A Taste of the Market | Getting A Look at the Future of San Diego's Very Own Public Market Experience

February 13, 2013

Spirits were high as foodies flocked to the new and still-developing San Diego Public Market this past Sunday, February 10th.  At the Taste of the Market event, the soon-to-be-awesome warehouse opened its doors to Kickstarter donors, ticketholders, friends and family for a firsthand, behind-the-scenes glimpse at what the future holds for the 92,000 square foot space located in Barrio Logan.  Although the interior basically remains in its unadulterated, industrial form, chefs, restaurants, and specialty vendors constructed their own unique areas to offer up samples of what we should be ready to expect in the next year in what is sure to become the "Pike Place" of San Diego!

The Patio On Lamont Street | Bitter-sweet in Pacific Beach

February 12, 2013

I soo wanted to fall in love with The Patio on Lamont Street... I imagined long walks up Garnet Avenue in the cool summer breeze, enjoying some Manhattans on the patio while snacking on an array of unique tapas.  Located in my neighborhood of Pacific Beach, the restaurant recently opened in November 2012 after completely overhauling the former space occupied by the Lamont Street Grill.  The Patio was to be unlike any restaurant in Pacific Beach.  Not a raucous sports bar, not a locals' dive bar, not a hipster beach bar, but a bar for the more distinguished folk of Pacific Beach with an appetite for something more upscale - something with class, if you will.  But although the interior is beautifully designed and decorated, on our visit, the food and service fell short.  Being so unique to its locale, The Patio on Lamont will certainly get a pass for slight slip ups, and hopefully these growing pains will subside and the restaurant will reign in and refocus its culinary output.  Missteps aside, The Patio on Lamont Street is worth a visit, even if its merely a stop off to take in the the decor and a delicious handcrafted cocktail before an afternoon at the beach.

Famed Celebrity Chef Jonathan Waxman Unites With Acclaimed Local Chef Trey Foshee For Special Charity Dinner | Saturday, March 9th

Chef Waxman and Chef Foshee

February 11, 2013

Celebrated chef, restaurateur, Top Chef Master and cookbook author, Jonathan Waxman, known for his famous eateries, Jams and Barbuto, will join George’s California Modern executive chef and partner Trey Foshee for an intimate six-course charity dinner on Saturday, March 9th at the private residence of Chef Foshess. The dinner will showcase the seasonal harvest of renowned Chino Farms and the freshest catch from local purveyor Catalina Offshore.

Spike Africa's Fresh Fish Grill & Bar | Recently Raising Its Sails For A Long and Prosperous Voyage

February 10, 2013

Almost two decades ago, Forest Gump stole our hearts.  A year later, Paramount Pictures approached the team from the touristy Rusty Pelican’s with the idea of opening a chain of family-style shrimp restaurants; and soon after, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurants began popping up everywhere.  In 2010, partners Rob and Gordon sold their interest in the Bubba Gump restaurants in a failed effort to retire.  Just a couple years later, their creative minds were itching to do something new, and since was born downtown’s newest fish eatery - Spike Africa's Fresh Fish Grill & Bar.

The Perfect Combination for a Happy Life - The 4th Annual Mission Valley Craft Beer and Food Festival is Coming | Sunday, March 24th

February 9, 2013

There are a lot of food tasting events in San Diego and maybe even more beer festivals, but not many gatherings concentrate equally on both!  This March at the Handlery Hotel & Resort, come for the beer, stay for the food, or come for the food, and stay for the beer!  Either way, get your tickets now for the 4th Annual Mission Valley Craft Beer and Food Festival, as on Sunday, March 24th from 2-5pm (1pm for VIP), 30 breweries, 20 chefs, and 4 bands will join together in serving up the best in local craft beer, rocking out some SoCal music, and providing gourmet bites from some of San Diego's best eateries.

SummerSalt Rooftop Lounge at Hotel Palomar to Kick Off Mardi Gras With First-Ever Crawfish Boil | Sunday, February 10th

February 8, 2013

This Sunday, February 10th, venture to downtown San Diego's Hotel Palomar as SummerSalt Rooftop Pool and Lounge, Saltbox and “Boil Master” Simon Dolinky will put on its inaugural “Crawfish Boil” as a celebration of N'Orleans' Mardi Gras culture.

A Day At Big Bear | Our Journey From Sand to Snow

All in a day's work!

February 7, 2013

We had heard the glorious tale of San Diego winters many a time - taking a surf while enjoying the warm sun on the beach in the morning only to be zipping down a snowy mountain by afternoon. As with the elusive green flash, we remained skeptical.  After recently receiving a travel package for Big Bear Mountain Resorts, we decided that it was time put this beautiful So-Cal dichotomy to the test.  We made sure to visit the beach prior to our nearly 3 hour drive to Big Bear, and sure enough, you can play in the warm sand only hours before throwing a snow ball at your significant other (sorry Ness!).  We spent two wonderful nights on Big Bear Lake, skied Snow Summit Mountain, and enjoyed some tasty bites along the way.  Check out our experience and make some memories of your own!

For All the Lucky Lads and Lasses – The 18th Annual Miller Lite shamROCK is Back | Sunday, March 17th

February 6, 2013

Celebrate Sunday Funday the Irish way at the 18th Annual shamROCK event!  In celebration of shamROCK falling on a Sunday, the doors will be opening early to welcome over 20,000 Irish revelers into the streets of the Gaslamp Quarter.   The 18th Annual Miller Lite shamROCK 2013, presented by Jameson Irish Whiskey and The Field, will take place on the most sacred party day of the year, St. Patrick’s Day, Sunday, March 17th, 2013 from 2:00 p.m. until Midnight.  Destined to be the largest Irish Celebration on the West Coast, this green bash will feature live Irish bands on the main stage, a 150-foot Irish Pub on the street, over 80,000 square feet of green Astroturf and two DJ Stages with amazing talent and much more!

All You Need Is Love: 2013 Valentine’s Day in San Diego

February 5, 2013

All restaurants step up their game on Valentine’s Day and anyone is welcome to indulge in food glory. So on this V-Day enjoy some of San Diego’s finest foods and celebrate however you’d like!  Time to break out the Valentine’s Day menus!  Check out SanDiegoVille's assortment of San Diego restaurants’ Valentine Day (plus the weekend after, week of and then some) options from all over the county.  Local eateries have San Diegans swooning over specials that prove food is love.

Pacific Beach Takes to the Bus To Showcase Craft Beers

February 4, 2013

To help introduce patrons to an even larger variety of beers, as well as like-minded restaurants and bars in the PB area, Bare Back Grill bar manager, Rory Farrell, has organized the PB Craft Crawl.  Similar to Point Loma’s Drink The Point and North Park’s Drinkabout events, the PB Craft Crawl is a free chartered bus that takes patrons from Bare Back Grill to other local taverns and restaurants that cater to the craft brew crowd.  In addition to BBG, other locations on the PB Craft Crawl include Ciro's Pizzeria & Beerhouse, Tap Room, Cali Kebab, and the High Dive in Bay Park.

‘Dr. Entomo’ Exhibition Brings the Most Bizarre Creatures of the Insect World to San Diego Natural History Museum

February 3, 2013

Step right up, step right up! Behold the Devil with Two Heads centipede, tremble before the Goliath Bird-Eating tarantula, gaze upon the Glowing Terror scorpion! Dr. Entomo’s Palace of Exotic Wonders opens Friday, February 22nd at San Diego Natural History Museum, bringing with it the most peculiar and astonishing bugs on Earth.

Tickets Now on Sale for Family Winemakers of California's Southern California Tasting Event | March 9th & 10th

February 2, 2013

The Family Winemakers of California, an association of family-owned wineries in California, recently launched ticket sales for its annual tasting in Southern California.  Taking place at the Del Mar Fairgrounds' Exhibit Hall on Saturday, March 9th - Sunday, March 10th, the two-day tasting features 150 of California's small, family-owned wineries showcasing over 750 wines, said Paul Kronenberg, president of the Family Winemakers of California.

Little Italy's Monello | An Authentic Farmers' Market-Inspired Brunch

Monello's brunch pizza

February 1, 2013

Some of my fondest memories derive from a summer spent traveling throughout Italy.  Italia is a remarkable country where the people embrace the beauty of simplicity, understand the comforts of leisure and take pride in even the smallest of tasks.  So it goes at Monello in the 'Q' Building of Little Italy, where we recently enjoyed a stellar Italian-inspired weekend brunch on a most beautiful San Diego day.  As the warm sun shined in my face, I sipped on my Bellini, enjoyed a simple salad of rocket and fresh mozzarella, ordered my brunch, and was instantly swept back to Parma.  But wait, does 'brunch' as we know it even exist in Italy?

Super Bowl Craft Brews & Qs

January 31, 2013

The Super Bowl brings out the competitive spirit in everyone – from wing eaters to chili connoisseurs – indeed, there are no shortage of food features for the big game! But at Iowa Meat Farms & Siesel’s Meats, they’re as serious about their BREW as they are our (bb)Q.  So in the spirit of the sport, being that the two final teams this year hail from hallowed beer ground, Iowa Meat Farms & Siesel’s Meats have pitted the Super Bowl cities in a brawl of the brews -- with the Meat Masters’ offering their favorite easy at home bbq pairing recipes for each city!

San Diegans “Shave it Clean in 2013” to Benefit St. Baldrick’s Foundation | Saturday, March 9th

January 30, 2013

This March, The St. Baldrick’s Foundation San Diego chapter is teaming up with The Commons for the organization’s annual, nationwide Shave-a-Thon, celebrating the event’s fifth and most anticipated year yet!  San Diegans will converge on the downtown hotspot on Saturday, March 9th to shave their heads in the name of generating awareness, funding research for childhood cancer, and continuing to help survivors live long and healthy lives.

Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp Unmasks New Look for 2013 | 19th Annual Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp Tuesday, February 12th

January 29, 2013

After nearly twenty years, San Diego’s longest running Mardi Gras street festival, Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp, is shaking things up to debut an all new Fat Tuesday extravaganza unlike any that came before it. The 19th Annual Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp, taking place on Tuesday, February 12, 2013 from 5:00pm to 11:00pm, will embrace the musical traditions that have been part of the Gaslamp Quarter story since the early 1900’s in the heart of Downtown San Diego, elevating the event to the next level in 2013, while continuing to give event goers lasting memories with new experiences.

Get The Ultimate San Diego Public Market Experience at the Taste of the Market Event | Sunday, February 10th

January 27, 2013

Don't miss the chance to join local farmers and esteemed chefs on Sunday, February 10th from 4 pm to 6:30 pm for Taste of the Market at the new San Diego Public Market.  This exclusive event will provide participants with a look at some of the artisan foods and dining experiences that will occupy the market later this year.  Local chefs including Andrew Spurgin, Melissa Mayer, Trey Foshee, Chad White, Pete Balistreri, Katie Grebow and more will use local farm ingredients at tasting stations while market purveyors will offer a preview of what's to come.  Enjoy live music and tours of the 92,000 square foot market property and support the creation of San Diego's very own Public Market.