Our Top Five Event Picks For The 13th Annual San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival | Taking Over America's Finest City This November 14-20

November 3, 2016

Get ready for lucky #13! The thirteenth edition of the weeklong San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival is coming up fast! We've covered Southern California's largest epicurean event for the past five incarnations, and although the schedule varies year after year, we have a good idea of what to expect. We've looked over the lineup of over 30 meals, demos, classes and festivals taking place from November 14 to 20 and have narrowed them down to our top 5 event picks. Because we adore our readers so much, we are also raffling off 2 general admission tickets to the San Diego Wine & Food Festival's Grand Tasting on Saturday, November 19, so read on for our picks and be sure to enter!

Local Restaurants Compete In Ultimate Chili Competition At 7th Annual SoNo Fest & Chili Cookoff On December 4

November 2, 2016

On Sunday, December 4, from 11am to 5pm, the 7th annual SoNo Fest & 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 great cause. This free-to-attend event promises an amazing lineup of competition-worthy chili as local restaurants go head-to-head to see who is crowned the SoNo Fest Chili Champion of 2016. There will also be live music, local vendors, a kids zone, and a craft beer & wine garden - with all proceeds benefiting McKinley Elementary School.

San Diego's Berry Good Food Foundation To Host Free Panel Discussion On Sustainable Seafood Practices

November 2, 2016

Worried about farmed fish and what's on your seafood plate these days? Join San Diego's Berry Good Food Foundation on November 16 for the fourth installment of the non-profit's educational Future Thought Leaders panel series. Safe Harbor: Myths, Truths, and Misinformation is a free-to-attend event that will begin with food and drinks from Chef Isabel Cruz followed by a rivetting discussion featuring scientists, fishermen, chefs, and nutritionists who will discuss the impact our seafood choices have on the well-being of the oceans.

FIRST SIGHT: From The Crew Behind Kettner Exchange Comes Good Time Poke & The Grass Skirt | Debuting In Pacific Beach November 7

November 1, 2016

Tiki has made it's triumphant return to the culinary mainstream in 2016 and poke is more popular than ever! Matt Spencer's SDCM restaurant group, which is behind San Diego concepts Kettner Exchange, Devil's Dozen Donuts, Firehouse, Vin De Syrah and Analog Bar, knows how to tap into the epicurean zeitgeist. He took over the former Good Time Charlie's space at 910 Grand Avenue in Pacific Beach earlier this year and has transformed it into a tiki-inspired, dual-concept poke shop and Polynesian speakeasy - Good Time Poke & The Grass Skirt - set to softly unveil over the coming weekend with its official opening planned for Monday, November 7.

San Diego Branded 619 Vodka To Open Distillery, Tasting Room & Restaurant In North Park

October 31, 2016

619 Vodka, which launched in May 2012, is embracing a change in California law to grow its company. After recently relaunching the brand with a lineup of flavor infused vodkas, one of San Diego's first craft distilleries has taken over the spaces at 3015 & 3019 Lincoln Avenue in North Park to open Six One Nine Spirits Distillery & Tasting Room, anticipated to debut in by the end of 2016.

Former Top Chef Contestants To Host Official San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival Grand Tasting After Party

Chefs Chad White & Giselle Wellman

October 30, 2016

Southern California's largest culinary classic -  the San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival - will close the curtain on its 13th installment with Party After Dark, the official after party of the Festival's iconic Lexus Grand Tasting on Saturday, November 19, hosted by a star-studded lineup of chefs from the 13th season of Bravo's Top Chef, including Chefs Chad White and Giselle Wellman.

The Fall Bing Crosby Season Returns To Del Mar Racetrack This November 11 - December 4

October 30, 2016

Del Mar's iconic racetrack is gearing up for its fall incarnation - the Bing Crosby Season - heading into its third year this November 11 through December 4. It’s all about bringing back the old-school cool, journeying to the era and style of the track’s founder who started it all, Hollywood legend Bing Crosby. The 15-day session will not only bring back the world-class horse racing that the seaside track is historically known for, there will also be a variety of signature seasonal events including a pair of free concerts, festivals, Thanksgiving day events and eclectic outdoor dining options.

Huge Organic Restaurant To Open In San Diego's Gaslamp | Tocaya Organica To Take Over Former Cake Nightclub Space

October 29, 2016

We'll soon see a battle between classic versus contemporary! Coming in right down the block from downtown San Diego's incoming, traditional street taco spot, Tacos El Gordo, is a huge modern-Mexican organic restaurant. The Madera Group recently closed Cake Nightclub at 755 5th Avenue in the Gaslamp and will use the 6,000 square foot space for another one of the company's concepts - Tocaya Organica - which currently has two branches in Los Angeles with another planned for Miami.

Carnitas' Snack Shack To Close North County Location By Year's End | LA-Based Mendocino Farms Sandwich Market To Take Over Del Mar Highlands Space

October 29, 2016

The Carnitas' Snack Shack location in Del Mar Highlands Town Center will close up shop by the end of the year. The second location of the popular pork paradise, CSS Del Mar was opened in August 2014 by husband-and-wife-partners Chef Hanis Cavin & Sara Stroud, who also have outposts of their fast-casual restaurant in North Park and at the North Embarcadero in Downtown San Diego. The space will be taken over by popular Los Angeles based Mendocino Farms Sandwich Market, which anticipates to open by Spring 2017.

San Diego Based Modern Times Beer Announces Gigantic Anaheim Project

October 28, 2016

San Diego's Modern Times Beer, which first launched its Point Loma-based brewery in 2012, took to social media today to announce plans for an enormous craft beer entertainment destination planned for the downtown Anaheim, a nearly 32,000 square foot project that will include an onsite restaurant, brewing facility, café, restaurant, guest food stalls, a pool with poolside bar and movie screen, a merchandise store and more. Modern Times Leisuretown is coming!

Ex-The Cork & Craft Sous Chef Tony Guan Takes Over Kitchen At Underbelly North Park

October 28, 2016

We recently broke the news that former The Cork & Craft Executive Chef Philip Esteban had joined CH Projects restaurant group to assist in the culinary development of the burgeoning brand. Well, the young chef is already sourcing talent from his old gig, as CHP has recently hired former Cork & Craft sous chef Tony Guan to lead the kitchen at the second outpost of the company's ramen bar concept - Underbelly North Park.

Wheat & Water To Bring Artisan Pizza & Craft Beer To Bird Rock Starting November 1

October 27, 2016

It's been over 2 years since we announced that Bird Rock's Bella Roma Pizza would become Wheat & Water, but the modern pizza-pub is finally ready to unveil. Currently in its soft opening stage, W&W will grand open to the public on Tuesday, November 1, offering a stylishly urban design meets seaside neighborhood vibe with a menu of wood-fired pizza, shared plates, salads, charcuterie boards, wine, cocktails, and of course, San Diego craft beer.

Avatar-Inspired Cirque Du Soleil Coming To San Diego For Limited Run This November | Enter To Win Tickets To TORUK - The First Flight

October 27, 2016

Cirque du Soleil is bringing its newest acrobatic spectacle to Valley View Casino Center at San Diego's Sports Arena for a limited run this November 23-27, and we are raffling off 2 tickets for opening night! TORUK – The First Flight is a live immersive multimedia spectacle that brings to the stage the breathtaking world of James Cameron’s AVATAR like you have never seen it before.

Grater Grilled Cheese To Open 3rd Outpost | Coming Soon To Del Mar Highlands Town Center

October 26, 2016

What began with a food truck and a dream has become three brick-and-mortar eateries dotted around San Diego county with more on the way! Adding to their fast-casual restaurants in La Jolla and Mission Valley, Grater Grilled Cheese will soon open its 3rd outpost within the Del Mar Highlands Town Center, anticipated to open in early 2017.

Ajisen Ramen Bar To Open On November 5 In San Diego's Kearny Mesa Neighborhood

October 26, 2016

The rise of ramen continues to take over San Diego. Hailing from Kumamoto, Japan and in business since 1968, Ajisen Ramen has completely renovated the building previously occupied by Coco's Family Restaurant at 7398 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard in Kearny Mesa and will open its first San Diego eatery on November 5.

Oceanside's Urge Gastropub & Whiskey Bank Launches Speakeasy Concept | 101 Proof Brings The Underground To North County Starting October 27

October 25, 2016

A staple of the North County San Diego food scene, 3 Local Brothers restaurant group is ready to make waves with its newest concept, a speakeasy located within the underbelly of its Urge Gastropub & Whiskey Bank location in Oceanside. 101 Proof will open its doors to the public on Thursday, October 27, offering a reservation-only experience with a strong focus on whiskey and cocktails using hand-pressed juice.

Searsucker Del Mar New Executive Chef Cesar Oceguera Releases Refreshed Dinner Menu

October 24, 2016

Searsucker Del Mar's newly appointed Executive Chef, San Diego native Cesar Oceguera, has been hard at work and will launch a refreshed menu for the North County hotspot on October 25. Check it out!