A Perfect Evening at the 8th Annual Del Mar Summer Solstice

Bliss!!!

June 27, 2013

The Del Mar Summer Solstice is one of our favorite events of the year.  It's a celebration of longevity and nature, combined with food and spirits, taking place at Powerhouse Park - a beachside venue unlike any other.  The dishes offered are consistently top notch, the wineries are varied and plentiful, and the beer is alway cold, local, and unlimited - our kind of party!!  The sold out 8th annual Summer Solstice was even more magical than years past, as the day was perfect and the sun set concurrently with its conclusion, with the ever-elusive green flash wowing the already enlivened crowd.

With admission including nearly unlimited food and drink samplings, the Summer Solstice event is most definitely a value at $65/ticket (and a super value at the early bird price of $55), especially considering the elegance of the offerings and the ambiance.  Upon entering, guests are each handed a souvenir stemless wine glass for sampling selections from many notable wineries as well as California breweries such as Ballast Point, Stone Brewing Co., Culture Brewing Co. and Firestone Walker Brewing Co.  Semisi & FulaBula kept it lively by playing classic tunes with a full band and live steel drum. This year, the event's silent auction gave attendees a chance to bid on many unique items and opportunities, with proceeds benefiting the event organizer, Del Mar Village Association.

The Summer Solstice event is hosted by the Del Mar Village Association with the support from the City of Del Mar, and over twenty of Del Mar's esteemed restaurants, such as Sbicca, Jake’s Del Mar, Pacifica Del Mar, Del Mar Rendezvous, and PrepKitchen, who each volunteers their time and food to raise money to benefit their coastal community.  The Summer Solstice event is Del Mar Village Association’s largest fundraiser, taking in more than $35,000 each year. Funds from events like Summer Solstice go to projects such as bench installation, trash cans, recycling, street banners, and may be a big part of why Del Mar is such a clean town.

Of the food samplings offered, PrepKitchen’s grilled leg of lamb was one of our favorites, combining thinly sliced grilled lamb leg topped with mustard BBQ sauce, topped with roasted peaches, beets, arugala and a refreshing mint balsamic vinaigrette.  The subtle mint and the sweetness of the peaches and beets were a welcomed substitute to the standard and outdated mint jelly to provide contrast to an otherwise savory dish. Another highlight was the Moroccan grilled shrimp from Jake's Del Mar, which was spicy and mouthwatering and called for seconds.  Jake's couldn't keep these things coming out fast enough!  The melding of the flavors of Moroccan-spiced tiger shrimp, edamame hummus and a local organic pea shoot puree atop a cucumber salad, all finished with 'pomegranate rita' was blissful, especially on a warm summer night.

At last year's event, despite unfavorable weather conditions, we had a stellar time, so we were definitely excited to revisit this summer.  This year's event indeed surpassed the bar; the sky was clear and our glowing SD sun winked away exactly at 8:00pm, when the event came to an end.  Powerhouse Park remained packed and stirring, with "oohs" and "ahhs" heard until the legendary green flash glimmered, signifying the end of an amazing event. 

For next year, be sure to purchase tickets early, as the event always sells out.   For more information visit the Del Mar Summer Solstice website!!