A little change in the norm can be a pleasant discovery when it comes to food. The traditional Donburi (Japanese rice bowl dish) with fresh seafood and unique vegetables... and it's quite beautiful. Our recent media visit to Single Fin Kitchen brought some creative seafood dishes to the table from Chef Antonio Quindere.
It's not often we dine in Carlsbad but the new Park 101 recently kicked off a Sunday brunch. Who else is addicted to brunch like us? Thoughts of weekend eats which included Park 101's specialty barbecue had us eager to check out the spacious restaurant and food. The gods were smiling down on us that day because we nabbed the last parking spot on the restaurant's street!
Brunch started at 10am and a few folks were already lounging in the huge patio when we arrived. To the right was the market and the food line while upstairs was a adult-only section called Tamarack Deck.
Waterbar recently opened and took over the Joe’s Crab Shack alongside a prime beachside location of Pacific Beach. It's a fantastic makeover of the space with two huge bars for the drinkers and a fabulous chef in the kitchen for good eats. For parking, we found out they have their own lot behind the building which is valet on the busier nights. Street parking is the alternative which we did on our visit. The brisk chilly walk to the restaurant amplified our hunger.
The Taco Stand has expanded into the neighborhood of North Park and taken over the spot where Tacos Perla used to be. I dropped by for a media lunch on a Friday and found street parking within a few blocks. There's nothing wrong with a little sunshine and cooling breeze to and from your meal! Since I hadn't seen her in a while, SanDiegoFoodGirl joined me as my plus one.
The restaurant space is mom and pop sized with a casual atmosphere. The kitchen and order counter are on the left while a few tables line up against the right side wall. There's also an outdoor patio for additional seating.
Last weekend, we had the opportunity to check out the Chocolate Decadence Event at Pechanga Resort and Casino. The festival offered chocolates and pastries as well as a sampling of wines, domestic sparkling wines, champagnes, spirits and dessert wines.
The event was held on Friday, March 9th from 7-10pm in the newly expanded section of Pechanga Resort. VIP tickets sold for $80, general admission for $60, and designated driver for $35, plus additional discounts for club card holders.
It already feels like summer in sunny San Diego, and brunch by the beach was in our weekend plans. We dropped by Duck Dive for some Sunday eats and found the place to be jam packed! It's no surprise how much San Diegans love spending time by the beautiful waters and they sure get hungry!
Casinos are well known for their extensive buffets. Pechanga Resort & Casino just stepped it up another notch with their Lobster & Seafood Extravaganza on Thursday nights. The main draw is the one-and-one-quarter pound whole Maine lobster done in an East Coast lobster bake style with roasted potatoes and corn on the cob. The limit is ONE at a time, but once you finish, you can grab yourself another!
Mardi Gras is celebrated in many ways, from living it up with the true New Orleans experience, partying with friends locally, or just partaking in good 'ol Lousiana style food! Our preferred way is the last...
Over the weekend, we attended the Gaslamp Mardi Gras Beads, Bites and Booze Tour. This tour provides ticket holders an opportunity to enjoy bites and sips at various businesses in the gaslamp. Tickets for this event were $25 pre-sale or $30 day of with Will-Call located at Florent Restaurant.
At each participating location, they mark off your ticket in exchange for the food and drink samples...
San Diego Restaurant Week starts this Sunday on January 21 and continues until January 28, 2018. We're always excited to partner with local establishments such as SoleLuna Cafe. This Italian restaurant is located in downtown San Diego and has been open since 2006! Their offering is a 3 course dinner for $20 with optional $15 wine pairing. There are also vegetarian and gluten free options available.
We were greeted by the owner Michele, who had been manager for several years before becoming the owner. Michele and our server Francesco chatted with us throughout the evening and made sure to keep the flow of food going smoothly. Both are originally from Italy, proudly bringing a bit of their home into this neighborhood. After ordering, complementary bread with bottles of olive oil and balsamic were set on our table.
Tajima has been expanding its business over the last few years and now has five locations in San Diego plus two more in Long Beach and Tijuana. The newest SD locations have all been ramen bars so I was thrilled to include my ramen loving partner Dennis for a media invitation! We headed to their East Village location which I had walked past during my Comic Con adventure. After arriving, our choice of seating was a cozy corner booth near the windows, where we reviewed three sections of the menu: ramen, appetizer and bowl.
