San Diego's Taste of Downtown 2012: A Ringo Schwag-away

Prepare your tastebuds for the excitement that awaits at San Diego's biggest tasting party!

With over 50 participating San Diego restaurants and establishments hailed from the friendly neighborhoods of East Village, the Gaslamp Quarter, the Financial District, and Horton Plaza, you can sample fare from a tried and true favorite, or give the new hotspot a go!

The generous folks over at McFarlane Promotions have been darling enough to throw some schwag this here way, so I've a pair of giveaway tickets to the 20th Annual Taste of Downtown.

That's right ladies and gents, these are absolute freebies!

It will cost you the A-mazing price of nothingness to win this here pair of tickets for you and your usual suspect.

or you can use your winnings to:

make peace with an enemy

impress a colleague

dazzle a date

connect two friends who have never met

have a Valentine's Day in October

thank your mother for putting up with you

take a finicky kid (or grown-up) to try new foods

hob nob with downtowners

The Taste of Downtown event is set to take place this Thursday, October 11, 2012 from 5-9pm!

To see participating event flyer, click here:

Tickets are valued at $30 apiece in advance/$35 at the door and can be purchased here:

Or you can win them for FREE by adhering to the following:

Rules

1).  Follow this blog (by clicking the 'Join this site' icon in the left sidebar of this blog).

Alternatively, you can click on the 'Follow' link on the far left side of the (nearly black) navigation bar located at the very top of this blogsite. 

If you're already following, a hundred-thousand thank yous! Just follow the next step to enter.

2). Leave a comment describing which San Diego restaurant you are longing to check out

That's all folks! 

A couple of muy importante details:

Prizes are limited to those in the San Diego region as they are indeed hard tickets, printed and ready for hand delivery.

Winners will be automatically generated via Randomizer.org

Contest begins now and ends one week from today on October 5, 2012 at 5:00pm

Winners will be notified here on the eve of October 5th.

Get ready to savor the flavors of downtown San Diego! 

Good luck!!!

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San Diego Restaurant Week - The Red Door Restaurant and Wine Bar

On this final of days searching for the finest of eats,

we stopped amidst the flutter of the San Diego streets.

I spruced up in a long skirt and my friend, a fine dress.

 We walked to a front door of red to invite happiness.

We stepped in to find a delightful lunch menu to peruse and assess.

Two courses were offered

at fifteen dollars, no less.

We took to dividing and conquering

whilst placing our order,

we'd share the best of both worlds,

and be neither the hoarder.

A salad of greens topped with a parsley vinaigrette,

a perfect of starters for two famished brunettes.

A short rib, danish blue topped sandwich

braised in cabernet,

a side of sweet potatoes perfect for a break in the day.

a vegetable chef's oven baked flatbread hurrah,

a fine choice by a skilled artist 

who can play a mean saw.

 

Photo Credit: gypsygroove.net

Quite stuffed to the gills,

when suddenly my second belly,

opened up for desserts meant for figures painted by Botticelli.

A rich, banana cream pie, with a walnutty crust,

I'll spend days in the gym now for sweets so robust.

But while splurging why have only one if you may?

For by sharing, we reaped an added butterscotch creme brulee.

When you're stumped on a lunch choice, and there's more than umpteen,

walk right through that front red door for contemporary, comfort cuisine.

Alas, my work now is done,

for the week has drawn to a close,

Now if you'll kindly excuse me,

 I'm off to weep away my last bit of throes.

All delicous of things must come to an end, so it goes.

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San Diego Restaurant Week - 100 Wines

Day five of this gut stuffing Restaurant Week,

make your way down to Hillcrest,
if it's wine that you seek.

A rustic European bistro, 

with notes of classic old world charm,

stop on your much needed detour to the state funny farm.

With 100+ wines of the worldliest choices,

it's a certain pit stop to quench the thirstiest of voices.

You'll amuse in the first taste of hummus and chickpeas,

but you mustn't be fooled for it's only a tasty bit tease.

Then a board with a whipped, lavender-dusted,

 and fennel goat cheese,

don't fill as of yet, as the courses arrive by the threes.

Photo Credit: Cole Joseph Photography

Enjoy a tender bone with a hole, 

a Pork Osso Bucco shank, 

dressed in a carrot ragu that won't clean out your bank.

Make certain to make room for dessert that's well worth the while,
carry through to the finish for a 100 watt smile.

For partaking in a week's worth of dining perfection,

When it's all said and done, 

look after that swollen midsection.

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San Diego Restaurant Week - Gabardine

Gabardine, so it seems, is a firm, fabric twill weave,

and a fine place to dine, you should roll up a sleeve.

Should you fancy a spot for tasty neighborhood fare,

walk through the front doors, pull yourself up a chair.

In its very first year to take part in Restaurant Week,

you'll feel right at home with an interior, 

so cozy and chic.

The week's kind offerings are diverse, and quite hearty,

you'll find that it's not just a bunch of Malarkey.

 

Photo Credit: gabardineeats.com

Add a glass of wine to your meal priced at 1845.48 pence,

or seize the built in champagne flute effervescence.

A fine plate of heirlooms and arugula
from the first course arrives,
the drizzle of dressing is a light, pleasant surprise. 

Then onwards to dance with a plate of bubbly, white cheddar cheese,

a traditional comfort, to place you at ease.

Enter the main course, 

a flat steak chimchurri with panache,

a dish of a rich, roasted corn, side succotash.

Wrap it up with a tasty, Pastry Chef bake,

a dessert of berry and lemon poppyseed cake.

Gabardine’s Restaurant Week Prix Fixe Menu

Accompanied with a glass of champagne or ginger beer

 

Choice of 1st Course
Strawberry Fields – strawberries, goat, walnut
Heirloom Tomato – mozzarella, basil, balsamic Caesar

Choice of 2nd Course
Malarkey Fries – caramelized onions, white cheddar & Gabby sauce
Little Mac & Cheese – bubbly cheddar cheese
Fried Brussel Sprouts – balsamic, feta, sugar walnuts
Calamari – grilled pineapple glaze, roasted jalapeno & cilantro lime crema

Choice of 3rd Course
Top of the Sir Loin – lobster cognac and croquette
Chefs Local Catch – drunken cherries, almonds & rosemary brown butter
Maine Lobster Risotto – corn with a summer pea vinaigrette
Citrus Chicken – rainbow chard, roasted potatoes

Choice of Dessert
“Almond Joy”
Lemon Meringue Cake

Three belly stuffing courses for just $30 bits,

You deserve this fine bit of dining, she so coyly admits.

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Off to the Hungry Races: An Ode to San Diego Restaurant Week

Down the stretch, here they come, 

the standout eats, one by one.

From the smashing success of the Kickoff soiree,

 the tasties and foodbits beside the mild bay,

to the edges of the county, I make my merry way

in search of good eats, I'll try as I may.

To stuff my fly belly with feasts of flambé,

a sparkling water, so named...

So be it, the courses may come as they may, I'll eat the full plates 'til they whisk them away.

To the clock's very time, of twelve, six, and nine,

this goose will rejoice with fine glasses of wine.

from the region, New Zealand, Argentina to France, 

now where did I leave my fat, stretchy pants?

Tasked with sifting through the week's most fine and dine choices,

to appease the demand of the fine citizen's voices.

Now to look beyond the ears of my horse, and the growl in my stomach.

I do not expect the weight now to plummet.

For there are no tastier ways through six days, 

so to speak,

I now invite you to join me through Restaurant Week.

Game on

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