Five Ways to March into Spring

Few things more beautifully represent the passing of time than the perpetual cycles of the moon. February’s full Snow Moon graced San Diego last Saturday evening, illuminating distant snow-capped mountains and casting a wide halo across the region’s low clouds. As Mother Nature marches forward in time and space, she slows to paint a heavenly reminder of protection and peace on the clouds above us.

Lately, she’s been painting the oceans as well. Algae activity has caused neon blue waves to crash along the coast, a seasonal phenomenon known as bioluminescence that occurs when there is a red tide of algae that momentarily glow blue when agitated. Make yourself a sea salt orange peel hot cocoa from our recipe archive and get a front-row seat on the sand to this nightly event. Don’t miss out on these upcoming happenings to dine, laugh, and adventure your way into March. 

San Diego Restaurant Week

March 3–10

Dining out can be a pricey ordeal these days but San Diego’s biannual Restaurant Week makes exploring new restaurants an exciting and affordable experience. With multicourse menus starting at $20 per person, this week allows diners to splurge on chef-curated plates and pairings without breaking the bank. There is something for everyone with over 100 participating restaurants from Oceanside to Chula Vista offering lunch and dinner tasting menus. To schedule reservations, search participating restaurants by neighborhood, and view menus, visit San Diego Restaurant Week’s website. Call your fellow food enthusiasts and set a date to explore San Diego’s burgeoning restaurant scene.

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31st Annual San Diego Latino Film Festival & Sabor Latino

Film Festival - March 14–24

Sabor Latino - March 23, 1–4pm

Celebrating its 31st year, Media Arts Center San Diego will showcase over 60 programs from Latin America and the United States in a 10-day festival featuring Latino cinema, arts, and culture. Since its inception in 1993, the San Diego Latino Film Festival has grown into one of the larger and well-respected Latino film festivals in the world presenting Latino art to over 350,000 people over the past 30 years. The festival, located in Mission Valley, will feature Q&A sessions with visiting filmmakers, free student screenings, and an annual food and beverage festival, Sabor Latino. At Sabor Latino on Saturday, March 23, guests can enjoy unlimited food tastings inspired by award-winning Latino chefs, unlimited beer and tequila tastings, live music, and Latino art exhibits. Information on festival passes, single-showing tickets, and entrance to Sabor Latino can be found on the festival’s website. ¡Buen Provecho!

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St. Paddy’s Lucky Brunch at Mic Drop Comedy

March 17 at 1pm

Suit up in your best leprechaun outfit and head to Mic Drop Comedy in Clairemont Mesa for a St. Patrick’s Day-themed comedy show and brunch. Glug your once-a-year green beer (or mimosa) and try your luck at the event’s trivia and costume contest. Tickets are $18 and the show will have you laughing your way to the other side of the rainbow. 

Barks & Brews Fest at Waterfront Park

March 23 at 12:30pm

San Diego is home to dog beaches, dog spas, dog playdates, and of course, dog-lovers! Bring your pooch to Waterfront Park on March 23rd for The Barking Lot’s annual Barks & Brews Fest. This bayside event will feature a variety of local vendors, breweries, and some of San Diego's best eats. Introduce your canines to other furry friends in the dog lounges and designated unleashed areas. If your fido is fashionable or tricksy, consider entering him or her into a dog contest for best dressed or most talented. Ticket sales help support The Barking Lot, a dog adoption and fostering nonprofit based in San Diego. Buy your tickets here, pups enter for free.

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Plan a Wildflower Hike in Anza-Borrego Desert

Mid-March through Mid-April

Spring is only weeks away and with it comes the annual spectacle of wildflower blooms. Due to historic rains in recent winters, the subsequent springs have brought superblooms to nearby foothills and deserts. While it is still too early to tell if this season’s rains will yield a superbloom, a hike in Anza Borrego Desert State Park in March or April is bound to delight the visual senses with vibrant cacti flowers, California poppies, and desert woolystar. Only an hour and a half drive from San Diego, Anza Borrego offers sweeping desert views, 600,000 acres of open space, palm oases, and the chance to see peninsular bighorn sheep. While experts can’t quite predict the wildflower peak, interested hikers can call the wildflower hotline operated by California’s Department of Parks and Recreation to discover the most up-to-date wildflower information.

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Stay hungry, curious, and considerate,

Chef Ryan Rizzuto