sdpanda80's Profile
Palm Springs: Johannes, purple Palm or??
My husband and I went to purple palms last summer and loved it. Great food and great cocktails!
Buying specialty cocktail ingredients
Hello all!
I have a good friend who loves to make high end cocktails. Currently he purchases most of his ingredients out of town but I would love to find a place to introduce him to-and buy the occasional gift. Where would you recommend a man who loves:
Antica Formula
Rittenhouse 100
Bulleit Rye
Gran Classico
Any Store recommedations? I appreciate any help.
San Diego New Places Opening
Unfortunately, due to "issues" The Cask Room is going to stay closed.
1/2 price wine nights?
Also, The Kensington Grill has 1/2 price wine on Wednesday nights-anything over $45 and no corkage on Thursday's.
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Kensington Grill
4055 Adams Avenue, San Diego, CA 92116
oyster specials. NOT at the bar
The Brigantine has great Happy Hour specials (there are several locations). The deals are only good in the bar but there are many nice tables and booths that are kid friendly...
VERY small, intimate wedding at Paso Robles Winery... please help us find the right place.
Wow! That is not a lot of time to plan something...Good thing you want something small! I would recommend selecting a winery that specializes in a type of wine that is your favorite-after all there are hundreds of wineries, you'll have a tough time one that isn't amazing. Some personal favorites are: Le Cuvier, Cass, Edward Sellers, Four Vines, Bella Luna, Gelfland, L'Aventure, and many others.
Good Luck!
Permanent market for local farmers?
There is also a place called Seasonal Organic Local that is going into Liberty Station, is that what you are thinking of?
craving a ginger cocktail
I second Starlite's cocktail mention. Also, the Kensington Grill on Adams is offering a cocktail with house made Ginger beer. I had one the other night and it was delicious!
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Kensington Grill
4055 Adams Avenue, San Diego, CA 92116
Starlite
3175 India Street, San Diego, CA 92103
Steak house near Newton?
Gordough-What would you consider to be "better" in Boston? Our friends are now open to meeting us within the city proper so I am open to other suggestions!
Steak house near Newton?
Hello!
My husband and I are visiting friends in Newton and want to take them out to a nice dinner. One of our friends is VERY picky, pretty much the only safe menu item is steak. I am unfamiliar with the Boston area but think our friends would like to eat near the Newton area. We are in out late 20's early 30's and prefer a more modern venue, any recommendations?
I appreciate any help you can give!
Wedding Reception at SD Restaurant
Foodie bride,
I'm planning on getting married next summer and actually live in Kensington..I hadn't thought of a reception at Bleu Boheme. Do you know if they are renting out the entire facility or just the back room?
Catering for a Paso Robles Wedding
My mom works in the tasting room at Doce Robles and they are giving us a very generous deal...But we need to find our own vendors.
San Diego Best/Worst Neighborhoods for Restaurants
How about Kensington/Normal Heights? We may be small but we have a few notable places:
Bleu Boheme
Kensington Grill
Blind Lady Ale House (for very casual pizza and beer)
Catering for a Paso Robles Wedding
Hello, I am recently engaged and planning a wedding for summer of 2010. The fiance and I will be financing the festivities and are therefore on a strict budget.
We will be getting married at a small family winery that is willing to let us select all of our vendors leaving me lots of choices.
We are expecting between 100-150 guests and would like to keep the cost to $24 per person. Since this is an outdoor summer wedding the food does not need to be incredibly fancy but I would like something that still tastes good.
If you have any recommedations or suggestions I would appreciate your help!
Thanks,
Amanda
Great Wine Shop in Encinitas?
I would check out the 3rd Corner-great shop with great prices...
Champagne score...maybe?
If it makes you feel any better I walked into a tiny market around the corner and found several bottles of 1982 Piper Sonoma for $18. I'm a total sucker and bought a bottle to try...Sadly, it was completely flat.
New Year's Eve Dinner (San Diego)
I know The WIne Vault and Bistro has two seatings on New Year's Eve with a 5 course paired menu. I haven't been there on New Years but have attended several of there wine dinners and have really enjoyed it.
Good luck!
Bottle of Scotch for a gift
Hello,
Over the last several months my boyfriend has developed a new love for scotch. For Christmas I want to get him a reasonably nice bottle (approximately $50-75). I would prefer not to get him something "mainstream", instead perhaps a bottle he might not have heard of. We live near several large retailers that have diverse options. He currently has:
Johnny Walker Black and Gold
Glenlivet 18 yo
Macallan Cask Strength
Balvenie 21 yo (obviously more than I plan on spending).
Any suggestions would be much appreciated!
Chive Restaurant in San Diego Closed?
Cowboy Star has foie and delectable sweet breads.
Best SD Vintner?
Ok, so these aren't vintners but I do have some ideas for where to shop. Lately there seems to be several places I go for smaller independent labels. Some of my favorites are:
The 3rd Corner
(they have an excellent selection, although I recommend calling ahead if you develop favorites). They also offer a 5% half case discount and 10% off full cases (both are good for mixed cases as well).
The Cask Room
Perhaps I'm biased since I am also a member of their wine club, but I think Mike and Stephanie do an excellent job bringing in wines across all price points. Mike carries a decent sized selection of retail wines (many around the 10 price point) as well as his wines available by the glass or bottle. As a side note if you want to try some great wines every month he has a wine club for 25-30 dollars. Every month you get two bottles he has hand selected. They are often from small wineries with very limited production.
The Wine Vault and Bistro
Not exactly what you're looking for but I recommend trying their wine flights, they often have wines around the 10 dollar range.
I know there are other places I go but I will have to keep thinking. I Hope this helps!
Recession wines
Picky-
I believe, like me you live in SD. If that is the case The Third Corner often carries Caparone Aglianico for around 10-12 dollars per bottle. I've been to this small Paso winery many times and love their unfiltered italian reds.
I would call to see if they have it in stock but I am always impressed with the 3rd Corners options.
Talk to me about Box Wine
You would have to order this online, but Sylvester winery in Paso Robles produces a non-vintage boxed chardonnay that is great for the price. I'm not sure you will have time to order the wine but I would look into Sylvester boxed wine in the future
Advice on five gift bottles
If the Ravenswood says Sonoma County I would have to go with the original recommendation to drink yesterday! If the wine has been well stored it may still be decent but no guarantees.
Frodnesor-Good point about cellar tracker, I should have been more clear regarding their recommendations. I still find cellar-tracker to be a valuable source. Additionally, there is an option to enter your own "recommended" dates for consumption. I have found it helpful when buying wine to ask the winemaker (or another knowlegeable employee) when the ideal "drinking time" is. I can then enter the info into cellar-tracker on my own.
hamburger in san diego
This may not be teh best burger in town bue Crazy Buger in North Park has one of the most ecclectic burger menus I have ever seen...
food events in San Diego
I second localwineevents.com
You can sign up to get "the juice" which is a weekly email they send out with all wine/food/beer/tasting events in the area.
Advice on five gift bottles
In regards to the Ravenswood, is it a vineyard designate bottle (ie: Big River, Bedrock, Teldeschi)? I was at Ravenswood in August and tried several of their 2000 Zins, which were just beginning to mature. I was told that the 2000 vintage would last for several more years but if you are unsure you could always check cellartracker.com. I have entered my wines there for the past few years and been very happy with their recommendations.
Enjoy!
Bun in San Diego
If you want a more upscale restaraunt Saigon on 5th in Hillcrest has a pretty good bun.
Bakersfield - Japanese Recs?
So slightly off topic, but there is a new place called The Orchid that has great thai food. They also have a really neat wine bar attached that serves tastes of all kinds of wines. Good luck!
Restaurants with Great Half Bottle Lists
The Better Half in San Diego has a wine list make up of almost entirely 1/2 bottles...So far the recommendations have been excellent!
