Antojitos Dinner
WHEN: December 11, 8 p.m. to midnight
WHERE: Isabel’s Cantina, 966 Felspar St., Pacific Beach
Isabel Cruz, one of San Diego’s top Latin chefs (Barrio Star, Coffee Cup, etc.) has teamed with Baja Wine + Food to bring together chefs, winemakers, brewers, farmers, ranchers and restaurateurs involved in the San Diego-Baja culinary movement. With Cruz and chefs Claudia Sandoval (Bracero), Nick Nappi (from Fox TV show Master Chef), Jaime Chavez (Sirena) and Flor Franco (Indulge Catering), it’ll be a traditional Mexican dinner with tacos, tostadas, sopes, tomales, pozole, champurrado (thick, warm Mexican drink), pan dulce (baked sweets) and other surprises. Plus, Baja wines, San Diego craft beer and a piñata.
PRICE: $30
Chef Catch Dinner Series
WHEN: December 15
WHERE: Ironside Fish & Oyster, 1654 India St, Little Italy
One of the better trends has been chefs inviting chef friends from out of town to cook in their kitchen for a one-night-only collaboration.
This week chef Jason McLeod of Ironside invites James Beard nominee Renee Erickson—who heads Boat Street Café, The Walrus and the Carpenter, and The Walrus Wins in Seattle—to cook a family-style dinner at the Little Italy restaurant. The Walrus and the Carpenter is an oyster bar, so it fits perfectly with Ironside. Seeing as how McLeod himself is a 2-star Michelin chef, you won’t find more talent in one room this night.
COST: $89 (includes beer pairings and a signed copy of Erickson’s book, A Boat, A Whale & A Walrus)
MORE INFO: Email [email protected]
Best Reds of 2015 Dinner
WHEN: December 27 (4:30 p.m.) and December 28 (5 p.m.)
WHERE: Wine Vault & Bistro, 3731 India St., Midtown, 619-295-3939
Every special dinner at the Wine Vault blows my mind—mostly for the bang-for-the-buck. I’ve asked other top chefs in San Diego if they’re cutting corners on quality to be able to justify the price point. Those chefs say, “Nope, they just save on the location.” It’s tucked in a tiny business park. And the dinners are elaborate. Like this one.
Ten courses, paired with the Vault’s favorite five red wines of 2015—for $50. Fifty bucks. 10 courses plus wine pairings. The wines: 2012 Hangtime Pinot Noir; 2013 Tres Picos Garnacha; 2012 Stolpman “Estate” Sangiovese; 2011 Saxon Brown “Stonewall Block” Zinfandel; 2013 Cass Mourvèdre. Reserve your spots now.
COST: $49.50 (includes half-glass pours of all five red wines)
RSVP: (619) 295-3939
The Best Food & Drink Events This Month: December 2015
Chef Catch Dinner Series at Ironside Fish & Oyster | Photo by Shant Kiraz
