San Diego’s Gaslamp District is a treasure-trove of eateries and night spots, with something for everyone within just sixteen city blocks.  The Gaslamp Quarter Association lists 124 dining venues to choose from…  Where to begin??? This weekend will provide the perfect opportunity to explore the flavors of San Diego’s thriving center, when more than 50 restaurants and bars will open their doors and share delectable samples for the Taste of Gaslamp!

Tickets are still available for $30, sold separately for Saturday and Sunday, June 26 and 27, with more than 30 locations participating each day between 1 and 4 p.m.  The roster of eateries will provide a self-guided tour of Gaslamp’s finest, and you can take them on in any order you please!  Some venues are for adults only, and lines may wear the patience of young ones (if not their older companions), so peruse the list of participants and make your plan of attack!  For one low price, you can find brunch, lunch and dinner in San Diego’s beautiful Victorian National Historic District.  Proceeds from the event will benefit the Gaslamp Quarter Association, the non-profit merchants association of the Gaslamp Quarter that works to enhance and protect this historic district.

San Diego is building a reputation as a destination for cuisine on the cutting edge.  Celebrity chefs?  We’ve got a few.  Brilliant bartenders?  Those, too.  Want to see them strut their stuff?  This week San Diego is hosting the 2nd Annual Spirits Festival to shine a spotlight on creative cocktails and featured food pairings. 

Additional events will be hosted by the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.  Seminars June 3 & 4 cover a variety of topics, including “Molecular Mixology”, “Micro Distillery Trends” & the histories of Rum and Tequila.  The festival will culminate in Saturday’s main event, the Blind Tiger Mixology Competition, when local bartenders go head-to-head. Over 2,000 people attended last year, so better get your official tickets here! Ticket link

Super Bowl XLIV is this Sunday, February 7th. None of your friends picked up the torch and announced a party at their place. You know you don’t want twenty friends letting loose in your own living room. So why don’t you leave the chili cheese dip in the jar, skip the pigs-in-a-blanket, and treat yourself to a full-service experience?

These fine San Diego establishments invite you to join them, with as many of your closest friends you can coax onto public transit or cram into a designated driver’s chariot.  With kick-off happening just before 3:30 pm, most are beginning the festivities around noon.  Get your rest, you’ll need it for this full-contact day of fun!

Pacific Beach

If you want the biggest, sportiest, full house around, begin with VAVi Super Bowl Party at Typhoon Saloon in Pacific Beach.  Food & drink specials, half-time dance contest, amazing raffle prizes, appearance by the Miller Light girls. VAVi is a modern sports league with something for everyone, so expect to mix & mingle with all kinds at this bash.  Tickets are $5 and up at the door and they sell out fast.

Mission Beach

Sneak Joint in Mission Beach will be building on their standard fare of the spicy Sneak Joint girls along with a full Kegs & Eggs Buffet starting at at 6am, traditional tailgate food, drink specials, and half time surprises.

Downtown

Looking for a little glam with your bowl game?  The Fleetwood brings you a high society sports lounge atmosphere, and will cap off the evening with a Super Bowl After Party featuring Chris Clouse and DJ G*Roy.

La Jolla

The La Jolla Brewhouse will be hosting a variety of stellar drink specials.  Don’t cross them off the list if beer isn’t in your New Year’s diet yet – try their Mojitos!  They’ll have a round of half-time trivia, and screens of all sizes featuring the Super Bowl larger than life!

Mission Valley

At McGregor’s Sports Bar in Mission Valley, they’ll keep to their strict standards – that of being one of the best sports bars around!  Food specials will keep your tummy from sloshing as you raise pints to toast whichever team you fancy… or both.  Who says you have to choose?

No longer fermenting in silence in vats around San Diego County, the word is out. According to Men’s Journal, San Diego is THE top beer city in America. Now, we have yet another new title to live up to. So please join us in raising a pint and give up a big round of applause to the inaugural San Diego Beer Week 2009! Never a city to shy away from a good time, the festivities will be running from Friday, November 6 through Sunday, November 15th.  Events will be hopping popping up across the county, hosted at a variety of locations including craft brewers, local restaurants, and public spots such as Balboa Park.

And the list is growing… Click here!

The non-profit San Diego Brewers Guild presents Beer Week to put a spotlight on what we might not have noticed growing, right under our nose:  San Diego’s thriving craft beer culture and regional brewing heritage – by featuring San Diego’s breweries, restaurants, pubs, and other members of the craft beer community.  In our county, 33 working breweries produce craft beers.  That beats Portland’s impressive 29 local craft breweries, despite the Northwest’s tradition as a haven for beer snobs!

With so much natural beauty, San Diego county is already a major tourist destination.  Could beer put us even higher on the prime destination map, the way wine has brought people in droves to Sonoma & Napa?  Beer Week is hoping to promote beer tourism in San Diego, with special packages and rates available through the website for sweet spots such as Hotel Solamar in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter, Lafayette Hotel near 30th Street in North Park (prime brew pub turf, if you haven’t already found yourself on an impromptu pub crawl…) and Town & Country – centrally located in Mission Valley.

The San Diego Brewers Guild Festival kicks off the week of festivities on Friday, November 6th with a special VIP event, followed by two general admission sessions on Saturday November 7th, 2009, at the World Beat Center in Balboa Park. The Guild Festival will be featuring more than 80 beers brewed locally in San Diego County. The following weekend, on Sunday, November the 15th, the Guild will host the Chef Celebration of San Diego Beer. Allied member restaurants will be on the scene, serving food prepared with beer or simply selected to highlight featured drafts.

Guild events are only the frosting on the glass…  Look around your neighborhood, and you’ll likely find a place to raise a pint within easy reach, and in good company. But remember, please drink responsibly and never, ever, drink and drive!

“99 bottles of beer on the wall, 99 bottles of beer…”

SDBW logo courtesy of SDBW.org. & iStockphoto.com/Valentyn Volkov-3 beers

“Caffeine Anyone?”

When moving to a new community, one can become overwhelmed just trying to find new places, recommendations and the like. While it is tempting to just ignore the dilemma with frequent visits to the beach, well, at some point you’re going to have other needs…like coffee?

Take some advice from SanDiegoSunCoast.com’s revered Beach Patrol. An easy way to get your finger on the pulse of a community is at your local neighborhood coffee emporium.

“And we DON’T mean Starbucks!”

In Solana Beach, there’s Zinc Cafe in the Cedros District (a very artsy shoppers paradise) The relaxed atmosphere at Zinc makes it easy to pull up a chair on the patio and stay a while. Peruse the news, and see what tasty morsels may be gleaned from your fellow lattè lovers. In addition to some of the best java around, there’s gourmet Vegetarian fare, fresh baked goods and friendly baristas – what more can you require?

Nursing my double espresso, it was there I learned about concerts nearby, scandalous happenings at the Dog Beach, where the best farmer’s markets are, and where to find both comfort food and local brews versus the elite fine dining and perfect wine pairing.

“If a barista is worth his or her beans, they’ll remember you after a visit or two.”

The regulars will, too. Before you know it, easy conversations will start and you’ll know some secret spots prized by the locals. And isn’t that the best way to make yourself feel right at home?

“There’s something fishy about Ocean Beach…”

Living on the coast promises the freshest fish. Living up the coast from Mexico promises the best tacos. But tacos and fish belong to very different food groups, according to my taste buds.

Finally one day, (caving under pressure) I ordered one to satisfy a friend. A beam of light streamed from the clouds at first bite. (Well, not really) Where had this elegantly simple solution been?

Light, flaky fried fish with crisp shredded cabbage and a slightly spicy white sauce…all in a handy wrap to eat on the run.

“I was in for a little surprise…”

One of the definitive fish tacos can be found at the unexpected, South Beach Bar & Grille in Ocean Beach. In addition to fish, there are also delectable shrimp and lobster tacos The rowdy bar can busy but seating turns over quickly as patrons steal inside for a few minutes relief from the sun. Located at the end of Newport Avenue, the view out over the ocean is sublime while you sit sipping your favorite brew, taco in hand.

“Want to slowly savor something deliciously wicked?”

If you are what you eat, then you deserve the best. For a relatively new kitchen, whisknladle in La Jolla has garnered itself a lot of attention.  If you haven’t heard about it from a foodie friend or in the local rag, look for it’s mention in Food and Wine this month.

Locally sourced fresh-as-it-gets food is made from start to finish on site.  Innovative cocktails feature infused liquors and reductions. Wildly creative food lures you to sample exotic sounding fare.  The service is welcoming and encouraging, and you might find yourself surprised at what you venture to try!

“Sweet and salty, earthy and tangy, fresh and succulent, rich and delicate…”

Local Mussels & Fries,  Chorizo & Date Fritters…  Popular favorites on the menu, balanced with simple and beautifully executed seasonal fare.  The descriptions of the preparations had me intrigued.  As the assortment of small plates and large came out of the kitchen, the process of exploration began.

“The blend of flavors are carefully orchestrated into complex combination’s”

Eating seasonally and locally connects you with  your environment, and the gifts that surround you.  Knowing that inspired culinary spot assures that your precious dining budget is going to support the right cause.  From local farms and co-ops to fishermen and wineries, whisknladle knows exactly where your food has come from. Not to mention how best to feature it’s assets, and let each morsel find its own voice!

Photographs via whisknladle

“Get it while it’s hot!”

Restaurant Week is coming to town!  Restaurants fill up fast when this bi-annual San Diego favorite comes up on the calendar.  With so many participating locations, it’s still possible to find a seat at an old favorite or a new hot ticket.

“From haute Vegan to prime comfort foods…”

Now in it’s fifth year, Restaurant Week 2009 takes place January 11-16, then again on September 13-18.  Reservations are highly recommended for select venues, but walk-ins may also be accommodated pending availability.  With the smart money on bargains, this event will fill up fast!

Select menus are prepared at deeply discounted rates ranging from $20, $30 or $40 per person, for three courses.  And that’s not samples, but full courses.  Locations span the county from Coronado to Carlsbad and all stops in between.

Be prepared for a different experience than you might find on any other special occasion, as the kitchen will be showing its flexibility and stamina.  While the fixed price is a boon to your wallet, the servers on hand are used to a very different pace, and price point.  Service should not suffer nor should your gratuity.

Round up some friends, make a date, and help stimulate our local economy.  San Diego has an abundance of top rate restaurants that explore many a great genre of cuisine… You’re sure to find a new favorite to add to your repertoire!

You might get lucky and have a short wait for a table at the 3rd Corner in Ocean Beach (”OB” to us locals…) on a Friday night.  With reservations not taken, you take your chances.  The good news is…you will not be disappointed however the fates greet you at the door.

The specials were described and we were turned loose on the tantalizing wine cellar.  With the deft guidance of our Sommelier Tom, we laid claim to a deliciously complex Italian Barbera. The pairing of wine and food was brilliant. Pastry Crust Wrapped Tuna Special,  the “Pork Chop”, a house favorite…(Mmm, getting hungry here) Oh, and don’t tell our mothers, but we would’ve taken seconds on the side of lentils.

“We have at least 3 new Italian & Chilean wines in mind for future visits…”

The concept is gifted in its simplicity.  A busy and successful business as a wine merchant, with a broad menu of staples that will successfully balance a divine vintage plucked from the rack.  The selection of wines from around the world proves how seriously they take their calling.

Patrons may order by the glass or shop the full selection. By the bottle, a $5 corkage fee will see your bottle opened for your dinner. Late night diners rejoice, the kitchen is open until 1:00 AM, except Mondays.