San Diego Magazine‘s Best of North County Party
WHEN: April 21
WHERE: The Paddock, Del Mar Fairgrounds
The Best of North County Party gets bigger and better this year when it moves to The Paddock in Del Mar on April 21. Sample bites from restaurants like Buona Forchetta, Decoy, Rancho Valencia, Cesar, and Puesto plus a variety of local breweries, wineries, desserts and entertainment.
COST: $80
Earth Day Dinner
WHEN: April 22, 6 p.m.
WHERE: Kitchen 1540, 1540 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar
Kitchen 1540 is the showpiece of one of San Diego’s top resorts, L’Auberge Del Mar, which has the benefit of getting in early in Del Mar. Thus their location, right next to the beach. Their chef Nathan Lingle is creating a three-course ode to Earth Day with whatever his local farmers, ranchers, and purveyors bring him fresh that day.
COST: $58
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Cocktail Release Party
WHEN: April 26, 6 p.m. to close
WHERE: The Grass Skirt, 910 Grand Ave., Pacific Beach
The Grass Skirt is part of the tiki revolution that’s happening to San Diego bars right now. Also part of the Pacific Beach revolution in food and drink. It’s part of the same group that brought Kettner Exchange to Little Italy, which means Steven Tuttle—one of the city’s best craft bartenders—is creating the drinks. For the release party, all drinks are just $8, and they’ll have drummers, dancers, and tiki music. A sample of the drinks on menu: “Professor Feathers” with Jamaican Rum, Overproof Rum, Pimento Dram, lime, pineapple, coconut, banana, and mango; the “Bananas of Martinique” with Rhum XO, banana liqueur, allspice tiki bitters; and the “Melbourne Manhattan” with bourbon, sweet vermouth, coffee-infused bitters, and allspice tiki bitters.
COST: Free. Cost of your drinks.
“Spring Rendezvous” at The US Grant
WHEN: April 27, 6 p.m.
WHERE: US Grant
The US Grant is one of the most sophisticated hotels in San Diego—an elegant grand dame, without the stuffiness. And they’ve got a bar team that’s been making national headlines for their innovations (the first barrel-aged Manhattan in town, sur lie cocktails, etc.). They’ve been throwing a series of pop-up cocktail parties, speakeasy-style. This new one will be held in a secret location in the hotel, with vegan- and floral-focused food and drinks, including Domaine Sante Wine Grape Nectars, Wicket Sister Coconut Bacon, SD Ginger Beer, and Coronado Gluten-Free Bakery. Unlimited food and drinks with cost of admission.
COST: $60
The Best Food & Drink Events in April
The Grass Skirt | Photo by Robert Benson
