One Paseo

At this newly unveiled shopping center, chat with the owners of several San Diego-based businesses, including Shop Good and Urban Beach House, to get personalized shopping advice, tips on trends of the season, and tailored gift recommendations. Stick around for a tree lighting ceremony…because it’s never too early for Christmas.

3725 Paseo Place

Marrow Fine

This jeweler at One Paseo has three specials this year: A buy-one get-one offer for $499; a limited edition run of a new black onyx design; and each visitor can enter the giveaway of their new Pearl Arch Bracelet. Every purchased piece gives participants an extra entry.

3725 Paseo Place

Shop Good

Shop Good at One Paseo will be gifting a self-care kit valued at $100 with all purchases over $100—so treat yourself! Sip on a free warming CBD cocktail while you visit the free brow bar, open all day, no appointment necessary.

3725 Paseo Place

North Park

If you want funky, one-of-a-kind gifts, North Park is holding. On Small Business Saturday, the hip burg is debuting a new mural painted by local artist Bandit entitled Love Thy Neighborhood. Follow your ears to find 50 musicians playing at 16 local restaurants and breweries in the area.

3939 Iowa Street

Home and Hound

Looking for gifts that you and your favorite fur child will? Sniff around Home and Hound for dog- and human-friendly merch at a cool 15 percent discount off your entire purchase.

3768 30th Street

The Lab A Salon

Pamper yourself by purchasing one of Lab A Salon’s fabulous products and receive 10-15 percent off when you post about their store on social media.

3034 University Avenue

True North Tavern

Slake your shopping-induced thirst with $4 pints of beer or cocktails at this tavern when you show a receipt from any North Park purchase.

3815 30th Street

Little Italy

Little Italy is full of cute shops, places to mangiare, and killer views of the Bay. So why not spend Small Business Saturday with special discounts offered by these shops?

Little Italy Food Hall

Spend more than $50 at any of the locations and you’ll receive a free tote bag. Know what you can do with a free tote? Stuff it with more great things!

550 W. Date Street

Love and Aesthetics

Unique gifts are spilling out of this home goods and lifestyle store. Where else can  you find a banana bud vase or an anatomically-correct heart necklace? Fifteen percent off all regularly priced items.

621 W. Fir Street

L.Y.M. Salon

Does your hair need some love—at a 20 percent discount—this holiday season? Get an additional 10 percent off all Kevin Murphy products.

1550 Front Street

Ocean Beach

In between finding great deals, check out OB’s 1960s vintage bus photo experience and the complimentary trolley transporting shoppers between Newport Avenue and Voltaire Street. With $75 in receipts from local shops, you’ll receive a $25 gift card or be entered into a raffle for a local gift basket.

1868 Bacon Street

Bankers Hill

This little neighborhood tucked behind Waterfront Park is full of deals to sip, snack, and shop the day away.

Thread and Seed

Find complimentary drinks and snacks while you browse this clean beauty products store and pop ups by jewelry maker Jen Morales of Pan and Tea. Meet Molly Beane, founder of one of Thread and Seed’s top selling clean beauty lines, From Molly With Love.

2870 Fourth Avenue, Unit 106

Extraordinary Desserts

How sweet is this deal? Twenty percent off all retail and private label merchandise.

2870 Fourth Avenue

James Coffee Co.

Fuel up for the long day of shop-hopping with a Java from James Coffee Co. Maybe get a pour-over brew in a new mug, because on SBS merchandise is 15 percent off.

2870 Fourth Avenue, Suite 107

Liberty Station

Stock up on needles, yarn, and other supplies while taking advantage of all this naval base-turned-shopping-center offers.

2850 Womble Road

Apricot Yarn & Supply

Step inside a world of pillowy yarn, pointy needles and more at this one-stop yarn shop. Deals include 20 percent off selected yarns, $25 gift cards when you spend $125, and a free gift with a purchase of $50 or more. Bring extra canned food for a food drive they’re conducting for the nonprofit Loaves and Fishes.

2690 Historic Decatur Road

Where to Shop in San Diego on Small Business Saturday

One Paseo | Photo by Jim Simmons

The post Where to Shop in San Diego on Small Business Saturday appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

It’s raised a question: Just how hard is it to do a local, sustainable restaurant?

Fans of the Sea Rocket loved them for their principles as much as their food. Every restaurateur talks about being local and sustainable, but very few stick to their guns when they take a look at the real costs in doing so. Sea Rocket was militant about their ethics, which ultimately lead to their closing.

Partner Elena Rivellino gives a rare insiders look at how the numbers play out. This analysis doesn’t take into account the subjective quality of the finished product (some locals absolutely loved their grilled sardines and live local uni, others weren’t so impressed). Nor does it consider real estate (Sea Rocket is located in a sort of no-man’s land between North Park and South Park). But it does give a rare glimpse at the sheer costs of trying to be a progressive, local seafood restaurant.

Sea Rocket’s final meal will be served on Dec. 8. Consider the following the next time you complain about the menu price of local lobster.

Is sustainability a sustainable restaurant model?

Unfortunately ours wasn’t. Or at least we weren’t able to make it so. Places like Chez Panisse have worked for years. Who knows if it’s simply a market/demand recognition, real estate, being able to charge more and serve less volume of food, operating more hours than we did (which we tried, but couldn’t get going enough to make it worth continuing). It’s probably a combination of it all and maybe San Diego just can’t support that combination of a place quite yet. I feel our type of restaurant has been quite successful elsewhere.  Hopefully it’s all just part of a natural evolutionary/devolutionary process.

Let’s talk operational costs—which I’m sure was a big factor in Sea Rocket closing.

The cost of doing business for a locally sourced, sustainable-only foods restaurant are SOO high. You do have to pay for quality, but we just felt that we couldn’t charge high-end, fine-dining prices in a casual neighborhood bistro in North Park, so we just didn’t get the markup we needed on a lot of our menu items.  We wanted to be reasonably priced to best serve the area, which means we probably should have picked a different kind of food to serve, because seafood is notoriously expensive compared to any other food you could focus on. Maybe that explains why there are so many pizza/salad/sub/burger places.

Industry standard says, to be profitable, restaurants must keep their food costs (what they pay wholesale for food supplies) between 25-30%…

First you kind of have to have an understanding of markups, which can vary between businesses. For example, those with a full liquor license can sell their food cheaper because they have a way bigger markup on the alcohol, which is where they typically make their money—the food almost being a wash or convenience. Any restaurant owner with decent food will tell you that they wouldn’t have made it without the hard liquor advantage—or an incredibly high volume of business, which is hard to sustain.

You sell your live local uni for $18. How much should you have been charging to reach a sustainable profit margin?

We should be charging like $25 per urchin. But we only charge $18 because we’re pretty sure that nobody (except maybe international travelers from Japan) would ever buy them at that price! A long time ago we charged $13 (also not appropriately priced) but then the cost went up a year or two later and we didn’t want to just stop serving them, so we raised the price by $5 to compensate. This is actually why we did entirely stop serving certain things- like local spiny lobster when it’s in season.

You had to stop serving local lobster?

We have not served local spiny lobster in two years, which is very, very sad. The first year, we bought and served a lobster risotto all winter.  It was our highest-priced entree, but people recognized the value and bought it happily. The next year, the price went up, so we made a lobster dip instead, which utilized less meat per order so that we could charge less and still sell it. The next year, the price was like $15-$18/lb WHOLESALE or something like that. (I forget the exact price.)  For 1/4 of the lobster, we would have wanted/needed to charge like $20 for a plate. Who’s gonna pay $20 for a very small portion of lobster? That year, we got it just once in a while, usually getting a deal on those animals with broken claws and such, and only offered it as a special.

As we’ve heard before, local lobster is going to Asia, right?

All of the lobster gets sent to Asia where people will pay $20/lb or whatever.  We as a business and diners have been priced and pushed out of the market for this seafood.  It’s being shipped halfway around the world, adding to pollution, etc. while most of the west coast and other parts of this country import much cheaper, different lobster from places like Maine, or Mexico.  Doesn’t make much sense, does it?

If you don’t meet the basic markup margins on food, is the restaurant necessarily doomed?

It doesn’t always lead to losing money. You try to balance out your menu with other less expensive items that you can maybe charge a little more for than you need to—to make up for those other high-cost dishes. But overall, we had to compromise on too many items, and that’s only food cost we’re talking about.

What about labor costs?

They really add up, too. We ordered ingredients from lots of different sources day to day. We needed time to juggle lots of different orders and information and emails. We couldn’t consolidate trucking/shipping charges with one bigger company. Also, we made everything from scratch in-house—dressings, sauces, spice blends, and use creative culinary techniques like sous viding, smoking, curing, etc.

So restaurateurs wanting to buy local don’t have a single supplier/distributor—which would streamline and lessen costs?

Some consolidation of distribution costs for local goods is absolutely needed in order for this business model to work. Most places, farms and other vendors, etc. now charge a fuel surcharge every single time they bring something to you, no matter how much or heavy or expensive it is.  That adds to your bottom line of ingredient cost, too.

What about the bar tab?

I also was not able to keep my beverage costs at the point we were always aiming for.  If we had never discounted any of our drinks, I could probably have made that goal. But the specials we ran for both food and drink cut into what tiny margin we may have otherwise had.  If we could have cut out all happy hour discounts altogether while still retaining those people who would come in during that time to take advantage of them—oh wait, yeah, that wouldn’t work.

Is there a way to cheat the system?

A lot of places offer cheap prices for cheap product—rather than an actual discount on your usual amazing product, which is what we did. If we didn’t offer discounts, people will go where there are discounts. If I had only served a few craft beers or organic, small-batch wines, and then balanced out my list with a bunch of cheaper, lower quality stuff, I probably could have made it work.  But that’s not what we were about, and we weren’t willing to start chipping away at our entire concept one cost at a time, which would eventually have turned it into a completely different kind of place.

In summary…

If your food costs are high but everything else isn’t, or your beverage cost is high, but everything else isn’t, or your labor cost is high, but everything else isn’t, you could probably make it work.  But take high food, beverage AND labor costs and roll it all into one business, and you have no profit.  (Oh, and don’t forget to budget for all of your miscellaneous expenses!). Sometimes the math just doesn’t work and you need to move onto the next problem.

For all the positive memories (and there are plenty), visit Sea Rocket’s blog at http://www.searocketbistro.com/category/blog.

Unsustainable Sustainability

Gary Allard (www.garyallardphoto.com)

The post Unsustainable Sustainability appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

The business has thrived and Ross has become a mainstay at numerous fundraisers. In fact, “C²” donates fresh-baked goods a few times a week to the Rescue Mission and Just Call Us Volunteers. Ross gets around. So, was it any surprise that the folks at Westfield’s UTC mall got in touch with her to invite Cupcakes Squared into their renovated food court?

Banana Split cupcake

Banana Split Kid-Friendly Two-Pack Squares

Kid-Friendly Two-Pack

Banana Split Kid-Friendly Two-Pack Squares

Local Bounty: June 24

Banana Split Kid-Friendly Two-Pack Squares

Ross moved in just a couple of weeks ago. You can find C² at the foot of the food court’s secondary entrance. It’s a small space, perhaps 60 square feet. Certainly, no baking is done there, but every morning Ross brings in six varieties of cupcakes—both full size and minis—and her brownie-like squares. And, for those in the area who want to choose from her complete flavor repertoire, you can go online to see what’s available, call in your order at the Point Loma store, and pick them up at UTC.

Prices depend on the size of the cupcake, whether they’re regular or gluten free, and the packaging. The full size ranges from $4 for one ($4.25 for gluten free) to $7.75 for two or $15 for four. Minis go from $4 for a package of two, to $7.75 for a package of four, to $11.75 for a package of six.

I, of course, had to sample some of her new flavors and flavor combinations. Here are a few standouts:

Banana Split

All that’s missing here is the maraschino cherry, but you won’t miss it thanks to all the goodies packed into this small package. Inside the banana cake are pieces of fresh strawberries and pineapple, along with chocolate chips. Crowning it is smooth vanilla buttercream, dotted with chopped peanuts and chocolate sprinkles, and finished off with a salted caramel drizzle.

Kid-Friendly Two-Pack

The afternoon I stopped by I was expecting my cousin, his wife, and their two little kids for a visit, so I wanted cupcakes they’d enjoy—and you know how picky little ones can be. Ross suggested her Kid-Friendly two-pack that holds her Smores and Vanilla flavors. The Smores is a warm graham cracker cake with chocolate chips and a hint of cinnamon. It’s topped with chocolate buttercream and a mini marshmallow. The Vanilla appears to be your straightforward vanilla cake, but there’s nothing straightforward about the flavor. Ross likes to call it her Hawaiian Vanilla cupcake because of the deeply rich Hawaiian vanilla that goes into it and the luxuriant vanilla buttercream sporting little vanilla “vermicelli” sprinkles from Callebaut. Both were a big hit with the kids. Oh, and the adults.

Squares

Robin may have a business built around cupcakes, but her squares—both regular and gluten free—are favorites of mine. They’re really a cross between a brownie and a cookie and she packs as many goodies in each of the six flavors as is possible—and still have the connective tissue that’s the dough. So your almond apricot will be bursting with nuts and chunks of dried apricot. The pistachio cherry is punched up with pistachios and tart dried cherries. Then there’s the black and white (chocolate chip), chocolate coconut almond, peanut chocolate, and what may be my favorite—cranberry white chocolate. It’s tart, it’s sweet, it’s chewy. Oy! The squares are $2 apiece  and $10 for a package of six.

The post Local Bounty: June 24 appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

This week my eye is on cherries, which, yes, are considered a stone fruit. I found four varieties of cherries this week at Specialty Produce. Now you may be used to seeing Bings and the Raniers I plucked today. But Specialty Produce’s Dana Chaldekas introduced me to three other varieties you’ve got to try.  And, sure you can nosh on them raw, but consider any of them for an easy clafoutis, ice cream, sauces that are just as perfect over angel food cake or in a crepe as over pork, duck or chicken. Jam them, pie them, add them to fruit salad. Just enjoy them now! They’re all $7 a pound at Specialty Produce.

cherries

Clockwise from top left: Brooks, GG1, Sequoia, Ranier cherries | Photos by Caron Golden

Brooks

These dark, glossy red cherries from Murray Family Farms in Bakersfield, have a pretty red flesh, not unlike the Bing. Sweet but not cloyingly so. They’re a hybrid of Burlat and Rainer varieties, great for eating out of hand, but terrific with savory ingredients like arugula, pine nuts, bacon, and tuna. They won’t last long, so get to them quickly once you get them home.

Sequoia

Sequoia cherries are a little brighter red and larger than the Brooks. Also from Murray Family Farms, they too have a light red flesh, but a complex sweet-tart flavor and they’re very juicy. Snacking is probably their best use, but pair them raw with burrata cheese, dark chocolate, berries, mint, and yogurt. They’re even good for jamming.

GG1

These deeply dark giant cherries, again from Murray Family Farms, are like none you’ve ever eaten. With just the right balance of sugar and acidity and plenty of juice, you probably won’t have any left over from addictively snacking to do any cooking with them. But if you can, these would make a beautiful jam or sauce—or clafoutis.

Ranier

Rainiers may be the most distinctive of the cherry varieties due to their multi-colored skin of pink and red with a blush of gold. Also unlike the other varieties here, their flesh is yellow, sometimes with red streaks near the pit. These Rainiers are from Frog Hollow Farm in Brentwood, Calf. (not that Brentwood; there’s one in Northern California). They can be a little acidic, but when they are at peak ripeness, sweet and mellow. Add these stunners to a fruit or cheese plate of fresh chevre, burrata, or aged cheeses to show them off. Pit them and mix together with basil, cilantro, mint, or oregano, perhaps some fruity olive oil, and chopped chiles to create a sauce for grilled pork chops or chicken. They’re also perfect for baking in pies, cakes, and tarts.

The post Local Bounty: May 28 appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Hiking

Guests pilgrimage to famed health retreat Rancho La Puerta year after year. Three editors attempt to drink the all-natural, locally-sourced, organic Kool-Aid.

Where Deprivation is
De Rigueur

By Erin Meanley

Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico is a French fry-free property. There is also no red meat, chicken, mayo, ranch dressing, TV, Wi-Fi (except in the lounge), or alcohol. There are no cabana boys or room service. On the first night, we sat in our villa, fireplace roaring, smuggled wine in hand, reading books and staring at each other. At 9 p.m., we went to bed since there was nothing else to do—and because we’d all signed up for a sunrise hike at 5:30 a.m.

Activities were varied, plenty, and hippie-leaning. We meditated. We did water aerobics. We walked a reflexology path. I watched an artist teach “yarn painting.” I breathed fresh air, met roaming cows on a trail, drank gallons of water, and consumed more vegetables and fiber than I care to think about. (One tablemate, a nurse named Ellie, watched us devour slices of dense bread before informing us, “That’ll give you gas.”)

Throughout my stay, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I would never be fed again. At the buffets, I cleared small plate after small plate like some kind of vegetarian Michael Phelps. Erin Chambers Smith told me she was giving me the Good Eater Award.

I didn’t stop there. I poured chia seeds, flax seeds, and nutritional yeast onto everything. In just four days, my nails grew to ridiculous lengths. I was Edward Scissorhands slicing the air during Tai Chi.

The fitness was not as challenging as the diet was strict. Ninety percent of the students in one class had never tried Zumba before. In a sculpt and tone class, people were stopping to ask how to orient their step platforms. The classes were relatively low-impact, and just 45 minutes in duration, but the big plus is that it allows you to try a lot of different disciplines.

The first day, I hiked a trail and took four fitness classes. I logged 18,000 steps, according to the pedometer they gave me. Ten thousand per day is the goal—but in an average day at the office I walk a mere 950.

Even though the exercise wasn’t hardcore, it was the most exhausting-relaxing vacation I’ve had. As a result, I slept soundly, which is not the norm for me. I didn’t touch Ambien or ZzzQuil. One ranch employee suggested that people sleep so well there because TV and Internet aren’t keeping them up. People listen more closely to their bodies, and just go to bed when they’re tired. The property’s quiet tranquility doesn’t hurt, either.

There’s much to be said for RLP. We walked between every meal, activity, and lecture. We met friendly people, most of them highly motivated and successful individuals—with Emmy Awards or summer houses to prove it—all reading literary fiction at the pool, open to change and new ways of living. And they weren’t judgy, either. As I wheeled my suitcase out on the final day, Connie from Annapolis called after me, with zero sarcasm, “Enjoy your French fries!”

And I did. They were from In ‘n’ Out. But I’ll tell ya, I kept that pedometer, and I have a newfound respect for vegetarians.

Open Your Mind, Try Something New

By Erin Chambers Smith

It started before I even got to “The Ranch.” I texted my colleagues who were already there that I was coming a day late. I didn’t tell them I was leaving a day early, too. I’ve always been the type to make my own way. I’d heard all about RLP’s health and wellness efforts, but the schedule and rules had me skeptical from the get-go. First, the bans: No alcohol, not even with dinner? No meat? No Wi-Fi?  Then there’s the open-your-mind activities: Cardio-drumming? Uh, not so much for me.

But the thing about RLP is that you really can tailor your stay. And there’s an amazing spa. So if you don’t feel the need to heal your soul one afternoon, or have a conversation with your lower limbs, or re-explore your relationship with God or your mother, you can always take a nap. Or lie by the pool. Or get a pedicure. I opted for all of the latter. I did go to one yoga class, and made a concerted effort. I also put on my joiner hat to take a “What is Feldenkrais?” class, a 15-minute primer before the actual class. I listened to the explanation, but ditched the class. Just not my thing.

I read two books and three magazines in the three days I was there, and I completely broke the rules when it came to food. I snuck in my own wine, beef jerky, and salty pretzels. But not even those rations were enough. The philosophy in the kitchen is valiant. The garden is wildly impressive, and the salads are truly delicious. But three days of greens and granola doesn’t cut it. By the second day, I had figured out a way to save a hard-boiled egg from breakfast, and add it to the handmade tortillas (the size of a small soda lid) at lunch. With salsa and salt, it kind of tasted like a breakfast burrito. On the third day, there was a special event where they served guacamole (made mostly with peas!). I think I ate a half-pound of it.

My renegade ways became a bit of a joke within our group, and I was almost feeling smug about how I’d skirted the program and made my own little spa weekend.

Then I met the resort’s founder, Deborah Szekely, and I felt like an idiot.

We wandered into the weekly fireside chat with Szekely on our last night there. The lights dimmed, the pillows came out, the people gathered in a circle, and I braced for what seemed like another session of spiritual enlightenment. But out from the back hallway walked DS, as regular as any American grandmother. She sat in a chair at the front of the cozy room. She’s one of those people who has a calming aura, so the advice she gives comes across as especially wise. She began by passing around laminated cards with complex diagrams of the human body. One diagram showed all the vessels and nerve systems, and one zoomed-in on the human brain. “Think about how amazing your body is,” she said in her sweet Betty White-like voice. “Look at everything it can do. It makes human beings. It heals itself.” She paused and really let the thought sink in. Szekely, 91, talked about her daily one-hour Pilates workout. If she can do that, I should have tried Feldenkrais. She talked about the chemicals in our food and how little we really consider what goes into our bodies. (Suddenly I wondered how many milligrams of sodium were in that beef jerky tucked in my pocket.) She talked about the importance of quiet time for yourself. Reflection. Daily, she eats breakfast in silence with her dog. She encouraged everyone to take time at the beginning and end of each day to assess their actions and obligations. She also suggested an annual getaway to have a real conversation with yourself about your health and wellbeing. All jokes aside, the discussion was as calming and centering as any yoga class or church service.

Szekely’s not preachy. She’s lived well, and talks and walks what seems like a lovely, peaceful life. I went back to our room for a glass of bootleg wine, but wasn’t so smug anymore. I knew I had missed an opportunity to genuinely try something new, to spend a few days walking in someone else’s shoes.

Slowing Down… for a Minute    

By Kimberly Cunningham

I am a heaping ball of stress. Even as I type these words, my shoulders are tensed, fingers clenched, heart palpitating with the click of every key. This isn’t new news. I come from a long line of worriers. But I became hyper-aware of my condition at the ranch. While my co-workers lounged poolside in their bikinis, flipping through magazines and novels, I lay there fully clothed with my book propped open, dog-eared on the same page it had been for days. I stared aimlessly at the trees, thinking about all the work I’d left behind, wondering if I was having an allergic reaction to all that nature, and feeling completely unable to relax.

Everywhere I looked, people were blissed out—their skin dewy with a post-workout glow. That day at lunch, one of the trainers told us the best gift he’d gotten from the Ranch was meditation. He said it would make us look and feel younger. “Just think of all the money you’ll save on Botox!” he promised. This hooked me. I put down my plate of kale and mushrooms disguised as lasagna, and hiked (at RLP you HIKE!) over to the first meditation class they offered. After much effort to get there, I was slightly disappointed to learn that we were meant to sit in silence for the whole class. Apparently, even the Dalai Lama has a hard time getting into the zone, so it’s no wonder I had a hard time, too. When we were supposed to quiet our minds, I was thinking: This is weird. I need to cough. I need to write that story. I forgot to email so-and-so. I wonder what we’re having for lunch? Dangit!

Feeling defeated, I hiked, with less vigor this time, to another meditation class that involved crystal bowls and chanting. We lay on the floor as a teacher struck the bowls, creating a powerful and supposedly healing sound. Then we sang a song about forgiveness—Kleenex in hand, in case we started to cry. But I didn’t cry. In fact, I felt frustrated that I couldn’t cry, or concentrate, or meditate. And just when I was about to swear off the whole crystal-bowl-chanting thing as ridiculous hippie nonsense, I felt… something. Remember in Eat Pray Love, when writer Elizabeth Gilbert describes being held in the palm of God’s hand? Well, this wasn’t that. I wouldn’t even say I was under the fingernail of God’s hand. But suddenly I was still. And quiet. In that moment, I couldn’t remember a single email that was waiting for me, or anyone I needed to call. The crystal bowls chimed in the distance, and my bones sank into the carpet. When the class was over, I slowly hiked back to my room. What had happened? Did I fall asleep? Did all those vegetables send me into anaphylactic shock? I think it was the beginning stages of meditation.

Our senior editor, Erin Meanley, practices meditation regularly. She uses an app on her iPhone. Sometimes she comes into the office looking really refreshed. On those days I’ll usually notice and compliment her. She only recently told me that those days typically coincide with mornings when she’s meditated for 20 minutes. At RLP, they say if you practice meditation with consistency, it will change your life. And now I’m a believer! I realize more than ever that all this stress is going to put me in an early grave. Here’s to slowing down a little bit and learning to cope with the everyday stresses of life. Shoulders down. Fingers unfurled. Steady heart. Now breathe…

Summer Camp for Adults

The post Summer Camp for Adults appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Kudos to Kates. Many of the products have become store best sellers and when she made a presentation to owner John Mackey, she won the Southern Pacific Region Innovation Award for the idea and its implementation. Here are the products you should seek out at the Hillcrest store. You won’t find them anywhere else. All sport a special black-and-white label saying Hillcrest Team Member & Local Producer Collaboration.

Jackie’s Jams

Jackie’s Jam Blueberry-Cranberry Jam

Not too sweet; not too sour. This jam is just right with a dominant blueberry flavor (from locally grown blueberries), rich purple color, and smooth texture. It’ll be perfect with a blue cheese platter, spread on brioche toast (you can find a loaf at the Whole Foods in-house bakery), or accompanying pancakes. $6.49 for an eight-ounce jar

Viva Pops Tricolor Pop

Viva Pops Tricolor Pop

Anything Viva Pops owner Lisa Altmann makes is more than fine by me. This 3-Tier Citrus Pop sports lavender lemonade, blood orange, and mojito layers using local ingredients that include blood orange juice, lemon juice, and lime juice from local farmers, mint, and lavender. Together they add up to a refreshing summer pop, perfect for the next heat wave. $3.49 a pop

Sweet Cheeks Pound Cake

Sweet Cheeks Pound Cake

Be careful with these two pound cakes. They’re totally addictive. The Orange-Thyme Pound Cake sounds a little weird, but oh does it work. The citrus flavors are magical with fragrant fresh thyme leaves. And, it’s vegan—not that you’d notice. Then there’s the Lemon-Blueberry Pound Cake, studded with heaps of fresh blueberries. I can’t wait for breakfast tomorrow. A slice with Caffee Calabria’s special blend coffee will be the best way to start the day. $6.99 a loaf or $1.99 a slice at the self serve section of the bakery

Chuao Chocolatier Spice Fruit and Nut Bark

Chuao Chocolatier Spice Fruit and Nut Bark

Chuao was one of the first local chocolatiers and certainly is the biggest. But they remain loyal to their San Diego roots and have created a stunning milk chocolate bar for the Hillcrest store. It’s packed with dried figs and cranberries, walnuts, raisins, cherries, orange peel, almond slices, and spices that include cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. Every bite is an adventure and it’s almost like a Christmas celebration in spring. $20.99 a pound

Bella Vado Garlic Avocado Oil

Bella Vado Garlic Avocado Oil

I am in awe of what owner Cid da Silva has accomplished in the last few years. His avocado oil has truly taken off and he’s been expanding his Valley Center farm and production facilities to keep up. I’ve long enjoyed his citrus variety, along with the original. Now we’ve got garlic and I couldn’t be happier. Da Silva presses the garlic with the avocados to get a pure flavor. You can use the oil in place of olive oil in sautéing, tossing with pasta, dipping, or in vinaigrettes. $9.99 for an 8.5-ounce bottle

Caffe Calabria Whole Foods Market Hillcrest Blend

Visiting Caffe Calabria in North Park is a treat. I love watching them roast the beans and then sipping the results. But you can also buy beans at Whole Foods and now the Hillcrest store has a special blend of Ethiopia and Guatemala Arabica beans that have a sweet aroma with notes of berries and dried fruit. Please, Arne, come up with a decaf version for those of us who can’t cope with a full arsenal of caffeine. $10.99 for a 12-ounce bag

The post Local Bounty: May 20 appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Hillcrest sign

April 19:

Fasten those buckles on, giddyup, and go to the three-day Lakeside Rodeo.

April 20:

Sip and sample at the Taste of Hillcrest.

Bottoms up to craft brew at the CityBeat Festival of Beers.

Listen to the beats of the bayou at Balboa Theatre with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

Sip and sup at Orfila Winery’s Iron Horse: A Food and Wine Event.

April 21:

Embrace your eco-conscience during the San Diego Earth Fair at Balboa Park.

Or go green with your love of guacamole at the Fallbrook Avocado Festival.

The post Things to Do: April 15-22 appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

San Diego Padres pitcher Brad Brach

Scott Wachter

April 9:

Batter up—it’s Opening Day! The Pads kick off what we all hope will be a banner year in the home opener against LA.

April 11:

It’s part game, part theater as La Jolla Playhouse performs “Without Walls” in the interactive Accomplice: San Diego on the streets of Little Italy.

Rihanna shines bright like a diamond on stage at the Valley View Casino Center.

April 13:

Get your permission slip signed: MCASD is chaperoning a field trip across the border to Explore Tijuana’s Explosive Arts Scene, with an artist’s studio visit, museum tour, and lunch at El Taller.

April 14:

Give these 25-plus restaurants near SDSU a try at the College Area Taste.

The post Things to Do: April 9-14 appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

San Diego’s Best Events in April

April 3:

It’s man vs. mollusk as local chefs Shuck and Swallow in a slippery competition at Jsix.

April 5:

Auto enthusiasts enjoy three days of luxury at the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance seaside car show.

April 6:

Athletes from around the world row, row, row their boats in the 40th annual Crew Classic regatta on Mission Bay.

Wine connoisseurs, get your sip on at the inaugural VinDiego wine and food festival on Broadway Pier, featuring more than 75 wineries sampling over 300 wines. $30 and up.

April 9:

Batter up—it’s Opening Day! The Pads kick off what we all hope will be a banner year in the home opener against LA.

April 11:

It’s part game, part theater as La Jolla Playhouse performs “Without Walls” in the interactive Accomplice: San Diego on the streets of Little Italy.

Rihanna

Rihanna shines bright like a diamond on stage at the Valley View Casino Center.

April 13:

Get your permission slip signed: MCASD is chaperoning a field trip across the border to Explore Tijuana’s Explosive Arts Scene, with an artist’s studio visit, museum tour, and lunch at El Taller.

April 14:

Give these 25-plus restaurants near SDSU a try at the College Area Taste.

April 19:

Fasten those buckles on, giddyup, and go to the three-day Lakeside Rodeo.

April 20:

Sip and sample at the Taste of Hillcrest.

Bottoms up to craft brew at the CityBeat Festival of Beers.

Listen to the beats of the bayou at Balboa Theatre with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

Sip and sup at Orfila Winery’s Iron Horse: A Food and Wine Event.

April 21:

Embrace your eco-conscience during the San Diego Earth Fair at Balboa Park.

Or go green with your love of guacamole at the Fallbrook Avocado Festival.

April 23:

Add the design eye of Zandra Rhodes to the artistic vision of Verdi and you have San Diego Opera’s performance of Aida.

San Diego’s Best Events in April

April 26:

Beauty is in bloom at San Diego Museum of Art’s anticipated Art Alive weekend, kicking off with Flowers After Hours.

Up north at the Park Hyatt, party with San Diego Magazine at our Best of North County event

April 27:

More than 100 musical acts perform in University Heights, Normal Heights, and Kensington at the two-day Adams Avenue Unplugged festival.

Enjoy “Epicurean Elegance” and haute cuisine for a cause at the Celebrity Chefs Cook Gala.

San Diego Visual Arts Network invites you to “Eat Your Art Out” at the Palette to Palate dinner party.

April 28:

Cruise up the 101 for coastal crafts and community spirit at the Encinitas Street Fair.

ArtWalk takes over the streets of Little Italy for two days.

Nosh on good-as-your-grandma’s home cooking at the San Diego Jewish Food Festival.

April 30:

Billy Elliot just wants to dance, and Broadway/San Diego takes you on his journey to fulfill that dream.

The post San Diego’s Best Events in April appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

April 3:

It’s man vs. mollusk as local chefs Shuck and Swallow in a slippery competition at Jsix.

April 5:

Auto enthusiasts enjoy three days of luxury at the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance seaside car show.

April 6:

Athletes from around the world row, row, row their boats in the 40th annual Crew Classic regatta on Mission Bay.

Wine connoisseurs, get your sip on at the inaugural VinDiego wine and food festival on Broadway Pier, featuring more than 75 wineries sampling over 300 wines. $30 and up.

Concours d’Elegance

The post Things to Do: April 3-7 appeared first on San Diego Magazine.