New craft beers highlight this week's culinary tidbits(1)
Happy days are here: There are new beers on the horizon. Blind Lady Ale House (3416 Adam Ave. in Normal Heights) released Automatic #1, a Belgian-inspired ale made with ginger, coriander and toasted oak and brewed especially for the restaurant by Blind Lady’s master brewer and co-proprietor, Lee Chase. Quantities of this first batch are limited, so stop in soon for a taste of the food-friendly brew. Down North Park way, a special edition of Victory at Sea, Ballast Point Brewery’s coffee-and-vanilla imperial porter—brewed with beans from Caffe Calabria and Sharffen Berger cocoa nibs—will be available at Caffe Calabria, Toronado and Ballast Point Brewery while supplies last. And hopheads might want to try Karl Strauss’ new citrus-y, American-style IPA, Tower 10, named after a Mission Beach lifeguard tower.
The San Diego Science Festival, running throughout March, has some cool food-tasting classes on the schedule. On March 18, a Salk Institute professor will speak about the science of wine during a wine tasting. A science-of-beer class will follow on March 19, and there’s a chocolate tasting and speakers panel on March 24. Check www.sdsf09.sched.org for the full festival calendar and information on how to register.
Oyster lovers should head to The Fishery (5040 Cass St. in Pacific Beach), where every Tuesday in March is Oyster Night. From 4 to 10 p.m., oysters are shucked to order and only $1.25 apiece. There are also champagne, wine and beer specials (I like a dry, crisp white wine or an earthy stout with oysters). The Fishery’s über-fresh seafood comes from its locally owned and operated seafood wholesaler, Pacific Shellfish Seafood Company.
A person working at the site of the now-shuttered Ranchos Natural Foods store on 30th Street told CityBeat that its next incarnation will be as an Asian-food market.
I thought I’d discovered the beginnings of an artisan meat shop in the new building at 2202 30th St. when I pulled over to check out a rack of hanging meats and signs touting South Park Quality Meats. The “meat” turned out to be plush toys made in the shape of salami and sausage, and the shop is just an art installation by plush-art collective Grecolaborativo. I was disappointed that nothing was edible, but the display is still worth a look.
Got food news? Write to candicew@sdcitybeat.com and editor@sdcitybeat.com.
Recent reviews
Costa Brava. 1653 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach. 858-273-1218. A great place for tapas-snacking with a great dishes under $5 during happy hour. Sublime sauces on dishes like the sautéed mushrooms and the Patatas à la Brava make for perfect bread dipping, while the creamy-centered croquettes are the ideal, handheld cocktail food.
Tapas Picasso. 3923 Fourth Ave., Hillcrest. 619-294-3061. A quaint, neigborhood vibe complements flavorful dishes like the Tortilla Espanola and the cantimpalitos (mini-chorizos in red wine sauce). Combined with a smooth sangria and excellent happy hour prices make for a great small plate experience.
Pizza Port. 571 Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad. 760-720-7007. One of the locations for Port Brewing’s brews, it’s near enough to the train tracks to be a “staycation” stop. The beer-crust pizza’s the best; also tasty are the baked-not-fried spicy chicken wings.
Sipz Fusion Cafe. 5501 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Clairemont Mesa. 858-279-3747. Sipz caters to vegetarians and vegans, but even hardcore meat eaters might be fooled by their selection of faux meats that adorn traditional Asian dishes like Thai curry and wok-fried drunken noodles.
Babbo Grande. 1731 University Ave., Hillcrest. 619-269-8038. The new spot, located where Crepes de Paris used to be, kept the French chef and supplemented an Italian menu with a variety of crepes. Plus points for the covered outdoor terrace and excellent service.
Cam Ky BBQ. 4141 University Ave., City Heights, 619-285-1855. This unassuming spot specialized in Chinese barbecue and noodle soups. Or, grab some items for take-out and pick up accompaniments at nearby Hoa Hing Asian market.
Kitchen 1540. 1540 Camino del Mar, Del Mar. 858-793-6460. This newish North County spot is nice without being overly fancy. If you’re into foie gras (and we hope you’re not), they do a version covered in Pop Rocks. If you’re looking for something more user-friendly, the beet salad and seafood stew are both excellent.
Q’ero Restaurant. 564 South Coast Hwy., Encinitas. 760-753-9050. Q’ero specializes in Peruvian and South American cuisine, serving favorites like empanaditas and papa relleno—a golden-crusted mashed-potato shell filled with savory ground beef. It also does an excellent tres leches cake.
