Casualization - Embracing the Zeitgeist of an Oppressive Society | Notes from a Loudmouth With an Affinity for Philosophy

Scene from Brooklyn 99

September 18, 2013

San Diego Magazine's resident food critic Troy Johnson has struck up an interesting debate with his article Casual Hex in San Diego, an entertaining and philosophical read on a fascinating subject - the modern trend toward casualizing the dining experience. Bertrand Hug of the legendary San Diego fine dining establishments, Betrand at Mister A's and Mille Fleurs, has already chimed in on the subject, as has Chef Matt Gordon of Sea & Smoke, Urban Solace and Solace and the Moonlight Lounge. As a San Diego loudmouth, I just had to get in on this action, interject, and toss my own two cents into the debate!

Oktoberfest Arrives to Mille Fleurs on September 24

Fresh Chanterelle Mushrooms, Bread Dumpling, Cream Sauce With Parsley 

September 18, 2013

Beginning Tuesday, September 24, Chef Martin Woesle at the renowned Mille Fleurs in Rancho Santa Fe will take guests to his homeland of Germany with Mille Fleurs’ annual Oktoberfest celebration. Mille Fleurs will offer daily specials showcasing a variety of traditional German cuisine through the end of October.

Top Snowboarding Pros Flock to Bear Mountain for 10th Annual Hot Dawgz and Hand Rails | Saturday, Sept. 21

September 18, 2013

Snow in September? Definitely, at the highly anticipated 10th Annual Hot Dawgz and Hand Rails! Impressive lineups of over 40 professional snowboarders from across the world are slated to take part in the annual winter kick-off event at Bear Mountain. The best of the best high-performance athletes will take over the mountain on Saturday, September 21 to showcase their ultimate skills and compete for bragging rights- and $15,000 worth of cash prizes- at the one and only Hot Dawgz and Hand Rails snowboarding competition.

10th Anniversary Spirits of Mexico Main Event Presents More Than 200 Varietals of Tequila | Saturday, Sept. 21

September 17, 2013

Tequila aficionados and budding enthusiasts will have the opportunity to discover hundreds of world-class, agave-based spirits produced in Mexico at this year’s 10th anniversary Spirits of Mexico Festival happening Sept. 17 through Sept. 21 in Old Town, San Diego. The festival’s Main Tasting Event, Sat., Sept. 21, will feature more than 70 brands with more than 200 varietals from well-known to smaller, independent producers, who will provide samples of their best spirits.

Lots in Store at The Chula Vista Bay Shores for the Chula Vista HarborFest | September 21 from 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM

September 17, 2013

The City of Chula Vista is thrilled to celebrate Chula Vista HarborFest, at Chula Vista’s beautiful waterfront at Bayside Park. This event will take place on Saturday, September 21 from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM and will feature a wide array of activities for the whole family to enjoy. Free to the public, this year’s harbor side festival will celebrate the Unified Port of San Diego’s 50 year anniversary, featuring three exciting performance stages, engaging educational exhibits with interactive programs offered by the Living Coast Discovery Center, historic seafaring vessels courtesy of San Diego Maritime Museum, playful harbor activities in the water, fishing, exotic wheels and wooden boats, a fantastic Youth Zone, and more! New to this year’s harbor festival are the much anticipated ticketed events including a Sustainable SeafoodFest, Baja Wine Tasting and Craft Beer Garden!

Stone Brewing CEO Greg Koch Pledges to Shave It All for Movember

September 16, 2013

Attention Mo Bros and Mo Sistas of San Diego! Our beloved beer god, Greg Koch, CEO and Co-Founder of the internationally respected Stone Brewing Co. is partnering up with this year's global Movember movement in an effort to raise vital awareness and funds for men's health to combat prostate and testicular cancer. What's to be one of the most EPIC shave-downs this city has ever seen, Koch has pledged his Duck Dynasty-style facial hair to the barbershop clippers come Friday, November 1st for the SHAVE THE DATE Movember kickoff party at Quality Social.  If Greg Koch can raise $15,000 before November 1st, he's pledged to shave it ALL off!!

The Heart & Trotter Whole Animal Butchery Launches its Kickstarter with Whole Animal Dinner at Sea & Smoke | Sept. 16

September 16, 2013

Today, at 10 a.m. local butchers Trey Nichols and James Holtslag joined a legion of young entrepreneurs in the food industry by launching a Kickstarter campaign to help fund San Diego's first whole animal butchery - The Heart & Trotter Whole Animal Butchery! The duo have a goal of $50,000 in order bring about a sustainable, local butcher shop whose meat has never been injected with hormones, chemicals or antibiotics.

The New Children's Museum Commissions 13 New Artworks for Upcoming Food Exhibit - FEAST: The Art of Playing with Your Food | Launch Events October 10-13

September 14, 2013

The New Children’s Museum has confirmed the 13 artists or artist collectives that have been commissioned to create installations for the Museum’s next major exhibition, Feast: The Art of Playing with Your Food opening October 13. The latest in a series of Museum-wide thematic exhibitions designed to help visitors think, play and create, Feast will explore the subject of food through playful, multi-sensory, immersive experiences.

Getting Figgy at the San Diego Public Market | Inaugural San Diego Fig Fest Wows With Brilliant Dishes Demonstrating the Versatility of the California Fig

Dish offered by Chef Bernard Guillas
of the Marine Room

September 13, 2013

California figs were truly honored at the first ever San Diego Fig Fest, which took place on Sunday, September 8 at the outdoor National Plaza of the San Diego Public Market in Barrio Logan.  Over 400 attendees endured San Diego's heatwave to enjoy offerings from some of the finest chefs of Baja and San Diego.  Nearly 40 restaurants and food purveyors joined together to showcase the versatility of the fig, and they did so elegantly with inventive dishes that ranged from crepes, to dumplings, to gazpacho and on, and on, and on.

2013 San Diego Film Festival Announces its First Wave of Films | October 2-6

September 12, 2013

The San Diego Film Festival has announced its line-up for their 2013 event, held October 2 - 6 at two locations - Reading Theater in Gaslamp and ArcLight Cinemas in Westfield UTC Mall in La Jolla.  Featuring more than 100 screenings throughout five days, the festival includes eight categories of film -  Features, Documentaries, Native American, Music, Sports, Fashion, World Issues, and Film Shorts.  Additionally, the San Diego Film Festival will be honoring esteemed filmmaker Judd Apatow for their annual Tribute Gala on October 3rd.

Sinsay's Last Supper At La Villa | Chef Wows Before Return to Malarkey's Fabric Restaurant Empire

September 12, 2013

It has been less than three months since Anthony Sinsay left his position as Executive Chef at Burlap in the Del Mar Highlands Town Center (now Searsucker Del Mar) to take the lead at La Villa in Little Italy, but news broke this week that the young chef will return to Brian Malarkey's fabric brand to take the helm at the highly anticipated Herringbone in Los Angeles (set to open New Years' Eve 2013 in the Mondrian hotel).  We were fortunate to very recently get a sampling of Sinsay's Italian and Mediterranean inspired menu at La Villa (only a couple short days before he left the restaurant), and although we wish Chef Sinsay the best during his tenure in LaLa land, we are more than disheartened to see another talented culinarian depart San Diego for "greener"($$) pastures (we'll never concede that L.A. has anything on SD!).

Davanti Enoteca Named One of the Top 20 Italian Restaurants in the Country by The Daily Meal

September 11, 2013

San Diegans can now taste one of the 20 best Italian restaurants in the country without leaving the city! The Daily Meal has named Davanti Enoteca one of the top 20 Italian restaurants in the nation. Sharing a roster with names like Babbo in NYC, Scampo in Boston & Vincenti Ristorante in L.A. this is a proud moment for restaurateur/chef Scott Harris to have his flagship Davanti in Chicago recognized with such an honor. Scott's family here in San Diego, including wife Dana and the staff at Davanti Enoteca in Little Italy and Del Mar Highlands, are excited to celebrate this with the local community.

Spirits of Mexico Tequila Trail Event Returns to Old Town Sept. 19

September 10, 2013

Tequila Trail, part of the 10th annual Spirits of Mexico Festival, returns to Old Town San Diego on Thursday, Sept. 19, from 6 to 9 p.m. For the price of a $35 ticket, Mexican cuisine and tequila lovers will blaze through the streets of Old Town sampling selections of agave spirits paired with culinary specialties from 10 participating restaurants.

San Diego Zoo Food & Wine Celebration Offers Culinary Delights While Benefiting Wildlife Conservation | Saturday, September 21

September 9, 2013
 
Don't miss the wildest food event in San Diego at the San Diego Zoo Food & Wine Celebration on Saturday, September 21. This event is presented by Cymer and is always a spectacular party not to be missed, as guests attending the annual fundraising can sample culinary delights and sip on beverages from more than 150 of the San Diego area's best restaurants, wineries and breweries and meet exotic animals like a koala and cheetah up close, all while benefiting wildlife conservation efforts.  Don't miss out on one of the most unique and fun food events in San Diego.

Take Me Out to Southpaw Social Club | The East Village's Newest Gastropub Pairs a Prime Park Location with Classic Americana Comforts

September 8, 2013

In June, Good Time Design solidified its stronghold of the East Village with the opening of Southpaw Social Club at the space formerly occupied by El Vitral.  Teaming up with Top Chef alum and chef/owner of R Gang Eatery, Rich Sweeney, as consulting executive chef, the gastropub focuses on social dining with an array of shared plates and modernized, classic-Americana inspired dishes.  With a sophisticated bar list that includes over 30 craft beers, an extensive wine selection, cocktails by Blind Tiger Cocktail Company, and an amazing back patio looking out onto Petco Park, Southpaw is certainly a destination for anyone looking for a fun, yet refined experience in the heart of downtown San Diego.

The Inaugural San Diego Bacon Fest Creates Controversy By Being Awesome

September 7, 2013

It has been one week since sweet smokey smells of bacon wafted through Liberty Station. The Inaugural Hormel Black Label Bacon Fest was organized to honor National Bacon Day, and that it did, as some of the best chefs, breweries, wineries and spirits manufacturers joined other vendors and a sold-out crowd of swine belly enthusiasts for a day of celebrating America's favorite meat product. Well, not everyone's favorite - animals rights activists and other PETA protestors lined the walkway into the event, forming an ironic 'welcoming party' boasting signs meant to shame festival goers for their participation in the gluttonous display. Though I always love seeing citizens exercising their First Amendment, it only made me hungrier.  After all, meat is murder; tasty, tasty murder. (credit to this guy's shirt ---->).

San Diego Spirits Festival | Showcasing the SD Cocktail Scene

September 6, 2013

Cervantes Magana doing his thing.

By Megan Gallagher | SanDiegoVille Contributor

Some people prefer vodka, some tequila, some rum, and all were welcome at the 5th annual San Diego Spirits Festival - a showcase of the latest and tastiest liquors available on the market. The unique event, named as one of the top 5 cocktail festivals in the United States by Fodors.com, gave patrons a chance to wet their whistle, with everything from shots of high-quality whiskey to fruity vodka concoctions. The San Diego Spirits Festival highlights the cocktail and culinary community and the talented bartenders and chefs who are shaking up San Diego's vibrant scene. We had our chance to get tipsy at the two-day event and it's safe to say that our palates were elevated - pre-mixed margaritas and Smirnoff just won't cut it anymore.