Dishing It Out Archive

Been “Limed” yet? Maria Viscuso (The Grape) took over the space from the flash in the pan Killer Shrimp late last year and after quite an extensive gut and remodel, quietly opened The Lime in November. The dinky, darling jewel box of a restaurant, located at 653 Fifth Ave., boasts more than 65 flavors of tequila and specializes in nouvelle Latina cuisine. The opening menu, designed by Jim Phillips, executive chef at Bernardo’s — many will remember him from The University Club — is beautifully executed by Lime Executive Chef Kathleen Jones, formerly of The Prado and Red Circle. Small plates, copious cocktails, big smiles.

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An early April opening is planned for the newest neighborhood hangout Downtown, The Local. Located at 1065 Fourth Ave. between Broadway and C Street, The Local took over the space formerly known as Hajji Baba Mediterranean Café in late February. The brainchild of restaurant newcomer and novice Mina Desiderio, The Local is a comfy, ultra-casual restaurant and bar featuring several local beers on tap and a wide range of casual American fare.

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Hacienda de Vega, which also is due to open this month, brings traditional gourmet Mexico City cuisine to Escondido. The husband and wife team of Patricia (she cooks the beans) and Alonso (he counts them) Vega remodeled and restored the freestanding building formerly known as Los Amigos Restaurant located at 2608 S. Escondido Blvd. Beautiful grounds, complete with a pond and fountain, make a lovely backdrop for house specialties such as tableside-made guacamole, chicken mole and fresh corn chowder.

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This month The Cohn Group takes over The Tea Pavilion at The Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park. The pavilion offers a quick-service menu of sushi, miso, noodles, Yakitori rice bowls and sando rolls. A large selection of traditional green teas, as well as 20 more exotic blends, are available to complement the “boutiquey” menu developed by Prado Executive Chef Jeff Thurston, who was the opening chef at Wolfgang Puck’s (now defunct) Obachine in Seattle. The Tea Pavilion is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and also will be available for special events and weddings in the evening.

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Sami Ladeki, San Diego’s largest restaurant operator (he employs nearly 1,000 people locally), will open his second Roppongi restaurant (the first is in La Jolla) as well as a casual eatery — The Asian Noodle Bar — this November in Palm Springs. The two restaurants will be part of the new Spa Resort and Casino in old downtown Palm Springs. Ladeki operates Mariskino, a casual dining restaurant, and Prime 10 Steakhouse at the Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage. The Parisi Design Group of Del Mar will design the 11,000-square-foot. restaurant space. Parisi Group also designed Ladeki’s Mariskino and Prime 10 in Rancho Mirage, as well as his newly opened, red-hot Fresh Seafood Restaurant & Bar in La Jolla, profiled in this magazine last month.

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On a related note, Parisi Design is offering a monthly gourmet luncheon and art lecture in the Parisi Sculpture Garden and Gallery. The first in the series will be held at noon April 11 featuring artist Margo Waller, one of the San Diego Children’s Museum’s most popular artists. Waller will discuss her philosophy and process for creating original contemporary portraiture. A selection of her recent work will be exhibited for viewing. Curator Betsy Lane will lead a tour of the garden, which is home to many nationally known sculptors.

Following the tour, Susan Sbicca, executive chef of Sbicca Restaurant in Del Mar and Meritage Restaurant in Encinitas, will serve a gourmet lunch. The Parisi Sculpture Garden is located at 2002 Jimmy Durante Blvd. in Del Mar. Cost of the lecture and lunch is $45 per person. For reservations and additional information call (858) 259-0490, Ext. 150.

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Make reservations early for the Westgate’s annual Easter Bunny Teas. Youngsters will enjoy a delightful afternoon tea of finger sandwiches, fruit, scones, Easter sugar cookies and their choice of tea, milk or hot cocoa. The fun will continue with storytelling, a visit from the Easter Bunny and an Easter egg hunt. The teas are at 2:30 p.m. April 12-19, $17 for children under 12. For information, call (619) 557-3650.

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Come join me, your humble San Diego Metropolitan food editor, for an evening of fun, food and funny conversation about the restaurant business at 6 p.m. April 15 at Voila! Kitchen Store and Cooking School in Del Mar. In my class, “Blue Plate Specials,” I cook (and you eat) my updated versions of “Chicken Fried Steak” (is it chicken, or is it steak?), “Mashed Potatoes Three Ways,” and “Macaroni and Cheese,” along with my other dime-store luncheonette favorites. Voila! Kitchen Store is located at 12873 El Camino Real in the Del Mar Highlands Shopping Center. Tickets are $55 and seating is limited. Call (858) 523-9446 for tickets and reservations.

Terryl Gavre believes the world would be a better place if everyone worked once as a foodserver. She is owner of Café 222, Downtown, and can be reached at (619) 233-4060, Ext. 316, or food@san.rr.com.