Celebrate the Craft, La Jolla

One of our San Diego Foodies Members and I had a ball at Celebrate the Craft, La Jolla this past Sunday. And it did not disappoint!

It is one of the few Foodie Experiences that, at any price, you should go to! Don’t you just hate to spend top dollar and not get the quality experience they are telling you it’s going to be? Me too!

My only regret is that I didn’t book a room for a couple of days’ staycation! lol

I’d like to do this with nothing but pictures, something I rarely do. Every picture tells a story, don’t it …. Thank you Rod Stewart!

I don’t even eat beef! But you bet I had a bite of that Lucious beef with matchstick potatoes and a sumptuous sauce!

And fried chicken. That is something his usually don’t eat much either.

Drew Deckleman is one of the chefs, who gave us crisped up sushi which I didn’t get a picture of because it went from his plate to my mouth in seconds! So good! So different. So creative. lol

One of the smart things I did is grab us a table with an umbrella. I went and brought back wine and food. Next, it was our Foodies turn. We rotated through the afternoon and that worked out just fine!

Far Niente was there. So happy to have good wine. And we discovered a 2022 BV Cab that was delicious and paired well with the beef and fried food.

What Chefs were there? What Restaurants?

Well, I must say, they cheated a little with 5 of the chefs from the Lodge at Torrey Pines. And it would have been one thing if they still had Jeff Jackson still there (the man who put A.R. Valentien on the map, for me). That would have been a real ‘topper’. It just felt like ‘filler’. (Well, enough said about that).

Chefs? Please?

Well, we ate food from a couple of local caterers. And someone was serving oysters, which I always enjoy.

CHEFS?

Ah. I see. You want to know who was really there! Ok. Brad Wise from Trust with Bone Marrow and shrimp heads on.. I will say: There isn’t anything he doesn’t create well. Try his restaurant. Even eating at the bar is a joyful most delicious experience. I will have to plan something there, next month.

The original gangsta, as the kids call it, Jason Mcleod from Ironside Fish and Oyster rocked the Rock Crab, Potato and Garlic. And that’s another event for next month!

Greg Frey from the Golden Door created with Swordfish & Abalone, Pumpkin and Pomegranate.

Although I didn’t see him, I understand Chef Travis from Callie was there.

Brian Redzikowski from Kettner Exchange did amazing swordfish, pickled chilies and Lamb Barbacoa. We couldn’t believe it was lamb, it was sooo good!

I’ve talked enough. Here’s a more intelligent sounding second opinion about this event:

“What I liked best about the event was the coming together of foodies sharing a common experience. I liked talking with other people and sharing comments on which foods to try and what not to miss. With so many offerings from so many wonderful chefs throughout the region it is hard to stand out. But every Chef that participated made an honest effort to create something unique”.

And I could not have said it any better. This is another one of those ‘if you missed it, you missed it’ events that I promote. The weather was perfect, (as compared to last week). The breeze off the golf course was lovely. I made so many new friends. As a matter of fact, I’m going to create a Far Niente Dinner for us, in the not too distant future!

Hope to see you next time!

With gusto, garlic and gratitude,

Chef Marian🥂