Stella Public House and Halcyon Set to Open in San Diego's East Village this November

October 15, 2014

San Diego's rapidly developing East Village neighborhood will welcome two Texas-tested culinary concepts to town this fall. The modern coffeehouse/cocktail lounge, Halcyon, and its sister restaurant, the wood-fired farm-to-pizza eatery and craft beer tap room, Stella Public House, will debut in tandem in mid-November, bringing two unique and celebrated food and drink establishments to the corner of 14th Street and Island Avenue.

Latin Seafood Restaurant Opens in Little Italy | Sirena Brings South American Inspired Seafood to San Diego

October 15, 2014

Sirena, a gourmet Latin seafood restaurant, officially opens tonight at 5pm in Little Italy, San Diego. Located on the corner of Columbia Street and Fir Street, Sirena will showcase a unique menu featuring locally-caught seafood, sustainable and locally-grown vegetables and dishes influenced by South American cuisine and culture. Sirena’s creative and fresh-forward menu will offer guests something new in the urban downtown neighborhood.

Enjoy the Culinary Culture of Italy at Toast Enoteca's Weekly Supper Club | Taking Place Each Thursday

October 15, 2014

Toast Enoteca & Cucina, the eclectic neo-Italian wine bar located at 927 J. Street in the East Village, is hosting its weekly supper club series. Each Thursday, Chef Martin Gonzalez showcases a completely new menu, inspired by the rich culinary culture of Italy and featuring three off-menu courses paired with wine for $30 per person. The supper club menu features homemade classics with a twist, in a chic ambiance. With 400 varieties of wine to sample by the ounce, glass or bottle, Toast Enoteca & Cucina highlights the delights of pairing each course with the proper wine, also included in the supper club menu price.

Ironside Fish & Oyster Introduces Its Own Species of Oyster | Slurp Down Some Ironside Selects

October 14, 2014

Michelin-Starred Chef Jason McLeod of Ironside Fish & Oyster in Little Italy is working with Minterbrook Oyster Company out of the Puget Sound in Washington state to cultivate his very own oyster, exclusive to his newly opened restaurant. Dubbed the “Ironside Select,” these oysters are created from seed to delicious briny bivalve specifically for Chef McLeod, and made their debut this past weekend with 1,563 Ironside Selects sold within the first six hours of service.

Horblower's 6th Annual Bow Wow Brunch Cruise Promises a Doggone Spooky Time on Sunday, Oct. 19

October 14, 2014

On Sunday, October 19, Hornblower Cruises & Events will host its sixth annual Bow Wow Brunch Cruise to benefit the Helen Woodward Animal Center (HWAC), a local nonprofit that provides care and comfort to orphaned and injured animals.  On this special day each year, dogs are welcomed aboard to enjoy a fun-filled Halloween-themed brunch cruise with their owners.

Looking For a New Kind of Halloween Experience? DJhere Productions Launches Haunted Harrah's at Harrah's Resort Southern California | Friday, October 31

October 14, 2014

DJhere.com, TK Productions, VAVi Sport & Social Club, Party Naked, Dtown Productions, SFiNXProductions and Fortune 421 have announced their partnership with Harrah's Resort SoCal to host one of the most electrifying and unique Halloween experiences in San Diego. Haunted Harrah's 2014 will take place Friday, October 31, from 8pm to 4am where attendees can expect a complete resort take-over, casino gaming, live music performances and jaw-dropping Halloween decor. DJhere.com, owned and operated by Five Group, is widely known for operating the Halloween Ball at Prado and Hard Rock Halloween in recent years.

Enter for a Chance to Win a Pair of Passes for Saturday's Batalla Culinaria in Tijuana

October 13, 2014

Tijuana Innovadora's culinary battles, Batalla Culinaria, take place this weekend, October 18 and 19, at Tijuana’s Caliente Racetrack, and we're giving away a pair of VIP passes to both the women's battle AND the men's battle, both taking place on Saturday. Watch as the best chefs from both sides of the border come together to battle it out Iron Chef-style, while enjoying tastes and samples from over 30 vendors.

Enter for a chance to win 2 tickets to Saturday's Batalla Culinaria

Vino-Revolutionary Joel Peterson to Host Ravenswood Winemaker Dinner at Roppongi | Four-Courses with the Godfather of Zin on Wednesday, Oct. 29

October 12, 2014

Roppongi Restaurant & Sushi Bar in La Jolla will present the Ravenswood Winemaker Dinner hosted by Joel Peterson, beginning at 6:30pm on Wednesday, Oct. 29. Peterson, known as the “Godfather of Zin,” is the co-founder of Ravenswood Winery in Sonoma County, California, and will be on hand presenting each of Executive Chef Alfie Szeprethy's four-courses and explaining the wine pairings.

Forget Every Reason to Skip Dessert on October 14 | Celebrate National Dessert Day at These Five San Diego Restaurants

Table No. 10 Strawberry Shortcake

October 11, 2014

In ancient cultures, the very first desserts required minimal effort or preparation since people were more worried about the nutritional factors of food to survive. Today, Miriam-Webster defines dessert as a usually sweet course or dish (as of pastry or ice cream) usually served at the end of the meal. On October 14, forget every reason to skip dessert and indulge at the following San Diego restaurants to celebrate National Dessert Day. There’s a food holiday for everything these days, but this one isn’t one to forget or skip!

Experience a Taste of Grand Avenue in Escondido at "The Wedge 2014," an Artisan Cheese Festival | Win 2 Tickets to Attend

October 10, 2014

Enjoy a delicious afternoon of cheesy indulgence in Escondido at The Wedge 2014, taking place on Saturday, October 25, from 1-5pm. Presented by the Escondido Downtown Business Association, this self guided tasting tour unites local food purveyors, brewers and wineries for a taste of Grand Avenue where participants can enjoy cheese inspired samples from 30+ tasting stops, which will include local restaurants, bars and wineries. We have 2 tickets to The Wedge to giveaway to one of our readers. Read on and be sure to enter!

All Day Brunch Bar, Crushed, Opens in Pacific Beach on October 13

October 8, 2014

Taking over the space previously occupied by Ciro's Pizzeria and Beerhouse in Pacific Beach, the all-day-brunch concept, Crushed, plans to soft open on Monday, October 13. The restaurant intends to maintain a dedication to San Diego's craft beer scene and offer an array of brunch-inspired dishes, all priced under $10.

Former NFL Player and Food Network Star Team Up for San Diego's First Vegan Market | Sol Cal Café to Open October 14

October 9, 2014

Opening at 910 J Street in San Diego's East Village on Tuesday, October 14, is Sol Cal Café - San Diego’s first vegan market café and juicery with a built-in naturopathic doctors office. Created by former NFL great, Jacob Bell, and Food Network’s celebrity chef, Anne Thorton, Sol Cal will serve fresh cold-pressed organic juice, single source organic coffee, teas and elixirs, a full menu of grab-n-go salads, sandwiches, soups, tacos, wraps and vegan-ly delicious ice cream and desserts.

Bake Sale Bakery Offers "BAKE!" Classes Starting October 15

October 9, 2014

The new Bake Sale Bakery, located at 815 F St. in the heart of East Village, will introduce a series of baking classes covering a variety of topics and techniques taught by owner and operator, Terryl Gavre (Banker's Hill Bar, Cafe 222), and head baker Kathleen Shen. “BAKE!” will debut from 6 to 8:30pm on Wednesday, Oct. 15. The class will allow bakers of all levels to join Gavre and/or Shen to learn recipes, instructions and professional tips in a fun and friendly environment.

Stone Brewing Co. Names Richmond, Virginia, as Future Home for New Brewery and Destination Restaurant

October 8, 2014

San Diego-based Stone Brewing Co. has announced that it has signed a formal letter of intent with the City of Richmond, Virginia, signifying the company’s interest in building its East Coast facility in the city’s Greater Fulton Community. Subject to local approvals, Stone plans to invest $74 million to construct a production brewery, packaging hall, destination restaurant, retail store and its administrative offices. Construction of the facilities will occur in phases. The brewery is anticipated to be operational in late 2015 or early 2016, with Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens opening a year or two after that. Ultimately, the company will employ more than 288 people.

Golden Hill's Counterpoint Introduces Dark Dining Series

October 8, 2014

On Monday, October 13, come on out to Golden Hill for the inaugural Blackout @ Counterpoint - a series that will take place on the second Monday of every month.  As the name implies, the lights will go out right at 7pm and the intimate neighborhood restaurant and bar will be illuminated by candlelight alone.  Well known cocktail guru Bryan Dietz will be filling in behind the bar as part of Blackout @ Counterpoint’s guest bartender series.  He’ll be putting together three specialty cocktails for the evening including the Spanish Fly (Mezcal, Fernet-Branca, Mexican Coca Cola and Lime) and the Italian Mule (Ginger Beer, Peach Bitters, Fernet-Branca and a Lime Wheel Garnish) with optional food pairings from Counterpoint Executive Chef Rose Peyron.

Pendry San Diego Commences Construction | New Lifestyle Hotel Debuts in San Diego's Historical Gaslamp Quarter

October 8, 2014

The Robert Green Company and Montage Hotels and Resorts commenced construction of Pendry San Diego, hosting a groundbreaking ceremony today for local officials and community members. Located at the epicenter of the historic and energetic Gaslamp District, Pendry San Diego will be built on the site bordered by 5th Avenue, 6th Avenue and J Street. A few blocks from the home of the San Diego Padres, Petco Park and the San Diego Convention Center, Pendry San Diego plans to be "the region's most stylish urban destination for leisure and business travelers."

Cohn Restaurant Group Breaks Ground on Biggest Project Yet | $10+ Million Dollar, 24,000 Square Foot Indoor/Outdoor Restaurant, Lounge and Event Center on Harbor Island

David & Leslie Cohn

October 8, 2014

Today, David and Leslie Cohn, on behalf of their expansive Cohn Restaurant Group, broke ground on their most ambitious project to date, a $10+million, 24,000 square food indoor/outdoor restaurant, lounge and event center on Harbor Island at the former location of Reuben E. Lee. Located at 800 Harbor Island Drive, the Port of San Diego property is adjacent to Cohn Group's Island Prime and C Level. Currently dubbed 880 Harbor, the project is being developed by Sunroad Harbor Island, Inc. and Graham Downes and Gensler architectural firm and is anticipated to open spring 2015.