Tag Archives: chocolate

Six Last Minute Valentine’s Day Ideas

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Show your love with a yummy chocolate bread teddy bear from Con Pane Rustic Breads & Cafe in Liberty Station.  Last minute orders for a heart shaped baguette or a teddy bear can be made by calling 619-224-4344 or at the cafe, 2750 Dewey Road at Old Historic Decatur.

Many restaurants offer special menus available in the next few days so you can avoid the crush of the 14th.  Check out Wine Vault & Bistro‘s 5-course Valentine’s dinner  for $59.50 plus tax and gratuity includes all five courses and all five wines.  Menu includes fried oysters, chicken, short rib and of course chocolate, bubbles and California wines.  For reservations:  (619) 295-3939.

Get a bottle of Champagne from your favorite wine merchant.   One of my go- to places:  The Third Corner where the selection is large and the staff knowledgeable.  In Mira Mesa, don’t forget Winesellar & Brasserie for an equally good selection of libations.

Chocolate goes with Champagne:  Eclipse Chocolat makes unique confections in North Park, while David Bacco creates an unusual selection of award winning delicacies.  Call 888-560-5535 to order or find a few locations to purchase his chocolates.

 

 

 

 

Easter Dining in San Diego

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Easter is around the corner, and here’s a quick roundup of things to do and places to go if cooking a ham isn’t your thing….

Get the kids involved on Thursday, April 21, when Cups La Jolla hosts an Easter Cookie Decorating class from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.  Chef Francois of renowned bakery Girard Gourmet, teaches  the fun class. Ccst is $50 for a parent and child team, $15 per additional child, and $30 for a solo adult. For more information or call 858-459-2877.

More cupcake ideas come from the HOP box at  Sprinkles. The box contains dark chocolate, red velvet, brown sugar praline and carrot cupcakes adorned with pink and green bunnies and is from April 15 to 24.  The Jewish holiday of Passover isn’t forgotten here either.  Get a dozen  Passover Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes adorned with blue Star of David and sealed with a Star of David sticker and available from April 18th to 26th. 8855 La Jolla Villa Drive, La Jolla. 858. 457 3800.

Take your daughter (or son) to tea at The US Grant Hotel on Saturday, April 23 from 1pm to 3pm where you’ll sip premium loose leaf teas served alongside a tantalizing selection of house-made sweets and savory treats. 
 
Cost is $47 adults and $22 children. 
For reservations,  619-744-2039 .

At La Valencia, you can do brunch buffet style, served throughout the day in the hotel’s various dining areas, seating from 11 am and is $75 per adult and $32 per child plus tax and tip. Bring the kids for an Easter egg hunt from 11am to 3pm. For reservations, please call 858- 551-3744.

Also in La Jolla, Roppongi Restaurant & Sushi Bar offers an à la carte menu from 11am to 2pm with interesting dishes that include Jidori chicken adobo; breakfast tacos with eggs, cheese and Asian guacamole; macadamia nut pancakes and more. For reservations:  858-551-5252.

If you’d like to sweeten an Easter basket, consider chocolates from  Chuao (available countywide),  Chi Chocolat (Liberty Station), The Elegant Truffle (Point Loma village), Eclipse Chocolat (University Heights) and Chocolat  Creamerie (Hillcrest and Gaslamp).  Buzz can attest that each of these purveyors makes artisanal and extremely luscious chocolates to satisfy every chocoholic.

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: Openings and More

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San Diego’s East Village has a new place to dine. Cowboy Star (link not working as of this post) opened last week on 10th Avenue between G & Market. According to the menu notes executive chef and co-partner Victor Jimenez is “committed to supporting local and regional farmers, fishers and producers by cooking food that recaptures the simple and pure tastes found in locally grown, natural and organic ingredients….” He features Meyer natural beef and hand-cut steaks from their butcher shop including a 14- ounce grass fed American bison rib eye from Oregon ($34) and a 21 day aged 40-ounce porterhouse for two ($82). If meat isn’t your thing, you’ll find buttermilk fried sweetbreads with green apple-savory slaw ($11), roasted cauliflower soup with toasted caraway seeds and truffle oil essence ($8) and a long-braised rabbit leg with house cured pancetta, carrot risotto and red radish ($26). The interior is cowboy leather, wood, white table linen, open kitchen and cozy bar seems at first glance quite a comfortable setting. Buzz hopes to get there soon. 640 Tenth, San Diego, (619) 450-5880. Lunch weekdays; Dinner Tuesday to Saturday and Sunday brunch.

Lots of action over in North Park as Sea Rocket Bistro moves into The Linkery’s original spot on 30th just off Upas. Expect them to start serving June 1, using lots of local seafood and other ingredients, including a sea urchin bisque…The Linkery moved down the street on 30th to a larger space and just reopened last weekend.

Over in the Roseville-Point Loma area, the nine year-old Con Pane Rustic Breads & Cafe now serves Buzz’s favorite coffee: Calabria from the coffee house and roastery that is a mainstay on 30th just north of University. Now Pont Lomans can enjoy the bakery’s breads breakfast pastries, sandwiches and cookies with a terrific cup of java. Con Pane, corner of Canon and Rosecrans, Closed Wednesday, 619-224-4344.

Speaking of Roseville, Roseville the restaurant opens late next week across the street from Con Pane and immediately next to the well-known Point Loma Shelter Island Drug. Reservations: 619-450-6800

And for chocolate lovers, The Elegant Truffle, just around the corner from Roseville on Scott Street and Canon, serves up luscious house-made caramels, truffles and feather light angel food cake, cookies and more. 1111 Scott Street, 619-222-1889.

Bits and Bites: High Tides, Chocolate and More

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Arterra’s new wine director is Jeff Q. Rose.  He comes with wine buying and bar managing experience from three of north county’s top wine haunts:  Tastes Restaurant, North County Wine Company and Harvest Ranch Market.  He is currently enrolled in Level 2 of the Court of Master Sommeliers and is a certified wine professional from the Culinary Institute of America.

Accolades to Barona’s top toque, Chef Dean Thomas who was named chef of the year by the San Diego chapter of the American Culinary Federation for his extensive outreach to the community and promoting the culinary community here.  Thomas was instrumental in getting the Fancy Food Show to San Diego as well as having the first ever chefs cookoff at the show and works with local groups including the Navy, Slow Food among many others.

The Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina just redid the entire property.  The Red Marlin restaurant sports drop dead fabulous bay views, overlooking the hotel’s marina and at night, the lights of Mission Bay.  Large picture windows make the room open and airy and I don’t think there’s a bad table in the place.  Chef Danny Bannister creates breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes that use local, fresh ingredients.  For reservations: 619-221-4868.

Theater goers at La Jolla Playhouse may soon have a new venue for dining as rumors continue to swirl that Wolfgang Puck will be involved in the venture.  No confirming word yet from either the Playhouse or Wolfgang, but do stay tuned.

If you want to do something unusual, book a table at The Marine Room for high tide dining May 3, 4, 5, 6, 7  and 31, and dates in June, July and August also.  High tide means the waves are crashing against those large picture windows during dinner that is served nightly from 5:30pm.  Reservations:  858-459-7222.

Bourbon comes to The Palm restaurant on March 14, for a four course meal featuring Knob Creek Whiskey, all for $125 per person.  Reservations:  619-702-6500.

Point Loma now has truffles and chocolate, made daily at The Elegant Truffle, located on the north side of La Scala restaurant at the corner of Scott and Canon.  Owner Jennifer Marie Muratore hand dips seasonal fruit, makes luscious brownies and the cutest, tastiest espresso kisses, shaped like lips.  The store just opened last week, is closed on Sundays and open from 10am to 7pm the rest of the week.  619-222-1889.

Bits and Bites: Pizza, Wine, Cheese and Chocolates

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Bread & Cie’s owners Charles and Dori Kaufman plan to expand the hours of their well-known Hillcrest bakery to offer specialty pizzas, salads, signature desserts and a small selection of wines.  Look for things to be in place by the end of the month.  Bread ovens make perfect pizzas and Kaufman spent months experimenting with doughs and toppings for the new menu additions.  Pizza available from 5:30pm to 9pm.  350 University Avenue, at Fourth Avenue.

Venissimo’s cheese loving customers can now get their chocolate fix with Jack Fisher’s  fabulous bon bons.   Don’t forget Valentine’s Day!

You’ll find more wine and chocolate down at the Hotel Del Coronado’s newest addition, Eno.  Buzz is partial to the property (a hotel on the ocean is pretty special) and to what Eno and its director, Ted Glennon want to achieve.  Whether it’s just a glass or one of many flights of interesting wines that go far beyond chardonnay and cabernet, this is the place to go.  Glennon’s expertise shows with the training he gives his staff as well as his desire to share his knowledge with patrons.  To pair with the wine, there are flights of cheeses, charcouterie and chocolates.  There are more than 30 wines by the glass and some of Jack Fisher’s chocolates are featured here as well.