Sorrento Mesa

The release of Beaujolais Nouveau is a big deal in November and a couple of places will be celebrating its arrival Thursday, November 18. The Gamay grape stars in this wine and it is meant to be drunk within six months of bottling. Each year it’s released on the third Thursday of November – literally only weeks after it was still growing on the vine and because it is a light friendly wine, it’s a great reason to party!

At the Wine Vault & Bistro arrive anytime after 5:30 and enjoy a four-course Beaujolais Nouveau Family Style Menu for: $25 2010 Dupeuble Beaujolais Nouveau: $7 glass / $22 bottle. If you’re not on their mailing list, it’s worth it if you are interested in good wine dinners and tastings. For reservations: (619) 295-3939.

Euro Food Depot will celebrate on November 18 from 6pm to 10pm with wine, cheese, charcuterie and macarons. Four pours and food $30. For information: 858-452-9200.

Downtown, Bacchus Wine Market presents Beaujolais Nouveau and other first releases on Friday, November 19^th (4pm to 8:30pm) and Saturday. November 20^th(2pm to 8:30pm). Cost is $15 each day. For information: 619-236-0005.

LATE ADDITION: While we’re wining, The WineSellar & Brasserie, Paris Driggers is the new general manager and wine buyer. He’s been in the business for 15 years selling wines to top notch venues and brings a wealth of experience to the shop. Upstairs in the Brasserie chef Kevin Smith (who has worked in many of California’s top kitchens, including Patina in Los Angeles) is updating the menu. This gem of a store and restaurant is tucked away in an unlikely industrial park, just down the hill from Qualcomm and is worth a visit. 9550 Waples Street, (858) 450-9557.

It’s all about beer and dinners featuring small artisanal brewers. Check out the action at The Linkery that goes on for days including a Green Flash bash November 12. For info: 619-255-8778.

At Roseville, there’s a fun menu featuring Shipyard’s limited edition brews from chef Amy DiBiase’s home state, Maine. Reservations a must for this all-inclusive $65 dinner also on November 12 . Call 619-450-6800.

If bubbles are more your style, don’t miss Winesellar & Brasserie’s annual Le Grande Champagne Tasting on November 14 that includes Ruinart, Taittinger and Krug among many top producers. For $85 it’s a deal that includes appetizers to match the various Champagnes. Reservations a must: 858-450-9557.

Thanksgiving is around the corner and you can order a turkey from any of your favorite meat markets. La Jolla’s Homegrown Meats will have local free-range California turkeys as well as spiral hams and meats. For information and to order call 858-454-6328.

Celebrate Thanksgiving by not cooking and supporting Slow Food Urban San Diego at a November 19 dinner at UCSD. Jeff Jackson, executive chef at A.R. Valentien will cook local pastured turkeys from Womach Ranch. For information and tickets or call 619-972-3500.

We’re hearing that there may be some cranky ex-employers of those souls who left to open Paon. Word on the street is that much of Paon’s menu is word for word (recipe for recipe, perhaps) that of Winesellar & Brasserie. Buzz hasn’t been to Paon so can’t comment on how Steve Barr and chef David Gallardo are doing there. (We also wonder when–or if– they will change their web address to Paon instead of Persecarlsbad–the first name they had until they heard from the original Per Se in NYC.) Winesellar has executive chef Matt Smith, who cooked in France and Spain as well as at the original Laurel Restaurant & Bar and Myres Macdougal as host and sommelier (studying for his Advanced certificate) as well as a top notch Wine Spectator wine list.

And, New York comes to Blanca with a new executive chef, Jason Neroni who cooked his way around the Big Apple at such well-known eateries as Tabla, Table 21 and 10 Downing. Haven’t been yet to taste his farm to table, down-to-earth cooking, but it sure sounds good.

If you’d like to taste some Parker 93 point plus wines, then Enoteca Style in Little Italy is the place to be on Thursday, February 26. Cost is $20 to experience Palmeyer, Palazzo and others. RSVP online.

There’s a new city magazine that launches mid-May, OurCity: San Diego. It’s a magazine for our times that will cover things to do, places to go, the food scene (Buzz is the food editor) all with an eye to family, community and the people who are a part of this glorious place, San Diego. Sign up online for three free issues.

San Diego’s first Passover seder at Urban Solace, takes place on Wednesday April 8, the first night of the holiday. Reservations and information: 619-295-6464.

As Buzz mentioned on February 19, Winesellar & Brasserie will open a take away/sit down area downstairs from its Brasserie. Split @ The Winesellar & Brasserie opens Wednesday February 25 with a small menu to expand as it grows. Hours: 11am to 2pm Monday through Friday.

Eno at the Del, hosts a new series of Connoisseur Dinners that kick off with Willi Brundlmayer, the well-known Austrian winemaker. The March 4 dinner is limited to 24, cost is $85 plus tax and tip and for reservations call 619-522-8490.

If Austrian wines aren’t your thing, 1500 Ocean, the terrific restaurant at the Hotel Del (yes, Buzz loves the place for its top food and service) hosts the first dinner in a series to celebrate sustainable foods. On March 24, Cooks Confab, local chefs who value farm and sea to table regional ingredients, will hightlight sustainable seafood. Chefs involved include, Brian Sinnott, Christian Graves, Nathan Coulon, Jack Fisher, and Jason Knibb among others. The eight-course dinner is $95 plus tax and tip and for reservations call 619-522-8490.

Should you find yourself in New York on March 30, join Addison’s executive chef William Bradley and wine director Jesse Rodriguez for dinner at the James Beard House. For reservations, call 212-627-2308.

The 3rd Corner features a number of wine events and dinners including a March 9 wine dinner with wines from Fallbrook Winery. Others throughout March and April center on wines of Italy, Argentina, Malbecs and more. For information and reservations: 619-223-2700.

Family Winemakers of California comes to Wyland Center at the Del Mar Fairgrounds with 240 wineries participating on Sunday, March 15 from 3pm to 6pm. Cost is $40 or $50 at the door. Order tickets online.

At Wine Vault & Bistro you’ll find an ever changing and interesting lineup of wines and winemaker dinners. You need to be on the email list to know about the events.

The Kiwanis Club of Alpine Foundation hosts their 19th Annual Vintage Alpine on May 3 where you can enjoy wine, food, music and a silent auction. $40 before March 24, $50 at the door. For more information: 619-672-3861 or online.

The well-known Parallel 33, in Mission Hills, closed its doors last Saturday night after nine and a half years. Look for a change of ownership in the near future.

Matt Rimel, the guy behind the very popular Zenbu Sushi Bar and Rimel’s Rotisserie in La Jolla, brings both to Cardiff-by- the-Sea. They occupy two large spaces in the newly redone Cardiff Town Center next to the Seaside Market at Birmingham and San Elijo. Zenbu opens late this week and will be, as its La Jolla sister, only open for dinner. Next door, Rimel’s Rotisserie just started lunch and dinner this week. Zenbu: 760-633-2223, Rimel’s 760-633-2202.

Winesellar & Brasserie will soon open a yet-to-be-named cafe below their Brasserie. You’ll find healthy organic food to take away or eat there including many half bottles of wines to go with soups, salads and pastas made in the Brasserie kitchen.

Somehow, the space at the Aventine, that was most recently Blue Coral, never seems to get the right restaurant. Numerous operations have come and gone and now another will give it a shot. Opening in the next few weeks is a high-end Florida seafood restaurant: Truluck’s Seafood, Steak, Crab House.

Opening on Friday, Alchemy in South Park. Not much on the website yet. It’s on the corner of Beech and 30th.

It's Got Bite

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

Party with Nouveau Beaujolais

Bits and Bites: Beer, Bubbles and Turkey

Buzz From the Bar

Bits and Bites: New or Special Events

Bits and Bites: A Melange

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