Adiós Micro, Hello Norse Foraging
The fascinating scientific techniques of microgastronomy (as at Ferran Adria's now-closed restaurant near Barcelona) are suddenly passé. The latest hot hot restaurants are in (or near) cold, cold Stockholm, Copenhagen, and even Finland. They're the ultimate in locovore -- the …
Gluten-Free Flour from The French Laundry
You've probably heard of The French Laundry, Thomas Keller's famous restaurant in Yountville, up in Napa wine country. Responding to increasing customer pleas for gluten-free dishes, Lena Kwak, the restaurant's culinary researcher, developed a gluten-free flour. This has got to …
Solana Beach Going Nutty -- Free Peanut Candy 9/13
Who knew (I sure didn't) that Solana Beach has housed a gourmet peanut butter and chocolate maker for over a decade? Perhaps it's because Jer's normally sells to retail outlets, not to, um, people. On September 13, you can finally …
Developers Kill Local Kitchens
In Hillcrest, goodbye to Pizza Nova and to Banana Leaf (the south Indian restaurant owned by the Bombay group). The developer who owns the properties is looking for a lot more money per square foot. Rumors are two midscale chain …
Chick-fil-A Mania to Strike Carmel Mountain
I'm positive that the fast-food chicken outlet visited by Janet Evanovich's semi-suburban New Jersey heroines in her mystery series (Finger-Lickin' Fifteen, Sloppy Sixteen, Slobbery Seventeen, Overweight Eighteen, etc.) is Chick fil-A, skulking around under an assumed name. But I've never …
Red Door's New Chef's Chef's Market Dinner, 9/16
The Red Door Restaurant & Wine Bar’s (741 W. Washington Street, 619-295-6000) upcoming Chef’s Market Dinner is Friday, September 16 at 5 pm. Guests will accompany executive chef Daniel Manrique to the Mission Hills Farmer’s Market to explore and relish …
Roppongi's Fall Fireside Menu
At left: Walla Walla onions Starting September 1, Roppongi's Fireside Menu is switching seasons to fall. Here's a preview of the autumnal tastes you'll find: Note that Walla Wallas are among America's sweetest onions, comparable to Vidalias -- so imagine …
"Sidewalk Chefs" Food Demos
San Diego’s culinary hot shots are hitting the sidewalks this fall for Siesel’s Old-Fashioned Meats Sidewalk Chef Series of free outdoor tastings and culinary demonstrations. The chefs will share exclusive tips and prep demonstrations and insider tricks of the trade …
Hot Shot NY Chef Gambles on Dying Medium
David Chang, hot New York chef (founder of the insanely popular Momofuku chain that features Asian street foods in informal (even uncomfortable) settings, including a noodle house and an Asian tapas restaurant, absolutely refuses to do a TV show: “The …
Andiamo's Noche Peruana
The chef-owner of Andiamo Italian Restaurant (5950 Santo Road, 858-277-3501) is Javier Ugarte from Peru, and on July 30 he's featuring the foods of his homeland in a four-course dinner for $32. Peru probably has the best food in western …
Alchemy's New Street-Food Menu
Alchemy (1503 30th Street, 619.255.0616) has a brand new globally inspired menu from chef Ricardo Heredia, emphasizing (as always) organic and local ingredients. This new menu highlights “street food” dishes from America, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean, and while it …
More Gluten-Free at Terra, Plus Mini-Tempest
The new branch of Terra in La Mesa offers several gluten-free choices — several salads, at least one main course — along with vegetarian items. Jeff Rossman's eco-conscious neighborhood restaurant has been thrilling good palates La Mesa, and others in …
FINALLY open again -- Cafe Sevilla
They're up and running at last at 353 Fifth Avenue. The Spanish tapas bar, restaurant, and nightclub are open seven days a week, 4pm-1:30am. The huge opening night party announced here earlier will be 7/27 at 7 p.m. Well, that's …
Maine Lobsterama in New York -- where here?
This year saw a giant harvest of Maine lobsters on the East Coast -- the lobstermen have been good conservationists, while the overfished cod that used to prey on the "bugs" are scanty. Hence, low-priced lobsters. In New York City, …
Mamma mia! Arriverderci Solunto!
Solunto Bakery in Little Italy closes today. Owner Domenick Cefalu is ready for retirement. (The Buon Appetito rstaurant mini-chain will be grabbing up the space.) Oh, but this is molto triste. Restaurants may come and go, but a bakery turning …
Desert-Raised Caviar
The name Abu Dhabi may sound a little like a joke or an old song ("...said the monkey to the chimp" in the dumb song from 1954 or so) but it's now a rich, dead-serious place, connected to the explosion …
CU Chain Restaurant Ratings — Locals Win Some
Consumer's Union surveyed nearly 37,000 readers about their preferneces in chain restaurants. A lot of the results were refreshing, or I guess a relief. Bottom of the heap was Mickey D's. Yes, yes, yes! I ate one of the burgers …
Local California Restaurant Association Awards
If the legendary Smitty's BBQ of Lockhart, Texas, were to move here, Phil's BBQ would still win Best BBQ. If Eric Ripert were to branch out from New York, Blue Point would still win Best Seafood (although they are very …
Cooking from Africa Classes
Yes, it's interesting food! And super healthy. Yes, you might want to try cooking it. I don't know whether our calendar has included this or not, but I'm a-gonna blog it anyway. When I lived in Northern California (land of …
Chipotle Growing Even More Local
Chipotle, which I consider to serve the only real "healthy" fast food, is trying to go as local-grown (within 350 miles) as possible. This won't be easy in the Prairie States or New England, where most of the produce season …