Chef Duvinh Ta of Jake's Del Mar Wins "Chef of the Fest" at 2014 San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival Grand Tasting

Photo by Denise Jones, Newf In My Soup Photography

November 23, 2014

Chef Duvinh Ta of Jake's Del Mar took home top honors this year from the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, overcoming many other competitors to win the annual "Chef of the Fest" competition at yesterday's Grand Tasting event with his dry-rubbed pork ribs with Samba BBQ sauce and a watermelon radish and zucchini slaw. The annual competition brings San Diego chefs head-to-head in a fierce culinary competition judged by the San Diego Chapter of the American Culinary Federation along with celebrity guest judges.

South and North Park Ready for Epic Chili Smackdown | Don't Miss the 5th Annual SoNo Fest & Chili CookOff on Sunday, December 7

November 22, 2014

Fifteen thousand people are expected to converge on Sunday, December 7, from 11am-5pm, for a neighborhood celebration as the 5th annual SoNo Fest and Chili Cook­off takes over 32nd & Thorn streets, giving San Diegans a chance to buy local, eat local and drink local, all for a good cause. This free holiday event, presented by San Diego Ceramic Connection and the McKinley Elementary School Foundation, promises award­-winning chili as tons of local restaurants face off for chili bragging rights to prove for another year who reigns supreme in the world of chili! There will also be local vendors and food purveyors, an assortment of food trucks, live music from two stages, a craft beer and wine pavilion, a kid zone area  with carnival games and bounce houses and much more.

Forget About Black Friday - Support Our Local Community with Small Business Saturday at URBN Makers on November 29

November 21, 2014

In celebration of the Small Business Saturday movement to support local businesses, URBN Pizza in North Park is hosting URBN Makers on Saturday, November 29, between 12-4pm. URBN Makers will feature a dozen pop-up shops by San Diego creatives and resident North Park artisans, including lifestyle brand West in Motion, up-cycled fashion by Grammatique and jewelry by Flight of Fancy to name a few. The URBN Makers trunk show aims to create a more personal touch to the modern day consumer-driven holiday shopping experience by giving shoppers the chance to enjoy a beer and a slice of URBN’s award-winning pizza while making a start on that holiday gift list, and help support independent retailers in the process.

Slater's 50/50 to Offer Special Burger and Tap Rare Beer for Black Friday

November 20, 2014

Black Friday isn't usually associated with beer (unless you count being driven to drink from the crowds), but this year, Slater's 50/50 is looking to change that by tapping a very special beer at each of it's locations on Friday, 11/28. Slater's has procured seven kegs of Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout and will tap one keg at each of its seven locations (including Liberty Station and San Marcos in SD) at 11am on Black Friday. Pair this special brew with a Black Friday Burger, available through Cyber Monday!

Alchemy's Former Executive Chef Ricardo Heredia Wins $110,000, Defends Bacon Title and Wins World Food Championship

November 19, 2014

The smoke has cleared and the dust has settled, and Alchemy's fomer Executive Chef Ricardo Heredia has been named the 2014 World Food Champion, winning $100,000 and bragging rights to last a year. Heredia, who competed in and took the category title in the Bacon World Championship - one of nine categories represented at the World Food Championships - bested a packed playing field of more than 400 competitors over the weeklong, tournament-style event. The World Food Championships took place in Downtown Las Vegas, Nov. 12-18, culminating in a Final Table throw-down between the nine category champions for the World Food Champion title.

Sandbar Sports Bar & Grill Named Two-Time Winner of San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival TKO Fish Taco Throwdown

Photo by TJ Sinsay

November 19, 2014

Sandbar Sports Bar and Grill is the two-time winner of the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival Fish Taco TKO Challenge. Last night’s competition was a signature event of the San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival that pitted nearly a dozen top fish taco makers against each other in a mouthwatering battle hosted at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens location in Liberty Station.

Escondido's Vintana to Host Winemaker Symposium and Harvest Festival | Saturday, November 22

November 18, 2014

On Saturday, November 22, Vintana in Escondido will host a Winemaker Symposium and Harvest Festival Tasting Tour showcasing a host of local wineries from around Escondido, and the surrounding valleys. Wine enthusiasts are encouraged to come and enjoy a 40-seat symposium, followed by special tasting in the contemporary penthouse restaurant, where they can enjoy expansive views while sampling wine from eleven of the regions most promising vintners.

The El Agave Break Up | Restaurant Group Splits Up - Del Mar Location to Change Name and Branding

November 17, 2014

By mutual consent, El Agave Restaurant & Tequileria, located at 2304 San Diego Avenue in Old Town has dissolved its partnership with El Agave Restaurant, located at 1555 Camino Del Mar in Del Mar Plaza. The Del Mar location will soon change its name and is no longer associated with the Old Town location as of November 17. Since 1996, El Agave Restaurant & Tequileria has been providing classical Mexican cuisine at its original location in the heart of historic Old Town San Diego. The location opened a second branch in Del Mar earlier this year.

Beaumont's Eatery Loses Executive Chef But Adds New Dinner Items.

November 17, 2014

Chef George Morris is leaving his position as executive chef of Bird Rock's Beaumont's Eatery and will move to Arizona to join former La Valencia chef Paul McCabe at Royal Palms Resort and Spa's signature restaurant, T. Cook's. With Morris' departure, Tommy Fraioli will get more responsibility at Beaumont's, including assisting in unveiling new menu items. Word on the street is that after a short test run, Fraioli will be officially promoted to the executive chef position.

Treat Yourself to a Relaxing Thanksgiving by Leaving the Cooking to the Pros | A Roundup of More Than Twenty Turkey Day Offerings All Around San Diego

November 16, 2014

We’ve made it through the masquerading madness of Halloween, which means the holiday season is officially upon us and Thanksgiving will be here before you even have time to clean those decorative cobwebs out of your house. Now, before you start to have a mental breakdown just thinking about the last minute cleaning, the impossible multitasking of cooking and your relative’s signature dry, burnt turkey, we have a roundup of San Diego’s best bars, restaurants and hotels who are eager to keep your stress levels low and thankful meter sky high by doing all the cooking for you this Thanksgiving.

Pizzeria Mozza to Close San Diego Location

November 15, 2014

Pizzeria Mozza is proof that just because something works well in Los Angeles doesn't mean that it will be successful in America's Finest City. The celebrity chef-owned Pizzeria Mozza, located at The Headquarters at Seaport Village, will soon shutter. Owned by Masterchef judge Joe Bastianich, cookbook author Nancy Silverton and Iron Chef Mario Batali, the San Diego branch of the popular Los Angeles restaurant has been open less than a year and is already on its way out. November 30 will be the eatery's last day of operation.

Big Kahuna's in Crown Point Becomes Bayside Landing | New Look, New Menu, Same Ownership

This design is no more

November 15, 2014

Paul Fatta has owned and operated Big Kahuna's in Crown Point for 13 years. Recently, the restaurant shut down and signs posted on the outside said it was only for a brief remodel. 35 days after closing, the eatery reopened as the completely different and unrecognizable, albeit much prettier and more modern concept, Bayside Landing.

PB Bar & Grill Up For Sale | Pacific Beach's Largest Restaurant Space Now Available for Lease

November 14, 2014

The Franco Realty Group is seeking a tenant for Pacific Beach Bar and Grill and it's in-house Club Tremors - PB's largest restaurant and club venue located at 860 Garnet Avenue. The 15,500 square foot, fully-equipped restaurant and club venue includes a full liquor license as well as a live entertainment license. No word on whether the restaurant will remain open while seeking suitors. We tried to call for more information, but this place is THE WORST and it's impossible to get anyone on the phone.

Cohn Restaurant Group Turns La Jolla Strip Club into New Concept - Draft Republic - Opening Today

November 14, 2014

At 4:44 pm today, another new member of the Cohn Restaurant Group family will open to the public. Located in UTC, Draft Republic is a casual beer garden located where La Jolla Strip Club once stood and features a gastro pub menu, including house-made sausages and entertainment such as ping pong, billiards, shuffle board, and Foosball along with 14 flat screen TVs and 100’ projection screen.  

The Death For Food Controversy | Event Currently Cancelled Due to Petition and Threat of Boycott

November 13, 2014

Once upon a time, there was an event called Death For Food that was planned to take place on Sunday, November 23 at Suzie's Farm in Chula Vista. Jaime Fritsch was to bring his meat-awareness movement to San Diego and for the cost of admission, participants would witness a lamb slaughtered and butchered, then used to prepare a 5 course farm feast. For an additional cost, one would have been able to choose to harvest and butcher a pasture-raised chicken or turkey to bring home. This event will never come to fruition, at least not at Suzie's, because as of this writing, nearly 2,000 petitioners successfully effectuated the cancellation of Death For Food, with many threatening to boycott the farm if the event took place.

Tons of Chances to Win Tickets to San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival Events

November 12, 2014

The 11th annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival is almost upon us. We've already narrowed down our top 5 picks from the schedule of events for Southern California's largest epicurean extravaganza. Now it's time to give away some passes. We have a boatload of tickets to various classes and presentations. Be sure to enter, because you have a pretty great chance of winning!

RUMORVILLE: Fig Tree Cafe Owner to Take Over North Park's Western Steakburger For New Concept Breakfast Republic

November 11, 2014

North Park's Western Steakburger space will soon be taken over by Johan Engman of Fig Tree Café to be transformed into Breakfast Republic to open in 2015 (two locations are reportedly in the works). Engman purchased the 1600 square foot building located at 2730 University Avenue and records show that plans are underway for this new concept. Engman currently co-owns and operates three Fig Tree locations - Pacific Beach, Hillcrest and Liberty Station, and also recently opened Café Cantata, a coffee shop in Del Mar. Western Steakburger remains open.