Food & Wine

2014 TASTE OF THE SUMMIT TICKETS NOW ON SALE

 

October 4, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) - The North Mountain Wine Trail’s four wineries will be serving up wine pairings with gourmet dishes and live music during the “Taste of the Summit” event on Saturday, November 9 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The four wineries are located within two miles of each other in the Warner Springs area.


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ANNUAL CHILI COOK-OFF TO HEAT UP LEMON GROVE NOV. 1

 

September 26, 2014 (Lemon Grove)--“Let the insanity begin,” says Helen Ofield.”  Soroptimist International of Lemon Grove will hold its 10th Annual Western Roundup and Chili Cook-off on Nov. 1 from 6 - 9 p.m. in the parish hall of St. John of the Cross Church, 8086 Broadway, Lemon Grove. Tickets are $20 in advance or at the door.


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BEST HAPPY HOURS IN EAST COUNTY

Part III in a series

By the East County Eaters

Week 3:  Bleu Boheme (Kensington) and Cali Comfort (Spring Valley)

September 26, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)— For week three in our quest to bring you the most delightful and different happy hours across our inland region, we indulged in French cuisine and burgundy at Bleu Boheme, owned by a prominent San Diego retauranteur in Kensington. We also found fabulous half-price barbecue tri-tip and wings so hot they’re named for a local firefighters’ crew at Cali Comfort in Spring Valley, a sports bar and restaurant that has found the winning combination for hospitality.


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SAN DIEGO COUNTY BAKERS PLEDGE SUPPORT FOR WEST COAST'S LARGEST BAKE SALE TO BENEFIT MAMA'S KITCHEN

 

Sycuan returns for tenth year, joins new bakers such as Stone Brewing and Sea & Smoke; Sales begin October 6, 2014

September 15, 2014 (San Diego)--Sycuan Casino, Urban Solace, and the San Diego Culinary Institute in La Mesa are among the local restaurants, hotels and catering companies that have pledged their talent to create and donate delicious pies for the upcoming Mama’s Pie in the Sky Thanksgiving Bake Sale.


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BEST HAPPY HOURS IN EAST COUNTY

 

Part II in a series

By the East County Eaters

 

Week 2:  Alpine Beer Company Pub (Alpine) and Vine Cottage (La Mesa)

September 11, 2014 (San Diego's East County)--Last week, we opened our Best Happy Hours in East County series by focusing on some premier locations for cocktails. This week, our eager team of eaters and drinkers hit the road once again, this time bringing you reviews of a local brewery’s pub that’s one of the most popular watering holes in the backcountry, along with a European-style bistro with a wonderful wine bar and some of the best happy hour food deals in town.

 


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BEST HAPPY HOURS IN EAST COUNTY!

 

 

 

 

Part 1 in a series

By the very happy East County Eaters at East County Magazine

Week 1: Terra American Bistro (San Diego/La Mesa area) and Viejas Resort & Casino (Alpine)

September 4, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)—Our intrepid team of East County Eaters have been on the road in search of the best Happy Hours across our inland region. (It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it!) Each week, we’ll be featuring two locales offering diverse experiences. Whether your tastes run to sushi bars or cowboy bars, wine bistros or craft brew pubs, urban eateries or mountain taverns, you’ll find plenty to whet your appetite!

To kick off our series, we start by featuring two of our favorites:  Terra American Bistro, a bistro and bar that prides itself on farm-to-table fresh cuisine--right down to the fresh-squeeze passionfruits in our cocktails and the refreshingly tasty and affordable appetizers, plus we tried our luck at Viejas Casino and Resort -- a four-star vacation destination hotel with some great specials sure to make you happy. Cheers!


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VINES AND WINES: SO WHAT ARE THOSE "FRENCH" AND "ITALIAN" VARIETALS?

 

By Donn Rutkoff

September 1, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - You hear the term, but you don't know what it really means.  Why are some grapes called Bordeaux grapes, if what I drink is from California?  And why are they sometimes called vinifera or Vitis vinifera and why are they connected to each other?  What is a cultivar, or a Bordeaux grape?


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OUR LADY OF LIGHT CHURCH DEEP-PIT BARBECUE AUG. 31

 

 

August  29, 2014 (Descanso)--Our Lady of Light Catholic Church in Descanso will hold its 77th Annual Deep Pit Barbecue on Sunday August 31st of the Labor Day weekend. The Festivities will start at 11 a.m. and continue until 6 p.m.

The barbecue has been a major event of the mountain empire area since before World War II. It will be held on the Church grounds on Riverside drive in Descanso.


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BLUES RUSE AT ANDIAMO RISTORANTE AUG. 30

 

August 28, 2014 (Tierrasanta) – Andiamo Ristorante Italiano and Bar is serving up a brand new menu—along with live music by Blues Rise starting at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 30th.  The musicians will perform vintage blues including Mississippi Delta Blues from the first half of the 1900s as well as more recent blues tunes.


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VINES AND WINES: NEWS YOU CAN USE

 

 

 

By Donn Rutkoff

August 4, 2014( San Diego’s East County)--If you are a grower or winemaker, or serious wine drinker, this report covers three recent news items of research going on in the wine world.


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VINES AND WINES: LOCAL VINTNERS WIN BIG AT COUNTY FAIR

 

 

 

By Donn Rutkoff

Man About Wine

July 28, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--At the just-concluded San Diego County Fair, the homemade wine competition as usual was crowded with entries.  East County and North County entrants scored 44 gold medal wines, while those from zip codes inside the city scored about 15 more.  From the East and North County, here are the golds, with some familiar names to those of you who have been in the wine world or are now licensed wineries  Stay tuned for an interview soon with quadruple-gold winner Luis Mayor, he placed 11 medal winners.


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JERSEY MIKE'S SUBS TO OPEN SECOND EL CAJON LOCATION

 

Owners Celebrate With Free Sub Fundraiser

July 30, 2014 (El Cajon)--– Jersey Mike’s Subs, known for its fresh sliced/fresh grilled subs,  opens in El Cajon on July 30.  Franchise owners Ray Ibrahim and Nabil Somo will hold a grand opening and free sub fundraiser from Wednesday, July 30 to Sunday, August 3 to support the Eric Paredes Save a Life Foundation.


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VINES AND WINES: RAMBLIN' ROUND RAMONA

 

By Don Rutkoff

Photo: Elaine Lyttleton, Hatfield Creek Winery

July 30, 2014 (Ramona)--I went tooling around Ramona Sunday, visiting and tasting some newer wineries, and I will tell you, if you haven't started tasting the locals, you need to get off your couch and hit the road.  There are a lot of very good wines in Ramona, mostly red, mostly familiar grapes, and a few lesser known grapes too.


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VINES AND WINES: INTRODUCING A NEW COLUMN FOR WINE LOVERS

 

 

 

 

 

By Donn Rutkoff

"Man About Wine"

 

July 19, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) -- Hello to all wine lovers in the East County and all wine lovers anywhere who are reading East County Magazine.  This is my first column and we hope there will be many more.  I will be bringing you news of what is happening here in the county, news of interest to the local growers and fermenters, and some educational "fluff" to help you enjoy wines.

Here is a preview of this week's wine-worthy topics.  (Hit "read more" and scroll down for the full stories.) 

  • Sparkling wines in an hour?
  • Warm-weather red grapes
  • New tasting rooms - thanks to rezoning underway
  • Wine columnist shares his roots


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FINE FOODS IN A COZY NEIGHBORHOOD RESTAURANT: BISTRO 60 AND SAN DIEGO DESSERTS

                                                                                       

 

By Ariele Johannson

July 15, 2014 (San Diego)--Ahi tatare, bbq pork cheeks, grilled scallops, chipotle linguine, and a homemade chocolate caramel bombe:  what do they all have in common?  All are foods selected, cooked, and presented by gourmet standards; offered up by Bistro 60, and thoroughly enjoyed by me and my dining companion.


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BISTRO SIXTY HOSTS WINE DINNER JULY 18

 

 

July 12, 2014 (San Diego’s College Area) – Bistro Sixty, located on El Cajon Boulevard near San Diego State University, is hosting a wine dinner on July 18 feature a “decadent six-course dinner” along with Hill Family Estate wines.


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SUMMER WINES: TASTING CLASS OFFERED AT CUYAMACA COLLEGE JULY 16 AND 23

July 11, 2014 (El Cajon) – East County Magazine’s new wine columnist and viticulture expert Don Rutkoff will conduct a two-week summer wine tasting class in the conservancy garden at Cuyamaca College from 6-8 p.m. on July 16 and 23.

“White and rose wines are very popular during the summer and come from all over the world. Local wineries are making excellent wines in these categories,” the course description states. Over two evenings, this class explores a short introduction of the grapes and winemaking methods, followed by several flights of 3-5 wines per flight, and discussion of food pairing.


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SAN DIEGO WINE COUNTRY FESTIVAL JULY 12 AT BERNARDO WINERY

 

July 11, 2014 (Rancho Bernardo)—Wine aficionados can sip and savor vintages from over 20 local wineries at the San Diego County Vintners Association Wine Festival, including many East County vintners. The event takes place Saturday, July 12 from 1-6 p.m. at the Bernardo Winery in Rancho Bernardo.


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CHEERS! BROWN SIGNS BILL TO ALLOW WINE TASTING AT FARMER'S MARKETS

 

 

July 8, 2014 (Sacramento)—Now you can sip a chardonnay or sample a sangiovese while perusing produce and other food items at your local farmer’s market.  Starting immediately, a new bill signed into law today by Governor Jerry Brown legalizes wine tasting at farmer’s markets for winemakers.


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BREW BEAT: WORLD CLASS BEER ON TAP IN EL CAJON

 

By Ed Barrenas

July 2, 2014 (El Cajon)--Micro-brewing is catching on around the nation, but if you don't have the means to visit microbreweries in other states, or even if fine local breweries just seem too far out of the way, head to The Downtown Cafe in the heart of downtown El Cajon.

Already boasting what I consider to be one of the best happy hours in East County, The Downtown Cafe also delivers a rotation of microbrews from around the country, that only a few establishments could hope to rival. There is also a full restaurant, and certain foods are offered at happy hour discounts.


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BACK COUNTRY WINE PAIRING AT JEREMY'S ON THE HILL JULY 4 IN JULIAN

 

June 29, 2014 (Julian) – In the historic gold rush town of Julian, the 4th of July starts with a parade and American Legion barbecue.  Guests are invited to finish up a day in the mountains at Jeremy’s on the Hill, where a Backcountry wine pairing dinner will be held featuring organic, local produce from Sage Mountain Farms and wines from Shadow Mountain Vineyards and Sierra Roble Winery and Vineyard, both in Warner Springs. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and tickets are $44 per person, plus tax and gratuity.


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A LAVENDER AND WINE EXPERIENCE: JULY 23 AT RAMONA RANCH WINERY

 

 

 

July 1, 2014 (Ramona) – What could be finer than to savor a “Lavender and Wine Experience” plus catered delicacies?   Ramona Ranch Winery, Trezette’s Catering and Volcan Vista Farm invites you to “evoke your sensations” and meet the farmer, wine maker and chef on Wednesday evening, July 23 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. 

Learn about growing Lavender and Ramona’s exploding wine-region while creating your own custom sachet over a Lavender-themed buffet style dinner paired with a glass of Ramona Ranch Wine as the sun sets on the outdoor tasting terrace at Ramona Ranch Winery in Ramona.


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GMO LABELING BILL DIES BY 2 VOTES AS LOCAL SENATORS SPLIT ON MEASURE

 

By Miriam Raftery

June 18, 2014 (Sacramento)--While other states are taking steps to protect consumers from genetically modified foods or give consumers information to make informed choices, California’s Legislature this week voted down a bill that would have required labeling of foods sold in California that are made with genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.  Exceptions were granted for alcoholic beverages and foods sold at farmer’s markets.


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TRAILBLAZER AWARDS PRESENTED TO LEADERS IN LOCAL WINE INDUSTRY AT EVENT BENEFITTING ST. MADELEINE SOPHIE’S CENTER

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Sue Brenner and Miriam Raftery

June 19, 2014 (El Cajon) – They pioneered East County’s  now-flourishing wine industry.  So on May 31st, Maness Vineyards presented the 2014 Trail Blazer Awards during a celebration held at St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center in El Cajon—which also is home to a new vineyard of its own.  More than 200 wine enthusiasts flocked to the event, savoring local vintages amid beautiful gardens.

Herman and Rose Salerno, founders of the Salerno Winery in Ramona, received the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award. Other award winners were the William Clark family, founders of the Campo Creek Winery, along with Mike and Linda McWilliams, owners of the San Pasqual Winery in La Mesa.


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TWISTED MANZANITA HOSTS SPIRITED ANNIVERSARY PARTY JUNE 28 IN SANTEE

 

 

Twisted Manzanita Ales in Santee is celebrating its 4th Anniversary on Saturday, June 28 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Santee Town Center Community Park East.

This year the brewery’s Anniversary Party will be all-inclusive, with an admission price that covers everything, including access to their Craft Spirits Lounge featuring Twisted Manzanita spirits. Guests will receive 6 samples of various craft spirits. The Anniversary Party will have a culinary spread provided by local San Diego restaurants.


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FUNNEL CAKE EXPRESS

 

By Trevor Hill

June 16, 2014 (San Diego)--When attending the San Diego County Fair at Del Mar, any local will tell you that there are some certain “must-do” features that are required to get the full fair experience. These include attending the pig races, riding the ferris wheel, watching the amazing Bandolini, trying some bizarre fried foods, and, of course, eating a delicious funnel cake.


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WINE PAIRING DINNER - FRIDAY, JUNE 13TH AT JEREMY'S ON THE HILL

 

June 12, 2014 (Ramona)--Ramona Ranch & Turtle Rock Ridge wineries are joining with Chef Jeremy at Jeremy's on the Hill to present a 5-Course Italian Wine Dinner on Friday, Friday June 13th at 7 p.m.  The menu and details are below.


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BEAT THE HEAT WITH THESE FOODS TO HELP YOU STAY HYDRATED

 

By Miriam Raftery

June 6, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - As the weather heats up, it’s important to stay hydrated.  Experts advise drinking at least eight glasses of water a day--and if you’re hitting the hiking trail, it’s critical to carry plenty of water.


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FIREFIGHTERS’ CHILI COOK-OFF: JUNE 26 IN ALPINE

 

June 7, 2014 (Alpine) – Firefighters from the Alpine, Viejas and Sycuan Fire Departments will be cooking up their hottest dishes for a chili-tasting challenge during the fourth annual Firehouse Cook-Off. 

Who’s got the tastiest chili in town? You be the judge on Thursday, June 26 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Alpine Library, 2130 Arnold Way in Alpine.


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MYSTIC GRILL: A MEDITERRANEAN MEDLEY OF FLAVORS AT AFFORDABLE RATES

 

Mystic Grill and Bakery

8191 Fletcher Parkway, La Mesa, CA 91942

www.mysticgrillsd.com

Review by Stevon Marshall

June 5, 2014 (La Mesa)--When people hear or think of California, most think of the great weather, the celebrities living in Hollywood, amusement parks, and so on. But when it comes to food, most consider California’s trademark food to be burgers or Mexican fare. But with an influx of immigrants from around the world, San Diego’s East County is now home to an array of international restaurants – including quite a few serving up Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes.   

I've been living in California my whole life and I've dabbled in a variety of cuisines: Asian, Italian, Southern, some Mediterranean and of course, Mexican. So while interning at East County Magazine, we decided to take a team of tasters to try out Mystic Café, specializing in Mediterranean foods:  our editor, Miriam, our “East County Eater,” Leon, and myself, along with two of my internship peers, Jaden and Kayla.


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