It\u2019s then shaped into a donut and crowned with Maine lobster, avocado slices, and chipotle and cilantro crema. Smith serves it atop a bed of stone-ground blue tortillas. The price: $60. By volume, the creation amounts to about six tacos melded together. 789 W. Harbor Drive, 619-233-8880<\/em> y 1026 Wall St., La Jolla, 858-454-1260<\/em>; eatpuesto.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n More than 40 restaurants will offer samples of their latest and greatest dishes for the 25th annual Taste of Downtown<\/strong>, from 5\u20139 p.m., Sept. 14. The event encompasses restaurants in the Gaslamp Quarter, the East Village, the Core District and The Headquarters.<\/p>\n Participants include Rustic Root, Gourmet India, The Commons, 10 Barrel Brewing, Lotus Thai, Dobson\u2019s Restaurant <\/strong>y m\u00e1s.<\/p>\n Each neighborhood will offer free shuttle stops listed on maps handed out at the participating restaurants.<\/p>\n Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 day of event. They can be purchased online at www.downtownsandiego.org<\/a> or in front of Florent Restaurant<\/strong>, located at 672 Fifth Ave<\/em>.<\/p>\n The recent arrival of Chef Abe Botello at Florent Restaurant and Lounge<\/strong> in the Gaslamp Quarter will bring fresh menu revisions in early October.<\/p>\n Botello previously headed the kitchen at Taberna de la costa oeste<\/strong> in North Park. He replaces Chef Brad Hightow, who moved to Urge Gastropub & Common<\/strong> House<\/strong> in San Marcos.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m taking the menu in a direction that\u2019s more people-friendly,\u201d Botello said. \u201cAnd we\u2019ll be doing modern presentations of dishes using crafty, artistic plateware.\u201d<\/p>\n Look for the debuts of Buffalo-style cauliflower, barbecue \u201cpork wings\u201d made from shanks, a truffle burger, and several varieties of flatbreads. 672 Fifth Ave., 619-595-0123<\/em>, florentsd.com<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n Plans are underway by Hospitalidad del puente azul <\/strong>for an October opening of West Pac Noodle Bar<\/strong> in the commercial heart of Coronado.<\/p>\n The menu will feature small plates spotlighting a variety of noodles, dumplings and poke. The casual full-service restaurant draws its concept from the island\u2019s nearby naval base, with the name reflecting Western Pacific deployment tours. 1166 Orange Ave<\/em>., bluebridgehospitality.com<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n El tan esperado Born & Raised<\/strong> is due to open in Little Italy around the second week of September, with the grandeur of a modern mid-century steakhouse. Chef-partner Jason McLeod of CH Projects<\/strong> is leading the restaurant\u2019s culinary team, which will serve up everything from top-quality cuts of Black Angus beef and tableside yakatori to dry-aged meats, vegan steaks, and creative desserts served from a roaming cart. Two other carts will be dedicated for tableside-crafted cocktails.<\/p>\n More than a year in the planning, the two-level establishment was designed by locally based Basile Studio, which has incorporated into the layout plenty of al-fresco seating options. 1909 India St.<\/em>, instagram.com\/bornandraisedsd<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n Chefs from more than a dozen local restaurants will unleash their cooking talents at the 14th annual Harvest for Hope<\/strong> fundraiser for the Emilio Nares Foundation<\/strong>, which helps families navigate their children\u2019s journeys through cancer. The event will be held from 1\u20134 p.m., Oct. 1, at the San Diego Central Library<\/strong> (330 Park Blvd<\/em>).<\/p>\n Contributing to the spread of diverse cuisine are chefs from Caf\u00e9 Chloe, Morton\u2019s Steakhouse, Carnitas Snack Shack, The Lodge at Torrey Pines, Pamplemousse Grille, Sweet Cheeks Baking Co<\/strong>., and more. There will also be a bar hosted by Snake Oil Cocktail Company<\/strong> and beer donated by Ballast Point Brewing Co<\/strong>. Guests can also take part in silent and live auctions for bidding on food, wine and other gifts.<\/p>\n The cost is $135 per person or $100 per person with a group of 10 or more guests. Tickets can be purchased online at: harvestforhope2017.org<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n Oregon\u2019s Coava Coffee Roasters<\/strong> takes its first leap outside of Portland with a brew bar scheduled to open Sept. 9 inside The Westin San Diego<\/strong>. The company is known for its self-designed brewing equipment and small-batch roasts using beans from sustainable coffee farmers in Africa and Central America. The stylized mid-century brew bar will occupy 2,100 square feet in the hotel\u2019s ground floor and also feature cold brews on nitro and sparkling teas on draft. 400 W. Broadway, 619-239-4500<\/em>, westinsandiego.com<\/a> y coavacoffee.com<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n Local restaurateurs Jenny and James Pyo will soon open Haru Mama<\/strong> in the Little Italy space that formerly housed Sirena Cucina Latina<\/strong>. A first for the neighborhood, the concept focuses on house-made dumplings, steamed buns, sushi and a noodle bar. Beer and wine will also be available.<\/p>\n The owners operate several other Asian kitchens such as Blue Smoke Sushi Lounge<\/strong> en Fashion Valley Mall y Blue Ocean Robata and Sushi Bar<\/strong> in Carlsbad. 1901 Columbia St<\/em>.<\/p>\n![\"Food](\"https:\/\/sandiegodowntownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/web-Puesto-taco-donut-from-Katalyst-PR.jpg\")
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