Cinco de Mayo
Casa de Bandini will feature its Enchilada Suizas, traditional enchiladas prepared with seasoned, shredded chicken, and the Milagro Mexican Belini margarita, a combination of Milagro Tequila Silver, Cointreau, white peach syrup, sweet and sour and organic peaches. Tuesday, May 5, 1901 Calle Barcelona, Carlsbad, (760) 643-3443, casadebandini.com
Casa de Pico will serve Enchiladas Banderas, a sampling of chicken, cheese and beef enchiladas served with red, green and white sauces. Guests will also enjoy music and folklorico performances and promotional giveaways throughout the day. Tuesday, May 5, 5500 Grossmont Center Drive, La Mesa, (619) 463-3267, casadepico.com
Casa Sol Y Mar invites guests to celebrate with street tacos and a special bar, while touring Mexico with a $20 beer bucket. Tuesday, May 5, 12865 El Camino Real, Del Mar, (858) 792-4100, casasolymar.com
Don Chido’s Executive Chef Antonio Friscia will serve up $2 mouth-watering carne, chicken and carnitas tacos from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, 527 Fifth Ave., San Diego, (619) 232-8226, donchido.com
Puesto at The Headquarters will host a Cincoteca festival, complete with taco stations, beer specials and live music from La Santa Cecilia, Los Master Plus and Buyepongo. 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, 789 W. Harbor Drive, Suite 155, San Diego, (619) 233-8880, eatpuesto.com
Hotel Del Coronado’s Sun Deck Bar & Grill will feature a special Cinco de Mayo menu featuring across-the-border flavors. Items include a Jalapeño Pineapple Margarita, Ceviche varieties, myriad guacamoles and a taco bar featuring options like pork belly, beef brisket, pacific cod, marinated chicken, grilled shrimp and surf and turf. 1500 Orange Ave., Coronado, (619) 435-6611, hoteldel.com
The Patio on Goldfinch will offer $4 off tequila, including its signature Tequila Ocho Flight. 4020 Goldfinch St., San Diego, (619) 501-5090, thepatioongoldfinch.com
Toast Enoteca & Cucina’s Executive Chef Martin Gonzalez if fusing together pizza and tacos with his “Mexitalian” pizzas. The pizzas include a Green Chilaquiles Pizza, a Carnitas Pizza and the “Mexicana,” made with Pomodoro salsa, cannellini beans, mozzarella cheese, house-made pork and beef chorizo, red onion, slices of Serrano pepper and pancetta. 927 J. St., San Diego, (619) 269-4207, toastenoteca.com
Events
Bacon & Barrels will return to San Diego for an all-day event of bacon bliss. Local chefs will present their favorite bacon recipes while attendees enjoy samples, live music, games and barrel beverages like bourbon, beer, wine and scotch. 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 9, The Embarcadero Marina Park South, San Diego, baconandbarrels.com
Green Acres will host “Eat.Drink.Read. A Culinary Event for Literary” to raise funds for 28 literacy programs in San Diego County. More than 20 local chefs will create and serve dishes inspired by their favorite books, while local winemakers and craft breweries pair drinks with the dishes. Attendees can sample chocolate, bread and coffee from other local vendors, too. 5:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 13, $150 per person, Green Acre Campus Pointe, 10300 Campus Point Drive, San Diego, eatdrinkread.com
The Gator by the Bay Festival will serve more than 10,000 pounds of crawfish at the French Quarter Food Court. Taste everything from spicy crawfish and Jambalaya to Gator Gumbo and hush puppies. Be sure to stop by the food demo tent for “Taste of Louisiana Cooking Demonstrations.” Guests will also enjoy more than 85 musical performances, shopping and kids activities. 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 9 and 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 10, located across from the Airport on North Harbor Drive, San Diego, sandiegofestival.com
The MED will host a Tablas Creek Wine Dinner, crafted by Executive Chef James Montejano and Sommelier Teddy Panos. The five-course meal will include a first course of Swordfish Pastrami, paired with a Dianthus 2013, and a fourth course of Lamb Porter House, paired with a Cotes de Tablas 2012. 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, $120 per person, La Valencia Hotel, 1132 Prospect St., La Jolla, (848) 454-0771, lavalencia.com
Roppongi Restaurant & Sushi Bar will host a Culinary Couture Dinner as part of Fashion Week San Diego. Executive Chef Alfie Szeprethy’s five-course meal will be inspired by five cities known for high fashion, including San Diego. Accompanying the dinner is a presentation of styles from the world’s fashion capitals. 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, 875 Prospect St., San Diego, (858) 551-5252, roppongiusa.com
New Menus
JRDN at Tower23 has released new dinner and dessert menus, created by Chef Danilo Tangalin. Be sure to try the PB + J Starter, made with foie gras, peanuts, berry jam and biscuits, followed by a 14 oz. rib-eye with sides and the Macadamia Joy, a combination of white and dark chocolate, coconut, roasted banana ice cream and tuile cookie. Tower23, 723 Felspar St., San Diego, (858) 270-2323, t23hotel.com
Sabuku Sushi added three cooked fish entrées and two sushi rolls to its menu. Entrée items include Hamachi Kama, a pan-seared seasoned yellowtail collar; the Jon G Baked Salmon, a Scottish salmon filet with ginger and cilantro rub; and a pan-seared Chilean Sea Bass Fillet. The two new rolls are the Braised Pork Roll and Zombie Bait. 3027 Adams Ave., San Diego, (619) 281-9700, sabukusushi.com
New Look
Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego has unveiled the renovation of Seaview Restaurant, formerly known as Lael’s. Along with a fresh, redesigned space, including a bayfront, outdoor patio, Seaview will offer guests new breakfast buffet items like the Jumbo Lump Crab Egg Benedict and Pancake and Bacon Sticks. 1 Market Place, San Diego, (619) 358-6735, manchestergrand.hyatt.com
Mille Fleurs has been remodeled to highlight the blue and yellow colors of the floral tile pattern that inspired the restaurant’s namesake more than forty years ago. 6009 Paseo Delicias, Rancho Santa Fe, (858) 756-3085, millefleurs.com
Ongoing in May
Jsix is offering cooking classes with Chef Christian Graves. Classes include a brief lesson on cooking basics, a meal and two dealer’s choice beverages from the bar. May classes include the following: Tuesday, May 12, Cures, Cultures and Canning; Tuesday, May 19, Pickles 3 Ways; and Tuesday, May 26, Preserves. 616 J. St., San Diego, $40 per person, (619) 531-8744, jsixrestaurant.com
Davanti Enoteca and Mia Francesca launch “Dine with your Doggie,” welcoming pooches to their dog-friendly patios. Guests that visit with their dog will have 15 percent of their party’s bill donated to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Davanti Enoteca Del Mar, 12955 El Camino Real, Del Mar, (858) 519-5060, davantienoteca.com and Mia Francesca, 12955 El Camino Real, Suite G-4, San Diego, (858) 519-5055, miafrancescadelmar.com
Loews Coronado Bay Resort invites guests to celebrate National Burger Month at Market Café and Cays Lounge. Feast on the Coronado Surf Burger, an 8 oz. certified Angus patty with tempura spiny lobster, 1 Island Dressing and Suzie’s Farms Kohl Rabi Slaw on a Brioche bun. 4000 Coronado Bay Road, Coronado, (619) 424-4000, loweshotels.com
Morton’s The Steakhouse is offering its limited edition Million Dollar Burger, featuring foie gras, black truffle butter and braised short ribs on a brioche bun. The burger is paired with a glass of Stag’s Leap Winery, “The Investor,” Napa Valley. 285 J. St., San Diego, $39 per pairing, (619) 696-3369, mortons.com/sandiego
Chefs on the Move
Amanda Baumgarten, an original partner and founding executive chef of Waypoint Public, is parting ways with the North Park Eatery. Caleb Ayers (Herringbone) and Dave Underwood (Burlap, Solace & The Moonlight Lounge) have taken over for Baumgarten. 3794 30th St., San Diego, (619) 255-8778, waypointpublic.com
Arterra Restaurant and Outdoor Lounge welcomes new Executive Chef Evan Cruz, who’s worked with Roy Yamaguchi exploring Asia and Hawaii, and locally at La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club and L’Auberge Del Mar. Influenced by his travels throughout Europe and Asia, Cruz’s new menu will offer “experience-oriented dishes” and flavorful, shareable plates. 11966 El Camino Real, San Diego, (858) 369-6032, arterrarestaurant.com
Pechanga Resort & Casino welcomes Executive Pastry Chef Jean-Jacques Granet, known for his work across three continents and the MGM Grand Resort in Las Vegas. Guests can experience the newest lineup of desserts immediately at Journey’s End golf course restaurant. 45000 Pechanga Pkwy., Temecula, Pechanga.com
Opening
L’Auberge Del Mar has debuted Coastline, a casual, open-air restaurant with ocean views and “bubbles, bites and brews.” Weather permitting, the restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. 1540 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, (800) 245-9757, laubergedelmar.com
Closing
R Gang Eatery in Hillcrest, led by Executive Chef and owner Rich Sweeney, is closing. The restaurant first opened in 2010, specializing in “Retro-American” food. R Gang’s last day of service will be Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10. 3683 Fifth Ave., San Diego, (619) 677-2845, rgangeatery.com
