Since 1969, restaurant, hotel, travel & other witty reviews by a handpicked, worldwide team of discerning professionals—and your views, too.


News for Restaurants in San Diego
May 2012 Archive

Search / Openings / Closings / Chef Shuffle / News Bytes / Culinary Events / Wine Dinners / Sign up for our free, monthly newsletter / News Archive

RESTAURANT NEWS

Openings

Chef Brian Malarkey and his business partner James Brennan continue on their restaurant-opening rampage and will now make their mark in La Jolla. In addition to Searsucker (Gaslamp), Burlap (Del Mar), Gingham (La Mesa), Garbadine (Point Loma), next up will be Herringbone. Amanda Baumgarten, another Top Chef alum whose last stint was at Water Grill in downtown L.A., will be executive chef and will oversee the “ocean bazaar” concept, which will feature exotic surf and turf. Designer du jour Thomas Schoos has tricked out the warehouse space to create a SoCal beach ambiance. Herringbone, 7837 Herschel Ave., La Jolla, CA 92037, no phone.
 
James Brennan and chef Brian Malarkey’s fourth San Diego eatery, Gabardine, has opened in Point Loma. Helmed by respected chef Chad White, formerly of Searocket Bistro, this Portuguese-inspired seafood house offers a menu divided into “bars.” The cold bar serves oysters, uni, scallop ceviche and yellowtail crudo, while the hot bar has octopus empandas, shrimp and grits with sea urchin, and honey-glazed pork belly. Abalone fritters with apple currant jam are part of the fry bar. Portuguese stew with shellfish and chorizo or beef rib-eye make for hearty entrees. Calimoxos (Mexican coke mixed with red wine) and specialty cocktails by the Snake Oil mixologist add even more creativity to the culinary mix. And, of course, there's local craft beer to enjoy with your oysters, shishito peppers, cured meats and halibut fish and chips. Gabardine, 1005 Rosecrans St., Point Loma, CA 92106, 619-398-9810.
 

News Bytes

"Grill With the Masters" Barbecue Series
The Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa's Twenty/20 Grill & Wine Bar will present a summer backyard barbecue series headed by their chef Eric Wick. Learn about rubs, spices and marinades, Asian and Hawaiian styles, how to cook the perfect steak, and techniques introduced by the Native American Indians, Mexicans and the American cowboys. The classes cover all aspects of grilling, and participants get to sample tastes from the grill paired with adult beverages. The series runs on Wednesdays from June 20 to September 5. The cost is $30 per class, or $149 for the entire series. To purchase, call 760-827-2444 or visit twenty20grill.com to register. A portion of every ticket sale benefits Challenged Athletes Foundation. Twenty/20 Grill & Wine Bar, Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa, 5480 Grand Pacific Dr., Carlsbad, CA 92008, 760-827-2500.
 
Master Court Sommelier Jayson Knack Heads to Rancho Valencia
Another exciting announcement in regard to the $20 million Rancho Valencia resort renovation is the addition of Master Court Sommelier Jayson Knack, who will serve as director of restaurants. Knack, formerly of the progressive Decanter Restaurant and Wine Bar, will curate a list sourced from micro-producers in California, France, Italy and Spain, along with unusual finds from Canada, Tasmania, South Africa and Turkey. Guests can access iPads with extensive tasting notes and preselected pairings to enhance chef Eric Bauer’s cuisine. The beverage program will also proffer craft tequila, keg wines and local artisan beer. The resort plans to reopen in August. The Restaurant at Rancho Valencia, Rancho Valencia Resort, 5921 Valencia Circle, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067, 858-756-1123.
 
The dining room at Vivace in Carlsbad Pranzo at Vivace --- Celebrating the Tradition of Italian Sunday Lunch
A leisurely Sunday at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort beckons, especially now with their new Sunday lunch at Vivace. Anyone looking to steer away from the excessive traditional brunch and explore the flavors of Italy, should try their Pranzo, a glorious Italian feast of flavors. A nice apertivo to prepare the palate for this meal is an ambrosial Bellini with prosecco and peach. Then head for the antipasti stations. Begin with crudo and other seafood temtpations like fresh oysters, octopus and prawns. A Burkel meat machine slices hand-crafted salumi like sopressata and coppa to accompany specialty cheeses. A table of fresh mozzarella and artisanal burrata, that's pillow soft, also boasts cured olives, asparagus and an orange and fennel salad. After touring the stations, guests have a choice of several mains and sides that can be shared family-style. Homemade pasta means raviolo with mushroom ragu or rigatoni with a tradtional Bolognese. At the expansive dessert bar, you'll find a sweet finish with chocolate-dipped meringues, tiramisu and panna cotta, to name a few. Prana ia served Sundays from 11:30 a.m.-3pm. The cost is $45 per person. Vivace, Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, 7100 Four Seasons Point, Carlsbad, CA 92009, 760-603-6800.
 

Chef Shuffle

Chef Paul McCabe has a new stomping ground in Rancho Santa Fe. A renovation and redo of the menu has Delicias hopping again, as the former chef from Kitchen 1540 has a steady fan base. The menu features flatbreads like spicy chorizo with jalapeno and lime, and appetizers like roasted artichokes. There's also his famous beet and pistachio brittle salad, along with mains like natural bison, braised pork shoulder and white bass. Oenophiles will appreciate the extensive wine list and planned wine retail shop. Delicias, 6106 Paseo Delicias, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067, 858-756-8000.
 


Closings

CLOSED FOR GOOD
Take your taste buds on a walk down memory lane! Check out our exclusive closed restaurant database for San Diego to virtually visit your favorite dining spots from the past. Mr. Tiki Mai Tai Lounge, R.I.P.

The Restaurant at Rancho Valencia in Rancho Santa Fe has closed as part of the hotel's renovations. It is scheduled to re-open in August 2012. The Restaurant at Rancho Valencia, Rancho Valencia Resort, 5921 Valencia Circle, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067, 858-756-1123.
 
El Bizcocho, the old-world fine dining haven at Rancho Bernardo Inn, will shutter this summer after four decades of service. The space will undergo a significant renovation and is scheduled to re-open as a more casual dining concept by the end of 2012. Former El Bizcocho chef Gavin Kaysen (Cafe Boulud in NYC) will join the restaurant for a special "Epilogue" dinner on June 7, 2012. For more information on this finale celebration, visit GAYOT.com's San Diego Culinary Events calendar. El Bizcocho, Rancho Bernardo Inn, 17550 Bernardo Oaks Dr., San Diego, CA 92128, 858-675-8550.
 

CULINARY EVENTS
Want to
learn to cook? Try new dishes? Meet a foodie friend for fun? Check out our compilation of culinary events in your area.


View our calendar of Wine Dinners & Tastings in San Diego

Current News View archived news: June 2021 | February 2020 | November 2019 | July 2019 | May 2019 | April 2019 | March 2019 | January 2019 | December 2018 | August 2018 | April 2018 | March 2018 | December 2017 | August 2017 | June 2017 | April 2017 | February 2017 | January 2017 | December 2016 | October 2016 | September 2016 | August 2016 | July 2016 | June 2016 | May 2016 | March 2016 | February 2016 | January 2016 | December 2015 | November 2015 | October 2015 | August 2015 | July 2015 | June 2015 | May 2015 | April 2015 | March 2015 | February 2015 | January 2015 | December 2014 | November 2014 | October 2014 | September 2014 | August 2014 | July 2014 | June 2014 | May 2014 | April 2014 | March 2014 | February 2014 | January 2014 | December 2013 | September 2013 | August 2013 | July 2013 | June 2013 | May 2013 | April 2013 | March 2013 | February 2013 | January 2013 | November 2012 | October 2012 | September 2012 | August 2012 | July 2012 | June 2012 | May 2012 | April 2012 | March 2012 | February 2012 | January 2012 | December 2011 | November 2011 | October 2011 | September 2011 | August 2011 | July 2011 | June 2011 | May 2011 | April 2011 | March 2011 | February 2011 | January 2011 | December 2010 | November 2010 | October 2010 | September 2010 | August 2010 | July 2010 | June 2010 | May 2010 | April 2010 | March 2010 | February 2010 | January 2010 | December 2009 | November 2009 | October 2009 | September 2009 | August 2009 | July 2009 | June 2009 | May 2009 | April 2009 | March 2009 | February 2009 | January 2009 | December 2008 | November 2008 | October 2008 | September 2008 | August 2008 | July 2008 | June 2008 | May 2008 | April 2008 | March 2008



VALENTINE'S DAY WINES

Add wine to the celebration of love, curated by GAYOT´s Wine & Spirits Editor.

Check the list.

CHAMPAGNE COCKTAILS

For a rosé bubbly Valentine's Day celebration.

Get the recipes.

GAYOT'S RESTAURANT AWARDSOver the years, we have been electing restaurants to be on GAYOT's Yearly Restaurant Awards.

Check the list.