Point Loma will soon have a comfortable place to eat, meet and greet when Roseville opens by the end of the year. Look for owner George Riffle (he opened Blanca and Quarter Kitchen and was the general manager at the original Laurel Restaurant and Bar) to pick a well-known local chef for the 95-seat restaurant. Buzz will keep you up to the minute on further details.
Well-known sommelier Ted Glennon recently left his position at the first rate Arterra to launch and direct a new concept at the Hotel Del Coronado. Eno is due to quietly open towards the end of December. Expect about 60 wines by the glass and a 500-bottle cellar that covers a wide variety of places and prices. The finest cheeses, charcouterie and chocolate will complement the wines that Glennon plans to serve in a casual, yet sophisticated, venue. Buzz figures that Eno will be a big hit with locals and guests, whether novices or experts in the world of wine. Why? Because Glennon’s a wine wiz who shares with grace and wit his encyclopedic knowledge that includes a penchant for top-notch service–a combo Buzz experienced many times at Arterra. Expect an update from Buzz in the near future.
Buzz heard from a number of sources that the Union-Tribune’s restaurant critic, Maria Hunt, is moving on to pursue other projects. Buzz called and emailed Hunt for clarification and information, with no response as yet.
Steve and Gabriela Dow decided to find a way to get involved with the community as well as meet new friends. Their company, Friends with Class, offers fun classes in everything from wine tasting and working at home (taught by Steve) to taking toddler snapshots and raising money for charity and nonprofits. They have gift certificates available to make the holiday giving easier.
Another way to meet like-minded souls is through wine tasting. Rob Barnett took his passion for wine and turned it into an online and community oriented business when he created www.vinvillage.com. The tagline “where wine lovers connect” conveys his idea for a social network of wine loving souls in their home cities and around the country so they can meet online via forums and in person for tastings. The online store has wines from smaller producers not usually found in traditional wine stores. Designed to become national phenomenon, Barnett has some good people on his staff including Dustin Jones who is the sommelier at La Valencia. Check out the site and join as the membership is free.
