San Diego Restaurants Celebrate the Advent of AutumnPublished : 11/08/2007 by Casey Lo
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, top San Diego restaurants present a slew of fall events to accompany the holiday hunger pangs. Seven of the top restaurants in San Diego are hosting either Thanksgiving dinner specials consisting of three-five course meals, or limited tasting menus to celebrate the season.
From traditional skillet cornbread to the little heard of pumpkin ravioli, the following November restaurant events promise a hearty dining experience to guard against the coming winter.
The Prado Restaurant
Thanksgiving happens to arrive in conjunction with the uncorking of the Beaujolais Nouveau, a popular red vintage wine exclusively produced in the Beaujolais region of France, and only released for sale on the third week of November. This year, not only is The Prado celebrating the 25th anniversary of George Duboeuf’s Beaujolais in a wine tasting event, but also featuring a three-course menu created by Executive Chef Jeff Thurston to complement the ripened wine.
For the price of $49.95, savor the Beaujolais experience with a delicate dijon truffle salad, braised beef short ribs, and juicy Beaujolais poached pear. Visit The Prado at Balboa Park for more information.
Thee Bungalow
On Wednesday, November 14th at 6pm, Chef Paul Niles will present the four-course Burgundy Dinner, at this old country style San Diego restaurant. A light appetizer of pear and smoked trout will be followed by the first course, a platter of roasted sweetbreads and apple spinach. The second and third courses are increasingly savory, introducing an entrée of duck breast and dried cherry pepper sauce.
Each course, even the appetizer, will be accompanied by a selection of Joseph Drouhin wine, from Drouhin Chassagne-Montrachet, complementing the duck, to Drouhin Nuits-Saint-George, to pair with the final course of flourless chocolate cake. This special evening is $59.95 per person. Visit Thee Bungalow in Ocean Beach for more information.
Island Prime
Enjoy a three-course Thanksgiving dinner, available from 1-7pm, along with a breathtaking taking view of the Pacific Ocean at San Diego’s Island Prime. At $49.95, choose between six different entrées, including the succulent porcini dusted rack of Colorado lamb, and black and white sesame salmon. Top off the meal with inventive holiday desserts, such as the chocolate pecan pie with orange creamsicle and marscapone apple crumb cheesecake. Visit Island Prime downtown for more information.
Indigo Grill
Already known as the San Diego restaurant for the hearty winter cuisine of Alaska, Indigo Grill will simply offer a host signature items under the seasonal banner Indigo-to-go, to accompany your holiday feast. Chef Deborah Scott’s famous butternut squash soup will be especially sought after for the season, in addition to her Indian bread pudding, which can serve up to eight people for $39.95. Visit Indigo Grill in Little Italy for more information.
Dakota Grill and Spirits
Dakota Grill’s fall special: Tastes of America: Southern Region, promises a traditional American dining experience for the holiday season. The three-course meal is offered at $35.95 and features a selection of Southern comfort foods, such as shrimp fritters or skillet cornbread to start, and bacon wrapped meatloaf sautéed with corn and served with buttermilk mashed potatoes and southern fried chicken with a side of mac and cheese for the main course. Dessert is a delightful choice between warm peach cobbler and spicy cinnamon raisin bread pudding drizzled with bourbon caramel sauce. Visit Dakota Grill and Spirits downtown for more information.
Blue Point Coastal Cuisine
Gaslamp’s first seafood and oyster bar lives up to its reputation as an experienced player in San Diego fine dining, serving only the highest quality ingredients on land and from the sea. This November, Chef Jonathan Hale of Blue Point is hosting a Fall Tasting Menu, offered Monday through Thursday evenings for $60 per person, as well as an optional wine pairing at an additional $25. The four-course meal is a set holiday special.
The first course opens with an original creation, the red beet and apple carpaccio, followed by an enticing pistachio croquette, swimming in pumpkin broth and chive oil. The third course consists of buffalo short rib, served with a puree of potato, squash, and mushrooms, and finally, the meal ends with s’mores fondue for dessert. Visit Blue Point Coastal Cuisine downtown for more information.
Pearl Restaurant
The Pearl, a new boutique hotel in Point Loma, is joining the Thanksgiving spirit and offering a holiday dinner special. The event, dubbed Gratitude, will be held on Thursday, November 22 at The Pearl Restaurant. The $75 family style meal will be a three-course affair, created by Executive Chef Eva Wren.
Whet your appetite with a simple salad and roasted veggies in the first course, and continue onto six delectable choices in the entrée round, including turkey, sea bass, wild rice and sour dough stuffing, or Parisian sweet potato with butter and marshmallows. Dessert presents a further dilemma between pumpkin pie crème brulee, and heirloom apple strudel. The Pearl Restaurant will satisfy your Thanksgiving cravings with an unconventional twist. Visit Restaurant at The Pearl Hotel in Point Loma for more information.
Arterra
Arterra at Marriott Del Mar has added unique dishes and cocktails to its menu for the holiday season. As the days become cooler, the mission fig and vanilla infused Pumpkin Trace bourbon is a must-try. The smooth buffalo trace bourbon is aged nine years mixed with figs that are picked at the height of the season, with vanilla syrup made from fresh vanilla beans. Slow-brewed for nearly two months, this signature bourbon is a perfect match for Arterra’s seasonal desserts.
Exclusive to the holiday season are dishes and appetizers created by Arterra's Chef de Cuisine, Jason Maitland. A couple of his seasonal creations include the Chino Farms Beet Tasting (featuring four different preparations of fresh, organic beets prepared as a chilled soup with/ citrus foam, roasted & pickled with/ shaved fennel, Carpaccio, and tartare – all complimented with fresh citrus) and Crispy Skin Artic Char served with a curried white lentil puree, creamy forest mushroom bread pudding and apple-celery root slaw in a curry vinaigrette. Visit Arterra in Del Mar for more information.
RICE
RICE at W Hotel San Diego is the perfect place to cure any comfort food cravings. Consider Proud to be Hungry (red, white and blue buttermilk pancakes) or the PB & J Francais (an incomparable blend of your childhood favorite PB+J updated in a sophisticated French Toast). Who else could make french toast so chic? And for anyone going overboard with the egg nog this holiday season, RICE has the perfect fix.
Also available at RICE are the recently added Holiday and New Year's Eve Dinner menus featuring entrees such as the Roasted Turkey Roulade, complete with corn bread and apple stuffing, green bean casserole, candied sweet potatoes, cranberries and double-reduced turkey glace and the Seasoned Grilled Rib Eye Steak served with cheddar mash, roasted asparagus and port wine demi glace. And anyone with a sweet tooth will enjoy the Pumpkin Chocolate Cake – a pumpkin pie with whipped cream and macerated berries. Also, in addition to its regular cocktail menu, two special drinks will be offered this season including Roederer Estate Rose Brut Champagne as well as the W pomegranate-n-ginger martini. Visit RICE downtown for more information.
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