Napizza Community Nights Support Local Schools and Charities Every Tuesday Starting in October

October 1, 2014

Locally owned and operated, Napizza, has launched a new program to support its local neighborhoods. Beginning in October, the restaurant will host “Napizza Community Nights” every Tuesday evening from 3-9pm where guests will know their dollars are going farther to support local schools and charities. Co-owners Giulia Colmignoli and Christopher Antinucci have committed to giving 10 percent of all proceeds from Napizza Community Nights to select non-profits.

La Jolla's Roppongi Introduces New Fall-Inspired Dishes and Cocktails

Beef short ribs with horseradish mashed potatoes

October 1, 2014

La Jolla's Roppongi Restaurant & Sushi Bar has introduced an array of new signature dishes and drinks just in time for the fall season. Executive Chef Alfie Szeprethy has created more than 15 new menu items highlighting his award-winning 'New Asian' cuisine, including seasonal selections of tapas, salads, soups and entrées.

Spike Africa's Present East-Coast Inspired Clam Bake for National Seafood Month

October 1, 2014

October is National Seafood Month, and Spike Africa’s is celebrating with a special inspired by the the owner's travels across the country. Spike's is encouraging guests to get their hands dirty with a dish servers will dump right on the table. The East Coast-style Clam Bake special will run all month long and includes a medley of shrimp, crab and mussels, vegetables and potatoes cooked in a seasoned broth and poured on each table in front of seated guests. Diners will be armed with bibs, Old Bay seasoning and hot sauce for the feast. The Clam Bake Special will run for dinner throughout October for $35 per person, with a minimum of two people.

Templeton Rye's Heritage Pork Project Picks Ironside Fish & Oyster to Offer Exclusive Pig-To-Plate Experience | October 6 & 7

September 30, 2014

Templeton Rye, the famed small-batch distillery out of Templeton, Iowa, has chosen 25 of the top chefs around the country, including Ironside Fish & Oyster’s Executive Chef Jason McLeod, to showcase their 25 heritage breed Duroc pigs. Dubbed the Heritage Pork Project, the process began earlier this year when Templeton arranged for 25 Duroc piglets to be raised on a farm near the distillery and fed a specially designed diet that includes spent grain mash from the production of Templeton’s rye whiskey in hopes it will affect the pig’s flavor. On Monday, Oct 6, and Tuesday, Oct. 7, Ironside Fish & Oyster in Little Italy will showcase their prized pig through an elaborate, multi-course family-style menu featuring creations from Executive Chef/Partner Jason McLeod and Chef de Cuisine JoJo Ruiz. From snout-to-tail Ironside’s team will utilize all parts of the pig and plan to complement the dishes with desserts, special breads, and signature cocktails made with Templeton Rye.

San Diego Wine & Food Festival Returns for its 11th Year | Packages and Tickets Now Available

September 30, 2014

The most craveworthy event of the year returns November 16-23 for its 11th year of deliciousness! This Fall, America’s Finest City heats up with vacation packages and getaways to tantalize the taste buds of palates across the country. Over 10,000 food and wine enthusiasts will join Southern California’s largest culinary classic, the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival, for a week of gourmet experiences and unforgettable epicurean memories. Featuring over 70 of San Diego’s trendsetting chefs and restaurants as well as over 200 wineries, breweries, and spirit purveyors, the weeklong wine and food festival welcomes travelers with multiple Wine Weekend Getaways and VIP packages currently available. Get your tickets now and start planning your experience today.

Quartyard to Break Ground in the East Village on October 1 | New Outdoor Urban Park To Offer Exciting Events and Vendors

September 29, 2014

Quartyard will hold its Ground Breaking Ceremony on Wednesday, October 1, starting at 12:30pm in San Diego's East Village, onsite at the corner of Park and Market. Celebrate the beginning of this transformation from vacant lot into outdoor urban park in the heart of Downtown’s up-and-coming East Village. Open seven days a week, the plaza will offer rotating food trucks, art and fashion shows, film festivals, educational events, local farmers markets, and public and private events. The marketplace will also host social gatherings such as local beer tasting events, fundraisers, private parties, urban explorations, pet-friendly events and so much more. Permanent tenants include Best Beverage Catering, Meshuggah Shack, and S&M, Sausage and Meat (a new food concept from Scott Slater of Slater's 50/50).

15 Days of Pints & Plates | Waypoint Public Celebrates 1 Year in North Park October 1-15 with Special Beer Releases and Pairings!

September 29, 2014

Waypoint Public’s 1 Year Anniversary celebration is geared up to take place October 1-15. Highlighting their commitment and enthusiasm for great food & beer pairings, (recently named one of “The Best New Beer Restaurants” in the U.S. by the nation’s leading beer outlet, Draft Magazine in June of 2014) Waypoint Public’s Brian Jensen (owner of Bottlecraft beer shops in Little Italy & North Park) is curating a lineup of over 15 of the rarest beers he can get his hands on. Waypoint Public will be releasing one beer each day at 4pm, beginning October 1, with a grand finale of three to five very exclusive beers (we’re talking about the super nerdy kind of brews that beer lovers go nuts over) to be tapped on the date of Waypoint’s official anniversary, October 15.

Leroy's Kitchen + Lounge in Coronado to Offer 16 Days of Oktoberfest

September 29, 2014

Originally celebrated in honor of German royalty, today Oktoberfest is a great excuse for people from all over the world to eat, drink, and be merry! While the 16-day celebration in Munich (where the celebration originated) may be a little too far for travel, fortunately for local foodies San Diego is hosting its own slew of events in honor of the German tradition. For an authentic, yet modern take on all things Bavarian hop over the bridge to Coronado and get your Oktoberfest fix at Leroy's Kitchen + Lounge where the island favorite will feature a special prix fixe Oktoberfest Menu courtesy of Executive Chef Tim Kolanko and Executive Pastry Chef Francis Laureano. The special menu will be available during regular dinner service from 5-10pm, between Tuesday, September 30 and Tuesday, October 14.

Popular Pop-Up Supper Club Is Coming to San Diego This Fall | Dinner Lab is Bringing Dinner Series to America's Finest City Starting October 3

September 28, 2014

Dinner Lab is a popular, well-funded, membership-based, traveling pop-up dinner company that "exists to bring people together with new ideas in food."  The company does this by hosting exclusive dinners at obscure locations in various cities throughout the U.S., where they give undiscovered chefs a creative platform to prototype new dishes and ideas through a multi-course, themed dining experience. After the meal, the intrepid diners provide detailed feedback to help the chefs and company iterate and grow. Dinner Lab is backed in large part by investors including Whole Foods, so in addition to being a source for exciting meals, it's really a method in research and development for the upscale food industry. Dinner Lab was first launched in New Orleans, has since spread to 20 cities, and is ready to launch in America's Finest City, hosting its first dinner in San Diego on Friday, October 3 - five courses by culinary vagabond, Chef Ryan Carson of 'Pri-vē.

The 6th Annual Taste of North Park Returns for an Afternoon of Indulgence on Saturday, October 11 from 11-3pm | Win 2 Tickets to Attend

September 28, 2014

Neighborhood tasting season is upon us! The 6th annual Taste of North Park returns for an afternoon of indulgence in one of San Diego's premier dining neighborhoods on Saturday, October 11, from 11am-3pm. Walk along the streets of San Diego’s hippest 'hood while you sample food from North Park’s famous eateries, sip craft brews from San Diego’s best breweries and shop at a wide variety of boutiques and galleries. For one ticket price, participants will enjoy over 40 restaurants and 12 specialty brews. Each restaurant location will offer bite size tastes of house favorites while the galleries and boutiques offer a chance to shop while sipping award winning micro-brews. We have 2 tickets to give away to one of our readers - keep reading and be sure to enter our raffle!

San Diego Restaurant Week Extended | Many Restaurants to Continue to Offer Price Fixed Meals from September 28 to October 3

September 28, 2014

As is usually the case, San Diego Restaurant Week has been extended for another week, with 114 restaurants continuing to offer price fixed, multi-course lunches and/or dinners to patrons from Sunday, September 28 to Friday, October 3.

Sammy's Woodfired Pizza & Grill San Marcos to Host Sammy's Social Club with 4 Courses of Brews and Bites | Thursday, October 2

September 27, 2014

Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza & Grill, located at 121 South Las Posas Road in San Marcos, will present Sammy’s Social Club beer pairing dinner hosted by Alex Peterson, a local brewer from The Lost Abbey and Port Brewing Company, beginning at 7pm on Thursday, Oct. 2. Sammy’s Social Club will offer a four-course beer pairing dinner priced at $40 per person.

Win Tickets to the Annual Del Mar Taste & Art Stroll | Event Returns to Del Mar Village With Food, Art and Family Fun on Sunday, October 5

September 26, 2014

The annual Del Mar Taste & Art Stroll returns to the heart of the charming Del Mar Village on Sunday, October 5, from 10am to 5pm. Presented by the Del Mar Village Association and the City of Del Mar, this family-fun event includes a free art stroll with original artwork from local and regional juried artists, a ticketed restaurant tasting tour, live music, beer and wine “sip stops” and a dog stroll area for man’s best friend. We're giving away 2 tickets to the tasting event, including passes to indulge at the Sip Stops (only if winner is over 21). Read on and enter for a chance to win.

Scream Zone Opens Tonight at the Del Mar Fairgrounds With One-Night-Only Half Price Fright

September 26, 2014

San Diego County’s largest haunted Halloween experience, Scream Zone, opens today, Friday, September 26, at the Del Mar “Scaregrounds.” Now in its 17th year, Scream Zone will once again present a one-night-only “Half-Price-Fright” for its Triple Haunt package, which includes access to  The House of Horror, The Chamber and The Haunted Hayride, with each and every haunted attraction sure to chill to the bone.  Also returning this year is the “Zombie Paint Ball Safari", giving people the chance to live out a Walking Dead experience and shoot at real live, or shall we say living dead, zombies!

One Night - 4 Hours - 50 Restaurants - All Over Downtown San Diego | Win Tickets to the 22nd Annual Taste of Downtown on October 2 from 5-9pm

September 25, 2014

The annual Taste of Downtown returns for the 22nd time on Thursday, October 2, from 5-9pm, offering ticket holders the chance to experience tastes from 50 restaurants and eateries all over downtown San Diego - for just $30! Presented by Scripps Health and benefiting the Downtown San Diego Partnership, enjoy a self guided tasting tour of the most delectable eateries throughout the neighborhoods of the Gaslamp Quarter, Financial District, East Village, Horton Plaza and The Headquarters, which includes a free shuttle sponsored by smartcar. This is the biggest tasting event in all of San Diego. We love our readers sooo much that we're not only going to tell you about this awesome event, but we're also going to give you a chance to win 2 tickets to attend! Keep reading and be sure to enter our raffle!

Twisted Manzanita Ales & Spirits Pacific Beach to Host Grand Opening Party This Saturday, September 27 Featuring Rare Beers and Bites from Neighborhood Restaurants

September 25, 2014

On Saturday, September 27, from 11am to 10pm, Twisted Manzanita Ales & Spirits' new Pacific Beach tasting room will host its Grand Opening celebration. To help make this event epic, the brewery will fill the taps with specialty beers that the brewers have been creating just for this location! They will also serve food from local Pacific Beach favorites!

The Blind Burro's Tuesday Night Taco Fights Are Back This October | Local Chefs Throw Down for Taco Glory

September 25, 2014

The Blind Burro's Taco Fights are back by popular demand and for the second time this year, six talented local chefs will face off every Tuesday for the chance at TACO GLORY! The taco fights will kick off on October 7 from 7-9pm and return every week until the winner is crowned at the finale on October 28. Attendees get the chance to try each of the chef's prepared tacos and cast a vote for whose is best. Admission to the events are free and it's only $6 to try the featured tacos (for both) or $10 with an added beer pairing.

Top Chefs from Both Sides of the Border to Battle at Baja California’s Batalla Culinaria on October 18 & 19 | 3 Friendly Culinary Competitions to Take Place at Tijuana's Biennial Conference - Tijuana Innovadora 2014

September 24, 2014

Some of the best chefs from both sides of the border will come together this fall to battle it out Iron Chef-style! Legendary chefs, as well as the new generation they are inspiring, will face off in the border region’s premier gastronomic event - “Batalla Culinaria,” which features some of the culinary innovators from Mexico and San Diego squaring off in three friendly battles on the weekend of October 18 and 19 in Tijuana’s Caliente Racetrack grounds. It’s all part of the biennial conference, Tijuana Innovadora 2014, which showcases innovation in technology, industry and culture over 10 days of events.

Union Kitchen & Tap Encinitas and lululemon Present Boxers & Beers | Monday, September 29

September 24, 2014

On Monday, September 29, Union Kitchen & Tap in Encinitas and lululemon presents Boxers & Beers, an event organized for San Diegans to check out lulu's new boxers. Starting at 6pm, take a look through the new line and shop for other lululemon apparel also! Social Hour (aka happy hour) specials will also be available all night while perusing through the boxers and clothes. No reservations or RSVPs required. Union Kitchen & Tap is located in Encinitas at 1108 South Coast Highway 101 (on the corner of J Street).

Blue Smoke Sushi Lounge Opens in Fashion Valley Mall this Friday, September 26

September 23, 2014

Blue Smoke Sushi Lounge officially opens to the public for lunch and dinner this Friday, September 26 at 11:30am, kicking off its grand opening weekend with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Blue Smoke is an izakaya-style small plates eatery with a lounge-like feel located in Fashion Valley Mall - the sister restaurant to the highly successful Blue Ocean Robata and Sushi Bar in Carlsbad. The menu features robata grilled items, specialty rolls, sashimi and entrees. The highlight of Blue Smoke is the table-side service and interactive dining that brings the kitchen out to the dining room with dishes like hot stone ishiyaki /wagyu beef, fresh tofu made/coagulated table-side and chili-orange chocolate fondue.