An Unexpectedly Awesome Evening at Grocery Outlet with Sam the Cooking Guy

S. to the C.G. letting it be known!

August 10, 2012

Energy peaked when the twenty or so media stooges ran around Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, all scrambling to compile their list of items with the goal of saving the most mullah.  Customers were questioning our actions while employees tried to guide us to certain products, not knowing our intention was not to get what tastes best but to search for which items were most deeply discounted below retail value.  Our team only took second place (saving $80+), but fortunately, our consolation prize was a 5 course meal prepared by local celebrity cook and author, Sam "The Cooking Guy" Zien.

Isola Pizza Bar – Authentic from the Vine

August 9, 2012

Inspired by and named after his Italian grandmother, owner and chef Massimo Tenino has launched Little Italy's newest addition, Isola Pizza Bar.  We had the recent opportunity to experience the authentic offerings and very much enjoyed the friendly service and scrumptious fare.  Va bene, partiamo!

Stone Brewing Co. Fans Score with New Four Packs of Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale, Stone Ruination IPA and Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale

August 8, 2012

Score one…or four that is, for Stone fans. Beginning this week, Stone Brewing Co. is offering Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale, the most popular Black IPA on Beer Advocate, in packs of four 12-ounce bottles. Previously, the deep-black-yet-amazingly-hoppy beer was only available in 22-ounce bottles and on draft. Stone Ruination IPA and Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale will also be offered in four-packs.

Heading North to the 2nd Annual Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival

August 8, 2012

This Sunday, SanDiegoVille founders will be heading north to LaLa Land, joining the likes of San Diego's very own Brian Malarkey and many other celebrity chefs in attendance at the Lexus Grand Tasting event at the 2nd Annual Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival.

URBN Coal Fired Pizza Proudly Announce a Barrel-Aged Collaboration with Hess Brewing Company Taking Place August 23rd

August 8, 2012

Creating buzz among San Diego brewmasters and beer geeks alike, North park’s URBN Coal Fired Pizza and San Diego’s first licensed nano-brewery, Hess Brewing Company, have teamed up to create a highly anticipated, limited edition whiskey barrel-aged imperial stout, dubbed TORULUS, which will be exclusively released to the public in a collaborative tasting event held at URBN on Thursday August 23rd, in the midst of Hess Brewing’s 2nd Year Anniversary Week.

The Commons to Take Over Lincoln Room's Old Spot in the Gaslamp This Fall

August 8, 2012

This fall San Diego’s Downtown Gaslamp Quarter will welcome The Commons, a neighborhood bar true to its name – a common place for friends to gather.  The concept behind The Commons is simple, drawing inspiration from America’s iconic bars and traditional watering holes centered on friendly service, offering simple but best-in-class bar fare and drink favorites in an approachable and laid-back environment.

Karl Strauss Opens 7th Brewery Restaurant in 4S Ranch

August 7, 2012

After much anticipation, Karl Strauss has opened its seventh brewery restaurant in the north inland San Diego community of 4S Ranch, just west of Rancho Bernardo. This is the company’s first brewery restaurant to open in more than ten years.

San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Party 2012 | Friday, August 17, 2012 6:30 – 9:30 PM

August 7, 2012

This year, San Diego Magazine‘s 5th Annual Best of San Diego Party will be held on August 17, 2012 at NTC Liberty Station. This party celebrates the August 2012 Best of San Diego issue as well as the June 2012 Best Restaurants issue. The vibrant event will feature over 80 of the best restaurants, 20 breweries, 15 wineries, some of the best live entertainment in the city and some special surprises that only a San Diego Magazine party could pull off.

Epic Line-Up Set to Debut at 1st Annual SoCal Music Festival | September 1st from 2pm to Midnight

August 4, 2012

This labor day weekend, San Diego' East Village will be erupting with the sweet spirit of Southern California - an area synonymous with sunshine, music, art, parties, beautiful people, and outdoor activities.  The first annual SoCAL Music Festival is building momentum as it continues to build its epic line-up daily, which is set to take over four stages and five blocks in the neighborhood of East Village on Saturday, September 1st, 2012 from 2:00 PM to Midnight.  Three of the biggest and best known entertainment companies, McFarlane Promotions, RMD Group, and Eventvibe.com invite everyone to experience this ultimate outdoor festival complete with killer performances by world class electronic dance music Artists and renowned bands.

Brats Berlin Rolls into SD with a Confluence of Street Food & Street Art

August 2, 2012

Unique to both the food truck scene and traditional art arena, Brats Berlin serves up novel German fare out of a mobile gallery showcasing a local artist’s work.  Wait say that again – an art gallery and a food truck?  You heard right!

Presenting 100 Wines: Cohn Restaurant Group Dream Team Debuts Rustic, Small Plate Neighborhood Wine Bar & Bistro in the Heart of Hillcrest

August 1, 2012

The creative minds behind BO-beau kitchen + bar will open doors to 100 Wines Hillcrest in mid-August on University Ave. The apothecarian-inspired space from the Cohn Restaurant Group and Parisian designer Philippe Beltran boasts reclaimed and repurposed accents picked up from Beltran's travels to create an old-world design evocative of a cozy European bistro. Local culinary force, Executive Chef Katherine Humphus, takes the reigns in the kitchen with a menu of European portion-size shared plates. The dishes are packed with her signature modern flavor combinations and are inspired by her own travels to Spain, France, Italy and Greece.

Gaijin Noodle + Sake House | Japanese Fusion Takes Hold in the Gaslamp

If you click on the pictures
they get BIGGER!

August 1, 2012

With an Italian American chef running the show and not more than one Japanese employee in the whole lot, it’s fitting that the restaurant’s name means “foreigner” in Japanese.  Despite its play on words, Gaijin Noodle + Sake House successfully spins stylish Japanese Fusion all its own in the Gaslamp by bringing traditional Asian flavors and techniques to the 21st century.

Treat Your Tastebuds to Summer’s Finest Flavor and Celebrate National Watermelon Day | August 3rd

My vegan brother's "birthday cake"

from today - Happy Birthday Ry!

July 31, 2012

Here’s a riddle: When do you go on red and stop on green? When you’re eating watermelon! August 3rd is National Watermelon Day, and what better way to quench your craving for this fantastically fruity treat than to visit these San Diego sweet spots for a sample of concoctions made from summer’s most popular treat?

RECAP: Del Mar Racetrack 2nd Annual Gourmet Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival Experience

Everybody seemed to have fun!

July 30, 2012

Since the food truck phenomenon has spread like wildfire across the nation, it has trickled down into America’s Finest and suddenly exploded – culminating in a massive congregation of more than 50 mobile eateries at the Del Mar Racetrack on Saturday, July 28th for the 2nd Annual Gourmet Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival.

Gaslamp Strip Club Celebrates 10 Years with Free Steak

July 30, 2012

David & Lesley Cohn of the Cohn Restaurant Group, one of San Diego's most respected family-owned restaurant collectives, opened the doors to Gaslamp Strip Club in 2002. The concept was bold, out-of-the-box and the community was abuzz with the sexy, double-meaning of its name.  On Wednesday, August 15th, Gaslamp Strip Club is celebrating T+A, their Tenth Anniversary that is, with a free steak dinner for guests.

'Shopper Shuttle' and On-Site Artists At Del Mar Racetrack This Summer

July 28, 2012

Racing fans who want to shop or dine in the adjacent communities of Del Mar and/or Solana Beach have a free and easy way to do so now using the new “Shopper Shuttles” that start and return from or to the fairgrounds bus compound area alongside the track’s Mission Tower Building.

Videos Relay Encinitas Foodie Fest Experience

July 28, 2012

For those of you who missed out on experiencing the 1st Annual Encinitas Foodie Fest and its after party, we have a treat for you.  Recap videos are now available, providing a peek into what was missed and what to expect for next year's event.

RA Sushi Introduces Fruity Frozen Cocktails to Tame the Summer Heat

July 27, 2012

Just in time to squelch the summer heat, beginning August 1, RA Sushi Bar Restaurant is introducing two new frosty libations at its vibrant San Diego location. Cool down with the Frozen Fuzzy Momo Bellini, RA’s take on a popular Italian cocktail, or the Frozen Red Bull Cherry Bomb, a refreshing icy treat that packs a punch.

Stone Brewing Co. Hosts Stone 16th Anniversary Celebration & Invitational Beer Festival at Cal State University - San Marcos | August 17 & 18

July 27, 2012

Stone Brewing Co. may be celebrating its sweet 16 this year, but true fans know that the brewery's aggressively-flavored bitter ales are anything but sweet. To commemorate the happy (hoppy?) day, Stone is releasing Stone 16th Anniversary IPA on August 13, and will hold its annual 16th Anniversary Celebration & Invitational Beer Festival August 17 and 18. One hundred percent of the profits from the festival will be donated to local charities including: Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos, Fight ALD, Palomar Family YMCA, and Surfrider Foundation.