Buzz

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.

The return to San Diego of Jason McLeod, could be a big deal for San Diego eating. He opened The Grand Del Mar as executive chef and director of food and beverage for the property’s four restaurants but didn’t stay long as Chicago called with the opportunity to open Ria. There he earned two Michelin stars, though he left his heart in San Diego. According to the Chicago Tribune, he’s under contract with The Mediterranean Room at La Valencia Hotel, designing its menu. And on his blog (that he co-authors with his sister Karlin), and his tweets, you’ll find he’s looking for a space to open his own place. We can only hope that San Diego is ready to support the food one can imagine from a chef with an international reputation. We want to know when the new menu will appear at La Valencia…and when McLeod opens his own place.

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.

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 26^th. 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.

Change comes quickly to 1500 Ocean with the news that chef de cuisine Brian Sinnott will leave effective April 1, and as he assured me in an email, it’s no April Fool’s joke. He wants to concentrate on his family.

Supper club dining comes to San Diego: Whisknladle Monthly Supper Club does it on the last Tuesday of each month as they begin their third year. Bringing strangers together in celebration of food, wine & great conversation, the three-course family-style fixed-price dinner for up to 12 to 14 guests served in Whisknladle’s private dining room includes paired wines. Limited to four per group to spur mingling in their private dining room, the next dinner is March 29 and the cost is $75 plus tax and tip. For reservations: 858- 551-7575.

Grant Grill Saturday Night Supper Club creates a jazz evening, with specialty cocktails and dinner. Drink and dine and then spend the night at the hotel with their Saturday night escape package which you can find on their website after scrolling down seven items in the list. (Note to hotel, make it a bit easier to locate on the website.)

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.

Bernard Guillas is quite the chef. Known as one of San Diego’s top toques (executive chef at The Marine Room) he garners worldwide recognition that includes his recent induction into the very prestigious Maitres Cuisiniers de France, IACP nominations in two categories for his Two Chefs One World cookbook, tireless teaching at Macy’s Home Store and lots more. This week he appears on the Today Show with a cooking segment that airs Wednesday, March 23 at 10:40am with Kathie Lee Gifford.

On the move: Ted Glennon leaves 1500 Ocean and Eno at the Hotel Del Coronado for a new venture in Monterey, near Pebble Beach. Coastal Luxury Management will soon open Restaurant 1833 in the building that originally housed Stokes Restaurant & Bar. Glennon will direct the wine program.

Now that the news is finally out about El Bizcocho’s new executive chef, Nicolas Bour (he’s been in the post for a few months) the Rancho Bernardo Inn will likely re concept the long running restaurant in the next few months for redesign and perhaps a name change to fit with Bour’s farm to table expertise. In May, he’ll be in Kentucky for a major Derby fundraiser.

La Playa Bistro will open a cafe as Buzz noted back before they opened. Owner Cindi Hoang said they expect to open the cafe late April or May. Look for take-out sandwiches and other easy to-go items, including gelato, smoothies and more for the lunch crowd that doesn’t have time for a sit down meal. Expect to see the crowded (and unsafe) intersection get a bit worse for noon time driving.

It's Got Bite

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

Hospitality for Hunger and Wine & Roses

Red Velvet Closes and Marine Room’s Chefs Win Big

Jason McLeod–Two-Star Michelin Chef in San Diego

Troy Johnson, Sea Rocket Bistro, Espresso

Pub Sprawl and Caffè Vergnano 1882

Easter Dining in San Diego

1500 Ocean and Supper Clubs

Sacramento Eats and HSN

Bernard Guillas: Chef on the Run

1500 Ocean, Restaurant 1833, El Bizcocho and La Playa Bistro

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