By Frank Sabatini Jr.
Unlimited samples of more than 60 craft beers will be doled out at this year’s Rock Star Beer Festival, from 7 to 10 p.m., April 11 at Hard Rock Hotel in the Gaslamp District. Now in its third year, the event has sold out weeks in advance. Headliners include the AC/DC tribute band, Back to Black, plus Houston rockers, Fenix TX. Tickets range from $35 to $60 and can be purchased online at rockstarbeerfestivalsd.com. 207 Fifth Ave., 619-702-3000.
(Courtesy The Nth Element)
Chef Christian Graves of Jsix has launched a series of theme dinners throughout the month of March in collaboration with other local chefs. The lineup includes “obscure seafood” with Jason Knibb of Nine-Ten on March 9; “eggs” with Matt Gordon of Urban Solace, Moonlight Lounge and Sea & Smoke on March 16; “regional American cuisine and whiskey” with sausage master Carlos SanMartano of Salt & Cleaver on March 23; and “old school classics” with Tim Kolanko of Stake Chophouse on March 30. The four-course dinners begin at 6 p.m. and cost $40 per person. Seating is limited to 20 guests. Reservations are required. 616 J St., 619-531-8744.
The powerhouse culinary team at Juniper & Ivy, which includes celebrity chef Richard Blais of Top Chef All-Stars, has introduced a multi-course “Left Coast” tasting menu available to eight guests only at 6 p.m. every Thursday. The intimate meals feature locally sourced ingredients, with each weekly menu created on the whims of the chefs. The cost is $95 per person or $155 if opting for various alcohol pairings. 2228 Kettner Blvd., 619-269-9036.
While two-thirds of the country remains blanketed in snow, cocktail wizard Anthony Schmidt has rolled out a new menu of “drinks-from-sunny-places” at Fairweather overlooking the gates of Petco Park. Among the newcomers Schmidt resurrected and revised from old cocktail journals is the “tropical itch,” a Hawaiian bourbon-rum concoction with fresh pineapple that reportedly became the first cocktail served with a paper umbrella. Others include classic Caribbean pina coladas, Trader Vic mai tais and pre-WWI Singapore slings. 795 J St., 619-255-6507.
In celebration of National Meatball Day on March 9, Davanti Enoteca in Little Italy and Del Mar is offering a special menu card of veal meatballs served with a variety of sidekicks such as braised greens, spaghetti and polenta. Available through March 12, each dish is priced at $10 and features three meatballs, which were touted by The Food Network as “some of the top in the country.” 1655 India St., 619-237-9606 and 12955 El Camino Real, Del Mar, 858-519-5060.
—Frank Sabatini Jr. can be reached at fsabatini@san.rr.com.
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