Sandbar Sports Bar & Grill Named Two-Time Winner of San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival TKO Fish Taco Throwdown

Photo by TJ Sinsay

November 19, 2014

Sandbar Sports Bar and Grill is the two-time winner of the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival Fish Taco TKO Challenge. Last night’s competition was a signature event of the San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival that pitted nearly a dozen top fish taco makers against each other in a mouthwatering battle hosted at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens location in Liberty Station.

Escondido's Vintana to Host Winemaker Symposium and Harvest Festival | Saturday, November 22

November 18, 2014

On Saturday, November 22, Vintana in Escondido will host a Winemaker Symposium and Harvest Festival Tasting Tour showcasing a host of local wineries from around Escondido, and the surrounding valleys. Wine enthusiasts are encouraged to come and enjoy a 40-seat symposium, followed by special tasting in the contemporary penthouse restaurant, where they can enjoy expansive views while sampling wine from eleven of the regions most promising vintners.

The El Agave Break Up | Restaurant Group Splits Up - Del Mar Location to Change Name and Branding

November 17, 2014

By mutual consent, El Agave Restaurant & Tequileria, located at 2304 San Diego Avenue in Old Town has dissolved its partnership with El Agave Restaurant, located at 1555 Camino Del Mar in Del Mar Plaza. The Del Mar location will soon change its name and is no longer associated with the Old Town location as of November 17. Since 1996, El Agave Restaurant & Tequileria has been providing classical Mexican cuisine at its original location in the heart of historic Old Town San Diego. The location opened a second branch in Del Mar earlier this year.

Beaumont's Eatery Loses Executive Chef But Adds New Dinner Items.

November 17, 2014

Chef George Morris is leaving his position as executive chef of Bird Rock's Beaumont's Eatery and will move to Arizona to join former La Valencia chef Paul McCabe at Royal Palms Resort and Spa's signature restaurant, T. Cook's. With Morris' departure, Tommy Fraioli will get more responsibility at Beaumont's, including assisting in unveiling new menu items. Word on the street is that after a short test run, Fraioli will be officially promoted to the executive chef position.

Treat Yourself to a Relaxing Thanksgiving by Leaving the Cooking to the Pros | A Roundup of More Than Twenty Turkey Day Offerings All Around San Diego

November 16, 2014

We’ve made it through the masquerading madness of Halloween, which means the holiday season is officially upon us and Thanksgiving will be here before you even have time to clean those decorative cobwebs out of your house. Now, before you start to have a mental breakdown just thinking about the last minute cleaning, the impossible multitasking of cooking and your relative’s signature dry, burnt turkey, we have a roundup of San Diego’s best bars, restaurants and hotels who are eager to keep your stress levels low and thankful meter sky high by doing all the cooking for you this Thanksgiving.

Pizzeria Mozza to Close San Diego Location

November 15, 2014

Pizzeria Mozza is proof that just because something works well in Los Angeles doesn't mean that it will be successful in America's Finest City. The celebrity chef-owned Pizzeria Mozza, located at The Headquarters at Seaport Village, will soon shutter. Owned by Masterchef judge Joe Bastianich, cookbook author Nancy Silverton and Iron Chef Mario Batali, the San Diego branch of the popular Los Angeles restaurant has been open less than a year and is already on its way out. November 30 will be the eatery's last day of operation.

Big Kahuna's in Crown Point Becomes Bayside Landing | New Look, New Menu, Same Ownership

This design is no more

November 15, 2014

Paul Fatta has owned and operated Big Kahuna's in Crown Point for 13 years. Recently, the restaurant shut down and signs posted on the outside said it was only for a brief remodel. 35 days after closing, the eatery reopened as the completely different and unrecognizable, albeit much prettier and more modern concept, Bayside Landing.

PB Bar & Grill Up For Sale | Pacific Beach's Largest Restaurant Space Now Available for Lease

November 14, 2014

The Franco Realty Group is seeking a tenant for Pacific Beach Bar and Grill and it's in-house Club Tremors - PB's largest restaurant and club venue located at 860 Garnet Avenue. The 15,500 square foot, fully-equipped restaurant and club venue includes a full liquor license as well as a live entertainment license. No word on whether the restaurant will remain open while seeking suitors. We tried to call for more information, but this place is THE WORST and it's impossible to get anyone on the phone.

Cohn Restaurant Group Turns La Jolla Strip Club into New Concept - Draft Republic - Opening Today

November 14, 2014

At 4:44 pm today, another new member of the Cohn Restaurant Group family will open to the public. Located in UTC, Draft Republic is a casual beer garden located where La Jolla Strip Club once stood and features a gastro pub menu, including house-made sausages and entertainment such as ping pong, billiards, shuffle board, and Foosball along with 14 flat screen TVs and 100’ projection screen.  

The Death For Food Controversy | Event Currently Cancelled Due to Petition and Threat of Boycott

November 13, 2014

Once upon a time, there was an event called Death For Food that was planned to take place on Sunday, November 23 at Suzie's Farm in Chula Vista. Jaime Fritsch was to bring his meat-awareness movement to San Diego and for the cost of admission, participants would witness a lamb slaughtered and butchered, then used to prepare a 5 course farm feast. For an additional cost, one would have been able to choose to harvest and butcher a pasture-raised chicken or turkey to bring home. This event will never come to fruition, at least not at Suzie's, because as of this writing, nearly 2,000 petitioners successfully effectuated the cancellation of Death For Food, with many threatening to boycott the farm if the event took place.

Tons of Chances to Win Tickets to San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival Events

November 12, 2014

The 11th annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival is almost upon us. We've already narrowed down our top 5 picks from the schedule of events for Southern California's largest epicurean extravaganza. Now it's time to give away some passes. We have a boatload of tickets to various classes and presentations. Be sure to enter, because you have a pretty great chance of winning!

RUMORVILLE: Fig Tree Cafe Owner to Take Over North Park's Western Steakburger For New Concept Breakfast Republic

November 11, 2014

North Park's Western Steakburger space will soon be taken over by Johan Engman of Fig Tree Café to be transformed into Breakfast Republic to open in 2015 (two locations are reportedly in the works). Engman purchased the 1600 square foot building located at 2730 University Avenue and records show that plans are underway for this new concept. Engman currently co-owns and operates three Fig Tree locations - Pacific Beach, Hillcrest and Liberty Station, and also recently opened Café Cantata, a coffee shop in Del Mar. Western Steakburger remains open.

AD Nightclub Launches Dinner Club Series | Enjoy Five Courses with Chef Charles Andres on November 13

November 11, 2014

AD Nightclub is starting it's dinner club, an ongoing dinner series featuring high-profile guest chefs, taking flight this Thursday, November 13 when Chef Charles Andres of Roy's La Jolla takes 50 lucky diners on an exclusive culinary adventure through the South Pacific and Asia. A multi-sensory experience, fresh and modern flavors will be accompanied by complementary lighting, visuals and music.

Former Moondoggies to Become Backyard Kitchen & Tap

November 10, 2014

The former Moondoggies location at 832 Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach is currently being renovated by Garnet OMG, LLC, to be transformed into Backyard Kitchen & Tap. Behind this project is entrepreneur Eric Leitstein, an owner and partner of the Union Kitchen & Tap locations, PB Fish Shop, Pacific Beach Alehouse, Sandbar Sports Bar and Hermosa Beach Fish Shop. We don't have any more information at this point, but we'll be sure to let you know when we do.

Green Flash Brewing Co. to Acquire Alpine Beer Company | San Diego-Based Craft Breweries Celebrate Strength in Unity

Chuck Silva, Pat McIlhenney and Mike Hinkley

November 10, 2014

It's another Beer Week miracle! At Alpine Beer Company this morning, Green Flash founders, Mike and Lisa Hinkley and Alpine Beer Company founders, Pat and Val McIlhenney announced that their breweries will expand on an agreement from last year to join forces. Although Green Flash will essentially acquire Alpine, each company views the agreement more as a partership, as each will remain independently operated and maintain its distinct brand and culture. 

Don't Miss the Grand Opening Celebration for the North Embarcadero | Public Invited to Celebrate the Visionary Plan’s First Phase Completion on Saturday, November 15

Photo courtesy of Port of San Diego

November 9, 2014

In the past year, the the San Diego Bay Embarcadero area has received an amazing and most exciting renovation. It started with the completion of The Headquarters at Seaport Village, then the gorgeous Waterfront Park and now, get ready to welcome the completely new North Embarcadero. To celebrate, the Port of San Diego will host a grand opening celebration for the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan Phase I completion on Saturday, November 15, from 12-4pm. This free family event will take place on San Diego’s new and improved “front porch” at the foot of West Broadway and Harbor Drive and feature roving musical entertainment, music ensembles, street performers and exhibitors to delight community members as they explore the improvements to San Diego’s newest public meeting space. A formal ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony will be held at 3:30pm

Celebrate the Grand Opening of OB Warehouse with Cohn Restaurant Group and Pacific San Diego Magazine on November 12

November 8, 2014

On Wednesday, November 12, from 6-9pm, the Cohn Restaurant Group and Pacific San Diego Magazine are throwing a grand opening celebration for OB Warehouse, featuring an exciting presentation of world food in a surreal setting. For the $15 ticket price, enjoy complimentary menu tastings, 2 drinks, live DJs and even in-house tattooing by Bearcat Tattoo.

Our Top Five Event Picks For the 11th Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival | November 16-23

November 7, 2014

The San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival is less than 10 days away! We've covered the week-long event for the past three 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 20 meals, demos, classes and festivals taking place from November 16 to 23 and have picked our top 5 events for the 11th revival of Southern California's largest epicurean extravaganza.

George's Executive Chef Trey Foshee to Open Galaxy Taco in La Jolla

November 6, 2014

The rumors are true - George's at the Cove Executive Chef and partner Trey Foshee and owner George Hauer have plans for an upscale, taco-centric Mexican eatery. The owners of George's are about to get a piece of the taco bubble when Galaxy Taco unveils three blocks from the beach in La Jolla Shores at 2259 Avenida de la Playa as early as Spring 2015. According to Food & Wine Magazine, Foshee will "serve a variety of tacos, from battered fish to carne asada with smoked bone marrow."

Cheeba Hut to Bring Toasted Sandwiches to Pacific Beach | Opening November 8

November 6, 2014

This Saturday, November 8, the marijuana-themed toasted sandwich chain, Cheeba Hut, is launching its second San Diego location at the former Bite of Boston space, situated at 4651 Mission Blvd in Pacific Beach. After taking over the spot about a month ago, the place is already remodeled with a hip, tiki-stoner motif and even a full mural honoring nearby Ocean Front Walk, featuring the local legend, Slomo, in all his rollerblading tai chi glory.