In The Wake Of R Gang Eatery's Impending Closure, Chef Rich Sweeney Steps Down As Executive Chef Of Florent Restaurant & Lounge

May 5, 2015

We reported last week that Chef Rich Sweeney's R Gang Eatery will close for business after Mother's Day brunch on Sunday, May 10. Chef Sweeney also surprised his fans by announcing that he will be stepping down from his position as Executive Chef of Florent Restaurant & Lounge. Chef Sweeney, a well-known San Diego chef and contestant on season 5 of Bravo's Top Chef, helped launch Florent Restaurant & Lounge last June and will remain a partner of the Gaslamp Quarter venue. Incoming Executive Chef Brad Hightow, formerly of the University Club Atop Syphony Towers, will take over the reins at Florent later this week.

San Diego's Best Margarita Is Waiting To Be Crowned At The Margarita Month Grand Tasting On Sunday, May 31 | Save On Passes And Enter To Win 2 Tickets

May 5, 2015

On Sunday, May 31, from 12-5pm, over two dozen top San Diego bartenders will be coming together to mix up their own renditions of the Latin American classic cocktail for the Margarita Month Grand Tasting Event. This event takes place at the Horton Grand Hotel and will include over 28 favorite local bars and restaurants from around San Diego, including The Duck Dive, Wonderland, Tavern, Don Chido, True North Tavern and many more - all competing for the title of “San Diego’s Best Margarita.” Yessir - you know it - we're raffling off 2 tickets to attend and promo code SANDIEGOVILLE saves $5 per ticket!! Keep reading and be sure to enter.

Win 2 Backstage Passes To The 6th Annual San Diego OysterFest On Saturday, June 13 | Thievery Corporation To Headline Waterside Concert

May 4, 2015

The 6th Annual San Diego OysterFest returns to the picturesque Marina Embarcadero North by Seaport Village on Saturday, June 13, from noon to 7:30pm for a day filled with the three essentials for a great time - booze, music, and food. This year, the festival offers live bands including headliner Thievery Corporation, as well as craft beer, wine and cockails, as well as plenty of fresh oysters and food offerings from a variety of San Diego eateries. This event spotlights some up and coming bands and entertainers in a festival atmosphere on the beautiful San Diego Bay. We have two backstage passes to the festivities that we're giving to one lucky reader, which usually includes snacks, private bathrooms and an open bar. Read on and be sure to enter!

Chefs Team Up For SD Taco Trade At Puesto | Thursday, May 14

May 4, 2015

Puesto is hosting their second annual taco collaboration dubbed, SD Taco Trade, featuring three of San Diego’s most beloved eateries. All day, only on Thursday, May 14, Puesto will feature three special limited quantity tacos from Azuki Sushi, Nine-Ten and Tender Greens, created by the restaurants’ chefs featuring ingredients found on their menus, wrapped in Puesto’s house-made tortillas with a twist.

San Diego Surf Film Festival Celebrates Fourth Year With Star-Studded Line-Up | May 20-23

May 3, 2015

Rumor has it, The Rolling Stones planned their San Diego concert around the the San Diego Surf Film Festival, which plans to kick off its fourth year with a special tribute to the late Sonny Miller on opening night, Thursday, May 21. The event, which will celebrate the life of the legendary surf cinematographer through an exclusive presentation, will also include special guests. The SDSFF, held at the renowned Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla, will take place from May 20-23 and offer 25 international surf films, a VIP party, dozens of filmmakers and producers in attendance, in-depth Q&As, filmmaker panels, live music, great food, epic surf sessions and raging after-parties.

Treat Mom Right This Mother's Day With One Of These San Diego Specials!

May 2, 2015

With Mother’s Day coming this Sunday, May 10, it’s high time to search for the perfect place to treat Mom this year. Whatever culinary treat Mom wants on her special day, San Diego restaurants and  hotels have all of the bases covered. Check out our round up of Mother's Day specials from all over San Diego County, and be sure to treat momma right everyday!

R Gang Eatery To Close Up Shop On May 10 | Chef Rich Sweeney's 'Baby' To Serve Its Last Brunch

May 1, 2015

Former Top Chef contestant, Rich Sweeney, opened R Gang Eatery at 3683 5th Avenue in Hillcrest in June 2010 and made a name for himself with daily brunch, reinvented comfort food and a unique lineup of house made tater tot concoctions. Sweeney took to Facebook today to make the announcement that R Gang would cease operations after Mother's Day brunch on May 10, continuing to serve dinner Tuesday through Saturday and brunch on Friday, Saturday and Sunday until then. Sweeney is also the executive chef and partner at Florent Restaurant & Lounge and previously consulted on the opening of the now-defunct Southpaw Social Club. By his own words, Sweeney has another project in line for his home neighborhood of Hillcrest.

Help Feeding America San Diego Stamp Out Hunger During The Nation's Largest Single-Day Food Drive On Saturday, May 9

April 30, 2015

Feeding America San Diego is asking for San Diego County’s support on Saturday, May 9, as it joins America’s letter carriers and Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, in the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive. Hosted each year by the National Association of Letter Carriers, Stamp Out Hunger is the largest single-day food drive in the country and participating is so very easy. The event helps to support local food banks and the one in six Americans who struggle with hunger.

CH Projects Continues Focus On Redesigns And Expansion In 2015

April 30, 2015

2014 saw monumental growth for the San Diego based hospitably group, CH Projects. Nearly doubling their roster with the additions of Ironside Fish & Oyster, Rare Form, Fairweather, Juice Saves, as well as second location of their ever popular UnderBelly ramen bar in North Park, the socially conscious collective’s plans for 2015 include building on their existing foundations while refining elements of the brand. Expect renovations, new chefs and invigorated menus at Neighborhood and Craft & Commerce, as well as a new location of Soda & Swine in Liberty Station in the former Roseville Cozinha space to open this June.

Arterra Restaurant Goes Global With New Executive Chef Evan Cruz's Worldly Menu

April 29, 2015

Arterra Restaurant and Outdoor Lounge at the Marriot in Del Mar is putting itself back on the map with a new chef, innovative menu, exciting events and plenty of music. Diners are invited to travel around the globe one bite at a time with newly appointed Executive Chef Evan Cruz’s new menu, inspired by his expeditions around the globe and ample experience in San Diego and beyond.

Saiko Sake & Sushi Bar To Offer Special 5 Course Sake Dinner On Thursday, May 14

April 28, 2015

Want to experience some of the best sake Japan has to offer without leaving sunny San Diego? On Thursday, May 14, Saiko Sake & Sushi Bar in North Park presents the first-ever San Diego Joto Sake Brewers Dinner! This event is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for San Diegans to have direct access to Japan’s finest sake with five of Japan’s Master Sake Brewers on location with their interpreters. Enjoy 5 delicious courses paired with specialty sake offerings.

San Diego Reader Is Searching For City's Best Taco | Save $5 on Passes And Enter To Win 2 VIP Tickets To Tacotopia on Saturday, May 16

April 27, 2015

The San Diego Reader is on search to find the best taco in San Diego, and at the inaugural Reader Tacotopia at Golden Hill Park on Saturday, May 16, over 30 of the top eateries in America's Finest City will compete for cash prizes and bragging rights. The participants for this event were carefully curated by food writers at Reader, and hey, we at SanDiegoVille even gave our input. The best part about Tacotopia is that attendees pick the champion. After trying signature tacos from as many restaurants as possible, each attendee will place their token in a voting box on the table of their favorite vendor. The vendor who receives the most tokens wins the title of "Best Taco in San Diego" and $1,000! We're giving away 2 VIP tickets to this almost-sold-out event and also offering promo code SANDIEGOVILLE for $5 savings on any ticket type. Read on for all the details and be sure to enter.

Farmers, Chefs And Brewers Team Up At Community Health Improvement Partners' Brew Rendezvous On Sunday, May 17 | Win 2 Tickets

April 26, 2015

On Sunday, May 17, from 1-4pm, San Diego farmers, chefs and brewers team up to support the charitable efforts of Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP) at the 3rd annual Brew Rendezvous fundraiser at SILO in Makers Quarter. Brew Rendezvous is a culinary pairing event that celebrates the unique role of craft brewers, local growers, and restaurants in cultivating community and health. The event raises awareness about the local food movement and benefits CHIP’s efforts to tackle obesity through the development of a healthy, sustainable, regional food system. Of course, being local suppliers of awesomeness ourselves, we are giving away a pair of tickets to attend this awesome event.

Celebrate Cinco De Mayo In San Diego With Special Offerings From One Of These 14 Establishments

April 25, 2015

The countdown to Cinco de Mayo has begun and San Diego restaurants and hotels are getting into the fiesta by offering fun specials surrounding the holiday. Whether it’s a refreshing margarita, tequila tastings with a certified tequilier or an all-day Cinco de Mayo party, there is something for everyone to celebrate the festive holiday. Celebrate with one of these 14 San Diego specials!

Chefs Team Up For Land & Sea Cocktail Pairing Dinner At Leroy's Kitchen & Lounge | May 5

April 24, 2015

On Tuesday, May 5, two of San Diego’s leading chefs, Tim Kolanko (Stake Chophouse & Bar, Leroy’s Kitchen + Lounge) and Jason McLeod (Ironside Fish & Oyster, Soda & Swine), will come together to deliver the best of both land & sea with Kolanko’s final dinner of his “Cooking With Friends” chef collaboration series. This grand finale cocktail pairing menu suitably begins with McLeod’s favorite catch, the Ironside Select oyster - a custom oyster created from seed to delicious briny bivalve out of the Puget Sound specifically for McLeod - and continues with four decadent courses to include Chilled Poached Wild Coho Salmon, Confit Pork Shoulder, and more. Each of the five courses will pair alongside a cocktail intended to compliment the flavors of the dish.

Pacific Beach's Former China Inn Location To Become 'Pueblo'

April 23, 2015

After 25 years of dishing out delicious Chinese food and cocktails at the corner of 877 Hornblend Street in Pacific Beach, China Inn closed in April of 2014. The location was finally scooped up earlier this year by Mark Oliver, a San Diego native with over three decades of restaurant experience, including a 20 year partnership at George's at the Cove and the opening of Randy Jones All American Sports Grill in Mission Valley (closed in June 2014). Oliver has revealed that the name of his new eatery will be Pueblo, aiming to start construction of the 5,900 square foot space soon to open late summer or early fall.

Chef Jason Maitland Takes The Lead At Renewed Firehouse American Eatery + Lounge in Pacific Beach

April 22, 2015

Firehouse American Eatery + Lounge, which has been under serious renovation since late last year, has bulked up its culinary repertoire with the addition of Chef Jason Maitland to lead the kitchen. Maitland has over a decade of experience working at kitchens in San Diego, most recently working as the Executive Chef at Indigo Grill in Little Italy, and has already completely overhauled the Firehouse menus.