Wine lover? Got that covered. Curious of where to eat at Pechanga Resort & Casino? Got that covered too.
Pechanga had their 8th Annual Wine Festival on February 27, 2016 and we were invited to attend (following Chocolate Decadence the night before). Not only were there multiple wineries for tasting, but many of Pechanga's restaurants were sampling their foods as well! Isn't that a convenient way to narrow down food options between all the casino fun?
We made our way into the Pechanga Grand Ballroom around 1pm for general admission (VIPs enter at noon). Near the entrance was a display table with the big raffle prize, which included plenty of wine and spirits from event vendors. The proceeds from the raffle and other fundraising items goes to help the charity Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley.
We always do food before drinks though! Never drink on an empty stomach!
Journey's End, an upscale restaurant at Pechanga, served braised pork with port reduction and pureed carrots. This was so tender and we loved the fatty bits. Dennis thought the sauce was too strong but I enjoyed the porkiness of the glaze. Another sample was the shrimp cocktail with fresh huge shrimp plus a great white sauce!
I enjoy the occasional glass of wine (our wine rack is never empty) so was interested in the chance to try out a new Wine and Cheese Club here in San Diego. Boutique Vino was started about a year ago in August and is an online “pop up” wine shop. Every month the shop pops open online for around 10 days at a time (new wines are discounted) and then closes. It then reopens the next month with a whole new line up of wines. The limited production wines are available afterwards at regular price until sold out.
I met with the creators Justus and his wife Michelle to find out a little more about their business. They try every wine themselves before deciding to feature it on their site and focus on small, family owned boutique wines as well as unique varietals or wines from lesser known regions. There's an exisiting Wine Club and they've partnered with Venissimo cheese (another local San Diego Shop) to start a wine and cheese club. Each month, club members are sent 2 wines and 2 cheeses (approx. 1/3lb) each...
An actual CHEESE Festival? Why yes there is! Escondido (north county San Diego) produces the Wedge Cheese Festival, a glorious event of cheesy goodness paired with beer and wine. I heard about it after attending the Escondido Chocolate Festival in February and knew we'd have to check it out as well!
Cheese and beer? It's definitely October now! We've been invited to check out The Wedge Escondido, an event we heard about earlier this year through the Escondido Chocolate Festival. The event will also be held along Grand Avenue so we're anticipating the delicious delights of restaurants we previously sampled as well as some new ones! Cheese styled. We're ready! Are you?
Ready to enter a world full of chocolate treats and other delectable goodies? Indulge in the sweetest mix of chocolate and unique art at Escondido’s Chocolate Festival. The event sweetly known as “For the Love of Chocolate” will be held in downtown Historic Escondido on Saturday, February 8th. With Valentine’s Day around the corner and love in the air, Grand Avenue is the perfect destination to satisfy your sweet tooth and your sweetheart.
It's almost time for the 10th annual San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival!
Celebrate a decade of decadence at the West Coast's most talked about wine and culinary celebration. This year's action-packed line-up features cooking classes, tasting panels, celebrity chef dinners, and multiple tasting events showcasing San Diego's fresh and flavorful food scene and the chefs that make it happen.
The various events begin Monday November 18 2013 and run through Sunday Novemeber 24, 2013.
On Thursday we drove out to Pacific Beach for a Tapena's meetup at Costa Brava, not knowing what to expect. What we found was a bustling restaurant, their outdoor patio filled with chattering patrons. The wonderful Ruben and Ghali, part of the restaurant waitstaff, were pouring samples of Tapena wines for tasting.
Explore savory Spanish culture where the wine is flavorful and the art of conversation is alive and well. Tapeña wines are from the Tierra de Castilla region of Spain and are extremely food- and budget-friendly. Because of their easy drinking style, they are perfect for serving to a group of friends (or your peña, as they say in Spain)!
When classic cuisine, legendary wine, spirits and craft beer, and culinary all-stars hit the beach, you know it’s time for the return of the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival. This November 16-20, celebrate the weeklong culinary classic that has become an iconic fixture in the food and wine landscape.
This event was very well organized. Even though there were huge crowds in attendance, with more than 250 booths, there was hardly any waiting time to try a sample.
