'RUMORVILLE' - Kitchen Staff Walks Out Of Blush Ice Bar + East-West Kitchen | Chef De Cuisine Announces Departure

November 24, 2015

It's not looking good for the newly opened Blush Ice Bar + East-West Kitchen. The downtown eatery, which took over the space previously occupied by Wet Willie's and opened in late July 2015, has already lost the culinary dynamic duo that launched the place - Executive Chef Daniel Barron and Chef de Cuisine Stephen Gage. Now, there's rumblings that culinary anarchy ensued last night and most, if not all, of the kitchen staff walked out, and its most recently appointed Chef de Cuisine Ami Cisneros also announced her departure. A restaurant that was the talk of the town only a couple months ago has seemingly fallen into chaos.

San Diego's World Food Champion Ricardo Heredia Wins KitchenAid Apple Challenge

Ricardo Heredia's award-winning apple bacon tacos

November 23, 2015

San Diego chef Ricardo Heredia has a knack for food competitions. He brought home the title of World Bacon Champion at the 2013 World Food Championships. He repeated in 2014 and also won the whole thing. Although Heredia did not win this year's World Food Championship, his apple bacon tacos recently beat out nearly 1,000 chefs to win the KitchenAid Apple Challenge.

Chef Aron Swartz Of Marina Kitchen Crowned "Chef Of The Fest" At 2015 San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival Grand Tasting

Chef Aron's winning creation

November 21, 2015

This year's San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival Chef of the Fest title went to Chef Aron Schwartz of Marina Kitchen located in the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina for his dish, "Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin with Purslan and Aji Chili Vinaigrette." The annual competition brings top San Diego chefs head-to-head in a fierce culinary competition judged by the San Diego Chapter of the American Culinary Federation along with guest judges.

Good Time Design Bringing Moonshine Beach & Cerveza Jack's To Pacific Beach | Dual Concept To Fill Former Fred's/Typhoon Space In 2016

November 20, 2015

Good Time Design, a hospitality group with concepts that include Bub's At The Ballpark, The Blind Burro, Cat Eye Club and more, is venturing out of San Diego's East Village and moving into the former Fred's Mexican Cafe and Typhoon Saloon at 1165 Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach to open Moonshine Beach and Cerveza Jack's, a dual restaurant and bar concept currently under construction to debut in 2016!

Enjoy More Than 20 Dishes, Holiday Inspired Martinis And Shopping Specials At Hillcrest's Taste 'N' Tinis On December 10 | Enter To Win 2 Tickets!

November 19, 2015

Break out your best holiday attire as you prepare for the fabulously fun Hillcrest Taste n' Tinis, taking place on Thursday, December 10, from 4-9pm! One of San Diego’s most beloved neighborhoods serves up a festive way to enjoy the holiday season, offering guests the chance to take in the crisp winter air and holiday decorations while embarking on a self guided walking tour filled with samples of delightful drinks, scrumptious eats, as well as fabulous retail shopping deals. We are raffling off 2 tickets to this year's Hillcrest Taste n’ Tinis, so read on and be sure to enter!

Kickstarter Campaign Launched To Bring A Modern Kombucha Tasting Room & Authentic Chinese Eatery To North Park | Help Support JinBucha

JinBuCha owner and brewer Jing Chen

November 17, 2015

In a land full of craft beer brewers, Jing Chen brings a new type of brewing to the food and beverage culture of San Diego ­- the art of brewing Kombucha. Jing currently has a Kickstarter to help open the first Kombucha tasting room, brewery and Chinese restaurant in North Park - JinBuCha, which is currently open as a tasting room but needs additional funding to fulfill its ultimate destiny.

Ballast Point Brewing To Sell To Constellation Brands For ONE BILLION DOLLARS!

Constellation Brands top beers for 2016!

November 16, 2015

So the whole 'going public' thing was really just a big FOR SALE sign for Ballast Point Brewing? Constellation Brands, a behometh beverage alcohol company known as being the largest wine company in the world, today announced an agreement to acquire Ballast Point for around $1BILLION. Ballast Point brews will soon join Constellation Brands line up of offerings that include Corona, Negra Modello, Pacifico and Tsingtao. Rumor has it that Ballast Point Spirits is not even part of this deal and will be spun off as a separate company with a new brand name.

Extraordinary Desserts Partners With Specialty Desserts To Showcase Gourmet Offerings

Karen Krasne

November 16, 2015

Extraordinary Desserts has formed a new partnership with retail and wholesale produce distributor Specialty Produce, creating a retail display of delicious sweet and savory items inside the produce haven. Master Pastry Chef Karen Krasne will be offering a selection of goodies including sweets like her ready-to-bake cookie doughs and for the first time, her savory dips, spreads and salad dressings previously only available on the Little Italy Extraordinary Desserts menu for sale at Specialty Produce.

Little Italy's Naughty Boy Offers The Perfect Start To Your Weekend | Monello Expands Brunch

Monello's Nutella pancakes

November 15, 2015

Little Italy's Monello, which means 'naughty little boy' in Italian, recently added some delicious dishes to its weekend brunch, offered every Saturday and Sunday. We stopped in to sample some of the new treats and enjoyed fantastic offerings that blend American-style favorites with Italian flair.

Chef Chad White Says Adios To San Diego | Común To Close In East Village

Chef Chad even made a cool graphic for his announcement!

November 14, 2015

Chef Chad White took to Facebook to announce that, not long after his debut on this season of Top Chef California, he will be departing San Diego to move back to his home town of Spokane, Washington, where he plans to open a restaurant called Native Post & Provisions to open as early as Spring 2016. Despite stating in his departure letter that he will be returning to check in on his restaurants, Común Taqueria in the East Village will close immediately. We suspect that the results of Top Chef may be telling as to why the sudden departure, but in the meantime, White will have a going away party at Carnitas' Snack Shack on December 3, before leaving town on December 5.

Dirty Birds Opens New Location In San Diego State University Area | New Menu Adds Pizza Offerings To Compliment Lineup Of Over 30 Chicken Wing Flavors

November 14, 2015

San Diego's king of chicken wings, Dirty Birds, has opened its second location. Opened in Pacific Beach in 2008, Dirty Birds has become “the spot” for wings and it's new restaurant should certainly be a hit at 6499 El Cajon Boulevard in the College Area around the San Diego State University Campus. Adding to a lineup of over 30 wing flavors, sandwiches, salad, burgers and sliders, Dirty Birds College Area will also add a menu of pizzas.

Local Restaurants Throw Down In Ultimate Chili Smackdown On December 6 | 6th Annual SoNo Fest & Chili Cookoff Features Chili, Beer, Shopping & Music

November 13, 2015

On December 6, from 11am to 5pm, the 6th annual SoNo Fest and Chili Cook­off will take over 32nd & Thorn streets to give San Diegans a chance to buy local, eat local and drink local, all for a good cause. This free holiday event promises award­ winning chili as local restaurants  face off for chili bragging rights to prove for another year who reigns supreme! There will also be live music, local vendors and a craft beer garden with all proceeds benefiting McKinley Elementary School.

Brigantine Restaurant Proposal Is Frontrunner For Prime Anthony's North Embarcadero Location

November 12, 2015

Brigantine Proposal artistic rendering street view

The Port Authority has recommended the Brigantine's Portside Pier proposal as the frontrunner for the Anthony's Fish Grotto space at San Diego's Embarcadero North. Anthony's has occupied the prime waterfront location for more than 50 years, but their lease will expire at the end of January 2017. Three proposals were initially chosen as finalists for consideration, including that of The Brigantine, Inc (owners of Brigantine & Miguel's restaurants), as well as one from Anthony's and another from Sunroad Enterprises that included restaurants by the Cohn Restaurant Group (Blue Point) and CH Projects (Craft & Commerce).

Give Thanksgiving Dinner The Bird And Let One Of These San Diego Restaurants Take Care Of Dinner

November 11, 2015

Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends to come together over a big meal and celebrate the good things in life. For this November 26, we have rounded up 18 local San Diego eateries that will give you something else to be thankful about - not having to cook! Visit one (or more) of these eateries that will be serving great food and even better memories this Thanksgiving, without the added stress of preparing the bird!

Chef Daniel Barron Out At Blush Ice Bar + East West Kitchen

November 10, 2015

Blush Ice Bar + East West Kitchen has been open less than four months in San Diego's East Village and the restaurant has already lost its executive chef. Daniel Barron took to social media to announce that he parted ways with Blush due to differences with management.

Del Mar Closes Out Bing Crosby Season With Festive Events

November 10, 2015

The closing weekend of Del Mar’s Bing Crosby Season is almost upon us. Next weekend, the seaside oval welcomes guests to give thanks on Thursday, November 26, with a Family One-Mile Fun Run and Thanksgiving Brunch. Then on Saturday, November 28, fans can enjoy Del Mar’s Fall Beer and Cider Festival along with a free concert by Sublime with Rome.

Happy Hour Bee Spotlights Catania Coastal Italian In La Jolla

November 9, 2015

On a recent incarnation of Happy Hour Bee, Bianca Jaime visits Catania Coastal Italian in La Jolla where she enjoys modern and traditional Italian dishes with locally sourced ingredients, like the grigliata mista (mixed grilled seasonal veggies) and Margharita pizza, as well as an array of Italian craft beer and inspired cocktails.