Dishing It Out Archive

Look for an early September opening of Dikaioo (dee-ki-oh) Restaurant in Encinitas. This eclectic American eatery, at Leucadia Boulevard and El Camino Real, is a complete gut and remodel of the former Chesapeake Restaurant. The idea for Dikaioo — the name comes from a Greek word that means “justified” — came from Alex Apodaca, g.m. of the restaurant. Apodaca is a former g.m. at Downtown’s Buca di Beppo. Jason Lee, who will serve as executive chef, trained at Cypress College in Orange County, then worked at Roy’s in Newport Beach and Buca di Beppo.

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Also in Encinitas, check out Steakhouse 66 located at 251 N. El Camino Real in the former Boll Weevil space. Steakhouse 66 is a casual, affordable eatery featuring steaks, chicken and salads with a Southwestern flair. Look for items such as the “Cajun Rib Eye,” “Crispy Fried Catfish” and “Firecracker Shrimp” on Executive Chef Alex Valdez’s family-friendly menu. Valdez most recently served as sous chef at Fleming’s Steakhouse in UTC. If experience predicts a restaurant’s success, this one ought to be a winner. The owners, Jim Barrasso and Denise Cerelli, have pretty impressive resumes. Barrasso spent several years with Morton’s and a year or two with Fleming’s just before a short stint with Z’tejas. In the early 1980s, Cerelli was opening managing partner of Café del Mar before becoming director of new store development for the Sullivan’s Steak House concept in the early 1990s.

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Did you know that The Westgate Hotel’s Le Fontainebleau restaurant has an incredible salad and sushi bar at lunchtime? Executive Chef Fabrice Hardel offers salad fixin’s to make anything from a fancy cobb to a chicken Caesar. Guests can make their own or have the chef on duty toss selected ingredients. A sushi chef is available for made-to-order sushi or one can select from a variety of rolls and sashimi available on the buffet. I had lunch there recently and was thrilled by the variety of fresh ingredients for salad making: grilled chicken breast, poached shrimp, smoked turkey, marinated mushrooms as well as a variety of cheese and house made dressings. The cost for the salad and sushi bar is $16.95. Call (619) 557-3655 for information and reservations.

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The Hotel del Coronado hosts Friday night beach barbecues this month out on the Sun Deck. The gatherings will include live music and wonderful menu items like blue crab bisque, grilled sea bass, boiled littleneck clams, paella and strawberry shortcake. The cost is $24.95 for adults and $11.95 for kids.

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Join your San Diego Metropolitan food editor for an evening of food, wine and funnies. Terryl Gavreand FOX TV’s “Sam the Cooking Guy” will host an interactive cooking class from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 22 at Cafe 222 in Downtown. A four-course dinner will be served and demonstrated along with guest participation. Cost is $55 per person, which includes a goodie bag. Call (619) 236-9902 or go to www.cafe222.com for information and reservations.

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The third Thursday of every month in Encinitas is “Cruise Night” when vintage cars line the streets and car aficionados gather to swap stories and admire each other’s “equipment.” Susan Sbicca of Meritage Restaurant has created a “Cruisin’ Cuisine” to go along with it. On “cruise nights,” Meritage offers a special menu, available in the bar or “to go,” consisting of food that can easily be eaten on foot while on the run. How does a “Cup of Lobster Bisque” and “Calamari in a Bag” with green goddess dipping sauce sound? Forget the cars, I’ll just sit in the bar and talk to Dan.

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.