Tag Archives: bakery

The Patio on Lamont Street, Vintana Wine + Dine, Malarkey and More

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New places  set  to open in the next few months:

Pacific Beach, Lamont Street Grill sold (Location Matters handled the transaction) and the new owner is Gina Champion-Cain.  The place will be gutted and renamed The Patio on Lamont Street.  Expect a May opening (or sooner)  with Sheila Tracy in place as the General Manager.  Stay tuned for who will fill the chef position.  4445 Lamont Street, Pacific Beach, 858-270-3060.

The Cohn Restaurant Group moves forward with a new place in North County called Vintana Wine+ Dine.  Located in a Lexus showroom, at 1205 Auto Park Way in Escondido, Cohn staple and chef Deborah Scott will create the menu.  Look for it to open in the next few months.  And molecular leaning chef  Daniel Barron said goodbye to his chef position at Blue Point…one can only guess that his desire to put a creative spin on his menu didn’t mesh well with the Cohn convention pleasing formula.

Brian Malarky gets an interview in Inc.   where he outlines his ambitious restaurant vision.

In Point Loma, Harbor Town Pub will start breakfast in March.

Look for Towne Bakery to open in March in the Del Mar Highlands shopping center.  Owner/chef  Jason Sigala loves pastries so expect to see the vintage 40’s and 50’s celebrated in decor and in pastry choices that will include pies, cookies, puddings and cheesecakes. 12925 El Camino Real, Suite AA5. For more information, please call 858.794.7001.

March 11, grab a few tickets for  Family Winemakers of California Tasting 2012.  This tasting showcase features wines from California’s small, family-owned wineries. Taste wines from more than 150 wineries in California for a ticket of just $45 if purchased before February 20.

Sacramento Eats and HSN

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Should you find yourself in Sacramento’s downtown area, be sure to try Red Lotus Kitchen & Bar for some of their well-presented, unique and seriously good dim sum on their dinner menu.  The fresh water eel and shrimp dumplings with cilantro and pistachio puree, tobiko and truffle oil ($8) might sound odd together but the flavors were subtle, yet flavorful and blended well for each luscious mouthful.  Two roughly 3 or 4 inch beef marrow bones split lengthwise, delicately spiced with five-spice powder, and roasted– unusual, rich and tasty ($11)–and six perfect shrimp dumplings (har gow) with house-made XO sauce ($7) easily stand high above run- of- the- mill har gow.  Family style portions are generous, service gracious and attentive, and you can sit and eat at the lively horseshoe shaped bar as well. 2718 J Street, Sacramento, 916-231-0961, open from 3pm.

Also downtown, at 11th and K Street, in the area known as Cathedral Square, Ambrosia Cafe & Catering does a fine job with breakfasts such as crème brulee french toast ($4.95) or grilled jambon & gruyere croissant ($4.50), lunches that include salads, house plates and panini, and desserts from owner and pastry chef, Patricia Murakami as well as Nicole Becker who now handles most of the desserts and pastries.  Open now for desserts after the theater or a long day jawing with politicians a few blocks away Thursday to Saturday from 7pm to midnight. 1030 K Street, Sacramento, 916-444-8129, Open 6:30am to 5pm Monday through Friday, Saturday and Sunday 8am to 3pm.

Night owls who love cooking and television shopping, note that the Home Shopping Network (HSN) will feature a weekend of cooking related items from world-renowned chefs, including Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse, Padma Lakshmi, Ken Hom and others.  Check out the schedule for HSN Cooks Spring Weekend Event presented by Bon Appétit on March 26-27.


A Mix: Cooks Confab, 3rd Corner, Terra and Gordy’s Bakery

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**All three locations of The 3rd Corner (with the very cool redesigned website…) now offer happy hour from 3 to 6pm in the bar only, Tuesday through Saturday.  Note the three venues are closed on Monday.

**That venerable group of local chefs known as CooksConfab will host Camp Confab, a sleep-over at Susie’s Farm in Imperial Beach on September 11 and 12.  Dinner and breakfast the next morning will be prepared by many of the confab chefs.  And you will be able to participate in harvesting, cleaning and preparing the produce from the farm.  Sounds like a hoot with a host of activities that include guest appearances and tastings from such luminaries in their field as Gina Frieze from Venissimo Cheese, MIHO Gastgrotruck, and beers from Lost Abbey and master brewer Tomme Arthur and evening cocktails (after you help harvest) with mixologist Ian Ward of Snake Oil Cocktail Co. Lest you think it’s all veggies, the protein part of the meal is barbacoa of local goat and stick fire roasted local fish.  There’s lots more for the $225 per person. Reservations are limited and so, at 9am September 1, get on the CooksConfab website to register.  100% of the proceeds go to Slow Food Urban San Diego.

**Jeff Rossman, owner/chef of Terra Restaurant, a hidden gem in Hillcrest (on Vermont near the east side of  Trader Joe’s), has finished his cookbook, From Terra’s Table.  Just in time for a holiday gift, the book publishes in November and sells for $32.95 online and at bookstores.  The focus is on Jeff’s passion for local ingredients and the many farms and vendors that supply his restaurant.  You can receive a 20% discount as a foodbuzzsd reader when you buy the book online here and use the code foodbuzzsd20 .

**Gordy’s Bakery sounds yummy and a place Buzz needs to try as she travels the 5 back and forth to LA.  Just east off the freeway at Encinitas Boulevard in the Smart & Final center.  Owner Gordy is born and raised in Encinitas and had a wholesale bakery business years ago.  Sold the business and took a break and worked at the Running Shoes store and trained the track team at San Dieguito Academy.  He has now gone back to his love of baking and has opened a retail bakery in the previous Baskin-Robbins space.


Con Pane on the Move

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Con Pane Rustic Breads & Cafe artisan bakery opens Wednesday June 16 in their new home at 2750 Dewey Road in Liberty Station.  The location is around the corner from Ace Hardware and in the same block as Tin Fish restaurant.  NOTE:  The bakery’s last day in the old location is June 13, and they will reopen on the 16th.  Buzz has peeked at the new digs and there’s a large patio, a much bigger counter, new oven and they’ll even take credit cards!


St. Valentine’s Day

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On Valentine’s Day (and everyday, really) show your love in ways that go beyond the usual hearts and flowers.

For those who love bubbles (the drinkable kind), get a head start with your Valentine and book the Chandon dinner on February 10 at The 3rd Corner. It includes four courses and guest Tom Tibarzi, the sparkling wine director at the winery, who will talk about the wines. $75 plus tip. For reservations 619-223-2700.

On Valentine’s Day surprise your sweetie with coffee and a chocolate bread teddy bear from Con Pane Rustic Breads & Café.  Made from the bakery’s pane cioccollata (Italian chocolate bread), this tasty cutie comes boxed with a red ribbon.  Not too rich, but with bits of Belgian chocolate scattered through it, this $12.95 bear will bring a smile to your true love.  Order ahead:  1110 Rosecrans, Point Loma, 619-224-4344.

Should an edible teddy bear not suffice, how about a lovely wine or Champagne with a selection of cheeses, pates and crackers or bread.  In Carlsbad, La Costa Wine Co. will help you choose the perfect bottle to go with their lovely selection of imported cheeses and pates that you would find in fine restaurants. La Costa Wine Co. 6986 El Camino Real, 760-431-8455.

Venissimo Cheese with locations in Del Mar, Mission Hills and downtown, carry a wide variety of cheeses, crackers, jams and even honey (for dabbing on certain cheeses or just keeping your love sweet throughout the year).  Taste Artisan Cheese & Gourmet Shop can also help you with cheeses and local salumi from Knight for a platter to please the palate. 1243 ½ University Ave., San Diego, 619-683-2306.

Most restaurants do special Valentine’s Day dinners, many with a prix-fixe menu so check with your favorite spot for options. If you want to try something different, reserve a space for a chocolate inspired dinner at the tiny Eclipse Chocolat shop.  They will serve a four-course dinner for $100 per couple.  Well-known for their monthly chocolate dinners, they take just 200 reservations for their 27 seats on two nights, at multiple seatings beginning at 2pm. Dinner cost includes wines, plus tax and tip.  2121 El Cajon Blvd., at Alabama, 619-578-2984.

Valentine’s Day would not be complete without a mention of many of San Diego’s top chocolatiers and dessert makers. You’ll always find room for chocolate espresso kisses from The Elegant Truffle in Point Loma, or something special from Extraordinary Desserts in Bankers Hill and Little Italy or Heaven Sent Desserts in North Park.  Chuao Chocolatier in Encinitas, University Towne Centre and Del Mar Heights creates uniquely flavored chocolates with chocolate from Venezuela.  Chocolat Cremerie’s locations in Hillcrest and the Gaslamp feature Italian inspired desserts, crepes and more should you want to indulge for brunch. The Elegant Truffle, 1111 Scott St., Point Loma, 619-222-1889.

Bits and Bites: Brunch, Sushi, Pickles and Cardamom

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Everyone is doing brunch these days and here are a couple more choices. In Point Loma, The Pearl, kicks off Sunday brunch on May 4 from 10am to 2pm with newly installed executive chef Trey Hartinger. This particular Sunday is called The Groove 24/7 Brunch Party because it’s not only about the $20 meal with bottomless mimosas. If brunch isn’t your thing, arrive after 2pm for $5 drinks and nibbles til 8pm. Hartinger also redid the dinner menu and when Buzz has a minute, will give it a taste–pork belly, sweet breads and other interesting dishes show off Hartinger’s stints at Azzura Point and Stingaree. 1416 Rosecrans, 619-226-6100.

North Park’s Cardamom Cafe and Bakery will open in the next few weeks for breakfast, lunch and bakery items. Owner Joanne Sherif’s fascination with this wonderful spice comes partly from her Ethiopian husband and the use of cardamom in various sauces as well as Scandinavian baked goods, Indian curries and more. Should be a terrific change of pace and it’s at the end of 30th at 2977 Upas, 619-546-5609.

For city views while you sip your mimosa and munch on an omelet Ivy Hotel features weekend Eden Rooftop breakfasts from 7am to 2pm with items from $5 to $17. Reservations: 619-814-2000.

Bankers Hill is getting to be a mini gourmet gulch. Very soon to open is Mukashi Restaurant and Seafood Market on Fifth Avenue at Nutmeg and in the same block there’s the popular Avenue 5). Just up the street at Fifth and Redwood is the wonderfully eclectic coffee house Cafe Bassam and of course Extraordinary Desserts

Spicy Pickle opened their first downtown location at Beech and Union serving paninis, sandwiches and that sort of thing. It’s a franchise, and their second location is due in Poway soon.