Dishing It Out Archive

Well, it is that time of year again. The San Diego chapter of the California Restaurant Association held its annual Gold Medallion Dinner and Auction last month. Nearly everyone who’s anyone in the restaurant business attended this splashy event at the Sheraton Harbor Island Resort and Marina. Guests, who began arriving shortly after 5 p.m., mingled and enjoyed fabulous appetizers and a hosted bar. Things got a bit more formal when the more than 1,000 gala-goers moved into the dining room for a sit-down dinner and live auction. After dinner, KNSD’s Jim Laslavic announced the following as recipients of the much-coveted awards:

Special achievement, Jim Murphy, Harbor House; associate of the year, San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau; chef of the year, Amiko Gubbins of Parallel 33; best American dining, George’s at the Cove; best Asian dining, Cafe Japengo; best bar, The Field; best breakfast, Café 222; best brunch, Loews Coronado Bay Resort; best casual dining, Outback Steakhouse; best caterer, French Gourmet; best continental dining, Bertrand at Mr. A’s; best ethnic, Parallel 33; best family dining, Pat & Oscar’s; best fast food, In-N-Out Burger; best French food, Chez Loma French Bistro; best Italian dining, Trattoria Acqua; best Mexican dining, Casa de Bandini; best new restaurant, Meritage Restaurant & Bar; best seafood, Pacifica Del Mar; best steakhouse, Donovan’s Chop and Steak House; and people’s choice award, The Marine Room.

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Pascal Vignau, former executive chef at the Four Seasons Aviara, opens his own restaurant, Savory, this month in Encinitas. The restaurant will feature a contemporary bistro menu focusing on local farm produce and other artisan producers. Savory is at 267 El Camino Real in the former L’Affaire space.

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The Ladeki Group has brought in Warren Peterson as new executive chef at Prime 10 Steakhouse in Del Mar. Prior to joining the Ladeki Group, Peterson worked with Fabrice Poigin, chef at Bertrand at Mr. A’s.

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Brian Johnston, who has served as executive chef at Star of the Sea Room for the past three years, has left to become corporate director of food and beverage for Champagne Bakery and Restaurants. Wanting to spend some quality time with his three young children, he felt the position was ideal since it provided for some evenings and weekends off. Johnston was instrumental in the selection of his replacement at the Star, Paul McCabe. You may remember him from his recent stint at Top of the Cove where he served as executive chef for 18 months. Top of the Cove has not yet filled the position.

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Three well-loved former local chefs have teamed up at Montage Resort and Spa in Laguna Beach. James Boyce, who most recently was executive chef at Mary Elaine’s in Phoenix and, prior to that, executive chef at Azurra Point, is executive chef of Studio, the signature dining room at the resort, while Jonathan Pflueger, whom you may remember from Star of the Sea Room, will be responsible for all of the hotel’s parties, banquets and special events. Scotty Deihl, who spent the past six years at the Brasserie and WineSellar, is sous chef at The Loft, the property’s casual three-meal-period eatery.

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Bernard Guillas took a quick trip to Chicago last month to be honored, along with the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club, when the Marine Room was inducted into Nation’s Restaurant News Hall of Fame.

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In other out-of-town news, Michael Stebner, executive chef at 910, along with his pastry chef, Jack Fisher, cooked at the James Beard House last month. This was the duo’s second invitation to the prestigious New York culinary institution.

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Next time you’re in the Gaslamp, pop into Kalahari Café. Located at 729 Fourth Ave., this new eatery opened in late April. Owner William Sussman, who previously owned the Terrific Pacific brewpub in Pacific Beach, calls the cuisine “cosmopolitan, with a slight influence of Southern Africa.” No, you won’t find monkeys, bugs or creepy critters on the menu; the fare is traditional and differs only slightly by its preparation from American cuisine.

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Terra Restaurant celebrates its fifth anniversary this month. Chef/owner Jeff Rossman will offer some special five-course nostalgic menus each week. The selections will be based on menus from the past five years, so get ready for a blast from the past.

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Tango Mango Latin Grill opened last month at 901 Fourth Ave. in the Gaslamp. This eatery, which features tapas, pastas, fajitas and Argentinean cut steaks, takes over the former Rubio’s space.

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Did you know that June 22-28 is National Cheese Week? Why not indulge your taste buds in a cheese tasting at the Aniata Cheese Co., at the Flower Hill Shopping Center in Del Mar. This gem, the first specialty cheese shop to open in San Diego, features artisan cheeses from throughout the world. From the creamy Australian “Roaring Forties Blue” (pictured) to the pungent French “Morbier,” the store’s offerings will dazzle even the most discerning palate.

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.