Costco Business Center...San Diego

[Beach Chick]

Never been...thinking of going today..do they have produce, fish and cheese or is it more geared toward business?
Is this where the Home Expo used to be in Kearny Mesa?
Thanks!

[Beach Chick]

Went yesterday in the rain to get some things and I picked up some Miu steak knives for $2.99 for a set of two..
Being a Francophile, these knives are great and so cheap vs. what you would pay for.

Drove by the beloved Super Sergios..with it's iconic 'open 21 hours' sign and tipped my hat to Fakey.

[maestra]

Does anyone know if the store sells vanilla beans? They haven't been stocked at my regular Costco for a couple of years, and there are none listed on the website.

[Beach Chick]

Did you try calling them?
I just saw them and trying to remember where..
Nothing like Tahitian vanilla beans..

Closed on Sunday..
[phone]

[Island]

Maestra they had them in the San Marcos store last weekend. Went today to get more at the Scripps Costco and they're sold out. Had the clerk check inventory elsewhere and closest where they aren't sold out is Tucson! It's a seasonal product.

[maestra]

Thanks! They must sell out quickly, because for the last two years employees have had no idea what I was talking about when I inquired.
I know I've saved an old post here about a recommended online seller. I'll dig it up and purchase soon.

[cstr]

They sell out fast when yuo get 2 viles of 5 beans in each for $11. I've also got them for half price, after the holidays, when they're discontinuing them for the season. Keep an eye out for them.

[Beach Chick]

Finally, went today...love it.

Bought the half packets of muffins, hummus, cheese, Thai chili sweet sauce, rolls, blueberry shortbread cookies..
Don't eat the meat but what a deal....wish they had those kind of deals on the seafood.

[cgfan]

FWIW they also had a really good deal on a table top inductive "burner" there too, right towards the front of the store. ...also love how I can find in the front the N2O cartridges needed for my latest espresso toy, though I haven't looked for other local sources. Great price on them too, in plentiful boxes of 25.

I find that section gets the most of my attention over the few visits I've actually made. The rest of the store hasn't appealed as much to me, but I probably haven't paid enough attention to it either.

[cstr]

did you happen to see the cost on the induction burner?

[Cathy]

$169.

[cgfan]

Everytime I've been there I recall seeing two models, each with the same output power of 1800W. The one I was referring to which caught my attention sold for only $90!

(BTW the disc pictured is for cooking with non-ferrous pots and pans, essentially "converting" the native inductive heating mode to one that uses conduction. Alas in the end I didn't purchase it as most of my cookware is hard anodized aluminum and didn't see [much of] the point of using the intervening disc...)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/akatayam...

[Cathy]

We have the one that was $90. During the opening week last year, it was $69 and we bought it then. It works very well.

We were there this morning and only saw the $169 one on display.

I ended up buying a pot and a pan at Ikea which are marked for induction use. My teapot also works on it. It was very nice to use this past summer. (When we had the blackout, the gas grill was the only way to cook. Our earthquake plans now include having a second propane tank at all times.)

[cgfan]

Wow, an incredible deal made even better! Glad to hear that it's working out well for you too.

Just curious, but by chance did you ever use the disc that came with the unit with your non-ferrous cookware? Just wondering if there's any incremental advantage with that combination over a conventional range. (Of course with ferrous cookware the advantage is quite clear...)

[Cathy]

Yes. Used it a few times, then went to Ikea. The disk has to heat up first and then that heats the pot. It's inefficient.

[cgfan]

Yeah, figured as much but just wanted to make sure I wasn't overlooking something...

[Beach Chick]

Thanks Cathy, DD and cstr!
Sounds like my kind of place...love me a great deal and can't wait to see what they got for seafood...cheeses too...can't wait, can't wait!

There is a killer taco shop next to Denny's too..

[cstr]

Super Sergio's, totally awesome, great place.

-----
Super Sergio's
4125 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111

[MrKrispy]

they also sell 2 packs of beef cheeks!

ummm maybe not your first choice...i don't think they have veggie cheek melts either

[Beach Chick]

Love that...veggie cheek melts!

BTW, what does beef cheeks taste like..

[MrKrispy]

braised short ribs are the first things to come to mind.

Maybe you could braise some yucca in a wine sauce to approximate it haha.
I say go with a patty melt.

[Beach Chick]

'braise some yucca in a wine sauce'...that's a frigging riot...you're funny Krispy!

[cstr]

Hey BC, it's on Othello, the old home depot design center. You'll see lots of restaurant supplies, pots, pans, gadgets, knives. office supplies, commercial cleaning products etc. They also carry products that you won't find at the regular Costco's like ricotta and other cheese products, fresh herbs, bulk beverages, meats (large pkgs). You should go and check it out. They don't carry home funiture, no pharmacy, gas grills etc.

[mayache]

How do the prices and quality on cookware compare to San Diego Restaurant Supply? I like going to SDRS and have bought some good stuff there but never really come out feeling like I got a deal.

[cstr]

Certainly won't have the enormous selection that SDRS has, I think the prices, for what Costco stocks, are close.

[DiningDiva]

A lot of it is the same stuff that SDRS carries, Wear*Ever, Vollrath, etc.

[DiningDiva]

Yes, it is where the Home Expo used to be. Yes, they have produce, meat, fish and cheese. Yes, the deals on them are better than at a regular Costco store.

[Cathy]

Yes. Yes.

There are some different products than on sale at the other stores and they don't have some things (no photo developing, clothing, animal food, flowers, in store bakery (but there are baked goods)). It'a not as crowded. Go.

I like that they sell 1/2 gallons of milk. The walk in refrigerator is huge!