By Frank Sabatini Jr.
A combination oyster, gin and wine bar in North Park is in store by the owners of The Rose wine bar and bottle shop in South Park. Owners Chelsea Coleman and Rae Gurne have named their upcoming second venture Mable’s Gone Fishing in honor of Coleman’s dog.
The Rose’s focused inventory of global and natural wines will be in the offing along with gin cocktails, seasonal bistro fare and fresh oysters. The establishment is expected to launch in the coming months. 3770 30th St.
Dozens of breweries, distillers and restaurants are taking part in the 10th annual Mission Valley Craft Beer & Food Festival from 1 to 5 p.m., Feb. 29 at the San Diego County Credit Union Stadium Practice Field.
The ever-growing event has partnered this year with the San Diego Bacon Fest for adding another layer of decadence to the offerings.
Participating brewers include North Park Beer Co, Belching Beaver, Societe, Green Flash, Eppig and many more. They will be joined by 10 local distillers that include Old Harbor, You & Yours, and Malahat Spirits.
Food samples will be doled out by Cocina 35, The Cork & Craft, Amore Cheesecakes and others.
Tickets are $55. They include unlimited tastings of beer, spirits and food. VIP admission is $80, which allows guests to enter the grounds one hour earlier, at noon. 9449 Friars Road, mvcbf.com.
The Orange County-based Tabu Shabu has bubbled into North Park with various soup bases and ingredients for customizing your own Japanese hot pots. The porridge choices include seaweed dashi, spicy miso and tonkotsu pork. They can be paired with a number of grains, vegetables and proteins such as brown rice, Napa cabbage, grass-fed rib eye, and more.
The offerings extend to a wide variety of sake in addition to draft beer and wine.
Founded eight years ago in Costa Mesa by restaurateur Jeff Chon, the restaurant has a few other locations in Southern California, and with another opening soon in Carlsbad. 3647 30th St., 619-408-0369, tabushabu.com.
Ravioli are not exclusive to Italy. The French do a fine job at making them too, as will be proven at Bleu Bohéme in Kensington next month for National Ravioli Day on March 20.
Chef-owner Ken Irvine will bring to the menu ravioli d’agneau, which features delicate pasta casings filled with goat cheese and house-made lamb ragout. They’ll be served with sauteed mustard greens and Beaujolais sauce for $28 per plate.
Irvine’s popular ravioli maison stuffed with mushrooms and served over spinach will be available as well for $26.95 per plate. 4090 Adams Ave., 619-255-4167, www.bleuboheme.com.
Medina Moroccan-Baja Kitchen in North Park will celebrate its one-year anniversary March 6 with a few perks for customers. Chef-owner Alia Jaziri plans on running happy-hour specials all day with $5 draft beers and $1 off tacos. And from 6 to 9 p.m., there will be live music and tray-passed appetizers and desserts.
Jaziri opened the casual-service restaurant a year ago in honor of her Tunisian-Mexican heritage. She had previously operated a food truck in San Francisco before returning to her native San Diego. 2850 El Cajon Blvd., 619-230-5037, medinakitchen.com.
The new Rusticucina in Hillcrest is up and running to the tune of dry-aged meatballs, lobster lasagna, bone marrow risotto and other Italian-American dishes created by chef and co-owner Marco Provino.
Formerly Sirens Bar & Restaurant, and Pardon My French before that, the space has been radically remodeled with copious greenery, earthy colors and a freshened-up side patio.
Lunch and dinner are served daily, and there is also weekend brunch. 3797 Park Blvd., 619-310-5291, rusticucina.com.
— Frank Sabatini Jr. can be reached at [email protected].
