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Follow these food and drink rules and you can remain in our family
1. Please refrain from making artisanal cranberry sauce. Your artisanry is not welcome in the cranberry department. Everyone except Aunt Jenny wants cranberry sauce that looks like blood JELLO in the shape of a can. And Aunt Jenny’s Pinterest addiction is well documented.
2. Pumpkin pie is perfect. Don’t mess with it. Adding smoked paprika or rosemary tells your family that your love for them is second behind your love of your own awful creativity.
3. Keep Thanksgiving conversation neutral and apolitical by starting your toast with “Thanksgiving is about family—Uncle Steve has never won a popular vote but we still feed him.”
4. Welcome to casserole day. Every other day is not casserole day. Please do not casserole on any other day.
5. At least one dish must be made using store-bought crackers as a topping. Ritz is preferred. Save your panko breadcrumbs for your Barefoot Contessa party.
6. Please include vegetarian options because your accidental child says it’s the only thing curing her from your lack of quality parenting.
7. The turkey is not dry. It’s turkey. That’s what turkey does. It dries out. No Thanksgiving turkey in the history of America has ever been juicy. Recipe sites have covered up this conspiracy for decades.
8. If you eat all the dark meat before the rest of the family gets an opportunity, you are subject to deportation to another, lesser family.
9. When making turkey, please plan to make enough for everyone at Thanksgiving. Then double that amount. Because much like Uncle Dan’s awesome third wife, leftovers often turn out to be the best.
10. If you’re thinking about putting stuffing inside the turkey, consider alternatives that are just as good. Like wet newspaper.
11. Yes, your uncle is drunk. That’s what uncles do on Thanksgiving. Do not question your drunk uncle. Asking him to sign a living will during his drunkenness is permissible if he is wealthy and it will benefit the entire family.
12. Boxed stuffing is the best stuffing. God makes it in his boxing place.
How to Win Thanksgiving
Turkeys, buffets, catering, and more
Marina Kitchen offers a modern twist on Thanksgiving classics and American comfort food with its favorites like roasted butternut squash soup and brioche stuffing.
1:30-7 p.m. $48 for adults and $12.99 for children 12 and under. For reservations, call 619-699-8222.
Amaya La Jolla opens its doors to guests for its first winter holiday season with a choice of entrees that ranges from a traditional roasted turkey with dried cherry stuffing to Chilean sea bass. 12-8 p.m. $65 for adults and $25 for children ages 6-12. For reservations, call 858-750-3695.
The Grand Del Mar is home to two different fine dining experiences for the Thanksgiving Holidays. Amaya will feature a three-course tasting menu from 12:30-8 p.m. $78 for adults, $115 with wine pairings and $35 for children ages 6-12. Addison features a Thanksgiving-inspired seven-course menu from 3-8 p.m. $185 per person and $295 with wine pairings. For reservations to either restaurant, call 858-314-1996.
Pacifica Del Mar features eight different entrée selections for its three-course Thanksgiving meal, including grilled filet mignon and seared Atlantic sea scallops.
$39 for the traditional roasted turkey entrée, $49 for all other entrees, $16 for children 12 and under. For reservations, call 858-792-0476.
The Shores seeks to provide an alternative to the traditional Thanksgiving experience with its oceanfront dining and main courses such as toasted macadamia nut ricotta blintz and gremolata crusted butterfish.
10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. $46 for adults, $23 for children ages 6-12, $4/year for children under 5. For reservations, call 866-644-2630.
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa is hosting a special Thanksgiving Day buffet, featuring a chilled seafood bar and signature house drinks in addition to their famous Mary’s Organic Turkey.
2 p.m.- 8 p.m. $60 for adults, $30 for children ages 12 and under. For reservations, call 858.964.6521.
The Hotel del Coronado will open up both its Crown Room and oceanfront Ballroom to host a luxurious Thanksgiving buffet, complete with live entertainment.
2 p.m. – 6 p.m. $98.50 for adults and $40 for children. For reservations, visit hoteldel.com.
La Costa Resort will transform its Poinsettia Ballroom into a lavish Thanksgiving dining experience, featuring a variety of smoked fish, gourmet salads, tapas, and chef specials.
11 a.m. – 5 p.m. $68 for adults, $28 for children ages 6-16, children 5 and under free. For reservations, call 800-854-5000.
Mimi’s Cafe offers a classic Thanksgiving menu featuring roasted turkey and traditional sides. Guests can choose to dine in or take their orders to go.
8 a.m. to 8 p.m., $16.99 for adults, $8.99 for children ages 12 and under, $99.99 for a feast to-go; serves 6-8 people. To order online or find your local restaurant, visit mimiscafe.com.
Bertrand at Mr. A’s overlooks a spectacular view of the San Diego skyline from it’s outdoor, wrap around balcony. For the holiday meal they are offering a choice of five main entrees, including potato crusted sea bass, roasted dietsel turkey and oven roasted Maine lobster.
12 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. $59.50 per person. For reservations, visit bertrandatmras.com.
The Marine Room is offering five main courses for the Thanksgiving holiday, including options like braised port osso bucco, black angus filet mingon, and julian pear cider brined Sonoma turkey breast.
12 p.m. – 7 p.m. Prices vary depending on dishes, main courses $36-$44. For reservations, call 866-644-2351.
The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe will be featuring a three-course tasting menu created by chef Todd Allison. The options for the main course include both Thanksgiving favorites like Diestel turkey and the Inn’s famous garden crusted tenderloin. 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. $69.50 for adults and $30 for children ages 6 to 12. For reservations, call 858-381-8289 or reserve a table online.
Mille Fleurs Chef de Cuisine Martin Woesle offers his guests a unique holiday experience with his farm-to-table Thanksgiving menu. Guests can choose between ordering items a la carte or the four-course prix fixe menu, which includes items such as Duck Pate, Roasted Fennel Soup, and Oven-Roasted Diestel Turkey. 1:30 -7 p.m. $65 per guest. Reservations can be made online at www.millefleurs.com or by calling 858-756-3085.
Bali Hai Restaurant is giving this Thanksgiving season a Polynesian twist. Featured entrée dishes include Kalua Braised Turkey Dark Meat, Salmon with a Soy Maple Glaze and Macadamia Nut stuffing with Chinese Sausage. 11:00 a.m. -7 p.m. $39 for adults and $16 for children ages 6 to12. For reservations, call 619-222-1181.
Tom Ham’s Lighthouse brings its fresh seafood to the Thanksgiving table with entrees including Maine lobster claws, Oysters on the Half Shell, and salmon covered in a herb and chipotle citrus glaze. 11:00a.m. -7 p.m. $42 for adults and $18 for children ages 6 to12. Children under 5 are free. For reservations, call 619-291-9110.
Kitchen 1540 at L’auberge Del Mar will feature its signature modern American style cooking with a three-course prix fixe Thanksgiving menu. Guests have the option to choose between four starters, which include beef tartare and squash gnocchi, as well as four entrée options, including duck breast and black cod. 12 -8 p.m. $70 for adults and $34 for children under 12. For reservations, call 858-793-6460.
Carlsbad Beach Bistro at the Hilton Garden Inn will be hosting a traditional three-course Thanksgiving menu with a starter of roasted butternut squash, entrée of roasted turkey with sourdough bread stuffing, and pumpkin pie for dessert. 12. -10 p.m. $26.95 for adults and $14.95 for children ages 6 to12. Children under age 5 are free. For reservations, call 760-476-0800.
Chandler’s at Hilton Carlsbad offers both a classic roasted turkey and the more non-traditional selections of blue cheese-crusted beef tenderloin or crab-crusted sea bass For those who wish to enjoy a gourmet Thanksgiving at their own dining table, Chandler’s offers a to go package priced at $250 designed to serve 16 people.11a.m. -7:30 p.m. $52/$54 based on choice of entrée and $24 for children under age 10. Turkey-To-Go orders must be placed 72 hours in advance. To make reservations for either the restaurant or Turkey-To-Go, call 760-683-5500.
Paradise Point is transforming the Baleen dining room into a Thanksgiving haven, complete with a three-course menu and a gorgeous view overlooking Mission Bay. Menu options include brown sugar-brined turkey, lobster cannelloni, and honey mustard-glazed short rib.3 -7 p.m. $49 for adults and $20 for children. For reservations, visit www.paradisepoint.com
JRDN at Tower23 Hotel will be serving a four-course Thanksgiving meal with a California twist, courtesy of Executive Chef David Warner. Entrée options include roasted Mary’s Turkey, pan seared scallops, grilled beef tenderloin, grilled tombo, and an autumn vegetable risotto. 3 -8 p.m. Prices vary per entrée. For reservations, call 858-270-5736.
Manchester Grand Hyatt is home to two different Thanksgiving feasts this holiday season. Lael’s will feature a buffet that includes seasonal options such as Jack Daniel’s pumpkin bisque, Alaskan king crabs, and cider brine roasted turkey. 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. $64.95 for adults, $45 for seniors over 62, $25 for children ages 5 to 12, and children 5 and under are free. For reservations, call 619-358-6735. Sally’s on the Water offers guests the choice between a three or four-course meal, priced at $42 per person and $20 for wine pairings. Dinner served from 5:30 – 9:30p.m. For reservations, call 619-358-6740.
Veladora at Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa is hosting an elaborate buffet that includes stations such as charcuterie and cheeses, carving, cold seafood, and desserts. Guests can enjoy life music as they try the truffle honey glazed Scottish trout or chorizo and herb stuffing. 1 -7 p.m. $89 for adults, $29 for children ages 11 and under, children under 3 are free. For reservations, call 858-759-6246.
THE US GRANT will be serving holiday favorites such as roasted turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, and roasted acorn squash at their Thanksgiving buffet. To ease the stress of the holidays, guests can also enjoy complimentary valet service and live entertainment. Seatings for the buffet will be offered at 12:30p.m., 2p.m., 3:30p.m., 4:15p.m. $75 for adults,$65 for seniors, $29 for children ages 12 and under. For reservations, call 619-744-2039.
BiCE Ristorante is giving Thanksgiving an Italian twist with its carefully crafted holiday menu. This three-course menu includes options such as lacinato kale and farro salad, chicken roulade, and soft polenta. 5p.m. -9:30 p.m. $42 for adults, $21 for children ages 10 and under. For reservations, call 619-239-2423.
Brockton Villa is hosting a special Thanksgiving brunch where Executive Chef Mareyja Sisbarro will be serving specials that include bourbon pumpkin pie panckaes and a Thanksgiving eggs benedict. Restaurant favorites such as healthy breakfast steamers and Coast Toast will also be available. 8a.m. -2p.m. Prices vary. For reservations, visit www.brocktonvilla.com online.
Katsuya San Diego offers a unique Thanksgiving experience for those looking to avoid a typical turkey and gravy dinner. Featuring its full Japanese-inspired menu, guests can choose between restaurant favorites such as miso-marinated black cod, crispy rice with spicy tuna, and Wagyu Tobanyaki. For reservations, call 619-814-2000.
KELVIN at W San Diego is transforming its signature restaurant Kelvin into an elegant Thanksgiving dinner, complete with sage honey glazed turkey, grilled country ham, and pumpkin mousse tart. 11:30a.m. – 10p.m. For reservations, call 619-398-3082.
Rancho Bernardo Inn is offering a variety of Thanksgiving Day options for where to eat this Thanksgiving holiday. Guests looking for a traditional, three-course menu of roasted turkey and mashed potatoes will find it at Verdana. 12-9p.m. $38 for adults and $15 for children ages 4-14.Those looking for one more course can head to Avant, which will feature a gourmet four-course menu complete with truffle rilletes and roasted pumkin panna cotta. 2p.m -7p.m. $70 for adults and $35 for children ages 4-14. Finally, the Aragon Ballroom will feature a five-station buffet where guests can indulge in Thanksgiving favorites. 11a.m.-3p.m. $60 for adults and $25 for children ages 4-14. For reservations at any of the restaurants, call 858.675.8550.
The French Gourmet has the perfect amount of food for families big and small. With turkeys as large as 28 lbs., even the biggest of families will finish their meals feeling as stuffed as the turkeys themselves. Customers can choose menu items at individual prices or complete turkey dinners where prices vary per number of people.
Hot food orders available for pick-up between 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Order online at thefrenchgourmet.com.
Elijah’s offers four different fully prepared Thanksgiving packages: turkey, beef brisket, ham, and prime rib. Each dinner serves 10 people and includes a choice of two sides and a dessert.
To place an order, call 858-455-9529. Food available for pick up or deliver.
Marie Callender’s take-home feasts start at just $99.99 and include a choice of oven roasted turkey breast or ham as well as seven sides and a pie. With several locations throughout the greater San Diego area, you won’t have to travel far to bring home your Thanksgiving meal. Orders can be placed online and all meals require 3 hours reheating time.
YouBComplete Run for the Hungry is hosting both a 10K run and 5K run/walk this Thanksgiving day downtown. The race runs through the Gaslamp District and East Village. Proceeds benefit the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank and Foodmobile. 10K starts at 7:10am and 5K starts at 8:15. Early registration is $35 for adults and $22 for youth.
Father Joe’s Villages Thanksgiving Day 5K is a run through Balboa Park with 100% of proceeds benefitting the homeless members of the San Diego community. The race will begin in front of the San Diego Museum of Man. Race begins at 7:45am
Mama’s Kitchen Pie in the Sky Fundraiser happens every year at Thanksgiving. The pies are made by local San Diego chefs and bakers and the money goes toward providing more than 375,000 meals to people affected by HIV/AIDS and cancer. (P.S. San Diego Magazine wants to help them reach their 5,000-pie goal. Buy a pie for $20 or $25. Order online at mamaspies.org and select San Diego Magazine as the seller.)
SD Thanksgiving Guide 2013
Turkeys, buffets, catering, and more
Marina Kitchen offers a modern twist on Thanksgiving classics and American comfort food with its favorites like roasted butternut squash soup and brioche stuffing.
1:30-7 p.m. $48 for adults and $12.99 for children 12 and under. For reservations, call 619-699-8222.
Amaya La Jolla opens its doors to guests for its first winter holiday season with a choice of entrees that ranges from a traditional roasted turkey with dried cherry stuffing to Chilean sea bass. 12-8 p.m. $65 for adults and $25 for children ages 6-12. For reservations, call 858-750-3695.
The Grand Del Mar is home to two different fine dining experiences for the Thanksgiving Holidays. Amaya will feature a three-course tasting menu from 12:30-8 p.m. $78 for adults, $115 with wine pairings and $35 for children ages 6-12. Addison features a Thanksgiving-inspired seven-course menu from 3-8 p.m. $185 per person and $295 with wine pairings. For reservations to either restaurant, call 858-314-1996.
Pacifica Del Mar features eight different entrée selections for its three-course Thanksgiving meal, including grilled filet mignon and seared Atlantic sea scallops.
$39 for the traditional roasted turkey entrée, $49 for all other entrees, $16 for children 12 and under. For reservations, call 858-792-0476.
The Shores seeks to provide an alternative to the traditional Thanksgiving experience with its oceanfront dining and main courses such as toasted macadamia nut ricotta blintz and gremolata crusted butterfish.
10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. $46 for adults, $23 for children ages 6-12, $4/year for children under 5. For reservations, call 866-644-2630.
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa is hosting a special Thanksgiving Day buffet, featuring a chilled seafood bar and signature house drinks in addition to their famous Mary’s Organic Turkey.
2 p.m.- 8 p.m. $60 for adults, $30 for children ages 12 and under. For reservations, call 858.964.6521.
The Hotel del Coronado will open up both its Crown Room and oceanfront Ballroom to host a luxurious Thanksgiving buffet, complete with live entertainment.
2 p.m. – 6 p.m. $98.50 for adults and $40 for children. For reservations, visit hoteldel.com.
La Costa Resort will transform its Poinsettia Ballroom into a lavish Thanksgiving dining experience, featuring a variety of smoked fish, gourmet salads, tapas, and chef specials.
11 a.m. – 5 p.m. $68 for adults, $28 for children ages 6-16, children 5 and under free. For reservations, call 800-854-5000.
Mimi’s Cafe offers a classic Thanksgiving menu featuring roasted turkey and traditional sides. Guests can choose to dine in or take their orders to go.
8 a.m. to 8 p.m., $15.99 for adults, $7.99 for children ages 12 and under, $89.99 for a feast to-go; serves 6-8 people. To order online or find your local restaurant, visit mimiscafe.com.
Bertrand at Mr. A’s overlooks a spectacular view of the San Diego skyline from it’s outdoor, wrap around balcony. For the holiday meal they are offering a choice of five main entrees, including potato crusted sea bass, roasted dietsel turkey and oven roasted Maine lobster.
12 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. $59.50 per person. For reservations, visit bertrandatmras.com.
The Marine Room is offering five main courses for the Thanksgiving holiday, including options like braised port osso bucco, black angus filet mingon, and julian pear cider brined Sonoma turkey breast.
12 p.m. – 7 p.m. Prices vary depending on dishes, main courses $36-$44. For reservations, call 866-644-2351.
The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe will be featuring a three-course tasting menu created by chef Todd Allison. The options for the main course include both Thanksgiving favorites like Diestel turkey and the Inn’s famous garden crusted tenderloin. 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. $69.50 for adults and $30 for children ages 6 to 12. For reservations, call 858-381-8289 or reserve a table online.
Mille Fleurs Chef de Cuisine Martin Woesle offers his guests a unique holiday experience with his farm-to-table Thanksgiving menu. Guests can choose between ordering items a la carte or the four-course prix fixe menu, which includes items such as Duck Pate, Roasted Fennel Soup, and Oven-Roasted Diestel Turkey. 1:30 -7 p.m. $65 per guest. Reservations can be made online at www.millefleurs.com or by calling 858-756-3085.
Bali Hai Restaurant is giving this Thanksgiving season a Polynesian twist. Featured entrée dishes include Kalua Braised Turkey Dark Meat, Salmon with a Soy Maple Glaze and Macadamia Nut stuffing with Chinese Sausage. 11:00 a.m. -7 p.m. $39 for adults and $16 for children ages 6 to12. For reservations, call 619-222-1181.
Tom Ham’s Lighthouse brings its fresh seafood to the Thanksgiving table with entrees including Maine lobster claws, Oysters on the Half Shell, and salmon covered in a herb and chipotle citrus glaze. 11:00a.m. -7 p.m. $42 for adults and $86 for children ages 6 to12. Children under 5 are free. For reservations, call 619-291-9110.
Kitchen 1540 at L’auberge Del Mar will feature its signature modern American style cooking with a three-course prix fixe Thanksgiving menu. Guests have the option to choose between four starters, which include beef tartare and squash gnocchi, as well as four entrée options, including duck breast and black cod. 12 -8 p.m. $70 for adults and $34 for children under 12. For reservations, call 858-793-6460.
Carlsbad Beach Bistro at the Hilton Garden Inn will be hosting a traditional three-course Thanksgiving menu with a starter of roasted butternut squash, entrée of roasted turkey with sourdough bread stuffing, and pumpkin pie for dessert. 12. -10 p.m. $26.95 for adults and $14.95 for children ages 6 to12. Children under age 5 are free. For reservations, call 760-476-0800.
Chandler’s at Hilton Carlsbad offers both a classic roasted turkey and the more non-traditional selections of blue cheese-crusted beef tenderloin or crab-crusted sea bass For those who wish to enjoy a gourmet Thanksgiving at their own dining table, Chandler’s offers a to go package priced at $250 designed to serve 16 people.11a.m. -7:30 p.m. $52/$54 based on choice of entrée and $24 for children under age 10. Turkey-To-Go orders must be placed 72 hours in advance. To make reservations for either the restaurant or Turkey-To-Go, call 760-683-5500.
Paradise Point is transforming the Baleen dining room into a Thanksgiving haven, complete with a three-course menu and a gorgeous view overlooking Mission Bay. Menu options include brown sugar-brined turkey, lobster cannelloni, and honey mustard-glazed short rib.3 -7 p.m. $49 for adults and $20 for children. For reservations, visit www.paradisepoint.com
JRDN at Tower23 Hotel will be serving a four-course Thanksgiving meal with a California twist, courtesy of Executive Chef David Warner. Entrée options include roasted Mary’s Turkey, pan seared scallops, grilled beef tenderloin, grilled tombo, and an autumn vegetable risotto. 3 -8 p.m. Prices vary per entrée. For reservations, call 858-270-5736.
Manchester Grand Hyatt is home to two different Thanksgiving feasts this holiday season. Lael’s will feature a buffet that includes seasonal options such as Jack Daniel’s pumpkin bisque, Alaskan king crabs, and cider brine roasted turkey. 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. $64.95 for adults, $45 for seniors over 62, $25 for children ages 5 to 12, and children 5 and under are free. For reservations, call 619-358-6735. Sally’s on the Water offers guests the choice between a three or four-course meal, priced at $42 per person and $20 for wine pairings. Dinner served from 5:30 – 9:30p.m. For reservations, call 619-358-6740.
Veladora at Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa is hosting an elaborate buffet that includes stations such as charcuterie and cheeses, carving, cold seafood, and desserts. Guests can enjoy life music as they try the truffle honey glazed Scottish trout or chorizo and herb stuffing. 1 -7 p.m. $89 for adults, $29 for children ages 11 and under, children under 3 are free. For reservations, call 858-759-6246.
Grant Grill at the US GRANT Hotel will be serving holiday favorites such as roasted turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, and roasted acorn squash at their Thanksgiving buffet. To ease the stress of the holidays, guests can also enjoy complimentary valet service and live entertainment. Seatings for the buffet will be offered at 12:30p.m., 2p.m., 3:30p.m., 4:15p.m. $75 for adults,$65 for seniors, $29 for children ages 12 and under. For reservations, call 619-744-2039.
BiCE Ristorante is giving Thanksgiving an Italian twist with its carefully crafted holiday menu. This three-course menu includes options such as lacinato kale and farro salad, chicken roulade, and soft polenta. 5p.m. -9:30 p.m. $42 for adults, $21 for children ages 10 and under. For reservations, call 619-239-2423.
Brockton Villa is hosting a special Thanksgiving brunch where Executive Chef Mareyja Sisbarro will be serving specials that include bourbon pumpkin pie panckaes and a Thanksgiving eggs benedict. Restaurant favorites such as healthy breakfast steamers and Coast Toast will also be available. 8a.m. -2p.m. Prices vary. For reservations, visit www.brocktonvilla.com online.
Katsuya San Diego offers a unique Thanksgiving experience for those looking to avoid a typical turkey and gravy dinner. Featuring its full Japanese-inspired menu, guests can choose between restaurant favorites such as miso-marinated black cod, crispy rice with spicy tuna, and Wagyu Tobanyaki. For reservations, call 619-814-2000.
W Hotel is transforming its signature restaurant Kelvin into an elegant Thanksgiving dinner, complete with sage honey glazed turkey, grilled country ham, and pumpkin mousse tart. 11:30a.m. – 10p.m. For reservations, call 619-814-2000.
Rancho Bernardo Inn is offering a variety of Thanksgiving Day options for where to eat this Thanksgiving holiday. Guests looking for a traditional, three-course menu of roasted turkey and mashed potatoes will find it at Verdana. 12-9p.m. $38 for adults and $15 for children ages 4-14.Those looking for one more course can head to Avant, which will feature a gourmet four-course menu complete with truffle rilletes and roasted pumkin panna cotta. 2p.m -7p.m. $70 for adults and $35 for children ages 4-14. Finally, the Aragon Ballroom will feature a five-station buffet where guests can indulge in Thanksgiving favorites. 11a.m.-3p.m. $60 for adults and $25 for children ages 4-14. For reservations at any of the restaurants, call 858.675.8550.
The French Gourmet has the perfect amount of food for families big and small. With turkeys as large as 28 lbs., even the biggest of families will finish their meals feeling as stuffed as the turkeys themselves. Customers can choose menu items at individual prices or complete turkey dinners where prices vary per number of people.
Hot food orders available for pick-up between 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Order online at thefrenchgourmet.com.
Elijah’s offers four different fully prepared Thanksgiving packages: turkey, beef brisket, ham, and prime rib. Each dinner serves 10 people and includes a choice of two sides and a dessert.
To place an order, call 858-455-9529. Food available for pick up or deliver.
Marie Callender’s take-home feasts start at just $99.99 and include a choice of oven roasted turkey breast or ham as well as seven sides and a pie. With several locations throughout the greater San Diego area, you won’t have to travel far to bring home your Thanksgiving meal. Orders can be placed online and all meals require 3 hours reheating time.
YouBComplete Run for the Hungry is hosting both a 10K run and 5K run/walk this Thanksgiving day downtown. The race runs through the Gaslamp District and East Village. Proceeds benefit the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank and Foodmobile. 10K starts at 7:10am and 5K starts at 8:15. Early registration is $35 for adults and $22 for youth.
Father Joe’s Villages Thanksgiving Day 5K is a run through Balboa Park with 100% of proceeds benefitting the homeless members of the San Diego community. The race will begin in front of the San Diego Museum of Man. Race begins at 7:45am
Mama’s Kitchen Pie in the Sky Fundraiser happens every year at Thanksgiving. The pies are made by local San Diego chefs and bakers and the money goes toward providing more than 375,000 meals to people affected by HIV/AIDS and cancer. (P.S. San Diego Magazine wants to help them reach their 5,000-pie goal. Buy a pie for $20 or $25. Order online at mamaspies.org and select San Diego Magazine as the seller.)
SD Thanksgiving Guide 2012
After a blind taste test, these four desserts came out on top—see the winners here
Basque grandmothers have not been making it for centuries. If you’re a millennial, there’s a strong possibility you’re older than the dessert itself. Yet somehow in less than 40 years, the Basque cheesecake—a half-pudding, half-cake creation with a top that looks like a mistake—managed to ooze its way onto menus all over the world.
It became the undisputed dessert star of San Diego’s restaurant world this year. So we invited 19 of the top restaurants, pastry chefs, and bakers to bring their best to the San Diego Magazine office for a blind taste test to find the best in the city.
First, a little history and context.
In 1987, after failing to find a job as an electrician, Santiago Rivera started working as a bartender at his parents’ unassuming pintxo bar La Viña, in San Sebastián, Spain. He was a naturally curious, self-taught cook who spent his free time testing recipes, tinkering with ingredients, and tweaking techniques.
So when it came to the cheesecake—which hadn’t changed much since its invention (a rudimentary version was served at the first Olympics in Greece 4,000 years ago, and the modern New York version in 1872)—he got radical with it.
He removed the crust (partly just to speed up the process because time is money for a small business). Without the crumbly crust, the experience was far creamier, less granulated. Then he cranked the oven to 400 degrees, nearly 100 degrees hotter than the normal baking temperature.
The result? The top became deeply caramelized, almost burnt, while leaving the center luxuriously soft and loosely set. The restaurant became a legend because of this breakthrough in the dairy arts, and his father never let him stop making it after that.
Now, 67 years after the restaurant’s opening, La Viña stands out for the unceasing line spilling onto the street, and the remarkable amount of curd cultists standing nearby, hovering over cream-smeared plastic containers. It’s the kind of scene that makes you stop and think: What the hell are they eating?
Now, the blind tasting. To keep things fair, the contenders were divided into four categories: Restaurant Traditional, Restaurant Flavored, Bakery Traditional, and Bakery Flavored. (It’s a tad unfair to pit a baker who specializes in the one glorious thing against a restaurant that cooks dozens of things.) Each entry was served blind and judged on texture, flavor, and number of vaguely inappropriate food moans.
The logistics were chaotic, to say the least. Our fridge—not a walk-in, sadly—was packed to the brim. Each cake was sliced, secretly labeled, and shuffled onto plates while the team gathered in the conference room. The whole shebang was not in any way sponsored by Lactaid, despite our various attempts to convince them of this ripe marketing opportunity.
The judging became gloriously unhinged. We heard it all, from “I don’t care how the cheesecake gets in my mouth, it just needs to happen,” and “Is it supposed to be this jiggly?” to “Kind of a baby throw-up situation,” “Straight cheese,” and “I’m getting vague socks there.”
But four Basque cheesecakes stood out among the rest, earning themselves the title of Best Burnt Basque Cheesecake in San Diego.

A restaurant for the people. Rosarito native chef Juan González and Megan Strom are the ideal married couple to be running a farm-to-table joint. She’s been a farmer for decades, selling top-notch produce to some of the best restaurants in California—which is how the two met. A couple years ago, she started working at the small organic farm in Valley Center run by Mike Reeske, who had spent decades breeding the perfect heirloom beans for SoCal’s climate. He recently retired, and gifted those strains to Strom—who grows them (and other crops) for their tiny Escondido taco/burrito shop specializing in guisados (Mexican stews).
A Basque cheesecake in a taco shop? You bet. Juan’s got family roots in Spain and has cooked in Spanish kitchens.
Mesa Agricola’s winning Basque is by far the most “burnt” of all contenders—so much so that an Instagram follower declared it a mistake. But as Chef Juan notes, there’s an art to hitting the sweet spot where “the bitterness of the char balances the richness and sweetness without turning it into ‘chicharrón.’” Plus, char is a core charm of Baja cooking. It’s the perfect Basque for the people who prefer setting their campfire marshmallows fully on fire.

With red leather booths and a retro steakhouse vibe, Moe’s in Mission Beach is a good cheat day destination. The menu is flavor maximalism—dry-aged steaks, housemade pastas, brown liquors, and sides like the lobster truffle mac ’n’ cheese. Pastry chef Eli Peralta (whom some might remember as the creator of The Patio on Lamont’s “Twisted Elvis”—a peanut butter-banana brûlée stunner) brings that same intensity to the dessert menu.
Baked at sister restaurant Molly’s (6 feet away), his Basque is served on a bed of caramel with walnut brittle and a dollop of whipped cream, an indulgent recipe that converted the pastry chef himself. “I wasn’t crazy about cheesecakes,” Eli admits. “Then I started making different flavors, and I started to like them.” He’s not the only convert: During our blind tasting, one judge likened the cake to crème brûlée, concluding, “I don’t even like crème brûlée, but I like this.”

Every creative pursuit starts with a muse—and Lada Sadovnyk’s has been the Basque cheesecake for years. In Ukraine, she baked them for friends and family gatherings, never imagining she would one day build an entire bakery around them in the US. “When we moved to San Diego,” she explains, “I kept thinking, ‘What can I do? What do I really love to do?’”
The answer is pretty fantastic.
After obsessing over proportion and techniques, chasing that molten center and deeply caramelized top, what began as an online recipe evolved into something entirely of her own.
She moved from her home kitchen to a rented commercial kitchen close to Sports Arena. The orders kept coming, and so did the pressure. “At one point, I was thinking about divorcing my husband,” she says with a laugh (while sitting next to him). The grind paid off: Today, Muse Cheesecakes bakes roughly 1,200 cheesecakes a month and is planning to open its first brick-and-mortar home in Pacific Beach.
For our competition, the expectations met reality. Muse has made a quick name in San Diego as the Basque to beat. In a blind taste test, there’s no bias, no reputational shine to sway a room. The response on reveal: “Oh, of course.”

Husband-and-wife duo Alex and Anastasia Kiperband pulled off the number of failures (and then some) that are required of any search for the best recipe. After adjusting baking temps, sugar rations, and experimenting with different brands of cream cheese and heavy cream—they finally landed on something worthy of a business license.
“When we started this business in America, we were really nervous,” Anastasia says, co-owner of Bite Cheesecakes & Bakery.
Once they won over those first customers, their confidence grew enough to start tinkering. When Dubai chocolate took social media by storm, they developed their own version, making the pistachio paste from scratch before layering the buttery kataifi pastry beneath a glossy chocolate shell to create its signature Dubai Chocolate Basque Cheesecake.
“In a lot of situations, we’re converting cheesecake haters to cheesecake lovers,” they say. “That’s probably the best feedback that we get.”
Camila Ibarra Gallego is a CaliBaja native pursuing a master's degree in culinary journalism at the Basque Culinary Center. Shaped by the culturally rich, bicultural megaregion, she's passionate about sniffing out stories that connect people, territory and culture through food. When she's not tumbling down internet rabbit holes, you can find her pretending to be a wine connoisseur at a local wine bar or nose-deep in a good book.
Earlier this year, Fit quietly dropped "athletic" from its brand, from Fit Athletic Clubs to simply Fit, and started calling itself something new: a social wellness club.
There’s a version of San Diego that lives in two extremes. On one side, the 5 a.m. crowd: biohackers, marathoners, people who’ve already logged a cold plunge before your alarm goes off. On the other, the after-dark crowd, the ones chasing sunset happy hours and late dinners with friends. Everyone seems to be either optimizing or unwinding, and most of us feel like we’re failing at both.
Fit, San Diego’s reigning Best Gym for the third year running, has built its entire identity around erasing that divide.
Walk into one of Fit’s three San Diego locations on a Tuesday afternoon and the lines blur fast. Someone’s mid-set on the squat rack. Someone else has a laptop open at a café table a few feet away, half-working, half-people-watching. A group is trading plans for the weekend’s event by the recovery lounge. Nobody’s in a rush to leave.
“We’re not competing for the same people,” says Emily Waybright, Public Relations Manager at Fit, addressing the arrival of a national luxury gym chain in San Diego this year. “We don’t really feel like we’re in the gym category. It’s this unique thing.”
That unique thing has a name now. Earlier this year, Fit quietly dropped “athletic” from its brand, from Fit Athletic Clubs to simply Fit, and started calling itself something new: a social wellness club.
It’s a small wording change with a bigger idea behind it. Fit was never built around escaping the workday. It was built around the people who genuinely like what they do, and who want workouts, work, and friendships to happen in the same place instead of three separate ones. Because sometimes red light therapy with a stranger turns into weekend plans.
Fit’s philosophy traces back to its founder, who started the brand nearly two decades ago after failing to find a gym he actually wanted to belong to. He looked instead to the old-school country club, where people came for a shared interest and stayed for the community. His version was made for a younger generation, minus the golf, plus the loud music.
Which makes it a little ironic that the very award putting Fit back in the spotlight this year is Best Gym.
What does the best traditional gym look like when the definition of a gym is becoming less traditional? It’s a fair question, and Fit’s answer is that the fitness industry itself is shifting. The 45-minutes-in, 45-minutes-out model is giving way to something closer to a genuine third space, the kind of role the office and the bar used to play before remote work and changing nightlife habits rearranged how people spend their time
For Fit, community isn’t a marketing add-on to fitness. It’s the through-line. Members aren’t just paying for a treadmill; they’re paying for an entire day of social wellness that’s built on performance, recovery, connection, and a plan for the next event on the calendar. That’s a much harder membership to walk away from.
Ambition and ease aren’t opposites here, they exist side by side, where passion and play share the same morning. On September 12, Fit is hosting Sol, a full day wellness festival at Fit Social. The morning focuses on wellness classes and vendors and then the evening is a full party with multiple DJ sets and an open bar. Think of it as a kick-off to locals’ summer in San Diego.
Ready to see what a social wellness club actually looks like? Visit fitclubs.com, or follow along at @thefitclubs on Instagram.
Casa Del Lobo blends coffee culture with Mexican design, serving seasonal drinks alongside its own handcrafted ceramics
There aren’t many places left in San Diego with a lack of specialty coffee options. This week, we can add La Jolla Shores to that list—Casa Del Lobo has arrived. Life-and-business partners Christine Silver and Saul Moreno came to San Diego the same route so many of us have: coming for vacation and falling in love with the city and each other.
Silver was working on Wall Street in New York City and decided to visit some friends in SoCal after the pandemic clouds lifted. Moreno happened to be visiting from Mexico City at the same time. The two met, moved here, got married, had a baby, and thought, “Hey, why not start our own business?”
Apparently, their whirlwind lives needed more windy whirls. (Windy whirls? They like to stay busy.) Casa Del Lobo isn’t either of their first rodeos, although it’s both of their first forays into the coffee space. “We’re both serial entrepreneurs,” laughs Silver. She runs a venture capital business that invests in women-owned wellness companies, and he runs his own logistics company out of Mexico City. “We keep saying, ‘Oh, it’s the last time we’ll start a business. Then all of a sudden, a year or two later, we can’t help ourselves.’”
The idea to open Casa Del Lobo initially started when the pair began decorating their house in Windansea. After looking for large-scale ceramic planters and outdoor fountains that met their quality expectations without egregious price tags (something Moreno was used to seeing in Mexico), they realized there simply weren’t any comparable options here.
So rather than continuing to drive over the border to go shopping, they decided to bring Mexican ceramic style to San Diego.
The partners now run a manufacturing facility in Tecate, specializing in large-format ceramics and specialty glazes. As they sought out potential locations to open a planter store, they realized they could go one of two routes. One, get a warehouse in an industrial area and rely on marketing to get the word out. Or two, they could diversify by opening a homey retail store where people have to walk through the shop area to get a cup of specialty coffee.
They went with option two, and coffee quickly became their primary objective.
“My husband and I, we love coffee,” she says, adding that whenever they go on vacation, no matter where they are in the world, figuring out where to get a java fix every day is their number one goal. (Side note: I can strongly relate.) Mexico City coffee and design culture lean heavily urban and industrial in feel, mixing both an Old World architecture with modern sensibilities—something Silver says they felt was missing locally, specifically in La Jolla Shores.
Casa Del Lobo, which translates to “house of the wolf” in Spanish, soft opened this week, with traditional coffee offerings like lattes, cappuccinos, and Americanos, along with four housemade syrups that will change seasonally (currently, they are vanilla, lavender, orange blossom, and brown sugar cinnamon). For now, the food is simple pastries from Knead Artisan Bakery, but Silver says they plan to add more options like breakfast burritos, paninis, and natural wine in the future. Eventually, customers will also be able to purchase their signature ceramics online, and one day, they may open more locations along the California coast.
But for now, they’re just getting started in La Jolla. “We’ll be here forever,” says Silver. “We want this to be the first of many.”
Casa Del Lobo is now open at 2246 Avenida de la Playa every Tuesday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.
The team behind El Agave and Nómade will open a breezy new restaurant with tapas, housemade pasta, seafood, and plenty of wine this September
After running El Agave Restaurant & Tequileria in Old Town for 30 years and opening Nómade Tapas & Records in North Park in 2025, owner Juan Carlos Gomez wasn’t actively on the hunt for a new project. But sometimes, you have to grab the opportunities as they come, unexpected though they may be.
He was taking a stroll in Bankers Hill last year when he noticed Barrio Star was closing after 17 years. “[It] was a neighborhood staple for a long time,” he says. So he figured he’d take a look. “We were talking with ownership and threw out an offer, and then it was accepted. So we were like, ‘Okay, cool, guess we’re going to get a new concept going!” (Much respect to the YOLO business style.)
That new restaurant is nearing completion. Filo will open early in September. The restaurant’s name, pronounced fie-low, references phyllo, the Greek word for “leaf” and an unleavened pastry dough commonly used in Mediterranean (often Greek) cuisines. Gomez says the menu will range from all over the Mediterranean region.
“I’ve always been a fan of European cuisine, obviously, but I can’t land on just one,” he laughs. “I’m part Spanish, so we wanted to do something Mediterranean, have a little bit of Spanish, have a little bit of French, Italian, Greek… a lot of olive oil, a lot of sea salt, and very, very light seasoning.”

Although the menu feels European, Gomez says expect the vibe and ingredients to feel very Southern Californian. There will be tapas, of course, and other small plates, along with housemade pastas, salads, with lots of seafood (like a whole branzino) coming from local purveyors. The accompanying beverage program will feel equally breezy, “fresh, very light, citrusy, salty,” he says. “We’re going to have a pretty hefty wine list and full bar.”
Gomez’s goal for Filo is for it to feel like a laid-back, seaside eatery on the craggy Mediterranean coastline—light colors, white oak, lime wash, flowing between the indoor dining room and outdoor patio. Personally, a European escape sounds pretty awesome right about now.
Filo opens at 2706 Fifth Avenue in early September. Initial operating hours are 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with lunch and happy hour coming soon. (Subject to change.)

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Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.
Laika Nur, MD, takes her love of volleyball from the court to the clinic as team physician for the San Diego Mojo
Growing up, Laika Nur, MD, Scripps Clinic sports medicine specialist, loved watching beach volleyball when the Association of Volleyball Professionals tour came to her hometown of Chicago. A talented volleyball player herself, she remembers sitting in the stands all day, and once, even got a couple autographs. Years later, Dr. Nur was attending a professional event focused on women’s sports, and the discussion turned to a new professional women’s volleyball league. The general manager and coaching staff for San Diego’s team, the Mojo, happened to be in attendance, and Dr. Nur took the opportunity to ask them if they needed a team doctor. Flash forward to the Mojo’s inaugural 2024 season, when Dr. Nur officially became the team physician. Click here to read more about Dr. Nur and how she incorporates lessons she learned on the court into her practice.
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