like we were in our own little Moroccan-Japanese-Indian fusion world!
The menu traumatized me. Everything sounded like a “must-have” and yet we had to remain practical. After all, there’s only so much room in our stomachs. Although Daniel wanted to try their Crispy Curry Calamari with Asian Slaw, Yuzu Dressing, and Minted Mango Salsa, he chivalrously acceded to my choices, which were:
Starters
House made Warm Flat Bread with Three -Region Dipping Sauces – Daniel liked the Eggplant & Garlic Hummus best, while I obsessed over the other two sauces: Red Pepper/Mango and Kalamata Olive.
Amiko’s Ahi Poke with Asian Pear and Mango, Spicy Wasabi Dressing – Thanks for the recommendation, Candice! The Ahi Poke held together a wealth of fresh flavors and fascinating textures, shaped into a cube and served on a crispy cracker. It made me feel badly for people who refuse to eat raw fish. Oh well – more for the rest of us, right?
Off the Vine
Since Daniel knows more about wine than I do, he chose what we would drink with our entrees – lamb for him and fish for me (more on those in a moment!). For me, he selected a 2003 Monticello Chardonnay. For himself, he decided upon a 1999 Schweiger Cabernet Sauvignon. Both were perfect accompaniments for the meal to come…
The Main Dishes Were “Insane”
After wavering between the Udon Noodles with Spinach, Eggplant, Kalamata Olives, Oven Dried Tomatoes, Feta Cheese and the Baquetta Seabass on Roasted Vegetable Couscous, Japanese Eggplant And Charmoula, I finally decided on the fish special. I don’t know the official name because it wasn’t on the menu, but I would call it Locally Caught Rock Fish Served on Green Tea Udon Noodles with Sweet Corn and Many Other Vegetables. I’d never had Rock Fish before. Daniel declared it some of the best fish he’s ever eaten. He’s right – the fish was outstanding, beautifully presented with a radicchio garnish and plenty of corn, carrots, slivered red bell peppers, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and a fairly spicy red sauce that was a little too fiery for my admittedly wimpy tongue.
Daniel chose very wisely, indeed, with the help of Kirk’s glowing recommendation. He chose the Persian Style Lamb Shank, Basmati Rice with Dill, Fava Beans, Carrots. I hardly ever eat lamb, but I was thoroughly enchanted by this dish. It was one of the tastier things I can ever remember eating, with the lamb served on a Moroccan-inspired bed of couscous and potatoes with figs, pine nuts, fava beans, carrots, and hints of Indian spices. The lamb was tender and irresistible – more than once I had to ask for a deposit onto my bread plate from Daniel’s plate. Despite our best efforts to consume every last crumb, we left with a happy little doggy bag of leftovers that survived well into Sunday.
We Couldn’t Skip Dessert
While Daniel and I almost always opt for dark chocolate confections, we forced ourselves to eat outside of the box and get Madeleines of Medjool Date Cake with Vanilla Rose Gelato. I’m so glad we did. The ice cream was the perfect garden-fresh accompaniment to the delectable little date cakes. I even ate some of the precious little rose petal garnish decorating the plate.
I Just Realized… Fusion Is My Thing
As much as I love traditional cuisines or a classic American steakhouse, our most memorable meals have been at the hands of chefs who presented us with tastes we never even contemplated before. In San Diego, that might mean meals at El Agave or Indigo Grill. On the road, it’s definitely Nobu in Tokyo or Las Vegas, or Mesa Grill in New York City. I’m so glad to have another phenomenally innovative restaurant right here in town that can blow our minds and our taste buds every so often.
Much thanks for everyone who offered the tips that helped make our first trip to Parallel 33 so special.
In the mood for a Pomegranate Martini? Here’s how to make one at home:
Pomegranate Martini
Inspired by Parallel 33
Serves 2
3 ounces Skyy Citrus Vodka
3 ounces POM brand Pomegranate Juice
Lemon rind for garnish
Ice
Place 2 martini glasses in the freezer for about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, put some ice in a cocktail shaker and add the liquor and juice. Shake thoroughly and pour into chilled martini glasses, leaving the ice in the shaker. Garnish with a corkscrew of lemon rind and enjoy!
Note: POM also sells other flavors of pomegranate juice, including Pomegranate Mango, which I would imagine also makes a fantastic martini.
Cheers, everyone! Have a great week!
What a coincidence! I discovered your blog last week, and my husband and I also live in San Diego and are hugely into food. AND we ’sort of’ dined at Parallel 33 this past Friday around the same time you were there! We ate at their little lounge called Blue Lotus which is connected to the main restaurant. Same menu but the decor is much different. Check it out sometime! Next time you must try the Chicken B’stilla. Keep the good work with your blog and I hope to run into you as we’re out and about in America’s finest city!
Comment by Amy Kennedy — September 19, 2005 @ 9:23 am
Hi Beth - Sounds like a great meal. I’m glad you enjoyed the lamb. Fusion when it’s done right is an eye-openeing experience!
Comment by Kirk — September 19, 2005 @ 9:32 am
Beth, your site is wonderful! I am new to Martnis so now I have try this one. I have been a wine drinker for many years. My other Personal Chef friends love Martinis. They make me drink some pretty strange ones, most I have not liked! There was this Martini Bar called Swizel in San Antonio, TX that makes THE best Chocolate Mounds Martini in the world. I have been trying to find chocolate martinis ever since and none have measured up! My husband might be going to San Diego next year on business so I will stay tuned to read more about great places to eat there. Can you find me a “to die for” Chocolate Martini? Please…
Comment by Vickie Brown — September 19, 2005 @ 10:35 am
Beth–
Nice report on Parallel 33–and about time–I checked back all weekend after that teaser you gave us on Friday!
I generally don’t like fusion food at all. Most of the time it’s too muddled and gimmicky for my tastes. But I think Amiko Gubbins does it right. She respects the ingredients and seems to care more about the harmony of those ingredients working together rather than fighting each other for your attention.
Thanks for reminding me that I need to get back there soon.
Comment by Angie — September 19, 2005 @ 11:49 am
Sounds wonderful!
Comment by Crystal — September 19, 2005 @ 11:53 am
Ooh, yummy! I am salivating over the madelienes with vanilla rose gelato! I too enjoyed the Indigo Grill on my visit.
Check out my blog tomorrow (Tuesday) because I am tagging YOU with a new meme. Hope that you like it…since you’re a lush — well forgive me for saying so, but you’ve already copped to it — you should do just fine…
Comment by Catherine — September 19, 2005 @ 6:29 pm
[…] Pomegranate Martinis […]
Pingback by Zen Foodism - A Food Blog Emanating from San Diego » Zen Foodism Recipe Index 2005 — December 22, 2005 @ 10:40 am
I use a different recipe, but am totally feeling the Pomegranate Martini love all the way over here in Jersey as well … delicious stuff!
Comment by Sweetnicks — December 28, 2005 @ 5:32 pm
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