Farm to Fork Week
When: January 13-21
Where: Multiple restaurants
Farm to Fork Week is the brainchild of Trish Watlington, owner of the Red Door and crusader for local, sustainable food. Her idea was pretty simple: Put on an event like Restaurant Week, except include only restaurants who are truly dedicated to using as much local, responsible, sustainable food as possible. Her method was simple, too. She just asked the local chefs and ranchers which restaurants were purchasing the most food, and reached out. It’s like Restaurant Week for the slow-food fans. There will be an opening hog roast on January 13 at Biga San Diego. On January 15, Edible San Diego will host a gathering of top industry folk at Starlite. January 16 there’s a Farm to Pizza event at Blind Lady Ale House, and on January 18 there’s a Green Drinks mixer at BAR by Red Door. Meanwhile, restaurants involved with Farm to Fork will offer reduced-price prix fixe menus all week.
Cost: Varies
San Diego Restaurant Week
When: January 21-28
Where: Multiple restaurants
The restaurant industry is no cakewalk. Profit margins are tiny, and the closure rate is huge. There are a couple months throughout the year that it’s especially brutal, when people simply don’t go out to eat very often. And January is definitely one of those, all of us with party and social fatigue from the holidays. SD Restaurant Week organized to help restaurants during those slow moths. The idea is that participating places offer a prix fixe meal or menu at a discounted rate. It gives food fans a financial incentive to dine out, and try new places they’ve got on their list. My advice, and I apologize to the mom-and-pops, is: Always try the big-dollar restaurants you can’t normally afford. Restaurants like 1500 Ocean (new chef Patrick Ponsaty), Bistro Du Marche (which may have been my best tasting meal this year), Catania, Donovan’s, George’s at the Cove, Lionfish (in the new Pendry hotel), Mille Fleurs (a legend), Mister A’s (another legend, reserve at sunset), Nine-Ten (newly remodeled), Nobu, Pamplemousse, Stake Chophouse, Marine Room, Whisknladle.
Cost: Varies
Fish & Game Tequila Dinners
When: January 24-25, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Herb & Wood, 2210 Kettner Blvd., Little Italy
When chef Brian Malarkey and his partner Chris Puffer took on a huge warehouse space in Little Italy a while back, it was their biggest gamble yet. They had a restaurant the size of an airplane hangar to fill. And fill it they have—Herb & Wood is one of the best arrivals in San Diego in the last 18 months. For this dinner series, they’re partnering with major tequila brands and bringing all the group’s chefs (Malarkey, Shane McIntyre, Jason Gethin, Adrian Mendoza) together to create four-course pairing dinners. Wednesday is seafood-centric: Casa Noble founder Pepe Hermosillo will bring his certified organic tequila to pair with dishes like citrus-poached prawns with roasted sunchoke, watercress, pickled mustard, and sea beans. Thursday is all about game: Eduardo Orendain of Arette tequila will be on hand, pairing with dishes featuring rabbit, foie gras, and wild boar.
Cost: $97.45
Best Food & Drink Events in January
San Diego Restaurant Week at The Marine Room.
