Downtown's BIGA To Launch Wood Fired Bakery & Pastry Program

November 5, 2016

BIGA, which opened in the beginning of the year on the corner of 6th & Broadway in the historic, 1920s-era Samuel Fox Lofts building in downtown San Diego, has announced that it has hired two rock star chefs to assist in the operation of the restaurant's new wood burning bakery and pastry program, set to launch on Tuesday, November 8. 

Harvest By The Patio Premiers In San Diego's East Village | The Patio Group Expands With Health Conscious Concept

November 4, 2016

The Patio Group continues its rapid expansion and has opened its newest culinary venture in San Diego's East Village. Harvest By The Patio is ready to bring health-conscious, fast-casual cuisine to the downtown neighborhood, featuring a menu with an emphasis on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and a down-to-earth cocktail program.

Our Top Five Event Picks For The 13th Annual San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival | Taking Over America's Finest City This November 14-20

November 3, 2016

Get ready for lucky #13! The thirteenth edition of the weeklong San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival is coming up fast! We've covered Southern California's largest epicurean event for the past five incarnations, and although the schedule varies year after year, we have a good idea of what to expect. We've looked over the lineup of over 30 meals, demos, classes and festivals taking place from November 14 to 20 and have narrowed them down to our top 5 event picks. Because we adore our readers so much, we are also raffling off 2 general admission tickets to the San Diego Wine & Food Festival's Grand Tasting on Saturday, November 19, so read on for our picks and be sure to enter!

Local Restaurants Compete In Ultimate Chili Competition At 7th Annual SoNo Fest & Chili Cookoff On December 4

November 2, 2016

On Sunday, December 4, from 11am to 5pm, the 7th annual SoNo Fest & Chili Cook­off will take over 32nd & Thorn streets to give San Diegans a chance to buy local, eat local and drink local, all for a great cause. This free-to-attend event promises an amazing lineup of competition-worthy chili as local restaurants go head-to-head to see who is crowned the SoNo Fest Chili Champion of 2016. There will also be live music, local vendors, a kids zone, and a craft beer & wine garden - with all proceeds benefiting McKinley Elementary School.

San Diego's Berry Good Food Foundation To Host Free Panel Discussion On Sustainable Seafood Practices

November 2, 2016

Worried about farmed fish and what's on your seafood plate these days? Join San Diego's Berry Good Food Foundation on November 16 for the fourth installment of the non-profit's educational Future Thought Leaders panel series. Safe Harbor: Myths, Truths, and Misinformation is a free-to-attend event that will begin with food and drinks from Chef Isabel Cruz followed by a rivetting discussion featuring scientists, fishermen, chefs, and nutritionists who will discuss the impact our seafood choices have on the well-being of the oceans.

FIRST SIGHT: From The Crew Behind Kettner Exchange Comes Good Time Poke & The Grass Skirt | Debuting In Pacific Beach November 7

November 1, 2016

Tiki has made it's triumphant return to the culinary mainstream in 2016 and poke is more popular than ever! Matt Spencer's SDCM restaurant group, which is behind San Diego concepts Kettner Exchange, Devil's Dozen Donuts, Firehouse, Vin De Syrah and Analog Bar, knows how to tap into the epicurean zeitgeist. He took over the former Good Time Charlie's space at 910 Grand Avenue in Pacific Beach earlier this year and has transformed it into a tiki-inspired, dual-concept poke shop and Polynesian speakeasy - Good Time Poke & The Grass Skirt - set to softly unveil over the coming weekend with its official opening planned for Monday, November 7.

San Diego Branded 619 Vodka To Open Distillery, Tasting Room & Restaurant In North Park

October 31, 2016

619 Vodka, which launched in May 2012, is embracing a change in California law to grow its company. After recently relaunching the brand with a lineup of flavor infused vodkas, one of San Diego's first craft distilleries has taken over the spaces at 3015 & 3019 Lincoln Avenue in North Park to open Six One Nine Spirits Distillery & Tasting Room, anticipated to debut in by the end of 2016.

Former Top Chef Contestants To Host Official San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival Grand Tasting After Party

Chefs Chad White & Giselle Wellman

October 30, 2016

Southern California's largest culinary classic -  the San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival - will close the curtain on its 13th installment with Party After Dark, the official after party of the Festival's iconic Lexus Grand Tasting on Saturday, November 19, hosted by a star-studded lineup of chefs from the 13th season of Bravo's Top Chef, including Chefs Chad White and Giselle Wellman.

The Fall Bing Crosby Season Returns To Del Mar Racetrack This November 11 - December 4

October 30, 2016

Del Mar's iconic racetrack is gearing up for its fall incarnation - the Bing Crosby Season - heading into its third year this November 11 through December 4. It’s all about bringing back the old-school cool, journeying to the era and style of the track’s founder who started it all, Hollywood legend Bing Crosby. The 15-day session will not only bring back the world-class horse racing that the seaside track is historically known for, there will also be a variety of signature seasonal events including a pair of free concerts, festivals, Thanksgiving day events and eclectic outdoor dining options.

Huge Organic Restaurant To Open In San Diego's Gaslamp | Tocaya Organica To Take Over Former Cake Nightclub Space

October 29, 2016

We'll soon see a battle between classic versus contemporary! Coming in right down the block from downtown San Diego's incoming, traditional street taco spot, Tacos El Gordo, is a huge modern-Mexican organic restaurant. The Madera Group recently closed Cake Nightclub at 755 5th Avenue in the Gaslamp and will use the 6,000 square foot space for another one of the company's concepts - Tocaya Organica - which currently has two branches in Los Angeles with another planned for Miami.

Carnitas' Snack Shack To Close North County Location By Year's End | LA-Based Mendocino Farms Sandwich Market To Take Over Del Mar Highlands Space

October 29, 2016

The Carnitas' Snack Shack location in Del Mar Highlands Town Center will close up shop by the end of the year. The second location of the popular pork paradise, CSS Del Mar was opened in August 2014 by husband-and-wife-partners Chef Hanis Cavin & Sara Stroud, who also have outposts of their fast-casual restaurant in North Park and at the North Embarcadero in Downtown San Diego. The space will be taken over by popular Los Angeles based Mendocino Farms Sandwich Market, which anticipates to open by Spring 2017.

San Diego Based Modern Times Beer Announces Gigantic Anaheim Project

October 28, 2016

San Diego's Modern Times Beer, which first launched its Point Loma-based brewery in 2012, took to social media today to announce plans for an enormous craft beer entertainment destination planned for the downtown Anaheim, a nearly 32,000 square foot project that will include an onsite restaurant, brewing facility, café, restaurant, guest food stalls, a pool with poolside bar and movie screen, a merchandise store and more. Modern Times Leisuretown is coming!

Ex-The Cork & Craft Sous Chef Tony Guan Takes Over Kitchen At Underbelly North Park

October 28, 2016

We recently broke the news that former The Cork & Craft Executive Chef Philip Esteban had joined CH Projects restaurant group to assist in the culinary development of the burgeoning brand. Well, the young chef is already sourcing talent from his old gig, as CHP has recently hired former Cork & Craft sous chef Tony Guan to lead the kitchen at the second outpost of the company's ramen bar concept - Underbelly North Park.

Wheat & Water To Bring Artisan Pizza & Craft Beer To Bird Rock Starting November 1

October 27, 2016

It's been over 2 years since we announced that Bird Rock's Bella Roma Pizza would become Wheat & Water, but the modern pizza-pub is finally ready to unveil. Currently in its soft opening stage, W&W will grand open to the public on Tuesday, November 1, offering a stylishly urban design meets seaside neighborhood vibe with a menu of wood-fired pizza, shared plates, salads, charcuterie boards, wine, cocktails, and of course, San Diego craft beer.