FoodBuzzSD » Del Mar

Bits and Bites: Red Leight, Sessions Public and Flavor

foodbuzzsd — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 01:44:25 +0000

Red Leight isn’t a district but is a cleverly named and bottled Rosé. The vineyards are in Malibu on 37 acres and they have been producing since 2006. Howard Leight created Red Leight which is under the Malibu Rocky Oaks Estate Vineyards label that produces award-winning Cabs along with a Syrah and Merlot. Buzz was lucky enough to taste the Rosé and Syrah along with San Diego’s top sommeliers, wine directors and distributors–and the wines are notable. You can purchase online at their website and soon (we hope) will have distribution here.

Just opened, Sessions Public, an odd name for a new contemporary place sandwiched next to the retro Catalina Bar at Voltaire and Catalina. The tavern style food is good and if the Cat Bar (as the locals refer to it) is too retro, the restaurant’s long skinny contemporary room features a full bar to go with the eclectic yet approachable food. There’s a mystery consulting chef who created the menu that includes an additive bowl of tender crispy chicken oysters ($9), duck confit with an Asian flair of udon noodles ($17), Nueske bacon tempura lollipops ($8), short rib sliders ($11) and lobster-scallop cioppino ($20). Happily, most of the menu is $15 and under. Four of us feasted well though we weren’t impressed with the miniscule serving of Serrano ham and artisan bread ($6).

Buzz wonders if the mysterious consulting chef at Sessions Public could be Jason Maitland who had been at Arterra for ages…until the axe fell on him and others of the dining management team. Maitland, is teaming up with Jerome Astolfi who just left the front of the house at Market Restaurant + Bar in Del Mar to become the general manager at Flavor. They will open late summer in the old Epazote Steakhouse in Del Mar Plaza.

Bits and Bites: Bankers Hill,Del Mar and Solana Beach

foodbuzzsd — Wed, 12 May 2010 18:04:14 +0000

Bankers Hill Bar + Restaurant opened this week. It’s Carl Schroeder’s (Market) uptown place with a tavern menu of comfort foods including what seems to be the hottest new dish for restaurants—the deviled egg. Haven’t seen the actual menu (only the cleverly designed one on the website) but am excited to try it soon. Fourth and Ivy in the old Modus space. Open from 4:30pm, 619-231-0222.

PrepKitchen goes to Del Mar in the old Giorgio’s Osteria del Pescatore (their lease was up) on the corner of Camino del Mar and 12^th. How lucky for the people living in the area. Buzz loves much of the PrepKitchen menu from La Jolla, including a wicked brownie with a bit of caramel and sea salt topping…And the food at their mainstay WhisknLadle represents good use of local ingredients— simple preparations of top-notch ingredients. There’s a happy hour at the bar where a pal and I noshed our way through the daily tapas. Expect the same quality in Del Mar.

And the chef that Blanca brought from New York, decided to return to that city after just nine months attempting to open the eyes of the eating public with interesting food. Chef Jason Neroni couldn’t get the diners to appreciate chicken that doesn’t have grill marks. San Diego struggles on to be recognized as a food city.

Buzz from the Bar: Arterra Restaurant Shakeup

foodbuzzsd — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 02:13:05 +0000

A few days ago we heard there was a wholesale dismissal of the restaurant team at Del Mar’s Arterra Restaurant that included executive chef Jason Maitland and others in management. It seems that the powers that be have long wanted to re-concept the restaurant. It’s unclear what that concept will be and who will be at the helm, but their website does say (under Jobs at the bottom of the site) that the hotel is looking for people to be “part of an exciting team while learning and using your culinary skills.” Good luck.

Bits and Bites: Gobble Gobble

foodbuzzsd — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:18:49 +0000

It is that time of the year…holiday madness begins with Thanksgiving. Here are a few ideas for the day that include places that will happily feed you and the family. Also included are places to get turkeys, should you decide to cook at home.

If you’re interested in a Heritage turkey (it looks and tastes a bit different than our usual big breasted beauties), check out and try one from Heritage Foods. They have other meats and food items that would satisfy any home cook. Buzz regularly orders turkey from them and Good Shepherd Turkey Ranch.

Not interested in messing up the kitchen? Then, take the family out to eat at one of the myriad of choices San Diego offers…here are just a few:

Arterra will offer a plated three-course dinner for $39 while Red Marlin (with a gorgeous bay view) let you choose from a buffet for $42. Truluck’s, Paon and many others will serve dinners also.

For something healthy and the diet restricted, check out Healthy Creations in Encinitas. They offer meals to go as well as a gluten-free baking class on November 19. Haven’t had a chance to take a look, but sounds very good.

Buzz from the Bar: Modern French UPDATE

foodbuzzsd — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 03:27:52 +0000

We’re hearing there’s a soon-to-open modern French restaurant somewhere downtown. Could it be an outpost for the well-regarded one in Santa Luz ? Chefs are auditioning and one name that we’ve heard about is Aaron Martinez (who was at Addison, then flew to and quickly took flight from Flight).

UPDATE: The new name for this place will be PAON which means peacock in French...and due to open sometime in August. Word travels fast these days and Per Se Restaurant & Wine Bar Carlsbad could have a name problem on their hands. As noted in a previous post, Thomas Keller got the name first with his well-known eatery Per Se in New York. Apparently Mr. Keller has voiced displeasure with the Carlsbad wannabe. We’ll see if there is a name change in the works.

Bits and Bites: A Medley

foodbuzzsd — Sun, 24 May 2009 23:20:02 +0000

Rancho Valencia recently became an Auberge Resort, one of a handful of prime and unique properties. With new management also a new chef, C. Barclay Dodge who comes with twenty years of culinary experience from training at the California Culinary Academy to apprenticeships at E Bulli in Spain and Jean Georges and Daniel in New York. He recently moved from Santa Fe where he was chef de cuisine at Terra, the restaurant at another Auberge property, Encantado Resort. Beginning June 1, to celebrate the property’s twentieth anniversary, Dodge will have a $19.89 three-course lunch Chef’s Inspiration menu. Each day there will be a choice of a soup or an appetizer and only one entrée that will be the chef’s choice. Some examples of Dodge’s “coastal ranch” cuisine: sardines grilled with argan oil and escabeche of summer carrots; chilled English pea soup with fromage blanc and chive blossoms; and Valencia orange-scented lamb shank with house cut noodles and Moroccan pickled carrots. Buzz hasn’t tried it yet. For reservations and information: 858-759-6216.

It’s finally official from the buzz that’s been brewing (and from the looks of the cleared tables, no cloths and no setups), Laurel Restaurant & Bar is reinventing its concept and we hope this time it will include a new name. Possibly small plates, possibly Italian, and likely we will just have to wait and see what happens in the next few weeks when the redo should be done.

The Marine Room features a number of interesting events including a Monday night lobster dinner for $40 and the thrilling high tide dinners June 19 to 24. The restaurant offers a Fathers Day dinner as well, and with executive chef Bernard Guillas at the helm, the food is always a treat.

New on Fifth Avenue at Laurel Street, Pizzicato a franchise operation that began in Portland, Oregon. There’s also an Encinitas location. They use fresh local ingredients when possible, and Italian Parmesan too. Haven’t tried either….While we’re on the subject of pizza, Pizzeria Luigi in Golden Hill currently tops my list with its thinner, New York style crust and quality ingredients. North Park’s Lefty’s Chicago Pizzeria features thicker crust and equally good toppings along with sandwiches, sausages and pasta and opens its second location mid-June in Mission Hills–on Goldfinch– in the former home of Phil’s BBQ.

Just in time for race season and Wimbleton and the US Open, The Grand Del Mar offers five new cocktails in their Lobby Lounge and The Clubhouse Grill from June 1 to September 7. Cleverly named for tennis and racing terms (Moonball Pimms Caipirinhi and Bearing Out Breeze, among others) you’ve just got to go try them yourself–especially if you love rum, vodka, Pimm’s Cup and tropical juices–creatively mixed, though not all together.

Buzz from the Bar and More

foodbuzzsd — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:08:57 +0000

In Del Mar, the place that morphed from Scalini’s to Pasquales has done it again…now it’s Flight. Flight’s new chef is Aaron Martinez who just left Addison where he was sous chef under William Bradley.

A well-known Gaslamp hotel restaurant is hunting for a new executive chef…it’s all about personalities…

Syrah Wine Lounge opens downtown–a wine bar with more than just Syrah–and cheese and meat platters (no kitchen). Located below the Cohn owned Dakota Grill & Spirits, we’d bet they have a interest in the place.

The building that housed The Guild, has been sold and Buzz is watching to see what will happen with the restaurant space.

And those wondering what happened to the Parallel 33 space in Hillcrest will soon have another restaurant by the same owners as Cafe Bleu at University and Fifth. Renovations are underway.

For sale: Twelve year-old La Vache in Hillcrest and the La Jolla institution, Sante on Hershel Avenue.

Up in Bankers Hill, another well-known eatery could be undergoing yet another makeover…possibly to Italian?

New Year’s Eve Roundup

foodbuzzsd — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:22:38 +0000

If you’re still wondering what to do New Year’s Eve, here are some suggestions: Support your favorite neighborhood restaurants where you may be able to sit at the bar if they’re already booked for dinner, or think about early drinks and then home with friends–you cook or get food to-go. It’s a good way to stay close to home, enjoy the evening and support the restaurants. Party–even in these woeful economic times–and everyone wins.

The possibilities are numerous for celebrating with many venues offering early and late seating and prix-fixe dinners of three plus courses at reasonable prices. So rather than list every place that sent Buzz a release (and many who didn’t post anything on their websites or send an email), here are some of my top picks.

Downtown/Gaslamp/Little Italy: Crescent Heights Kitchen & Lounge, Quarter Kitchen, Tabule, Bacchus Wine Market (3 to 6pm tasting), Anthology and Enoteca Style for cheese, chocolate and Champagne.

Coronado: The Hotel Del celebrates the 50th anniversary of the movie Some Like It Hot, Eno and 1500 Ocean also at the hotel, Candelas (Ferry Landing and Gaslamp).

East County: Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino, Frida Mexican Restaurant and many other local area restaurants.

North Park: Urban Solace, Sea Rocket Bistro, Alexander’s on 30th and The Linkery, not to mention the newest wine bar Splash. At the opposite end of 30th is Jaynes Gastropub and around the corner on Adams, the wildly popular Farm House Cafe.

Point Loma/Liberty Station: The Pearl Hotel, Roseville, Solare Ristorante , Tender Greens (perfect also for a party at home as you can order online for take-away), The 3rd Corner (also in Encinitas) Pomodoro in the old Luna Notte spot, no website: Phone: (619) 523-1301) and Mellow A Wine Bar.

Hillcrest/Bankers Hill: The Better Half, Modus, Wine Vault & Bistro, Avenue 5 Restaurant & Bar, Hexagone,(no website, 619-236-0467), Laurel Restaurant & Ba and Bertrand at Mr. A’s,

La Jolla/Del Mar: The Marine Room, Nine-Ten Prospect, Market Restaurant & Bar, and The Grand Del Mar

A Correction About Addison

foodbuzzsd — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:20:07 +0000

In my post Buzz from the Bar below, I inadvertently elevated Addison’s advanced sommelier Jesse Rodriguez to master sommelier. He has not yet joined the august group that includes, here in San Diego, America’s first master sommelier Eddie Osterland.

Buzz from the Bar

foodbuzzsd — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:25:50 +0000

Addison, the over-the-top restaurant at The Grand Del Mar recently hosted a lovely media holiday party. The restaurant just became San Diego’s first and only recipient of the AAA Five Diamond Award. Executive chef William Bradley (who is getting married next September) and master sommelier Jesse Rodriguez were on hand to meet and greet. Locavores may not rave about Bradley’s use of Iranian caviar even though he feels it’s the best. I wonder, however, when it is served with chopped egg, onion and other diversions, as it was at the party, can one really detect the delicate quality of the eggs? On the wine side, Rodriguez created some wonderful house blends–ones that he has traveled the world to make (with top producers) especially for the restaurant. Addison’s service, as well, is worth the trip and the setting, especially at night, makes a lovely diversion from the hectic daily grind. 5200 Grand Del Mar Way, 858-314-1900.

Well-known ex-food critic of the Union Tribune, Maria Hunt has been named Wine & Spirits editor at Ranch & Coast Magazine.