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The economy is good and the air is filled with the sweet smell of romance and good fortune. The poor souls unlucky enough to be smitten with the heartache called the restaurant business are abundant and drunk with optimism. I know — I am one of them. I have spent most of the past months driving up and down streets, my head on a swivel, looking for the perfect spot to transform into a hot, crowded and noisy breakfast bar. What I have found (which I find quite comforting) is that I am not alone...... *** San Diego Charger Lew Bush and company have opened Sweet Lew's Barbecue down in La Jolla's Birdrock area. The space at 5509 La Jolla Blvd. formerly was known as Ocean Fresh Seafood. The menu, a combination of barbecue and soul food, features recipes from Lew's mother and grandmother. I’m a sucker for barbecued ribs so I’ve already been there. Watch for a future review. *** Fields Irish Restaurant and Pub opened late last month Downtown at 544 Fifth Ave. Owner Daniel Drayne and chef Charles Sanders are serving authentic Irish cuisine including corned beef, Irish Stew and smoked salmon. *** The father and son team of Mike and Jeff Rossman are at it again. The owners of Pam Pam Restaurant in Mission Valley are opening a new shop in the old Canes location in Hillcrest. Look for Terra (which means earth) to open next month. The menu will feature casual, contemporary American cuisine. The owners won’t tell me the identity of their executive chef. All I could squeeze out of them was that it is a well known San Diego chef. Hmmmm? *** Longtime Mission Hills favorite Figaro closed late last year. The "for sale" sign was only in the window one day when local hipster Chris Ghan (son of San Diego personality and restaurateur Jerry G. Bishop) snatched up this much sought-after space. Chris and his partners Steve Williamson and Alejandro Molina will open The Fig next month. The executive chef will be Alejandro Molina who studied at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. The Fig will serve its California-Mediterranean cuisine (pizza, pasta, appetizers) until 2 a.m. and will feature an extensive wine list. *** Check out The Fishery which just opened in Pacific Beach at 5040 Cass St. (between Loring and Turquoise). Pacific Shellfish, one of San Diego’s largest fish wholesalers relocated its entire operation, loading docks and all, to this new and beautiful building which features a small retail eat in/take-out shop in the front. They did a spectacular job on the rehab; the building is gorgeous. The menu, which is headed up by Kim Martin, a one-time owner and chef at Chez Loma in Coronado, offers "simple and delicious preparations of the freshest seafood available." *** Late last month, Phil's BBQ opened at 4030 Goldfinch (formerly The 2nd Cup Coffee House). Proprietors Phil Pace and Jeff Loya built a little beauty of a food shop up there in Mission Hills. It’s a first class take-out joint for sure. *** The ever-popular Hawaiian Chef, TV show host and cookbook author Sam Choy has partnered with Bali Hai Restaurant owners Susan and Larry Baumann. The "new" Sam Choy's Hawaii at the Bali Hai features a twist to many of the regular menu items as well as several new dishes created by Sam Choy. I have peeked at the menu and it looks great. I’m going to order myself one of those "volcano" rum drinks and try it out. *** It finally opened...I’ve had my bib on and mallet in hand now for months. Joe's Crab Shack (formerly Crabby Bob's, formerly Carlos Murphy's in Hazard Center) opened in February. I will be dining there as you read this and will tell you all about Landry's Seafood Restaurants' concept next month. I can tell you one thing; they sent me a copy of their annual report (don’t ask me why) and these people sell a lot of seafood. *** Elsewhere in the hospitality biz: *** The 416-room Hanalei Hotel in Hotel Circle at Mission Valley has completed a four-month, $6 million renovation. In addition to a new exterior finish, additional meeting space, a relocated and expanded lobby and improvements to two restaurants, vast improvements also were made to the 14-acre grounds. Originally built in 1959, the Hanalei opened as the Rancho Presidio, a 66-unit motor hotel. The Atlas Hotel chain, which operates the Town and Country Resort Hotel in Mission Valley, acquired the property in 1966 and renamed it the Hanalei. *** Daily's Restaurant is offering monthly cooking classes on how to prepare healthy meals. The March class will be on the 7th, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Daily's Restaurant in La Jolla. The class is taught by Daily's corporate chef Dick Siegiel and costs $20. For more information, call 268-5154. *** Karinya Thai Cuisine, located in Pacific Beach's Seacoast Square, has new owners — the Tila family of Royal Thai Cuisine fame. Royal Thai Cuisine operates four other locations: La Jolla, Gaslamp Quarter, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach. Karinya has built such a strong and loyal customer base that the restaurant's name will remain the same. Also, as part of its 10-year anniversary, Karinya is offering lunch specials and free homemade desserts with dinner. Delivery is now available, too. *** Finally...if you are headed for New England later this month be sure and take part in the Sugaring Off festivities which begin March 15 when the snow starts to melt and the maple trees are tapped for sap. Boiling maple syrup is poured on snow and crystallizes to become a great candy. To keep from getting your mouth stuck with sweetness you alternate with bites of dill pickle. I try to imagine that years ago the young Kennedy children took part in such down-home simple pleasures, but for some reason I can’t. Terryl Gavre spends her entire day thinking about what she is going to have for dinner. Her favorite food is mayonnaise. She is chef/owner of Café 222 Downtown and can be reached by fax at 236-8191. |
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