Urban Kitchen Group's Tracy Borkum Introduces FISH PUBLIC & New Chef to San Diego | Replacing Kensington Grill This Summer

Chef Jordan Davis

April 10, 2013

After much anticipation Tracy Borkum, the female restaurant visionary behind the Urban Kitchen Group (Cucina Urbana, Kensington Grill, Cucina Enoteca, & Urban Kitchen Catering, proudly introduces the name and Executive Chef for her newest concept. FISH PUBLIC will take the iconic former Kensington Grill space and will be helmed by an extraordinary new talent arriving in San Diego. Executive Chef Jordan Davis brings experience from several of the most esteemed kitchens in the U.S. Chef Davis has tenured at San Francisco's powerhouse Boulevard Restaurant (last year's James Beard winner for "Outstanding Restaurant"), as well as the renegade "nose to tail" venue, Animal in Los Angeles.

Celebrating The Taste Championship | Team Malarkey Wins Again at Burlap

April 9, 2013

Brian Malarkey and Chef K showing off The Taste gold

We watched the first episode of ABC's The Taste with the man himself at the flagship of his fabric restaurants - Searsucker - all the while feeling proud to witness the blooming of San Diego's renowned Top Chef.  It's been less than three years since Brian Malarkey took this town by storm with the opening of Searsucker in the Gaslamp.  Since then, along with his business partner, James Brennan, the duo operating as Enlightened Hospitality Group has opened five more restaurants (Burlap, Gabardine, Gingham, Herringbone, and a Searsucker in Scottsdale, AZ), an office campus eatery (Green Acre), and they now have plans to open two more Searsucker locations in Austin and Los Angeles (possibly San Fran as well, based upon current rumors).  In addition to popping out restaurants like Gordon Ramsay on Ritalin, Malarkey has also partnered with other esteemed local chefs to open the Campine catering company.  He released his first cookbook in 2012, and to top it all off, he joined the likes of Anthony Bourdain as a mentor and judge on ABC's primetime cooking competition, The Taste.  As loyal San Diegans, we were rooting for Team Malarkey all season, and when his young Fillipino chef Khristianne Uy brought home the win, we knew it only meant great things would be coming to San Diego.  Shortly after The Taste finale, announcements were made that Malarkey would be hosting price fixed dinners with Chef K at three of his San Diego eateries.  We knew that the Burlap meal would not disappoint, as Chef Anthony Sinsay would be behind the curtains, ensuring that everything came out perfectly... and right we were.

For the First Time in 48 Years, Landmark Bertrand at Mister A’s to Serve Weekend Brunch with a View Every Saturday and Sunday

Some of the best views in the city

April 8, 2013

Bertrand At Mister A’s, the iconic rooftop restaurant in Bankers Hill, has begun serving weekend brunch as of Sunday, April 7th. Weekend brunch will be offered Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, along with a Sunday Happy Hour available from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. This is the first time in the restaurant’s 48-year history, with the exception of select holidays, that Mister A’s has dished out its award-winning service and cuisine during the day on the weekends.

Toast Enoteca & Cucina Brings Together the Highest Rated Italian Wines at its 3rd Annual Vinitaly Wine Tasting Event | Thursday, April 25th

April 7, 2013

Every April, Verona, Italia plays host to Vinitaly - Italy’s most prestigious annual wine tasting festival and exhibition, featuring more than 4000 exhibitors and hosting around 150,000 visitors per year - now in it’s 47th year. On Thursday, April 25th from 6:30 – 9:30PM, Toast Enoteca & Cucina in downtown San Diego will host its own version of Vinitaly for the third year in a row.  Guests are invited to sample some of the best wines from the festival along with tray passed bites.

The 2013 Chef Celebration Series Is Underway | San Diego's Top Chefs Organize Multi Course Dinner Series and Tasting Event to Benefit Culinary Scholarship Program

April 6, 2013

With huge support from amazing local chefs and top notch restaurant venues, the 2013 Chef Celebration Dinner Series is underway and packing in excited diners!  Created by teams of San Diego's top Chefs, this annual series of multi course dinners directly benefits the nonprofit Chefs of San Diego Celebration Foundation - an association of local chefs who annually donate their talent, time and energy to raise money for a culinary scholarship program.  The Chef Celebration dinner series offers a weekly, multi-course meal prepared by a group of chefs, to occur on each Tuesday at a different restaurant throughout the month of April The fundraising culminates with the 3rd Annual Artisan Food & Craft Beef Festival - a grand finale celebration to be held at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens on Sunday, May 5th.

Handcrafted Ice Cream Sandwich Parlor Coming to Pacific Beach | The Baked Bear Opens May 4th

April 5, 2013

Pacific Beach residents can expect a cold front in the early summer months, but it’s not from May gray or June gloom. A one-of-a-kind ice cream parlor is hitting San Diego, prepared to bring customizable desserts to beach-goers and locals all year long, starting with a grand opening celebration to take place on Saturday, May 4th. Welcome The Baked Bear - an artisan-style cookie and ice cream sandwich parlor that has taken over the space previously occupied by Pita Pit on Mission Boulevard adjacent to Crystal Pier and the sprawling Pacific Ocean.

The Best of Bird Rock | Beaumont's Eatery Wows with Cozy Renovations and Revamped Menu

April 4, 2013

We recently joined a group of San Diego food writers and media to check out the renovations and newly enhanced menu at the seven-year-old Beaumont's Eatery.  It was admittedly our first time dining there, but whenever we cruise from PB to La Jolla, we take notice of Beaumont's vibrance amongst the dark, quiet streets of Bird Rock, the beating heart of this sleepy beach town.  Once the sun goes down and Bird Rock Roasters shuts its doors, Beaumont's is the only place in this locale that packs in loyal patrons and enlivens the otherwise dormant town with live music, fabulous food, hand-made cocktails and a relaxed community vibe.  We were excited to finally sample the scene and savor the offerings from the best bet in Bird Rock.

Prowl the Point at the 2013 Taste of Point Loma | Tuesday, April 16th

April 4, 2013

It's tasting season as you can likely tell, so mark your calendars and explore new parts of beautiful San Diego!  Formerly called The Taste of Shelter Island, The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has announced that this year, the 24th incarnation of this favorite tasting tour will be dubbed the Taste of Point Loma.  This year’s event will draw thousands of attendees anxious to sample cuisine from a range of restaurants within the space of one exciting evening.

The 4th Annual I LOVE POKE Festival Returns to Bali Hai May 29th | Festival Founder, Nino Camilo, Partners with Harney Sushi’s Chef, Rob Ruiz, to Bring Only Sustainable Seafood to this Year’s Event

April 3, 2013

Tickets are now available to San Diego’s 4th Annual I Love Poke Festival, a food festival and competition that celebrates Hawaiian culture and cuisine, taking place at Bali Hai on May 29th.  For the first time in the event's history, the chefs that compete for the title of "Best Poke," will be required to use sustainable seafood in their dish.  Festival founder, Nino Camilo of I Love Musubi has partnered with Chef Rob Ruiz of Harney Sushi, San Diego's first sustainable sushi restaurant, to make this possible.  In addition, for those who really love poke, you can do it twice in a row as Orange County will host its 2nd Annual I Love Poke Festival on June 5th at Don the Beachcomber in Huntington Beach.

San Diego’s Sassiest Event Is Coming to Fabulous Hillcrest! | The Taste of Hillcrest Returns Saturday, April 20th from Noon to 4:00 PM

April 2, 2013

Food lovers rejoice! Over 30 of the most irresistible restaurants in Hillcrest are taking part in one of  tastiest event of the Spring season - the Taste of Hillcrest will take place on Saturday, April 20, 2013 from noon to 4 p.m.   Once again, the Taste of Hillcrest is a self-guided adventure of culinary cuisines from all over the world including Asian delights, all-American favorites, delicious Italian fare, and so much more, all combined with frosty samples from San Diego's finest craft breweries.

Aventine and ArtWalk to Host “Art a la Carte” Every First Sunday Starting April 7th

April 01, 2013

Every first Sunday of the month, beginning April 7th from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., the art and food worlds will come together for Art a la Carte at the Aventine, home to Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Truluck’s Seafood, Steak & Crab House, The Melting Pot and Cafe Japengo. The monthly pop-up art series is produced in partnership with ArtWalk San Diego, producer of San Diego’s original fine art festivals, including Mission Federal ArtWalk on April 27th and 28th in Little Italy and ArtWalk @NTC Liberty Station on August 24th and 25th.

San Diego's Rachel King Nominated for Food & Wine Magazine's Best New Pastry Chef

Chef Rachel King

April 1, 2013

Executive Pastry Chef of Enlightened Hospitality Group restaurants, Rachel King has been chosen as a nominee in Food & Wine's 2013 'The People's Best New Pastry Chef'! Among 50 nominees from across the country, the award honors innovators who have run a restaurant pastry kitchen for five years or fewer. Get to know Rachel's amazing desserts by stoping into any Enlightened Hospitality Restaurant (Searsuckers, Burlap, Gingham, Gabardine & Herringbone), and vote for her today!!!

Second Annual San Diego Surf Film Festival Celebrates Swell of International Films | May 8-12, 2013

Poster Designed by Matt Beard

March 31, 2013

The San Diego Surf Film Festival has announced its much-anticipated list of films for 2013. The films, chosen by a six-member screening panel, represent a wide variety of cultures and surf destinations on nearly every continent.  Due to the overwhelming amount of film submissions, SDSFF organizers have expanded the amount of films to be shown from 35 to 42. Fourteen features and 28 short films will be shown during the festival set to take place May 8-12, 2013, which will be held once again at Bird’s Surf Shed in San Diego, a world famous restored quonset hut filled with an impressive collection of historically significant surfboards and artifacts.

The San Diego Public Market Throws Epic Street Food Market Event

Photo by Jen Dery of ButterSage.com

March 31, 2013

At the inaugural Street Food Market event at the San Diego Public Market, the compilation of chefs, entertainers, and food and beverage purveyors organized under one roof was unbelievably impressive to say the least.  For those who missed it, 43 plus chefs from Baja to San Diego converged on San Diego's new and constantly improving public farmer's market - the San Diego Public Market - for what was an evening of amazing tastes, entertaining performances, and so much more, all to benefit the growth of a permanent public market fixture akin to Seattle's Pike Place and Philadelphia's Reading Terminal.

The 4th Annual Mission Valley Craft Beer & Food Festival | Going Out With A Bang!

March 30, 2013

There's no better way to celebrate Sunday Funday than with all you can consume craft beer from 30 of the finest breweries in San Diego county paired with tasty offerings from nearly 20 of the best local chefs and restaurants in America's Finest City!  That was the setting at the parking lot of the Handlery Hotel for the 4th (and allegedly final) Mission Valley Craft Beer & Food Festival, which took place this past sunny Sunday, March 24th.  If you missed out, you may not get another chance, but you can live vicariously through our experience!  Let's ReCap!!!

Savory Samples at the 3rd Annual College Area TASTE | Sunday, April 14th from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM

March 29, 2013

Come hungry! It’s that time of year again when the best of the best SDSU college area restaurants come together to satisfy your taste buds and fill your bellies with the most mouth-watering bites around at the 3rd Annual College Area Taste on Sunday, April 14, 2013 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It may turn out to be the most filling Sunday Funday ever!

Dino Jaws Exhibit Opens April 12th at the San Diego Natural History Museum

March 28, 2013

What did dinosaurs eat— and how do we know? Find out starting April 12th at the San Diego Natural History Museum’s newest dinosaur exhibition, Dino Jaws. The exhibition introduces visitors to the fascinating, and sometimes messy, subject of dinosaurs and their food. Dino Jaws, which has never before been seen in the United States, opens April 12th and runs through September 12, 2013.  Bringing together intriguing fossil evidence, fun hands-on exhibits, scientific insights and the ten most lifelike and spectacular animatronics you have ever seen, Dino Jaws will reveal what scientists now know about what and how dinosaurs ate.

In its 7th Year - Beaumont's Debuts a New Look & Revamped Menu

Pan roasted sea bass

March 27, 2013

After celebrating its seven-year anniversary this past fall, Beaumont’s Eatery, Bird Rock’s go-to spot for delectable fare, handcrafted cocktails and top-rate live entertainment, has put a fresh face forward.  With a focus on next-level design, the renovated space boasts a sleek new color scheme, eclectic design elements and artwork inspired by the neighborhood.  Mirroring the vibrancy of the new look is a refreshed menu designed to elevate Beaumont’s dining while staying true to the restaurant’s fresh, California style flavors and approachability.

RA Sushi to Host Sushi Eating Contest | Sunday, April 7th

March 27, 2013

Calling all sushi lovers and competitive eaters! RA Sushi Bar Restaurant invites everyone from novice to professional food eaters to enter its Sushi Showdown sushi eating contest on Sunday, April 7th from 3-6 p.m. This NCAA March Madness-inspired competition is the ultimate contest between man and sushi.