San Diego is about to host the 2008 Winter Fancy Food Show  this January 13 to 15 at the Convention Center.  This worldwide show features everything from beverages and baked goods to soups and salad dressings along with candy, cheese and coffee–nearly 100,000 specialty food items.  Attendees from specialty food, wine, gift and department stores, supermarkets, restaurants, mail-order and other related businesses, walk the three day show to sample and buy products. 

Buzz wonders where these 20,000 to 30,000 vendors and attendees will spend their restaurant dollars as the show usually occurs in San Francisco or New York City–places known for great eating.  Let’s be clear:  right now, San Diego does not have great eating.  Sure, there are lots of restaurants with fair to good food and service but for the most part, not near the caliber of the other show cities. 

If attendees pull out their Zagat for 2007  they’ll find a handful of places rated no higher than 27 out of 30–far fewer than other cities.  They’ll spend nearly $50 per person (or more) , they will need a taxi or car to get to, among others,  WineSellar & Brasserie, Pamplemousse Grille, Arterra and El Bizcocho  and will they know the chefs are gone from the latter two? They may find a way to La Jolla for the Marine Room, Tapenade or George’s at the Cove.  Close to the Convention Center, they’ll find Ruth Chris Steak House and Rama . Or they’ve heard about others such as Parallel 33,  Modus Supper Club (no working link), but do they know the chef/partners of both have moved on or that  Laurel Restaurant & Bar got a new owner, chef and decor a few years back?  What is clear from reading comments on Zagat, and from the Zagat’s themselves–service is subpar across the country–and San Diego is no exception. 

The recent months have seen chefs who garnered good or great local and national raves–Gavin Kaysen of El Bizcocho (one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs in 2007),  Riko Bartelomo of Asia-Vous, Jason Shaeffer of 1500 Ocean, and the most recent, Brian Pekarcik of Arterra– ditching San Diego for New York, Hawaii, Colorado and Pennsylvania, respectively.  They move on for various reasons, but underlying anything personal is the lack of support from the local press who, for the most part, don’t really educate the readers to what makes a great restaurant–be it the hole in the wall or the jazzy newcomer.  Nor does the local chapter of the California Restaurant Association further an atmosphere of greatness either as Buzz noted in July.  Of course, cities like New York and San Francisco have public transportation and are not spread out in the manner of southern California and that does make a bit of a difference.  How far and long are you willing to drive for a meal–at any price– especially if you want to have a drink or two?

So, where in San Diego would you send these food savvy souls to eat?  Besides the usual collection of downtown hotel and convention eateries (and themed Cohn restaurants on nearly every corner)  tell Buzz where you think the show goers ought to spend their restaurant dollars–be it upscale or down–do you have a favorite you think should get some notice? 

About December 1, the back tower lobby space of The Westin San Diego at Columbia and C Streets opens as Esquires where judges, attorneys, jurors and the rest of us can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner.  San Diego native Frank Terzoli, aka Frankie the Bull, who has cooked around the world, is the guy with the concept of a diner/deli for breakfast and lunch and chop house for dinner.  Look for the bar to be a great gathering place for the downtown community. 

In the same area, Jonathan Pflueger’s Currant American Brasserie opened in the recently redone Sofia Hotel (formerly Pickwick) with a menu of fresh seasonal food, American style,  for lunch and dinner.  Don’t be put off by the restaurant’s immediate neighbor–the Greyhound bus station–the area is also home to a Peet’s coffee and the court house.  Buzz hasn’t had a chance to scope it out–have you?

Hillcrest is jumping these days as Zubin Desai, former general manager and sommelier at Blanca in Solana Beach, moves into the former Russo’s to open his restaurant, The Better Half that will feature American/French bistro fare to pair with half bottle wines. Expect a mid November opening. In the same block, Seasons 142 moved into the space that formerly housed Brazil on the Hill.

The popular Arrivederci will open a second location on 30^thStreet in North Park just north of University Avenue and next door to coffee roaster and coffee house, Caffe Calabria, Buzz’s favorite place for a proper one ounce pull of espresso.  A block south on 30th is Heaven Sent Desserts, and Urban Solace that opened for lunch and dinner with a menu of contemporary American comfort food served in a neighborhood setting.  Another place Buzz has yet to experience.

Buzz and a pal scoped out the new Pearl Hotel and its restaurant on Rosecrans in Point Loma.  Quite the urban, slightly retro chic place…tiny but fun.  The bar and restaurant blend into one and face the pool…around which are the 23 guest rooms.  The restaurant/lounge will seat about 35–a small venue, but with an interesting wine list and food at reasonable prices, look for it to be a good place to meet for breakfast or lunch…dinner if you want more of a scene.  There’s some fun seating just off the main lobby.  1410 Rosecrans, 619-226-6100.