May 2, 2012 (San Diego) -- Andiamo Ristorante is celebrating Cinque di Mayo with live music on the patio with Rosie G and Ed and a prix fixe special menu.  Menu items include Filleto “Cinque di Mayo”, a pan-seared 8oz fillet mignon finished with chipotle chile, garlic, gorgonzola cheese, fresh rosemary and a touch of cream and a Shrimp “Mojo de Ajo”, jumbo Mexican shrimp finished with clarified butter, fresh garlic, cilantro and a touch of “Salsa Asada”.

May 1, 2012 (La Mesa) --  The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce announced that the fourth annual “Taste of La Mesa - Taste of the Century” event will be held on June 11 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive, La Mesa. This year the Chamber has added “Taste of the Century” to celebrate the City of La Mesaʼs 100th Anniversary.

The evening allows guests to sample fare from many local restaurants and food providers, as well as winetasting and craft beers.

(La Mesa)—Join us for a spirited evening at San Pasqual Winery, 8364 La Mesa Blvd. in historic downtown La Mesa on Sunday, April 29 from 4-7 p.m. to benefit East County Magazine!

April 16, 2012 (La Mesa)--This year, to celebrate La Mesa's 100th anniversary, the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce is expanding its 4th Annual Taste of La Mesa  to be the Taste of the Century. 

The event, set for June 11, will feature an expanded venue & more restaurants than ever before, as well as VIP opportunities.

April 14, 2012 (San Diego) – The College Area Business District is holding its 2nd Annual College Area Taste on April 15 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  The Old Town Trolley will be available to drop patrons off in front of every participating restaurant’s door.  The tour starts at the BID Office at 4704 College Ave., San Diego.

March 17, 2012 (La Mesa) – Updated March 23, 2012 --  Last week, we ran a story indicating that SDG&E failed to notify hundreds of La Mesa homes and businesses of a planned outage March 2. Sam Chammas, owner of Riviera Supper Club, wich had a full restaurant and band playing when the lights went out, has now challenged SDG&E to “say sorry with a steak.”

Will SDG&E accept this rare invitation from the steakhouse owner, or consider the matter well done? ECM has asked SDG&E to respond and will publish the response when received. Meanwhile, here is Chammas’ sizzling statement:

By Miriam Raftery

March 13, 2012 (San Diego) – “What if we can have food and water sustainability here? “ Congressman Bob Filner, also a candidate for Mayor, asked. Filner reiterated his plan to make San Diego a national model of sustainability for energy, water and food, the unveiled a new vision:  “What if we had a food hub in San Diego?”

His plans provided abundant food for thought at the Forging a Sustainable Future Conference sponsored by UnitedGREEN at San Diego State University earlier this month.   

Filner envisions a food hub with a wholesale and resale market for locally grown healthy foods, similar to the world-famous Pike Place Market in Seattle.  School systems could buy fresh foods for school lunches. Parents and other residents could shop for foods grown by local farmers, and much more.

By Mia Myklebust

February 4, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Satisfy your craving for a romantic night on the town this Valentine’s Day with a delicious dinner for two. Whether your passion is a gourmet repast at a French, Italian or American bistro or a meaty feast slow-smoked at a café on the County line, you’ll find plenty to tempt your taste buds and please your palate in East County. Scroll down for our East County Eater’s recommendations for this year’s best aphrodisiac dinners in our torrid inland region.

By Mia Myklebust

January 27, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Looking for something luscious for your special someone?  We promise you’ll love our guide to the most delectable treats in town! Whether you’re seeking candies, cakes, crepes or gelatos, we’ve found an appetizing array of choices.  Or surprise your heart’s delight with a special gift—such as candy-making class or a gourmet chocolate-of-the-month club.

Scroll down for these delicious options, and more "sweet" surprises.

January 14, 2012 (Julian)--Jeremy’s on the Hill Restaurant will host a fundraising dinner on Wednesday, January 25  from 4-8 p.m. for 3-year-old Brooklin Butts, who is currently at the Ronald McDonald House in Portland, Oregon undergoing treatment for cancer.  She is the daughter of Rory and Meghan Butts and granddaugher of Debbie Butts, who works at the Julian Post Office.

By Miriam Raftery

January 12, 2012 (Jamul) – Looking for some tasty ways to cook up winter vegetables from your garden? Alpine Ranch Creative Health and Ecological Solutions, Inc., a nonprofit organization, is sponsoring a garden-to-kitchen winter harvest cooking class on Saturday, January 21 in Jamul.

Cost is $50 and includes both the class and lunch. The menu includes fresh garden salad, curried squash soup, dahl, chutney, vegetable curry with rice, naan, and citrus sorbet with cake.

January 12, 2011 (San Diego) – Want to cook up a dish savored by your favorite Hollywood celebrity from a bygone era? Frank DeCaro, author of The Dead Celebrity Cookbook—A Resurrection of Recipes from More than 145 Stars of Stage and Screen, will sign copies of his book January 14 at Babette Schwartz gift store, 421 University Avenue in Hillcrest.

“Frank DeCaro reminds us that many Hollywood celebrities enjoyed cooking long before it was ‘cool.’ The man everyone knows as the movie critic on The Daily Show With Jon Stewart has compiled recipes from over 145 of Hollywood’s favorite stars who are no longer with us, publicist Kim Weiss observed.

BRAVO “Top Chef” Finalist Brian Malarkey Will Dish Out “Meat Market” Cuisine

January 6, 2012 (La Mesa) – Dubbed the first “urban cowboy diner” and offering “meat market cuisine”, Gingham restaurant is set to open next week in La Mesa in a remodeled building that formerly housed Gio Bistro Wine Bar. 

You won't have to ride the range or wait for meats slow-roasted over a chuckwagon campfire to savor the fare at Gingham's, which is slated to open the second week in January.

By Megan McGlamery

Photos by Woo-Jin Shim and Natalia Robert (http://full-circle-images.com/)

December 30, 2011 (San Diego)--Since 1933, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has been helping refugees rebuild their lives after fleeing tumultuous wars or other catastrophes in their homelands.  The IRC is currently active in 22 U.S. cities as well as overseas. In 2001, the IRC created its Microenterprise Program with the goal of helping refugees create their own businesses.

In the last 10 years, the IRC has helped 175 San Diego-based refugees become small-business owners. To showcase some of the great refugee-owned eateries of East County, the IRC hosted a Micro-finance bus tour, offering patrons a chance to sample some delicious cuisine from Iraq and East Africa.

 
December 28, 2011 (Kensington) Chef/Owner Ken Irvine of the Bleu Boheme invites the public to celebrate the "Reveillon" a New Years Eve celebration for a three -course festive menu with four choices of each course at $59.95 per person this Saturday, December 31. Bleu Boheme is located at 4090 Adams Avenue, San Diego CA 92116, in the Kensington area (between Terrace Drive and Kensington Drive).