Welcome Foie Gras Back to California at Wrench & Rodent on Monday, January 26 and Kitchen 4140 on February 2

January 9, 2015

If you're friends with any California chef or foodie, you're well aware that the two and a half year ban on foie gras in California was lifted this past Wednesday by a federal judge. Chefs salivated at the chance to resume serving that fatty, bloated duck or goose liver. Chef Chad White had foie on his menu over at Común Kitchen & Tavern within minutes of the announcement, already holding a side stash that was received as a holiday gift from Chef Hanis Cavin of Carnitas' Snack Shack. Many other local chefs are scrambling to add the French delicacy back to their menu, as the ingredient is poised to become more popular that ever. In celebration of the return of foie, Chef Daniel Barron (formerly of La Valencia Hotel) has organized two separate, multi-chef-prepared, six course foie feasts on Monday, January 26, at 6pm at the Wrench & Rodent and Bull Taco dining rooms in Oceanside and another Welcome Back Foie Gras dinner on Monday, February 2, at Kitchen 4140 in Clairemont.

Milles Fleurs Celebrates 30 Years With $30 Prix Fixe Menu All January

January 8, 2015

January 2015 marks thirty years since restauranteur, Bertrand Hug, opened Mille Fleurs in beautiful Rancho Santa Fe. Over those three decades, Mille Fleurs’ innovative menu has received national media attention and awards including “Top 25 in America” by Food & Wine Magazine, “Best Restaurant in San Diego” by the New York Times and one of the “Top 100 Best Restaurants in America” by OpenTable. Since 1985, Hug has been dedicated to providing ultimate dining experience while using the freshest ingredients from Chino Farms. This January, Mille Fleurs will celebrate this milestone with a special $30 prix-fixe menu as well as a selection of wines for $30 a bottle. The menu itself will have a retro feel to it and will feature original menu items created by Chef Martin Woesle.

The Baked Bear Handcrafted Ice Cream Sandwich Parlor Announces Two New North County Locations

January 8, 2015

San Diegans swearing off sugar in 2015 may have to put those plans on hold. The Baked Bear, San Diego’s favorite artisan cookie and ice cream sandwich parlor, has announced the opening of two new locations in two North County communities this year - La Costa (located at 7610 Via Campanile, Suite #142,  Carlsbad) is slated for Saturday, February 7 grand opening and Carmel Valley (5950 Village Way #101) will open in early April.

The Red Door Hosts 4-Course, Wine Paired Dinner with Flor Franco for Farmers, Friends & Fisherman Supper Series | Thursday, January 15

January 8, 2015

On Thursday, January 15, The Red Door in Mission Hills will host the second installment of its Farmers, Friends & Fisherman dinner series. This quarter's supper club features a marriage of Baja cuisine by Executive Chef Karrie Hills and guest chef Flor Franco of Zarco Comida de Baja, as well as Baja wines curated by Fernando Gaxiola of Baja Wine + Food and The Red Door's own wine guy Mark Wheadon. Also in attendance will be San Diego fisherman Dan Major,  as well as representatives from Spur Valley Ranch and El Campito Farm.

SanDiegoVille's Best Bites of 2014 | Our Year in Review

January 7, 2015

Happy New Year 2015!!! Our apologies for the radio silence over the holidays. Every year we venture back east, braving the frigid cold to spend time with family and friends, causing our content to suffer (not to mention our health). But this time also provides us with the opportunity to reflect on all of the deliciousness we have been privileged to enjoy over the year. So without further ado, we present to you SanDiegoVille's Best Bites of 2014. Better late than never!

Curtain Opens with New Ownership at The North Park Theatre and West Coast Tavern

January 6, 2015

Starting off the New Year, The North Park Theatre and West Coast Tavern will be under new ownership as of January 15. Running the show at these popular establishments will be independently operated SD Observatory LLC., who are present owners of The Observatory in Orange County. The North Park Theater and West Coast Tavern were previously owned by David Cohen, Bobby Jones and The Verant Group.

Experience the Winter Bounty of Baja California at Deckman's en el Mogor in Valle de Guadalupe | Saturday, January 10

January 5, 2015

On Saturday, January 10, Deckman’s en el Mogor in Valle de Guadalupe will be hosting a culinary feast! For $100 (USD), guests will be able to dine on a five-course meal, paired with five wines to showcase the winter bounty of Baja California. The intimate 40-person meal will begin at 6:30pm and will be hosted by Chef Drew Deckman and guest chefs Robert Ruiz, Andrew Spurgin and Ryan Steyn. The dinner will include sustainable Baja ingredients with a strong focus on sustainable fisheries.

University Heights' Bourbon Street and Lei Lounge Purchased by Local Restaurateur John Pani

January 4, 2015

Bourbon Street San Diego and neighboring restaurant Lei Lounge in University Heights (4612 & 4622 Park Boulevard) have both been sold by longtime owners, brothers Michael and Bill Weiss. The leases to both locations were purchased by John Pani, founder of hospitality investment and management firm, ELE Collective, who also owns Waypoint Public in North Park and Hotel Vyvant in Little Italy.

Anthony Sinsay Returns Home to San Diego | Welcome Him Back at AD Nightclub's Dinner Club on January 29

January 3, 2015

Although 2014 was great in most regards, there was one thing it lacked. It was the first year since living in America's Finest City where we did not experience the culinary creations of Anthony Sinsay, one of our favorite local chefs. In 2013, Sinsay, a San Diego native, relocated to Los Angeles to lead Brian Malarkey's and Enlightened Hospitality's Herringbone at the Mondrian Hotel. He recently moved back to sunny San Diego, and although his permanent digs are still shrouded in secrecy, he was kind enough to reveal to SanDiegoVille that he will be the guest chef at AD Nightclub's next dinner club on January 29, where diners can experience 5 themed courses entitled An Introspective Look at New York City in the 1980s.

Closing Alert - La Villa and Fish Public Shutter

January 2, 2015

The former Kensington Grill, owned and operated by Tracy Borkum's Urban Kitchen Group, tried a new concept in Fish Public, but lasted only a year and a half, closing on New Year's Eve 2014. Expect the space to be used for a new Cucina location, whether it be an Urbana or Enoteca, we don't know. Another notable closing is La Villa Restaurant & Bar on India in Little Italy. San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood is becoming much less Italian-centric, making it more difficult for restaurants Italiano to succeed. Expect to see more such closings in the future.

Javier Plascencia Mentors on ABC's The Taste

January 2, 2015

On Thursday, January 8, our local celebrity chef Javier Plascencia, known as one of the founders of Baja Med cuisine, will be a guest mentor on ABC’s The Taste, airing at 8pm. He’s handsome, knows how to cook, and his family has built a restaurant empire from Tijuana to San Diego, featuring a specialized Mex-Med brand of cuisine. He’s even been dubbed the ‘Wolfgang Puck’ of border-town cuisine.

Explore the Top Eateries in America's Finest City at the 11th Annual San Diego Restaurant Week | Sunday, January 18 to Saturday, January 24

January 1, 2015

Happy New Year, San Diego! With our ever evolving culinary community, 2015 is going to be the highlight of every food lovers dream, starting with San Diego Restaurant Week. Presented by San Diego County Lexus, celebrate 11 years of culinary excellence as San Diego Restaurant Week offers 7 scrumptious days of discounted dining at some of the county’s finest restaurants! For one week only, Sunday, January 18 through Saturday, January 24, food lovers will be able to eat their hearts out at a large list of participating restaurants, which includes new price options and no reservations necessary.

"Iron Chef Vietnam" Takes the Helm at New San Diego Restaurant | Welcome Sovereign Vietnamese Cuisine to Former Royal Thai Location

December 20, 2014

San Diego is soon to be home to one of Vietnam’s culinary ambassador. Opening in early 2015, Sovereign will take over the former Royal Thai location at 467 5th Avenue in San Diego's Gaslamp and will offer a modern twist on Vietnamese cuisine, much more than the pho concepts many expect. This will be the fourth restaurant concept introduced to the San Diego market by restaurateur Alex Thao, known for developing unique Asian-inspired destinations like Rama, Lucky Liu’s and Saja Korean Kitchen. Chef Michael "Bao" Huynh is coming back to the U.S. after spending two years in his treasured home country of Vietnam.

Out With the Old, In With the New and What the Future Holds | The Ultimate List of Restaurant Openings and Closings in 2014 and What’s Coming in 2015

December 19, 2014

We’re not going to narrow down the many, many restaurant openings of 2014 into some dainty list of what we arrogantly deem “best,” because we’ve already explained how we feel about that. But we were inclined to come up with an ultimate rundown of all the openings and unfortunate closings of the year, as well as what we already know to be coming in 2015. Check out our alphabetized list, look up the eateries, plan your visit and let us know if we missed anything!

Pacific Beach's $2.1 Million Waterfront Restaurant Announces Name and Venue Details | Introducing Oceana Coastal Kitchen at Catamaran Resort * Spa

December 18, 2014

Slated to open in early 2015 in Pacific Beach, Oceana Coastal Kitchen is set to feature chef-driven, California comfort cuisine as well as a modern, ocean-inspired design overhaul. The new multi-million dollar restaurant located at the Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa will soon offer a memorable bayfront dining experience at an iconic Pacific Beach hideaway. Oceana Coastal Kitchen will help elevate the rising culinary scene in the area’s beach community, and will soon be an exciting new destination for locals and visitors alike.

Stella Public House and Halcyon Open in San Diego’s East Village

Photo by Sam Wells

December 17, 2014

San Diego's East Village has welcomed two tested and celebrated culinary concepts to the neighborhood. The modern coffeehouse and cocktail lounge, Halcyon, and its sister restaurant, the local ingredient driven, wood-fired pizza eatery and craft beer tap room, Stella Public House, have opened their doors to the public just in time for the holidays. Located at 1429 Island Avenue, the unique food and drink establishments share a gorgeous 3,000 square foot indoor/outdoor space and a 1,500 square foot patio overlooking downtown’s newest, as-yet-unnamed public park. Stella Public House and Halcyon, which debuted in tandem to rave reviews in San Antonio, Texas last year, now arrive in San Diego under the guidance of the Austin-based investment group Zebo.

Josefas and Iberico Go Dark in La Jolla

December 16, 2014

The dual concept Josefas Cocina Mexicana and Iberico Restaurant in La Jolla have both closed. The second floor eateries located at 909 Prospect Street were owned by the group behind El Agave restaurants. In mid-November, the restaurant partnership allegedly dissolved, with the owners of the Old Town eatery taking the longstanding El Agave name and brand and leaving the more recent Del Mar location, Mola Gastro Bar, Iberia and Josefas (which only opened September 2014) on their own. There is no word yet on what will come of the Del Mar El Agave, as they are supposed to change their name and branding by year's end. We'll keep you informed on what happens and who takes over the prime spot in La Jolla. El Agave in Old Town is still thriving and will continue with the same level of service and quality of food that it has since 1996.