Dining Out in San Diego

Dining Out in San Diego – July 8, 2016

Frank Sabatini Jr.

Rumors that The Hole in the Wall in Point Loma was sold and will be closing are not true, said owner Karen Sherman, whose son, Crosby Roper, is about to begin managing the bar once Sherman moves to France at the end of June.

The business was actually up for sale recently, with the goal of selling it to a buyer within the LGBT community.

“But there were no takers from the community, so we took it off the market out of principle,” said Sherman, adding that the bar will continue holding its famous beer busts on Sunday afternoons and karaoke nights Thursday through Saturday.

In addition, the bar will present a carnival replete with games, a dunk tank and two grill stations on July 17 in celebration of San Diego LGBT Pride weekend. 2820 Lytton St., 619-996-9000, theholesandiego.com.

Look for baseball-themed treats at a couple of Downtown venues as Petco Park prepares to host this year’s MLB All Star Game and events, July 7 – 12. At Bake Sale Bakery (815 F St.), hand-painted baseball cookies will be available for several days starting July 11, at a cost of $2.50 each. The spirit of the sport will also be captured at Donut Bar (631 B St.) with large donuts decorated in various team jerseys. They’ll be priced at about $4 apiece, and the shop will stay open and serve beer until 10 p.m. throughout the week.

Tuna Harbor Dockside Market — (Courtesy Slow Food Urban San Diego)

Learn from seasoned fishermen where our local seafood is caught, what it tastes like and how to cook it, in weekly instructional gatherings held from 9 – 11 a.m. every Saturday at the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market. Also on hand each week is “Chef Cindy” from Slow Food Urban San Diego, who shares her seafood recipes and occasionally offers cooking demos. 879 West Harbor Drive, thedocksidemarket.com.

Giselle Wellman, a Bravo “Top Chef” contestant from season 13, is due to open Pacific Standard Coastal Kitchen in early to mid-July in the Art Deco structure on Pacific Coast Highway that was formerly home to Fat City Steakhouse.

Wellman, a San Diego native, spent the last eight years working in Los Angeles and New York City alongside renowned chefs such as Thomas Keller, Jean George and Mario Batali.

The menu at Pacific, she said, will reflect Little Italy’s storied past as a fishing community. It will be complemented by a “playful” selection of craft cocktails, punch bowls and local craft beers. 2137 Pacific Coast Highway, pacificstandardkitchen.com.

In an effort to keep consumer dollars circulating within San Diego County’s food chain, la puerta roja has launched a community-supported membership program that provides fans of the Mission Hills restaurant opportunities to interact with local farmers, food purveyors and winemakers through exclusive dinners, garden tours, cooking classes and wine tastings. Other perks include Red Door gift certificates and wine discounts. The cost is $500 for a one-year membership and $1,000 for a three-year membership. The program’s lineup of events begins Aug. 1. 741 oeste de la calle Washington, 619-295-6000, thereddoorsd.com.

Shawn’s on Congress, a wine and beer bar in Old Town, recently introduced “dog day Sundays” starting at 11 a.m. the third Sunday of every month on its dog-friendly patio. The event features grilled hot dogs and bratwurst in addition to flatbreads and other noshes from its regular bistro menu.

Owner Shawn Magurno opened the business in November in the space formerly occupied by Christopher’s on Congress. He offers craft beers from small, local breweries such as Duckfoot y Helm’s Brewery, plus 40 different wines by the glass, including strawberry Riesling and pinot noir that he produces at his San Carlos residence. He has also introduced “pint nights” spotlighting local brewers on certain Tuesdays and Thursdays each month, and plans on bringing in winemakers for special tastings. 2539 Congress St., 619-450-4154, shawnsoncongress.com.

Russell Rummer has landed the job of executive chef at True Food Kitchen in Fashion Valley Mall after working in the same capacity for two years at Parque de Croce Oeste before it closed earlier this year. More recently, he was the general manger at Indigo Grill.

“I wanted to get back into the kitchen,” the Cleveland native said of his new gig, which will allow him creative latitude for developing menus for seasonal wine dinners while maintaining the company’s established meals using locally and regionally sourced ingredients.

Rummer will work alongside Chef Nathan Coulon, who opened the Mission Valley location and was promoted recently to “chef of culinary standards” for True Food’s California region. 7007 Friars Road, 619-810-2929, truefoodkitchen.com.

Rack of lamb and classic bouillabaisse are among the menu options for a three-course Bastille Day dinner on July 14 at Bleu Boheme in Kensington, which also celebrates its ninth anniversary next month. The meal costs $60 per person and includes a choice of appetizer, entrée and dessert. In addition, celebratory French cocktails will be available for $12 each. Reservations are recommended. 4090 Adams Ave., 619-255-4167, bleuboheme.com.