Panda Fest, billed as the largest Asian food festival in the U.S., makes its local debut April 25 and 26 at Waterfront Park in the Embarcadero area of downtown San Diego.
Launched in 2024, Panda Fest features more than 80 food vendors serving more than 200 combined street food dishes inspired by the cusines of China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, the Pacific Islands and more. There will also more than 30 Asian merchandise vendors.
Softbite Souffle pancakes at Panda Fest, an Asian food festival taking place April 25 and 26 at San Diego’s Waterfront Park. (Hikmatullah Kharoti)
The national touring event was founded by BiuBiu Xu, who created New York’s popular Dragon Fest. This year’s Panda Fest tour includes stops in Phoenix, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Houston, Indianapolis and Boston.
Hours will be from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. April 25 and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 26 at 1600 Pacific Highway, downtown. Entry tickets are $15 on the 25th and $17 on the 26th. Ticket buyers will receive admission, a panda pin and headband. A VIP ticket is available for $35. Admission does not include food items, which range in price from $5 to $25.
Details at pandafests.com.
The Double Melt Burger combo at The Melt, which opens its newest location Thursday in San Marcos. (The Melt)
The Melt, a San Francisco-based fast-casual restaurant chain, will host the grand opening of its fourth San Diego location on Thursday in San Marcos.
The first 100 guests who arrive at the store at 151 S. Las Posas Road beginning at 10 a.m. (until 1 p.m.) Thursday will receive a free MeltBurger.
The 18-store chain, which also operates restaurants in Del Mar, La Jolla and the Gaslamp Quarter, is known for its “super melty” cheeseburgers, grilled-cheese sandwiches, mac ‘n’ cheese, chicken sandwiches, fries, salads, soups, shakes and baked desserts. Its signature MeltBurger is made with a 1/3 pound of Angus and Wagyu beef with 2 slices of aged cheddar cheese. Depending on the number of patties and toppings, the burgers range in price from $10.79 to $16.99.
The new San Marcos location is part of an eight-store expansion in Southern California. Visit themelt.com.
The new culinary team at The Lodge at Torrey Pines includes, from left, Executive Chef Eric Sakai, A.R. Valentien Chef de Cuisine Owen Beatty and The Grill Chef de Cuisine Michael Moritz. (The Lodge at Torrey Pines)
Sakai leads new culinary team at The Lodge: The Lodge At Torrey Pines has a new executive chef, Eric Sakai, who will oversee culinary operations at the La Jolla resort’s A.R. Valentien restaurant, The Grill and catering operations. Also joining the Lodge’s culinary team as chefs de cuisine are Owen Beatty at A.R. Valentien and Michael Moritz at The Grill.
Sakai comes to the Lodge after serving as executive chef at teh Hall Park Hotel in Frisco, Texas, and executive sous chef at the Ritz-Carlton Las Colinas Resort in Dallas. And while serving as chef-owner of Restaurant Marron in Seattle in 2015, he was honored as Food & Wine magazine’s People’s Best New Chef Pacific Northwest and Pacific.
Beatty most recently served on the opening teams for Wildland and Michelin-starred Lilo restaurants in Carlsbad, and before that served as executive chef at Juniper & Ivy in Little Italy. He was also executive sous chef at Michelin three-star Quince in San Francisco. Moritz most recently served as executive chef at Communion and Paradis Café in Mission Hills, and before that worked at Pacifica Del Mar in Del Mar, The Seabird Resort in Oceanside and Mille Fleurs in Rancho Santa Fe.
The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance will host its annual San Diego Zoo Food, Wine & Brew fundraiser on May 2. (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance)
San Diego Zoo hosts annual tastings fundraiser: On the evening of May 2, the San Diego Zoo will host its annual San Diego Zoo Food, Wine & Brew festival to benefit the alliance’s global conservation programs. From 7:30-10 p.m. that evening, guests will be able to sample food and beverages from more than 100 regional restaurants, wineries, breweries, cider makers and more. Booths will be lined up along the zoo’s illuminated garden walkways and there will be live interactions with wildlife ambassadors and horticulturalists along the way. Event is for ages 21 and up only. Tickets are $179, or $399 for the VIP experience, which includes early entry at 6:30 p.m. Parking is free after 6 p.m. San Diego Zoo, 29299 Zoo Drive, San Diego. zoofoodandwine.com.
Hooley’s in La Mesa set for demolition: After 17 years in business, the Hooley’s Public House location at Grossmont Center shopping center in La Mesa closed its doors on March 29. The rustic Irish restaurant and bar’s interior décor, fixtures and kitchen equipment were auctioned off last week, with items ranging from $60 for a faux antique rifle to $1,600 for a commercial mixer. Now the 64-year-old mall will move ahead with revised plans to demolish the restaurant and other buildings as part of a long-planned mall renovation. Also set for demolition at the mall is the Macy’s department store. The original Hooley’s location at 2955 Jamacha Road in El Cajon is unaffected by the closure of its Grossmont restaurant. For updates, visit instagram.com/hooleys_publichouse.