Home Care In Carlsbad, CA

Calling itself the “Village by the Sea”, the city of Carlsbad is steadily building its reputation as a premier dining destination not just in North County but San Diego at large. Though there are still plenty of casual eating spots and family-friendly establishments, the neighborhood also boasts some sophisticated dining options, including one of the county’s only Michelin-starred restaurants. With State Street as its coastal hub, Carlsbad is drawing locals and visitors alike to its sunny shores.

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Part of a SoCal chain that includes an outpost along the Convoy District’s restaurant row, this Asian restaurant at the Shoppes at Carlsbad convoys homestyle Chinese food, specifically Shanghainese cuisine, including crispy fish fillets with seaweed, eel with chives, and sheng jian bao, which are round, pan-fried pork buns.

If Campfire is the gourmet restaurant that raised the bar in Carlsbad, then Jeune et Jolie is the Carlsbad restaurant that bounded over it. Founded by Campfire owner John Resnick and chef Andrew Bachelier, it has continued to soar under the direction of lauded chef Eric Bost, who helped the elegant and chic restaurant earn a coveted star in the 2021 Michelin Guide. Featuring French cuisine with a decidedly Southern Californian outlook, it offers a four-course menu or a la carte options at the bar.

One of several dining options at State Street Commons, a development in the heart of the village, Nick’s has another uber-popular location in One Paseo as well as several others in and around Southern California. Its crowd-pleasing menu includes salads, sandwiches, and specialties like cioppino and maple-glazed meatloaf.

The restaurant opened in 2016 and provided an immediate boost to Carlsbad’s dining scene. Earning Bib Gourmand status from the Michelin Guide in 2019, it’s known for great cocktails and a menu powered by a wood-fired grill that includes pasture-raised chicken and well-marbled brisket.

When it first opened in 2014, Blue Ocean brought a dose of high design to the neighborhood as well as a welcome infusion of Asian cuisine. It’s since spawned another location in La Jolla, which serves a similar menu of sushi rolls, small plates, and entrees that range from Korean bbq ribs to chicken teriyaki, but the Carlsbad outpost is unique for its Japanese robata grill which turns out a lineup of skewers that include pork belly, wagyu meatballs, baby octopus, and asparagus with bacon.

A relatively new addition to downtown Carlsbad brings well-priced lunch specials to the neighborhood. Offered on weekdays, it features any two dishes from a list that includes chicken tikka masala, saag aloo, and vegetable coconut curry along with rice, lentil soup, and naan. Tack on an order of momo, or steamed dumplings, filled with chicken, lamb, or vegetables.

This new coastal collective, comprised of a cluster of renovated cottages around a communal outdoor space, holds a variety of food options including a quick-service version of Oceanside vegan standout the Plot along with Shoots Fish and Beer, Stella Jean’s Ice Cream, and Revolution Roasters.

Take a tropical vacation and escape to this bar tucked inside the Village Faire Shopping Center that features regular DJ nights, appealing cocktails, and a rotating food menu that currently includes panang curry, larb croquettes, and a gochujang chicken sandwich.

The family-run restaurant is best known for its black ramen, a tonkotsu ramen tinted with black garlic oil but the menu also offers variations like spicy miso ramen and a vegetable-based version as well as rice bowls and Japanese starters ranging from takoyaki to gyoza.

Its huge menu covers everything from the conventional (breakfast, sandwiches and salads) to the less conventional (fried chicken livers, a fisherman’s platter with beer-battered cod, and a homemade chicken pot pie, among a lot of other down-home treats). In short, there’s something for everyone, and that’s even before you hit dessert, where you get to choose from over a baker’s dozen of pies — keep an eye out for strawberry rhubarb and the sour cream raspberry.

Tip Top Meats was started by butcher “Big John” Haedrich back in 1967, and it runs the same way today that it did back then — there’s a shop full of German goodies, including chocolates, cheese, beer, wine, and pretzel rolls from the old country, and in the back, there’s a deli counter where you can get a steak, a schnitzel, a stroganoff, or a whole plate of European sausages for very reasonable prices. The place gets busy around lunch, and it’s not the hippest joint in town, but Big John and his place are as legendary as SoCal gets, and the legend will probably still continue for another 50 years to come.

Opened by East Coast transplants and longtime Carlsbad residents who run several restaurants in the area, this longstanding favorite among local families is focused on breakfast and lunch, serving morning classics like pancakes and omelettes alongside other dishes like a New England lobster roll or the house-roasted turkey club.

The anchor restaurant at the Park Hyatt Aviara is a steakhouse of sorts conceived by celebrity chef Richard Blais (Juniper & Ivy). Overlooking the 18th green of the golf course, the clubby space revolves around impressive cuts of meat along with seafood and has a snack bar serving up some of the chef’s signature concoctions like “oysters and pearls” and white chocolate-dipped radishes.

Carlsbad has its own butcher shop courtesy of the Trust Restaurant Group, which offers cuts of meat and other prepared foods that are featured at some of their acclaimed establishments like Rare Society and Fort Oak, now available to cook and enjoy at home.

Part of a SoCal chain that includes an outpost along the Convoy District’s restaurant row, this Asian restaurant at the Shoppes at Carlsbad convoys homestyle Chinese food, specifically Shanghainese cuisine, including crispy fish fillets with seaweed, eel with chives, and sheng jian bao, which are round, pan-fried pork buns.

If Campfire is the gourmet restaurant that raised the bar in Carlsbad, then Jeune et Jolie is the Carlsbad restaurant that bounded over it. Founded by Campfire owner John Resnick and chef Andrew Bachelier, it has continued to soar under the direction of lauded chef Eric Bost, who helped the elegant and chic restaurant earn a coveted star in the 2021 Michelin Guide. Featuring French cuisine with a decidedly Southern Californian outlook, it offers a four-course menu or a la carte options at the bar.

One of several dining options at State Street Commons, a development in the heart of the village, Nick’s has another uber-popular location in One Paseo as well as several others in and around Southern California. Its crowd-pleasing menu includes salads, sandwiches, and specialties like cioppino and maple-glazed meatloaf.

The restaurant opened in 2016 and provided an immediate boost to Carlsbad’s dining scene. Earning Bib Gourmand status from the Michelin Guide in 2019, it’s known for great cocktails and a menu powered by a wood-fired grill that includes pasture-raised chicken and well-marbled brisket.

When it first opened in 2014, Blue Ocean brought a dose of high design to the neighborhood as well as a welcome infusion of Asian cuisine. It’s since spawned another location in La Jolla, which serves a similar menu of sushi rolls, small plates, and entrees that range from Korean bbq ribs to chicken teriyaki, but the Carlsbad outpost is unique for its Japanese robata grill which turns out a lineup of skewers that include pork belly, wagyu meatballs, baby octopus, and asparagus with bacon.

A relatively new addition to downtown Carlsbad brings well-priced lunch specials to the neighborhood. Offered on weekdays, it features any two dishes from a list that includes chicken tikka masala, saag aloo, and vegetable coconut curry along with rice, lentil soup, and naan. Tack on an order of momo, or steamed dumplings, filled with chicken, lamb, or vegetables.

This new coastal collective, comprised of a cluster of renovated cottages around a communal outdoor space, holds a variety of food options including a quick-service version of Oceanside vegan standout the Plot along with Shoots Fish and Beer, Stella Jean’s Ice Cream, and Revolution Roasters.

Take a tropical vacation and escape to this bar tucked inside the Village Faire Shopping Center that features regular DJ nights, appealing cocktails, and a rotating food menu that currently includes panang curry, larb croquettes, and a gochujang chicken sandwich.

The family-run restaurant is best known for its black ramen, a tonkotsu ramen tinted with black garlic oil but the menu also offers variations like spicy miso ramen and a vegetable-based version as well as rice bowls and Japanese starters ranging from takoyaki to gyoza.

Its huge menu covers everything from the conventional (breakfast, sandwiches and salads) to the less conventional (fried chicken livers, a fisherman’s platter with beer-battered cod, and a homemade chicken pot pie, among a lot of other down-home treats). In short, there’s something for everyone, and that’s even before you hit dessert, where you get to choose from over a baker’s dozen of pies — keep an eye out for strawberry rhubarb and the sour cream raspberry.

Tip Top Meats was started by butcher “Big John” Haedrich back in 1967, and it runs the same way today that it did back then — there’s a shop full of German goodies, including chocolates, cheese, beer, wine, and pretzel rolls from the old country, and in the back, there’s a deli counter where you can get a steak, a schnitzel, a stroganoff, or a whole plate of European sausages for very reasonable prices. The place gets busy around lunch, and it’s not the hippest joint in town, but Big John and his place are as legendary as SoCal gets, and the legend will probably still continue for another 50 years to come.

Opened by East Coast transplants and longtime Carlsbad residents who run several restaurants in the area, this longstanding favorite among local families is focused on breakfast and lunch, serving morning classics like pancakes and omelettes alongside other dishes like a New England lobster roll or the house-roasted turkey club.

The anchor restaurant at the Park Hyatt Aviara is a steakhouse of sorts conceived by celebrity chef Richard Blais (Juniper & Ivy). Overlooking the 18th green of the golf course, the clubby space revolves around impressive cuts of meat along with seafood and has a snack bar serving up some of the chef’s signature concoctions like “oysters and pearls” and white chocolate-dipped radishes.

Carlsbad has its own butcher shop courtesy of the Trust Restaurant Group, which offers cuts of meat and other prepared foods that are featured at some of their acclaimed establishments like Rare Society and Fort Oak, now available to cook and enjoy at home.

CARLSBAD, CA — A fast-moving storm will bring gusty winds, coastal flooding, high surf, scattered showers and possible mountain snow midweek to San Diego County.

Gusty west to northwest winds will strengthen Wednesday afternoon, with the strongest winds expected Wednesday night and early Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

A wind advisory will be in effect from midnight to 10 a.m. Thursday for the county's coastal areas and valleys, including Carlsbad. West winds from 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph are expected, according to the NWS.

A wind advisory will also be in effect from 6 p.m. Wednesday to 10 a.m. Thursday for the deserts, where west winds from 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph are expected.

Forecasters warned that gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects and tree limbs could be blown down.

A high wind warning was issued for the county mountains and will be in effect from 6 p.m. Wednesday to 10 a.m. Thursday, according to the NWS. West winds from 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 70 mph are expected.

"The strongest gusts are expected along the desert slopes of the mountains of Riverside andSan Diego counties with the stronger gusts to 70 to 80 mph," the NWS wrote.

Scattered showers and possible mountain snow are also predicted for the region.

"Showers will spread southeastward across the area for late Wednesday into Thursday morning with the greatest coverage across San Diego County from the coast to the mountains," the NWS wrote.

Rainfall is expected to range from less than one-tenth of an inch near the coast, to one-quarter to one-half of an inch in the mountains, according to the NWS. The snow level will fall from 4,000 to 4,500 feet by early Thursday with a few inches of snowfall possible above 5,000 feet.

The quick-moving storm will also cause dangerous swimming and surfing conditions.

A high surf advisory will be in effect from 8 p.m. Wednesday to 6 p.m. Thursday for the county's coastal areas, including Carlsbad. The advisory was coupled with a coastal flood advisory that will be in effect from 4 a.m. to noon Thursday.

Large breaking waves of 5 to 7 feet are expected, with occasional sets of 8 to 11 feet, according to the NWS.

Forecasters advised inexperienced swimmers to stay out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions. Weather officials said flooding is possible in parking lots, parks and roads. Isolated road closures are expected.

CARLSBAD, CA — The American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood shortage as the nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years.

The Red Cross blood supply has fallen to "critically low levels" across the country. There was a nearly 7,000-unit shortfall in Red Cross blood donations between Christmas and New Year's Day alone, according to the nonprofit organization, which provides about 40 percent of the nation's blood.

"Small changes in blood donor turnout can have a huge impact on the availability of blood products and dramatic consequences for those in need of an emergency blood transfusion," said Dr. Eric Gehrie, executive physician director for the Red Cross. "More challenges may lie ahead as the potential for severe winter weather and seasonal illness may compound the dire blood supply situation."

Carlsbad residents can help. Donors of all blood types are needed, especially type O blood donors and those giving platelets, according to the Red Cross.

The Red Cross has planned blood drives across San Diego County, including in Carlsbad.

Anyone who donates blood, platelets or plasma in January will automatically be entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas.

See a list of upcoming San Diego area blood drives below.

Cardiff by the Sea

Carlsbad

Chula Vista

El Cajon

Encinitas

Escondido

Fallbrook

La Jolla

Oceanside

Poway

Ramona

San Diego

San Marcos

All blood types are needed. To make an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.

Individuals who are 17 in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

The San Diego Superior Court has ruled in favor of Carlsbad in a lawsuit filed by the local nonprofit North County Advocates that alleged the city failed to follow a growth management plan voters approved in 1986.

Judge Robert P. Dahlquist found that while the city may fail to meet the performance standards in the plan, recent appellate case law shows the city can modify those standards in some cases. Dahlquist also ordered North County Advocates to pay the city’s legal costs, and the city submitted a request Nov. 2 for $18,496.

“We are very proud of our growth management program and pleased the court found in our favor,” states a written response issued Thursday by the city’s communications department.

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“The city’s approach to managing growth over the last 35 years has balanced high standards for new development with the reality that some amount of flexibility would be required,” it said. “We are excited about the planning process currently underway that will update our approach to managing growth, including the involvement of the entire community in helping to shape that future.”

At least 40 percent of the city’s 9,500 acres, including three coastal lagoons, must be set aside for parks and open space under the growth management plan. The lawsuit claimed the city violated the plan by setting aside too little space, building too few parks and allowing too much traffic congestion.

“The city doesn’t really dispute that it has failed, and is currently failing, to meet the 1986 performance standard for traffic,” the court decision states. “Instead, the city argues that the 1986 performance standard is not binding on the city because (1) the city council has amended the 1986 performance standard, and (2) the city council has also exempted certain street segments and intersections from meeting any standard.”

When it became clear the city could not meet the street standards, it changed the standards to make them more lenient. In some cases,it exempted streets or intersections that failed to meet performance standards.

“It appears that the law allows the city to do this,” the judge said. “The city cites several cases in support of its assertion that the city is permitted to change the 1986 performance standards whenever it sees fit.”

The city also is within its legal rights in its decisions on parks and open space, Dahlquist said.

In hindsight, the judge said, “the citizens should have enacted an initiative that ... provided that the standards could not be changed except by another vote of the citizens.”

Dahlquist announced his decision Oct. 26 after presiding at a bench trail on April 24-27 and May 8 with evidence, testimony and exhibits.

“I am concerned about this decision,” said Pat Bleha, founder and president of North County Advocates, in a written response to the decision.

“Every Carlsbad resident who has asked repeatedly over the decades for more open space and parks near their homes for them, their children and grandchildren to better enjoy the natural splendor Carlsbad offers should be ready to help NCA continue the battle,” Bleha said.

Mike Sebahar, a co-founder of the local group People for Ponto, called the decision “a dark day” for the city. People for Ponto has worked unsuccessfully for years to get a city park built in southwest Carlsbad.

“The city won the legal battle, but lost the respect of citizens when their lack of integrity and blatant disregard for the will of its community members was exposed,” Sebahar said. “It’s a travesty and will prevent Carlsbad from being all it could have been.”

Volunteers formed North County Advocates in 2009 to successfully fight a “big box” store proposed for La Costa. Since then, the group has taken on a number of environmental and development issues in Carlsbad and Encinitas.

The group filed a lawsuit in 2015 challenging Carlsbad’s approval of Poinsettia 61, a 123-condominium development on Poinsettia Lane. The settlement of that lawsuit required the city to create a new neighborhood park on the site of the former Buena Vista Reservoir near Highland Drive in Olde Carlsbad.

Previous settlements between the city, the citizens group and its partners, including the nonprofit Preserve Calavera, have created new parks and set aside land for open space and natural habitat.

One example is the 61-acre Village H property along the eastern end of Carlsbad Village Drive that the city purchased in 2020 for habitat preservation, trails, and an off-leash dog park.

With a 70-year history in Santa Barbara, where its custard-based ice cream is made using dairy from Central Coast farms, McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams is growing its handful of California-based scoop shops with its first for San Diego. The 1,000-square-foot storefront grand opens on Wednesday, October 4 at the Forum complex in Carlsbad with free single scoops offered between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and swag bags for the first 50 customers.

Created at its creamery headquarters, an original dairy dating back to the 1930s in downtown Santa Barbara, McConnell’s bestselling ice creams include Turkish coffee, Eureka lemon and marionberry, and chocolate-covered strawberries as well as seasonal limited releases; the Carlsbad shop will serve up the latest fall flavors including its popular pumpkin caramel with candied pecans. In addition to scoops in cups and cones, the stores also offer fresh-baked cookies and ice cream sandwiches.

Next up for McConnell’s is a new store opening in San Juan Capistrano in early 2024, but a rep for the ice cream brand tells Eater that they are also actively looking at other locations in the San Diego area.

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McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams

1935 Calle Barcelona Suite 175 , Carlsbad, CA 92009