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One of my all-time favorite restaurants has always been Piatti in La Jolla. Admittedly, I hadn't been there often enough over the past couple of years, but was recently delighted to find they've undergone a décor refresh and added some new items to the menu. I was, however, devastated to discover they took the Animelle off — sweetbreads sautéed with mushrooms in white wine and garlic. Maybe this newer generation isn't as keen on organ meats as the Boomers are, but sweetbreads remain quite popular in French, Italian, and Latin American cuisine. My move was always to order a side of mashed potatoes and to pour the Animelle right over the top (a cardiologist's nightmare). ankfully, one thing they would never, ever take off the menu is their famous Lasagne al Carne — layers of pasta with rich meat ragù and Italian cheeses, baked and served surrounded by sauce. It is still stellar and prepared exactly as I remembered and loved it. And of course, not to be missed is their famous house ciabatta, accompanied by that enticing bowl of olive oil, balsamic, chili flakes, and an overly generous amount of garlic. S tarting off this month's highlights with my Petco Park pick, it's the Fried Oyster Torta from Deckman's at the Draft. I'm from Seattle and grew up eating oysters in every imaginable preparation, and one of my favorites has always been in sandwich form — sub, hoagie, po-boy, torta, call it what you will. e thing they all have in common: great bread, lettuce or slaw, and a creamy dressing. Here, Chef Drew Deckman of Baja California fame slaps three or four sizable fried oysters onto a soft, sweet bolillo-style bun along with chile de árbol mayo, slaw, sliced tomatoes, and pickles. Warning: the mayo is spicy, so I had to wash it down with the Ballast Point Pineapple Ale. Deckman's offers fresh seafood in south-of-the-border style and is located on the Garden Level above sections 105-107. I go to a lot of games — a lot — and there are only so many tacos, hot dogs, and burgers one can eat. e Ceviche is killer too; don't sleep on it. What I Loved Last Month Memorable meals include standout seafood at Petco Park, a return to a beloved La Jolla classic, and a few delicious discoveries worth the drive BY TERRYL GAVRE Indulge dining PHOTOGRAPHY BY TERRYL GAVRE Deckman's at the Draft Piatti ranchandcoast.com 64 JULY 2026 RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE