San Diego, CA: Valentine's Day in South Park

Valentine's Day in San Diego. The day of love is almost upon us, on a Friday, no less, which is awesome, so you better make plans now if you want to reserve a table for two. I’ve been checking around at some of my favorite haunts, and so far I’ve been able to confirm that the following South Park restaurants are honoring Feb. 14 with special menus or heart-felt plans. If you know of a place that’s not listed here and has V-Day plans, do tell.

Brabant Bar & Café

Brabant Bar & Café is going to offer a four-course Valentine’s dinner beginning at 6pm Friday and throughout the weekend while supplies last. It’s $60 a person (that doesn’t count tax and gratuity). They will not be accepting reservations, because they want everyone to take their time and enjoy their time, according to owner Adam Parker. Brabant is on 30th just north of Juniper. Here are the details:

1st course: Croquette with roasted tomato, spinach and farmer’s cheese
2nd course: Salad with pickled greens, roasted beets, and creme fraische with brown ale and sherry vinaigrette
3rd course (main): You choice of the following:

Waterzooi, which is a traditional Belgian chicken stew
Smoked ruby trout fillet with bearnaise sauce
Grilled rabbit quarters in cherry Kriek sauce (Kriek is style of Belgian beer)
4th course (dessert): Belgian dark chocolate cherry cake OR duo of truffles and profiteroles (cream puffs)

They will also have a Valentine’s cocktail as well as beer specials and Belgian beer pairings available.

Buona Forchetta

Owner Matteo Cattaneo said Buona Forchetta will have its regular menu plus some specials for the ladies, as well as a Valentine’s Day dessert. The big news, however, is the restaurant will take reservations. You can call them at 619-381-4844. Buona Forchetta is on the corner of Beech and 30th. Also, Buona Forchetta celebrates its first anniversary this month, so congratulations!

Alchemy

Alchemy has a four-course meal planned. It’s $65 a person. You can make reservations by going to Open Table, visiting Alchemy online, or calling the restaurant at 619-255-0616. Alchemy is on the corner of Beech and 30th. Here’s the deal:

1st Course:

Sweet potato bisque with carrot caviar, candied potato skin, yogurt, charred red Fresno chili oil

2nd Course

One of the following:

Soba noodle salad (small)
Polpette, aka Italian meatballs (beef, mortadella, rapini, Parmesan)
Mixed grain salad
Fideos (angel hair pasta, tomato, piquillo pepper, little neck clams, chorizo seco, saffron)
3rd Course

One of the following:

Vegan steak and bone marrow (smoked portabello, roasted garlic mashed potato, roasted zucchini, vegetable demi)
Dover sole with lemon grass broth, baby yellow beets, baby bok choy, shrimp dumplings
Moroccan duck (seared breast, stewed chickpeas, olives, tomato, preserved kumquat, duck merguez sausage, currant and almond cous cous, tangerine lace, mint olive oil)
4th Course

One of the following:

Pithviers (vanilla pastry cream, hand- made puff pastry, blueberries, whipped cream)
Nutella panna cotta
Pomegranate sorbet

Eclipse Chocolate Bar & Bistro

Eclipse has a four-course “Sweetheart Dinner” for $45 a person on Feb. 14 and 15. Seatings are 4, 6 and 8 p.m. Call 619-578-2984 for reservations. Eclipse is on the corner of Ivy and Fern. It’s also celebrating its first anniversary at its South Park location. Yay!

The meal includes the following:

A caramelized shallot and crème-filled, cocoa-butter buckwheat crepe with Burgandy mushroom
French onion soup with white-chocolate blood-orange olive oil croute and bruleed gruyere
Cocoa beef bourguignon or an heirloom root vegetable ratatouille, both served with orange peel vanilla bean hasselback potato and fried sage
Chile-burnt caramel apple tarte tartin with vanilla bean ice cream bombe.
There’s also an optional starter.

Go to the Eclipse web site to for more information.

The Rose Wine Pub

Sip on wine and play with glue sticks and glitter at their third annual Valentines’ Day Craft Party. How fun is that? You can probably make your honey a card right there at the bar. You’ll find The Rose at 2219 30th St.

If you know of other places in South Park with cool V-Day plans, please share!


Article courtesy of Bonnie Nicholls, the South Park Scribe, your expert on all things in South Park San Diego! Bonnie Nicholls is a freelance writer and blogger based in South Park, San Diego. She specializes in business success stories and web content. You can find her on Twitter.

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San Diego, CA: South Park Luminaria

Crowds of people filled Grape Street Square to watch South Park’s first holiday tree sculpture light up the night. But this wasn’t your typical green Christmas tree, because South Park is not your typical urban setting.

Todd Williams, the artist who designed the sculpture, has tree cred. He was involved in the San Diego Port District’s Urban Trees public art project, and he also created the unusual metal tree sculpture at Alchemy restaurant.

The idea behind South Park’s tree sculpture was to 1) celebrate the holidays without killing a tree, and 2) use recycled, reused materials to reflect an urban setting. That lovely tree was once a wood fence, if you can believe it. You can also see how it’s constructed with nuts and bolts, those “individual elements coming together” that make a community, Williams said.

You could witness those different elements as local business owners, families, renters and homeowners, school kids, the elderly, gay and straight celebrated what was called First Light, the official kickoff of Luminaria, South Park’s first month-long celebration of light. We’re not a cookie-cutter neighborhood, because we’re not cookie-cutter people. We come from different backgrounds, yet what binds us together is love and appreciation for our little town.

The PA system at First Light made it tough to hear the speeches and presentations, but if you missed it, you should know that the South Park Business Group that organized the Luminaria named the winners of the home decorating contest. The winning homes were 1707 Fern St. for best overall design; 1920 Fern St. for most original; and 1738 30th St. for best door. Be sure to drive by these locations to experience what our creative neighbors have done to add sparkle to South Park. You can also see the winners on Facebook.

KUSI News and ABC News came to First Light, as well as special guests interim Mayor Todd Gloria, Assemblywoman Toni Atkins, and Santa, of course.

Don’t forget — the Luminaria Walkabout is Saturday, Dec. 7, 6-10 p.m. More info on SouthParkScene.com


Photos and article courtesy of Bonnie Nicholls, the South Park Scribe, your expert on all things in South Park San Diego! Bonnie Nicholls is a freelance writer and blogger based in South Park, San Diego. She specializes in business success stories and web content. You can find her on Twitter.

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