For those of you who have enjoyed the food at California Cuisine under the 25 year ownership of  Dean Kalamaras, there’s a big change coming soon.  Buzz spoke with Kalamaras who confirmed that he sold the Hillcrest restaurant and the last supper was Saturday, August 29.  The new owners, an Italian group with two restaurants in Torino, Italy will reopen in about a month and a half with a new name, Benissimo , and redone interior.

Kalamaras will continue his catering business at the Cypress Room down the street at 3665 Park Boulevard, 619-543-0790.  For those of you who follow chefs, Chris Walsh worked at California Cuisine before moving on to open Cafe W, Confidential and his current Bite watch tripping the rift the movie in divx

, on University, just a few blocks from his former employer.

San Diego’s  food scene brims with people, events, foods and restaurants that support the growing worldwide awareness of how we eat, where our food comes from, and how those decisions impact the environment, jobs and health.  Savvy eaters in San Diego know about:

***Tender Greens in Liberty Station takes urban farming quite seriously and can now boast they get heirloom tomatoes and other seasonal vegetables from retired lawyer Paul Reeb who turned to gardening as a hobby.  He grows produce exclusively for the restaurant  and what’s really unique is that Reeb’s garden is about five blocks from the restaurant so cooks can pick every morning.  How fresh is that?

***Slow Food Urban San Diego and their monthly “metro socials” that expose us to local farmers, local artisanal ingredients, classes and lots more.  Get on board with the organization at two upcoming events.  If you’ve wondered what former Union-Trib restaurant critic Maria Hunt is up to, you can join her at JSix on August 26 for a book signing.   She’s authored The Bubbly Bar–cocktails specifically geared to the use of sparkling wines. Mark  September 7 for their community potluck for the Slow Food national campaign to get better school meals nationally and here in San Diego.

***Support the environment and check out Manivela Delivery, the first bicycle driven food delivery service in San Diego. They specialize in restaurants that do not already deliver and serve the  serve the center of San Diego nearest Balboa Park, but look forward to expanding out in the coming months. For more information: 619-512-FOOD.

***You’ve likely seen Peace Pies booth at many of the farmers markets. Now they’ve opened a  small restaurant just up the street from OB People’s Organic Food Market on Voltaire.  Peace Pies features delectable savory and sweet foods–I love their cinnamon rolls–everything they make is gluten free, raw, vegan and very very good.  Open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch.  619-618-6960, 4230 Voltaire,  San Diego.

***Local farmers sell at many of our 39 weekly farmers markets.  If you can’t get to the market, get a box from one of the eight Community Supported Agriculture farms. The cost of a weekly box of local, fresh, seasonal produce could cost a lot less than a trip to the supermarket.  Buzz has been a  Garden of Eden Organics supporter for two years and loves the seasonal variety (and convenience) of the box of goodies.

***Get smart about our food supply and see the movie Food, Inc.  And then catch Julie and Julia for the delightful story of Julia Child who opened the world of cooking on television in 1963.

If you’re in the market for a restaurant space, Modus in Bankers Hill quietly closed its doors. The space is for lease along with La Vache in HIllcrest.  For information:  858-792-5521.

Also with a “not in service” phone:  Lucky Buck’s in Hillcrest. CORRECTION: Drove by there today, and the new owners as of June 1 have had a devil of a time getting that phone number changed.  They are open and the number is 619-487-9379.

French 101 opens in the old Hard Rock space in La Jolla.

Winesellar & Brasserie’s new chef Matt Smith is slowly updating the menu and we’re hearing regulars are happy for the change.

Want to be the next star on the Food Network?  If so, there is an Open Casting Call in San Diego on Monday, August 17th, 2009 at the W Hotel.   They are looking for people who are full of life, passionate about cooking, and knowledgeable about food to meet in person at the open casting call. You can be a chef, home cook, caterer or culinary enthusiast to answer the call from 12pm-5pm at the W San Diego, 421 W. B Street, San Diego, CA 92101.  Questions:  nfns6sd@yahoo.com

You’re missing out on some great food events if you’ve not heard of Cooks Confab a group of  fourteen local chefs.  All are passionate about cooking and believe in the farm to table concept as well (they give a portion of event proceeds to Slow Food Urban San Diego.  Recently Stingaree’s executive chef Antonio Friscia hosted local craft beers paired with morsels by the chefs. It was a fabulous tasting walkabout. Their next event is Pig, on October 4  with executive chef Paul McCabe at Kitchen 1540.  Reservations at 858-793-6460 and the cost is $90.

San Diego Restaurant Week starts September 13 and runs until the 18^th.  It’s a good time to try new places (you’ll have 180 to choose from) and, depending on the restaurant, tasting menus priced at $20, $30 or $40 (plus tax and tip).