Amy DiBiase, executive chef at Roseville in Point Loma is set to compete again in the 4th Annual Chef’s Showdown that benefits the Center for Community Solutions. Tickets for the October 2nd event on the Promenade at Liberty Station are $125 and can be purchased online.

While we’re on the subject of Rosevile, with its French-Mediterranean menu, is now open seven days a week and September 7, begins Sunday brunch with an inspiring menu of à la carte dishes that will go far beyond the mundane eggs and bacon. The menu will soon be set, and with the innovative Amy DiBiase at the helm, I’d bet it will be sumptuous. For information and reservations: 619-450-6800, (www.rosevillesd.com still under construction),

Over in Hillcrest, Charles Kaufman of Bread & Cie at Fourth and University Avenue went round and round with the city over the height of the enclosure for his expanded wine/pizza service on the patio. He’s happy to report that devotees will soon be able to sip a glass of wine and enjoy the avenue’s scene in the next few weeks.

The Loews Coronado Bay Resort has named Timothy Ralphs their new executive chef for their signature dining room Mistral, as well as the entire property.  Ralphs local experience includes three years as executive chef at Top of the Cove, banquet director at the Omni where his menus went way beyond the boring banquet fare, with his additions such things as amuse-bouche, organic ingredients, and more.  He European travels and work (he’s also trained in wine and is an advanced sommelier).  Along with good local ingredients, Ralphs can pick fresh herbs from the hotel’s 3800 square foot herb garden.  Tours of the garden are given every Friday at 3pm and include a tasting and recipes.  Cost is $20 and for information and reservations call the hotel’s concierge at 619-424-4000 x 6300.

If you’ve got cash, have we got a deal for you: Invest in a Beltran restaurant. According to information sent to their mailing list, owners Philippe Beltran and Jacqueline Delaney are offering investment opportunities for their neighborhood restaurant concepts. He owns Blue Boheme in Kensington and Papa Nanou in Mission Hills, due to open late this year. For information: 619-823-6510.

We hear that Maria Hunt, ex food critic for the UT is freelancing for north county magazines including Riviera where she’s authoring a piece on Roseville in Point Loma.

Maureen Clancy who spent many years writing about food at the UT, now has her own blog,

Chef Jason Seibert has landed in Los Angeles. His time in San Diego included Cafe Cerise (chef/owner) and when it closed he consulted for the opening of downtown’s Jade Theater. He recently spent eight months catering with Wolfgang Puck for LA’s mayor, Billy Crystal and others.

Wine lovers will be sad and glad to know that the famed Chateau Montelena winery in Calistoga is being sold to the house of Cos d’Estournel in the Saint-Estèphe area of Bordeaux.

Over at The Shores Restaurant and sister to the well-known Marine Room, Lisa Redwine is the new General Manager. Many may know her from Molly’s where she was the GM as well as the hotel wine director. Bernard Guillas is the executive chef for The Shores as well as the Marine Room. Both properties are part of the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club.

EXY, the downtown chic Greek restaurant and lounge is now open for lunch with items such as chicken pita sandwich, swell hamburgers, salads and other dishes from their dinner menu–sized for lunch–and priced between $5 and $9. Open Tuesday through Friday for lunch and though Saturday for dinner. Also available for private functions on Sunday and Monday. Located at the corner of Sixth Avenue and F Street; phone: 619-238-0412.

The Saturday Little Italy Mercato grows weekly with new vendors that include rotisserie chickens from Grill Master, lots of seasonal and produce for locovores and bakery items too…I hope to get there this weekend. Located between Date Street and Kettner to Union and open from 9am to 1:30pm.