Bits and Bites

In Liberty Station close to the Barnett Avenue entrance look for SOL Markets(Seasonal, Organic, Local) to open late January. According to one of the principals in the venture, Vincent Brown, “We will only carry products from local farmers/ranchers and other craft purveyors. The farmers market rotates its suppliers and appears part time. We will be open 7 days a week and are moving to open an exhibition kitchen and tasting room for beers and wine. We have a dedicated space there for community and education, we carry credit cards and fully vet our suppliers. We are not here to compete with the farmers markets, but to help grow the number of people who are interested in buying locally and eating seasonally.”

In Hillcrest, Lotus Cafe and Juice Bar adds a second location (they’re in Encinitas) and moves into the spot recently occupied by Pizza Nova. Construction is underway, so expect to see it open soon.

And beer buffs can get in on the festivities to celebrate and enjoy San Diego Beer Week that runs until November 13.

A quick note about Buzz’s absence on these pages: For the past year she’s been testing recipes for a friend’s cookbook due out next October, coupled with traveling far and wide. Expect to read about some of the meals she had in New York, Puerto Rico, Paris and soon Cuba. In the meantime, here are a few bites from Buzz about San Diego’s restaurant scene. Expect another post sometime after November 17!

Chef Amy DiBiase will join La Jolla Shores working with executive chef Bernard Guillas of The Marine Room, La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club and the Shores. Great views, wonderful property…Can hardly wait to enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner there after she settles in after August 22.

Other chef news: In Mission Hills, Tom and Trish Watlington who own The Red Door Restaurant & Wine Bar and The Wellington Steak and Martini Lounge have just promoted Daniel Manrique from sous chef to executive chef for the two properties. Best known for his role as the executive chef at Jayne’s Gastropub and sous chef at Parallel 33 (the prior incarnation of The Red Door), Daniel will oversee a menu that incorporates “earth to table” ingredients–many from the newly planted Red Door garden in Mt. Helix.

We’re hearing that Joseph Melluso, who brought life (and lots of drama) to the Cosmopolitan Hotel & Restaurant in Old Town, is out of that property and the kitchen he was running. He still has an interest in the place but has sold most of his shares to Catherine Miller who has been involved with the property for quite some time. Buzz left a message for Melluso for more information, but no word back, yet. We hear too that Melluso has some new projects in the fire.

There’s a new quarterly journal out that food lovers may want to read: Lucky Peach features such writers (and some chefs) as Ruth Reichl, Peter Meehan, David Chang and others. First issue looks at ramen. Check it out.

The Marine Room isn’t just for special occasions, and even on an overcast day, it’s got a drop dead view of the Pacific Ocean spotted with surfers, kayakers, boats and birds, not to mention people walking the beach. Just yesterday Buzz popped in figuring it would be as gorgeous at the ocean as it was inland. It wasn’t, but it didn’t matter. Watching the water and just relaxing during the restaurant’s 4pm to 6pm happy hour (appetizers and well drinks are just $7 each) makes the place a lovely respite from the hustle and bustle of city life. If you swoon for avocados, you must try (and share) the delicately tempura battered wedges of fresh avocado served with an ancho chile dip. Simple, delicious and not greasy!

Check out their August listing of dinners and classes with über award-winning chefs, Bernard Guillas and Ron Oliver. For sake lovers, Ichishima Sake is featured at a special dinner on August 3 for $95 excluding tax and tip. 2000 Spindrift Lane, La Jolla, (866) 644.2351 or 858-459-7222.

A tasting dinner at The Grill at Torrey Pines Wednesday, July 27, will feature beer from Petaluma’s Lagunitas Brewing Company. Here’s the menu and the cost is $65 including food, wine and valet parking. Reservations: 858-777-6645.

One of the truly exquisite spots in San Diego is in Coronado at the Hotel Del Coronado. It’s a place you can walk the promenade between the sand and ocean and then walk up the pathway a few steps for a drink at the firepit lit Sunset Bar or enjoy a lovely dinner at 1500 Ocean. Earlier in the year both chef de cuisine, Brian Sinnott and wine director Ted Glennon moved on and now there’s a new culinary team at the restaurant.

Chef de cuisine Aaron Martinez worked for three years at Addison under William Bradley at The Grand Del Mar , and most recently headed the kitchen at Rancho Valencia. We’ll wait to see what Martinez does with the menu as the current one online still reflects the work of Sinnott as well as his then position as chef de cuisine.

Joe Weaver stepped into the wine director’s position after working with Glennon for nearly two years. Buzz knows Weaver from his days at the short-lived (but very good) Crescent Heights Kitchen and Lounge that closed in 2009. He is certified at the second level of the Court of Master Sommeliers as well as honors study at the Wine and Spirit Education Trust.

For the longest time Point Loma suffered from a lack of restaurant choices. But now things are popping as Buzz reported in February. The latest addition to the group is Lighthouse Bar and Grill that opened last week at the corner of Canon and Scott Streets with a full liquor license (beers on tap too) and a menu that includes 10-inch pizzas ($11.95 to $13) that might give Old Venice pause.

It’s a casual room with bar seating (comfortable seats, unlike those hard tiny ones at Old Venice), with tables on the perimeter of the rooms. Expect some hiccups as they settle in with their menu that includes everything from salads and crab cakes to pasta and pizzas. (A few menu items may look familiar but with a different twist, coming from their sister restaurant Pomodoro next door.) My take-out pizza arrived with no basil (but had a not too thick or chewy crust, hand formed and was good even minus the basil). Their crab cakes are good if you like the almost pâté style that they and many other places serve. Buzz prefers the chunky, light, with no or very little, cracker crumb filler.

I called to let the manager know about the missing basil so that he could alert the kitchen, and he thanked me for telling him. Yes, it’s good to nicely let a restaurant know about a problem as it helps them iron out the opening kinks. It’s not nice to slam a place in a Yelp comment without first letting them know the problem.

Observed at the bar single gals checking the scene with drinks as well as solo guys, locals, having dinner. Open for dinner and now, soon for lunch. 1101 Scott St., Point Loma, 619-224-2272.

A few blocks away on Rosecrans, between Canon and Talbot comes Westy’s Antique & Tavern at 1029 Rosecrans. Just posted the ABC notice, so it will be a bit of time before it opens. Local resident James West is listed as applicant for the beer and wine license.

And in the same block La Playa Café and Marketplace opens Thursday, June 30. Owner Cindi of La Playa Bistro, next door plans to serve gelato, smoothies, sandwiches and more.

On Kettner, in Little Italy just before Juniper, 98 Bottles expects to open this summer. Sounds like it will be a fun spot

Patrons of La Jolla’s Trattoria Acqua (that closed at the beginning of the year) can soon travel to Mission Hills where owners Michael and Victoria McGeath will open a new place named Brooklyn Girl Eatery. Their Trattoria Acqua blog says they signed a lease late last month for the space at the corner of Goldfinch and Ft. Stockton. They expect to start construction soon for a fall opening to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner with menus to feature locally sourced ingredients, craft beers, wine and more.

If you’re wondering what to do this weekend, here are a couple of last minute ideas for this Sunday, June 12. Grab the kids and head over to Mosaic Wine Bar in North Park as they host Hospitality for Hunger to raise awareness of child hunger in San Diego. This first annual event was conceived by Claude Renner –who manages hospitality, food and beverage at the Hotel Del Coronado– as a way to engage the community about giving back for a good cause. The event features chefs Amy DiBiase (consultant), Olivier Boiteau (Farm House Cafe) and Anthony Sinsay (Harney Sushi) for a barbecue and canned food donation drive…along with music and fun for the kids and more adult things into the evening. Information is here and all proceeds go to Feeding America San Diego, a very worthwhile organization. For more information: 858-452-3663.

For another give back event, Wine & Roses raises money for Camp Oliver, in Descanso, CA and other charities of Social Service Auxiliary. In its 28th year, the event takes place at the Westgate Hotel, from 3pm to 6:30pm for $65 ($75 at the door). Great restaurants and wineries supply tastes and the walkabout event is always a hit on the hotel’s rooftop. For information: (619) 517-5825

It’s summer vacation so Buzz will take some time to play and tackle new projects while occasionally posting throughout the next few months. Expect to see Buzz pushing beyond the San Diego boundaries to bring you food and travel news to inspire the wanderlust in all of us…from Los Angeles and New York to Paris and Prague (and beyond). But first, news from San Diego:

Red Velvet Wine Bar in Little Italy closes tomorrow Saturday (as noted by a Keli Dailey tweet). To answer Dailey’s question of “why”, Buzz talked with wine director Kyle Showen today to get the answer. Bottom line: Owner Wendy Segal wants time off and isn’t ready to recalibrate the staff as Kyle is moving to San Francisco where Katie Brookshire (opening wine director) now works. Terrific chef Luke Johnson will be missed as will the very contemporary and grown-up spot for interesting wines and well-paired food. We hope that Segal will not keep the place shuttered too long.

The Marine Room‘s dynamic duo Bernard Guillas (executive chef) and Ron Oliver (chef de cuisine) nabbed two big awards at the IACP gala last night in Austin, Texas. Their cookbook Flying Pans, Two Chefs, One World won the People’s Choice award along with best in the Chefs and Restaurants category (they beat chefs Rick Bayless and Michael Chiarello). Congrats to Bernard and Ron.

Troy Johnson, for those who don’t read Riviera magazine, is their senior editor for food and drink. He’s also a pretty clever and funny guy in person as well as on the written page. If you’ve ever aspired to be on the Food Network, check out Troy’s audition tape that got the Network to put him on the air. The show, called Crave, is written and hosted by Johnson and premiers June 20 at 10pm. Here’s a short clip.

Caffè Vergnano 1882 opened this week in Hillcrest and Buzz has tried it and it’s good. Owner Hector Rabellino comes from Genoa and soon you can also expect to find savory sandwiches, pizza and focaccia to munch while you enjoy an espresso. If you want a proper coffee, espresso to be exact, this place (as well as Caffé Calabria in North Park and Little Italy’s Caffe Italia) are the three best around–they understand that a shot isn’t a half a large cup of coffee but one that fits perfectly in a small ceramic cup.

Chef Chad White has joined Sea Rocket Bistro in North Park as executive chef and partner. Look for menu changes in the next few weeks.

Do the pub sprawl in North Park on April 25 from 8pm to midnight when 11 of the bars and restaurants will offer $5 drink specials. $5 per ticket = 1 drink. Tickets are on sale that evening. Check their website for information.

Italy comes to San Diego in a great way: fabulous espresso. Look for Caffè Vergnano 1882 to open by the end of April in Hillcrest. You’ll find it mid block on the left hand side of Fifth Avenue between University and and Robinson. Buzz sampled this coffee recently while in New York. The coffee is in Mario Batali’s homage to everything Italian–the mega Italian grocery and eatery known as Eataly. Caffè Vergnano’s arrival in San Diego, for espresso lovers, will be the place for a properly pulled shot (and a good addition to the neighborhood with Chocolat just down the street). For more information: 619-255-1882.

It's Got Bite

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
About San Diego's Food Scene

Beer, Lotus Cafe and SOLMarkets

Buzz from the Bar: CHEF UPDATE: DiBiase, Manrique and Melluso

Lucky Peach, The Marine Room and The Grill at Torrey Pines

New Culinary Team for 1500 Ocean

Lighthouse Bar and Grill and More in Point Loma

Brooklyn Girl Eatery, Mission Hills

Hospitality for Hunger and Wine & Roses

Red Velvet Closes and Marine Room’s Chefs Win Big

Troy Johnson, Sea Rocket Bistro, Espresso

Pub Sprawl and Caffè Vergnano 1882

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