UPDATE: San Diego Chefs Salute Tommy Gomes | A Seafood Festival in Honor of San Diego's Favorite Fishmonger To Be Held February 23, 2014

November 28, 2013

Tommy Gomes

Everybody in San Diego's culinary community knows Tommy Gomes.  The face of Catalina Offshore Products, a local seafood wholesale and retail company, Gomes is a native San Diegan who comes from a long family history of professional fisherman. He personally works with more than 30 local restaurants to provide the freshest catch from Southern California and Baja. On February 23, 2014, the gentlemen behind the Mission Valley Craft Beer & Food Fest will pay tribute with a seafood and beer festival like no other - entitled San Diego Chefs Salute Tommy Gomes.

San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival Holds One of a Kind Taco Tuesday | The San Diego Classics: Fish Tacos & Craft Beers Featuring a Fish Taco TKO Challenge at Stone Liberty Station

Sandbar's winning creation

November 27, 2013

Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens Liberty Station sectioned off its massive, back rock garden on Tuesday, Nov. 19 for San Diego Bay Wine & Food Fest's The San Diego Classics: Fish Tacos & Craft Beers featuring a riveting Fish Taco TKO Challenge between 11 fierce competitors. Attendees were each provided 3 tokens to vote for their favorite seafood taco(s), each paired with a craft beer option by Stone's resident cicerone and pairing master "Dr." Bill Sysak. At the end of the night, Sandbar Sports Grill from Mission Beach reigned supreme, with The Blind Burro taking a close second, followed by third place Casanova Fish Tacos. It was truly an epic Taco Tuesday!

Just in Time For Thanksgiving - Bear Mountain to Open Wednesday, November 27 Snow Summit to Follow Shortly

November 26, 2013

The time has finally arrived for skiers and snowboarders to break out their gear and hit the slopes! Bear Mountain will be opening for the long-awaited winter season on Wednesday, November 27 at 8:30 a.m. Snow Summit is not yet open, but should open in the near future. At Bear Mountain, Chair 9 will be open from top to bottom. This includes the Upper Park Run, Expressway, Gulch, and Lower Park Run trails. Over twenty terrain features will be available to ride. The Chair 9 trails vary in difficulty from intermediate to advanced. There will be NO beginner trails available at Bear Mountain on opening day.

Chef Tommy Fraioli Is Heading to Beaumont's Eatery After Closure of Sea Rocket Bistro

November 24, 2013

It was announced last week that North Park's Sea Rocket Bistro would be closing after service on December 8, and with that news, the natural question was where would Chef Tommy Fraioli be heading. The young and talented chef has made quite the name for himself in San Diego, even taking home the coveted Chef of the Fest honor at the 2012 San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival. We caught up with Chef Tommy who revealed that he will soon journey to Bird Rock to join Chef George Morris at Beaumont's Eatery.

Smashburger and Stone Collaborate to Create New Pairing Menu

November 24, 2013 

By Ryan Bridge | SanDiegoVille Contributor

Craft beer is on the rise and Smashburger is all about it. The Denver-based burger joint is teaming up with craft breweries across the United States to design burger and beer pairing menus unique to each region. It is no surprise that Smashburger San Diego has designated Stone Brewing Co. as their So-Cal counterpart, launching their exciting new pairing menu last Friday (11/15). With over 250 Smashburgers in cities throughout the U.S., it will be exciting to watch the craft beer community expand as great beer becomes even more accessible to the general public.

Whether You've Been Bad or Good, Santa Mile is Coming | Benefitting Pacific Beach’s Holiday Parade on Dec. 15!

November 23, 2013

Dust off your Santa hats and put on your stockings! Pacific Beach has a new reason why it is the place to be this holiday season. On Sunday December 15, Santa Mile is taking over Garnet Avenue for a 1 mile community run to benefit Pacific Beach’s Holiday Parade and collect toy donations for the holiday season.

Thanksgiving Is Easy When You Let One of San Diego's Best Restaurants Do It For You | Specials From All Around San Diego!

November 22, 2013

Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching, but you need not fret! Relax this year and let one of San Diego's finest restaurants prepare your Thanksgiving meal for you. Vacuuming and cleaning before guests arrive is a drag and the cooking, oh the cooking! This year, we have a roundup of ideas for you… nary a one of them involve sweating it out in the kitchen or deciding which one of your weird cousins has to sit at the kids table.

Coronado's Favorite Restaurant Family Announces Sixth Concept | Stake Chophouse + Bar Coming Spring 2014

November 21, 2013

Set to be the only existing tried-and-true steakhouse on the island, Stake Chophouse + Bar is coming next spring as the newest concept from Blue Bridge Hospitality group, a locally-owned and operated restaurant group, based in and born out of a love for the city of Coronado. First launched in 1998 with MooTime Creamery, a partnership between Coronado cousins, David Spatafore & Leroy Mossel, Blue Bridge has experienced tremendous growth over the past 15 years with several distinct family-friendly concepts. Most recently venturing into chef-driven dining by launching Leroy's Kitchen + Lounge in 2011, Stake will now elevate the collective (and Coronado's dining scene) to a entirely new level with this contemporary, steakhouse and lounge. Although a executive chef has yet to be announced, we've got our hands on early details on the project.

The 4th Annual Bikes, Boards and Brews Event To Celebrate San Diego's Beach and Beer Culture | Saturday, December 14

November 21, 2013

Celebrate San Diego's famous beach culture and all the oceanside goodness it has to offer at the 4th annual Bikes, Boards and Brews event, taking place on December 14, bayside at the beautiful Catamaran Resort and Spa. Just as the autumn chill creeps in, this event will bring you back to the endless summer days with surf boards, beach cruisers, beach inspired art, craft beer samples and tasty offerings from some of the area's best bars and eateries.

Encore: Gaslamp's Brand New Champagne Bar Debuting mid-December from the Owner of Bleu Boheme

November 20, 2013

From the owner of Bleu Boheme, Encore Champagne Bar & Dining Room is a new concept set to come to San Diego - a champagne-centric destination in the heart of the Gaslamp with a French-inspired menu, scheduled to open off 6th and F this December. The former L.A. Rack Casual Ware space now features a large bar and dining room and will offer champagne, sparkling wine, caviar and much more, a bubbly-inspired spot sure to enhance the San Diego bar and dining scene. Encore will serve lunch and dinner seven days a week, along with brunch on Saturday and Sundays.

Sea Rocket Bistro Announces Closure | Restaurant's Last Day of Business is December 8

November 20, 2013

Known for cooking up delicious, wild and sustainably-caught local seafood, Sea Rocket Bistro has been a North Park favorite since opening in June 2008. Headed by Executive Chef Tommy Fraioli, General Manager and Co-Owners Elena Rivellino and businessman Dennis Stein, the restaurant's closure is yet another disheartening demonstration of the trials and tribulations facing restaurants operating on moral principles and devoted to the sustainable sourcing of ingredients.

Holiday Recipe | Chef Matt Gordon's Famous Cinnamon Rolls

November 20, 2013

Chef Matt Gordon’s famous cinnamon rolls are a favorite for San Diego locals and a perfect dish for the holiday season.  Every day Chef Matt welcomes guests with the sweet smell of cinnamon, sugar and butter pecan. This beloved treat has led customers to try many of Chef Matt’s other dishes including his bread pudding, s’mores and warm cheese biscuits, all made with zero artificial ingredients. These dishes are a terrific addition to a holiday meal!

Puesto Mexican Street Food Opens New Eatery at The Headquarters | Expanded Food Menu, Full Bar, Cocktail Frescas and Professionally Designed Ambiance Highlight 2nd Location

November 19, 2013

Puesto, the popular La Jolla taqueria that artfully mixes a casual approach with an original twist on Mexican street food, has opened their second location in Downtown San Diego’s new dining hub - The Headquarters at Seaport District. Neighboring the likes of Pizzeria Mozza and Seasons 52, the second Puesto location is set to grand open on November 21 and will offer an expanded menu highlighted by their coveted tacos made with crispy melted cheese and the finest ingredients to hit fresh, house-made tortillas. The new Puesto menu will feature antojitos (Mexican tapas), and innovative cocktail frescas in a full-service, beautifully designed restaurant, along with its signature taco line in an awesome  atmosphere.

San Diego Has a New Reality TV Star Chef! Cafe Japengo's Executive Chef Jerry Warner Soon to Compete on Japanese Television

Chef Jerry Warner

November 18, 2013

Japanese television network TV Asahi/ABC Asahi has chosen Executive Chef Jerry Warner of San Diego's Cafe Japengo to compete on “World Challenge – Pride of Japan,” a popular annual Japanese reality tv show that pits one Japanese sushi chef against one sushi chef from another country. Of all the sushi chefs in the United States, producers have chosen Executive Chef Jerry Warner of Cafe Japengo!

Duck, Duck...Duck | The Five Chef Societe II - Duck Tales Takes Off on December 5 at Handlery Hotel

November 18, 2013

The wild bunch behind the Mission Valley Craft Beer & Food Festivals are at it again.  On December 5 at The Handlery Hotel, five of San Diego's top chefs will converge for a special duck dinner paired with the fantastic Belgian-inspired beers from Societe Brewing. The Five Chef Societe II - Duck Tales is an event not to miss - the evening will start with hors d'oeuvres from Chef Matthew Morrison of Stone World Bistro & Gardens Liberty Station, and will continue with 5 duck-focused courses from Chef Daniel Barron of La Valencia Hotel, Chef Hanis Cavin of Carnitas Snack Shack, Chef Rich Sweeney from R Gang Eatery/Southpaw Social Club, Chef Matt Richman from Table 926, and the host-chef of the evening, Chef Karl Prohaska of Handlery Hotel.

Growler Freedom | California Breweries Can Now Fill Blank and Obscured Beer Containers In Accordance With New Law

November 16, 2013

Taking home 1-3 liters (and maybe up to 5 gallons) of your favorite San Diego beer may soon be a bit less cumbersome.  For far too long, the Alcoholic Beverage Control board (ABC) insisted that California law mandated that breweries could only fill growlers bearing their own distinct logo, i.e. a different growler bottle for every brewery.  With over 70 breweries in San Diego county, all those bulky bottles could take up a lot of cabinet space for the avid beer fanatic. Fortunately, this year, ABC revised its interpretation of the law to permit outside growler fills...but the requirements were still hazy.  Would you have to obscure the old label, or could you just cover it up with, say, duct tape?  Due to the confusion, most California breweries continued their refusal to refill outside/non-native growlers. Recently a law has been passed to clarify the growler confusion, and with that, Stone Brewing Co. revised its policy and will now fill blank and "completely obscured" growlers at all of their locations (no, not at the airport). Will the rest of San Diego's breweries follow suit?

The Headquarters is Ready to Open at San Diego's Seaport Village | New Destination Includes Nearly 30 Dining, Retail and Entertainment Establishments

November 15, 2013

This Monday, November 18, The Headquarters at Seaport Village will open to the public, offering cuisine for every palate with sumptuous indoor and al fresco dining at San Diego’s premier seaside shopping, dining and entertainment destination. Terramar Retail Centers has already unveiled its widely-anticipated collection of top restaurants for The Headquarters, including Mario Batali's Pizzeria Mozza, The Cheesecake Factory, Puesto, Eddie V’s, Seasons 52 and more.  The Headquarters is a $40 million adaptive re-use and renovation of the Old Police Headquarters building into an approximately 100,000-square-foot retail, dining and entertainment destination.

San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter Announces Plans to Open 'City Sights' at ALTITUDE Sky Lounge

November 14, 2013

San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter hotel has announced the addition of new venue “City Sights” to the hotel’s famed ALTITUDE Sky Lounge, the highest rooftop bar on the West Coast at 22 floors above street level. The expansion of ALTITUDE Sky Lounge to include City Sights will result in nearly 360-degree views as well as an ability to enjoy year-round gatherings and events on the hotel’s award-winning rooftop. City Sights is expected to complete construction in mid-December 2013.

An Inspirational Tour of Mexico's Valle de Guadalupe During the 3rd Annual Baja California Culinary Fest

November 13, 2013

There are very few places where one may feel truly at home, and on October 27, during the 3rd Annual Baja California Culinary Fest while touring through the gorgeous Valle de Guadalupe, SanDiegoVille founders experienced a feeling not felt since our very first visit to San Diego - a beckoning, a longing and a welcoming.  Along with a group of travel media, we ventured southeast to 'The Valle,' sipping, swirling and noshing as we explored many diverse and beautiful locations, including Malva at Viñedos Mina Penélope, Deckman's En Mogor at Mogor Badan vineyard, Almazara Gastrobar at Rancho Olivares, Encuentro Guadalupe, Latitud 32 at El Cielo, and finally to Chef Javier Placencia's Finca Altozano where we were treated to a wholesome 'family style' meal. It was a day we will never forget, and we are honored to share it with our readers!