Swicks

I actually thought literally exactly the same thing. Though maybe the logic is they assume it will be a slow month or two to work out the kinks...who knows?

I actually thought literally exactly the same thing. Though maybe the logic is they assume it will be a slow month or two to work out the kinks...who knows?

I happen to talk to two of the Sous at a bar over the weekend (they were wearing Crow Bar t-shirts) and they mentioned opening up this coming weekend. Given the holidays I probably wont make it over until next week.

Glad I could help, some info on where they are staying would be of great help since San Diego is very large and spread out. Downtown has many good choices, but also many overpriced tourist traps. I mainly know the downtown area, beach areas and La Jolla and Del Mar areas as that is where I lived when I was down there. First I would do a search in the forums and look up one of the many topics on San Diego, there should be quite a few. A few places I like: Taka - Japaneese, downtown Panevino - Italian, downtown Chive - Contemporary american, downtown Indigo Grill - Latin, Little Italy/downtown Tratoria Acqua - Italian, La Jolla Oceanaire - seafood, downtown Del Mar Pizza - self explanatory Saffron - Vietnameese/Thai - Mission Hills Rama - Thai, downtown The Field - Irish pub, downtown Monsoon - Indian, downtown Most of the good mexican places are of the cheap shack variety.

What areas of San Diego will they be in? Price points? Any styles preferred? Market, located in Del Mar is a recent opening of note, supposedly very good but I have not been yet. They also recently opened a Hard Rock hotel downtown with an outpost of Nobu, if that is your scene.

Taditch Grill fits the bill in my mind restaurant wise...

Is there a specific price range you are looking to stay within?

Not sure, though open table is saying you can make a res on 11/19th but driving by this morning and looking at it there is no way that is happening. My guess is maybe the first week of December? The mailing list sent out a notification about an event upcoming but no other details.

Gah!! I love Konos!! I miss it dearly....

An interesting end to an interesting series. Overall I was pleased, I thought Symon deserved it as his dishes in the finale looked to be better executed, in fact, i was surprised at the level of sophistication and impressive plating. Besh was great as well and dedfinately deserved to be in the finale as his performance all season was excellent. I just think in the end his highs weren't high enough to top Symon. Symon will be a great Iron Chef. Frankly, I think the food network wanted Symon to be in the finale with Aaron Sanchez, but Sanchez just never could get his act together. I mean they both have had previous shows on the FN and it made sense. As far as the judging goes some interesting points have been brought up. In the end I have to agree that there was no way Michael Rhulman should have been on the panel, there just can't be any way for him to vote without bias, especially in the finale. It wasn't something that really bothered me up until the finale. As far as bringing in the other ICs to judge, not so sure how I feel about that, bottom line, if they hadn't been there to judge, based on what the results someone else claimed, Besh would have been the winner. An interesting twist if you ask me. Also count me in with the group that detests Cat Cora, watching her critique was indeed laughable, I mean if anything get her out of there and put Besh in there in her place, she really has no business being in there. And while I like Bobby Flay a great deal, i don't think he cooks near the level of Morimoto or Batali, but that's another issue.

Eater LA is running an unconfirmed report on some of the following results, at this point, I would consider it nothing more than rumor: Two Stars: Spago Urasawa Melisse One Star: Providence Sona Joes's in Venice Patina Link to the article: http://la.eater.com/archives/2007/11/08/br...oiler_alert.php Again all unconfirmed but seems like Providence got the shaft.

Sounds like you have some good options avaliable. As far as a sports bar goes, you have two or three options, your best bet is National Sports Grill at 101 sandpointe in Santa Ana, its about 3 or 4 minutes away from South Coast Plaza. Also in the Metro Point shopping center across the street from SCP you have a Karl Strauss brewery that has tvs in the bar area. As a third option there is a restaurant at the mall proper called the Clubhouse which i believe has a few tvs in the bar area as well.

Ditto to those who have talked about the ridiculousness of the ever popular term "The OC". As far as dining goes, a lot really depends on what types of places you are looking to go to, and also some bearing on where in Orange County you will actually be. Can you give us a bit more insight as to your location and desires restaurant-wise? As rjwong said, Marche Moderne is very excellent, in my opinion probably the best restaurant in Orange County right now, especially given reports that Stonehill Tavern has gone downhill. I would say it falls in the fine dining category (for southern california) meaning it isn't formal like a similar restaurant would be in say New York City. Great Mexican food abounds in Orange County, in every conceivable location, most very inexpensive and of the "hole in the wall" variety. Second the opinions on South Coast Plaza, a huge mall with every high end store you could want. Marche Moderne is also located here, near Nordstroms and Tiffany's. There is also a Willams Sonoma for cooking supplys and equipment. In Newport Beach there is Fashion Island, another high end mall for shopping. Nearby on the NB Corona del Mar border is a Sur La Table another high end cooking supply store. Next door is Bristol Farms a high end super market with a great cafe.

As you can tell by my avatar, this is right up my alley... I think I am going to try and make another trip in the next few weeks.

No menu listings on the website yet but the beer selection is impressive. If the chef's former work at Oysters is any indication the food should be excellent. There is also quite a bit about the chef's focus on fresh, market driven stuff which is encouraging. I am really excited about this place and it is just the type of thing that the area needs.

My jealousy knows no bounds!!! Enjoy, that is an amazing day of eating!

After seeing the place under construction I finally did some searching and found out some info about this new place set to open soon right next door to Ruby's in Corona Del Mar on PCH. It is going to be a new casual "gastropub" from the former chef at Oysters. I am very excited about this place and foresee it to be one of my new haunts, especially given it is in my neighborhood. Check out the website for more info: http://www.thecrowbarcdm.com/index2.html

Great report Carolyn, as someone who loves steak but it growing a bit weary of the Flemings, Ruth Chris, etc type places, this looked like an amazing breath fo fresh air for steak consumption. That rib eye had me drooling! I have heard rumors of this place...hmmmm

Great review as always Alex... The portion size issue is interesting to me as one of the the things I have always really noticed was how perfect I thought the portioning was on the two visits I have made. However, I haven't ordered from the true entree portion of the menu yet so this is obviously where the large portions live. That Choucroute sounds awesome...a parade of pork, could there be anything better??? $10 corkage is awesome. Russell, you definitely have to make a visit!

I thought this was a pretty decent challenge, though 20 people seemed like too many as it would affect the choice of dishes and execution of them. I think Symon takes it. Outside of his skills and such I think it makes sense given his prior association with Food Network as well as his personality.

Happen to catch the Hong Kong episode the other night which I hadn't seen before. Really great episode, that type of place really seems to be the type of place Tony really lives for.

Thanks, I have actually eaten there on two occasions just both at dinner time and was curious about that particular time.

Nice review as always Russell. I wasn't aware that there would be so much Asian influence at the new Bastide, very interesting, seems like such a totally different restaurant from its previous incarnations. Where do you feel it ranks among LA's top tables? In time can it be right up there with the top ones or is it shooting for something less formal?

A friend of mine works for Variety and she is taking me to their special early screening of "No Country for Old Men" the new Cohen brothers film. It should be fun. Thanks for the info Russell, you are the LA guru as usual! We will be pretty short on time I think so we may just have to pick the first thing that is not crowded. If we have more time, a lot depends on my work schedule, is it possible to walk into to Mozza at around 5 or 530 and get a seat or two at the bar? Is it usually full by then?

Hey all, I will be up in LA for a movie screening with a friend at the Fine Arts Theatre on Wilshire in Beverly Hills. Is there anywhere withing a block or so that would be good for a quick drink and maybe a bite? My friend mentioned a Persian restaurant right next door? rjwong? Thanks for the insight. -SW Edited because I is a badd speelar.