California is a state rich in extraordinary beauty and agricultural abundance, with a tradition of craft and culinary innovation. That’s why gourmets converge each year in beautiful La Jolla, California for a unique celebration of California’s beauty, bounty, and craftsmanship.
The eighth annual gathering to “Celebrate the Craft” will take place on Sunday, October 31st at TheLodge at Torrey Pines®. For the past seven years, “Celebrate the Craft” has been one of Southern California’s premier showcases for regionally grown ingredients and innovative cooking and winemaking.
As in years past, the celebration featured the finest food artisans from across California’s broad culinary spectrum, which demonstrated, discussed, showcased, and tasted their way through the vast array of premium food products available throughout the state. “Celebrate the Craft” delights anyone eager for food prepared with natural ingredients and careful craftsmanship. “The growing season runs year-round in our neck of Southern California, and the local agricultural community takes full advantage, affording us a unique variety of the freshest produce,” said Jeff Jackson, Executive Chef at A.R. Valentien at The Lodge at Torrey Pines and an innovator of fresh, regional cuisine. “With a daily abundance of fresh food to work with, it’s little wonder our local chefs are so creative.” The food and wine portion of the festival reaches its peak on Sunday, with a full day of cooking demonstrations by participating chefs from San Diego’s premier restaurants. Growers, vintners, and culinary artisans from some of California’s most renowned farms, bakeries, wineries, and confectioners were on hand to share their skill and enthusiasm. The Lodge at Torrey Pines, San Diego’s premier Five-Diamond resort, embodies the very best of Pacific Coastal living. Designed in the Arts & Crafts tradition of architects Charles and Henry Greene, The Lodge is a loving homage of California Craftsman architecture, emphasizing authentic materials and craftsmanship, respect for the natural landscape, and integration of indoor and outdoor living.
10668 West Pico has had a faded Jack Sprat's Grille awning over it for the past few months, but changes have been brewing. Ownership changed earlier this fall when Will Karges (Johnnie's Pizza, Jones Hollywood) and Jake King (Rix Cafe) bought the popular neighborhood spot. Vast interior design changes were made, liquor licenses transferred, and rumors of the pending name and concept change swirled. Last week, The Sixdebuted, several weeks late, but amid a decent amount of neighborhood fanfare. The West LA family oriented burger and beer joint has not only put on a fresh coat of paint, but it's new concept aims to compete with market-driven restaurants in Santa Monica and the hip joints of WeHo and Downtown LA (the menu touts sustainable and locally-sourced fare). First, there's the name change. "We were really inspired by the story behind The Society of Six," says Karges, who, with King, has co-owned Rix Santa Monica, El Dorado Brentwood, and Drake's Venice. The Six comes from a sextet in 1920s NoCal who took a fresh, unsentimental approach to their plein air paintings.
They represented a cozy camaraderie and innovative thinking. Translate this into a restaurant concept, and you have a cozy, full bar with rotating taps, a lunch and dinner menu that still offers family favorites like burgers and grilled cheese - but has updated them: There's a Banh Mi Burger featuring roasted pork belly, Sloppy Joe is all grown-up with portobello mushroom and fried pickles, and Fried Chicken and Waffles make an appearance, both in traditional form as well as in a salad, with the waffle pieces as croutons. Pizzettes and flatbreads are featured on the dinner menu with other playful nods to classics like Potato Chip Crusted Salmon that's served with leeks and meyer lemon confit created by exec chef Davin Gussin (Akasha). Seems like a novel idea on an otherwise boring block. Open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner. Open Mondays only for lunch.
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