East County Eater's Restaurant Review

Nahrain Fish & Chicken Grill (Facebook: NahrainFish&ChickenGrill)

1183 E. Main Street, #A, El Cajon, CA 92021 (619)334-3222

March 29, 2013 (El Cajon )—Masgoof—fish smoked whole in a clay oven with wood fire, Iraqi-style--at Nahrain Fish & Chicken Grill in El Cajon  is the freshest you’ll find in East County.  Choose from fish caught daily displayed in a glass case, or at times, take the opportunity to catch your own with a fishing net in a tiled pool inside this eatery, which is popular with  both Middle Eastern and Western customers.

My dining companion and I savor a whole red snapper that is tender and juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside with a paper thin skin and a delightful smoked wood flavor.  It is served with a mango sauce (amba) that is balanced, sweet and spicy, along with onions, tomatoes, lemon parsley and freshly baked tanoor bread.

March 25, 2013 (El Cajon) – Nearly 3,000 volunteers and students statewide from elementary grades through high school converged on Cuyamaca College all day Saturday for the 2013 California Destination Imagination State Tournament, a precursor to a global competition designed to help children develop critical thinking skills in a fun, creative way.

The students worked since last fall on the Team Challenge portion of the competition, choosing from among seven technical, scientific, fine arts, structural engineering and community service projects created by the non-profit organization, Destination Imagination, based in Cherry Hill, N.J.  The 200 teams that competed Saturday already won a top spot in one of California’s seven regional competitions held in February. Local schools represented included Granite Hills High School in El Cajon, Flora Vista Elementary School in Encinitas, and multiple schools from Cardiff and Encinitas.

View 10 News interview with teen Doyin Oladipupo; photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News 

March 20, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Robin Sadik, 18, of El Cajon and two 17-year-olds are in custody for burglarizing a Chula Vista home yesterday at 1 p.m..  A teen girl hid in a closet and called 911, leading to the arrests.   

“The suspects have likely participated in other burglaries in the area, as other stolen property was found in their vehicle.  The vehicle was also determined to be stolen from El Cajon within the previous week,” said Captain Gary Wedge with the Chula Vista Police department.

On March 23rd from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. San Diego Saddlery will be hosting a tack sale to benefit the nonprofit Saving Horses Rescue. They will be selling both new and used items and will be using the storefront next to the Saddlery.  The public is encouraged to stop by to support the rescue  and find some great deals. 

If you'd like to donate any new or gently used tack for the sale, just bring it by the San Diego Saddlery shop in El Cajon any time before the 23rd.  Donations are tax deductible.

March 17, 2013 (El Cajon) – The City of El Cajon Recreation Department is the recipient of California Park and Recreation Society’s (CPRS) Achievement Award for the City’s Centennial Celebration Event held on November 12, 2012. The award was announced in February, and formally presented at the March 12, 2013, City Council Meeting by CPRS Board President Susan Richardson.

Richardson stated that El Cajon is one of the leaders in the State of California in recognizing that recreation programs and parks are essential to the quality of life within a community.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos courtesy of Heartland Fire

March 14, 2013 (El Cajon) – Mollison Avenue is closed between Washington and East Main Streets due to eight power poles that toppled over.

“It might be a good 24 hours,” Monica Zech, spokesperson for the City of El Cajon, told ECM late tonight. Earlier an estimated 1500 residences were without power, though all but about 300 have now been restored. 

“Some residents are trapped in parking lots and can’t get out of their homes. Others parked on side streets and went in,” she said, adding that there were no evacuations and El Cajon Police have been escorting pedestrians back into the area.

March 12 at Lincoln High,  March 13 at Grossmont College

March 12, 2013 (San Diego)  -- You’re invited to come feel the pounding of American Appalachian clogging, hear the melodies of Scottish highland song, and see the array of color in Indian dance with BYU’s International Folk Dance Ensemble. Brigham Young University’s critically acclaimed folk dance team brings the world’s cultures together in their energetic performance, The Gathering.

The show takes stage tonight at Lincoln High School Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m.  Dancers  will also perform at Grossmont Community College on Wednesday, March 13 in the outside quad area to help enhance cultural awareness on campus.

March 3, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – What do you do after winning your second Daytona 500 race?  The Harlem Shake, of course!  View video of East County native and five-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson and his teammates shaking things up as they celebrate their latest victory: http://www.jimmiejohnson.com/cantina

Next up, Johnson will race in Saturday’s Nationwide Race at the Phonenix International Raceway.  Also this week, Johnson announced that Lowe’s has renewed its sponsorship.

“We've been together for this crazy ride, and I'm so happy we're continuing it together,” Johnson said, USA Today reported.

"We're here for two of our American heroes." -- Supervisor Dianne Jacob

By Miriam Raftery

March 4, 2013 (El Cajon ) – Army Sergeant Odin Ayala and Marine Corporal Travis Greene each lost both legs serving in combat. But they were all smiles on February 23 at the groundbreakings of their new , specially adapted homes in El Cajon-- thanks to the efforts of the nonprofit Homes for Our Troops. 

“Our motto is rebuilding homes, rebuilding lives,” said Tim McHale with Homes for our Troops.  The group seeks donations as well as volunteers to help build these homes and more.  Local community groups and businesses can also adopt a room, partnering in efforts to help these wounded veterans and others.

March 3, 2013 (El Cajon) – Congresswoman Susan Davis called representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration to her Washington office to share constituent concerns with Gillespie Field flight paths.  Neighbors of Gillespie Field in El Cajon have complained of increased flight traffic, noise, and low-altitude flights.

“As discussion of Gillespie Field development continues, Congresswoman Davis is looking to balance economic expansion in El Cajon and East County with quality of life near the airport,” said Aaron Hunter, spokesperson for the Congresswoman.

The meeting was informational, though no course of action has yet transpired, he advised.

February 20, 2013 (San Diego’s East County)—El Cajon Police today announced the arrest of Forrest Gunner Fermil and Kailee Ray, both 18, in connection with three armed robberies within an hour on February 18 committed by a masked man.

The suspects were arrested in the 10000 block of Vista Parque in Lakeside at 3 p.m. today. After developing a promising lead, El Cajon Police workined in junction with investigators from the Santee Sheriff’s Station and located the first suspect.

February 16, 2013 (Rancho San Diego) – At 1:33 a.m.,  deputies from the Lemon Grove Sheriff's Station responded to an armed robbery at the 7-11 store  at 1498 Jamacha Road in unincorporated El Cajon.

“The suspect in the robbery was a male, wearing a black jacket and jeans. The race of the suspect is unknown because he was wearing a mask,” said Sergeant V.J. Rivera.

By Janis Mork

February 11, 2013 (El Cajon)- Tomorrow’s El Cajon Council will consider an agenda introduced by Pro Tem Mayor Bill Wells regarding the city’s red light camera program, which has been in effect since 1996 (see http://www.utsandiego.com/uniontrib/20051216/news_1m16red1.html).

The agenda item, if approved, would direct the city manager to bring back information on the program, including information on possibly ending it. It’s also been recommended that the city council set an advisory meeting for 2 p.m. on March 12 and an information session at 7 p.m. the same day to hear public opinions.

February 6, 2013 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon Police are asking for the public's help to identify a suspect in the shooting of a dog in the 600 block of Millar Avenue last night. A witness reported hearing a shot at 7:55 p.m. and saw a medium-sized, mixed breed dog run about 25 yards before collapsing.  A vehicle was leaving the area, but the witness saw only headlights.

It is unknown who owned the dog, which did not have a collar but appeared to be clean and well kept, said Lt. Mark Coit.

The El Cajon Police Department is investigating this cruelty to animals crime.  There is no suspect or vehicle description at this time.  Anyone with information is encouraged to call the El Cajon Police Department at 619-579-3311.

By Janis Mork

January 31, 2013 (El Cajon)—A dozen trees in El Cajon have been found infested by an insect carrying a disease that is deadly to citrus disease and which has prompted a countywide quarantine, agriculture experts informed El Cajon Council members at yesterday’s meeting.

Mark Olson, a representative for the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Program, wanted to give the community an update on the Asian Citrus Psyllid and the disease it carries- Huanglongbing (HLB). “It was recently found in El Cajon for the first time,” he said. “The good news is that the pest has been found and the disease has not shown up. We’re preparing for it though; it will probably show up in El Cajon.”