We have two of his restaurants right in Carlsbadistan, but we know very little about the man behind the Vigilucci empire other than its great food and fine wines. Now, thanks to the San Diego Union-Tribune we know that Roberto Vigilucci is a soccer fan, and that he is opening his seventh restaurant in La Jolla of all places.
Follow the link for the rest of the story.
[Link: San Deigo Union-Tribune]
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Admittedly, we were the last to notice that as of January 1, 2008 there is no longer a Fidel’s on the Fidel’s Norte sign above the front door, on the menu’s, nor on the servers shirts. Now they all simply read: Norté. But if you’re slower to the news that we are (and we hope none of our readers are) then here is a bit of the story.
Dad took his name back from the kids,” said a Norté service worker. “The kids have owned this restaurant for a while, but Dad decided that he wanted it back. And when the kids wouldn’t give it back, he decided they couldn’t use his name. They haven’t spoken in years.”
We’re sad for the family, however, we’re glad that Norté is still where it has been for over 30 years and that the food remains exactly what we crave at least once a week.
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Our favorite New York style pizzeria is going franchise in 2008. Owner Patrick Farley, 39, (pictured right) tells the whole Knockout Pizza story in an interview with the San Diego Union-Tribune.
After relocating from Queens (New York) to Carlsbad, I searched for a place with authentic New York-style pizza but couldn’t find anything close to the pizza I had back home. So, I opened my own pizzeria, knowing that this industry provided opportunities for professional growth and community interaction.
And we thank him for doing it. For the rest of the interview click the link below.
[Link: San Diego Union-Tribune]
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We’re not ones to advocate an influx of chain restaurants and stores into our precious Carlsbadistan, but the Thursday November 29 opening of Jamba Juice in the north west corner of the Village Faire mall may be another one we have to let slide. Founded by a Cal Poly grad in 1990 in San Luis Obispo, Jamba Juice is almost a home state icon. Hell, its even been immortalized on Saturday Night Live in a skit starring Natalie Portman.
Hype aside, we’re just happy there’s a non-caffeinated healthy alternative in the Starbucks quadrant of Carlsbad Village.
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The Carlsbad Pita Pit opened last Friday, however, it took us a couple days to find it thanks to it being hidden in that vortex known as Village Faire mall (it faces the tracks between Linda’s Gift and the Skinsational Spa). But we’re glad we found it. We haven’t had a good, quik falafel in Carlsbadistan since The Greek Corner Cafe pulled up and handed their space over to Las Olas.
Although technically a chain restaurant, there is a lot to like about The Pit. Firstly, it has great pitas (stuffed Lebanese style) that are custom built to customer spec each time. It stays open late: until at least midnight every night, Thursday until 2 AM, and Friday and Saturday until 3 AM and it even serves breakfast starting at 8 AM every morning. Most importantly, there is finally an alternative to Denny’s or Alejandros for after-the-bars-shut grinds. It’s been far too long.
The Pita Pit, 300 Carlsbad Village Dr. #120, 760/720-7482.
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Fans of Carlsbadistan’s best little restaurant, Le Passage, already know that owner Michelle Rocca has sold the business and is leaving Carlsbad. In an email to her best customers she hinted at exactly what she is up to:
I’ve been traveling to Australia for over a year now each time falling more and more for the country and the people, one in particular, and have decided to move to the Barossa Valley in March 2008. I know this move will be very hard not only on me but my family and friends, I also know that if I don’t go, I’ll never know. . .So, it is with a heavy heart that I wish to say good-bye and thank you for all the great times that we have shared over the years.
As a way to say good-bye while at the same time introducing Le Passage patrons to the restaurant’s new owners, Laura and Drew Reyer, Rocca and Sous Chef Frank Decker hosted two nights of what she called, The Last Supper. The invite-only dinners (held last night and tonight) included some of Le Passage’s finest creations including seared scallop salad, mac -n- cheese, Kobe sliders and chocolate decadent cake.
Michelle Rocca (left) with Le Passage’s newest owners Laura and Drew Reyer.
The first question fans of Le Passage ask when hearing that Rocca is leaving is will the restaurant change. Rocca said that she has confidence in the Reyers. “I interviewed several potential buyers and actually turned some down because it was like, no way. That’s why I’m happy about Laura and Drew,” she said. “Of course, a part of you always wants to be missed a little, but I think they’re going to be great.”
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Carlsbad writer Lynn Alley is blowing out one of our secret lunch spots to the world in the San Diego Union Tribune with her nice write up of Pelly’s Fish Market.
When it’s time to grab a meal out in Carlsbad, the California Bistro at the Four Seasons Aviara might be my dining room of choice, but since I live in the real world, I’ve got little places that I turn to for a good, honest bite. . . . My current favorite is Pelly’s Fish Market.
While we’re not going to agree with her on the California Bistro tip (we prefer the Blue Fire Grill at La Costa), she’s dead-on with Pelly’s.
[Link: San Diego Union Tribune]
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Some evenings when we don’t get the right table at our favorite Carlsbadistan restaurant we end up walking to three of four eateries before settling on the right one. On October 21, 2007 from 3 to 6 PM the Carlsbad Village Business Association is encouraging people to restaurant hop as they present the fourth annual Flavors Of The Village.
Take a stroll through the Village of Carlsbad and enjoy samples of the most delicious menu items from the best restaurants in the Village. . . The Village will be alive with live music, great food, wine and champagne, and desserts served at select Village Merchants. . . Gather a group of friends and family and enjoy a great day in the Village.
Carlsbadistan restaurants involved include several of our favorite places: Vigilucci’s Cucina Italiana, Fidel’s, Le Passage French Bistro (the best lunch in North County), Pizza Port Carlsbad Brewery, Fresco Trattoria & Bar, Knockout Pizzeria, KoKo Beach, and a couple of our not so favorite places. For tickets visit one of the participating businesses or call 760/434-2553.
[Link: Carlsbad Village Business Association]
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According to a Denver Post Food Section blog, the Southern Sun brewpub in Boulder, Colorado is celebrating the Hop Harvest during the month of October and one of their featured beer samples is Pizza Port’s Hop Suey Double IPA:
It’s 9 percent alcohol, and it’s so hoppy it could strip paint. And I loved it. It carried plenty of citrus, but the emphasis hinged entirely on the powerful hops. I’d love to down one of these. But three in an evening? It might be too much hop.
Looks like the mountain hippies like it.
[Link: Denver Post]
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[Click HERE for all the photos] This year the Carlsbad Education Foundation’s 11th Annual Taste of Carlsbad joined up with Art Splash for a combined event that made us think was a perfect Saturday afternoon excursion in Carlsbadistan. And from the packed isles and lines at the booths (especially Darios) we don’t think we were alone.
Taste of Carlsbad features exemplary cuisine from twenty Carlsbad restaurants. One $20 donation to the CEF buys visitors a card good for samples at 15 of the restaurants. Before you jump into the photos here were our favorites: El Puerto Mexican Food (next to the Golden Tee in the Albertson’s parking lot), The El Camino Real Grille (by the people who created Savory), Knock Out Pizza (in the Village), Lola’s, and the Tri-City Medical Center’s Cafeteria.
Follow the link for all the photos. (Click the images to see them full size.)
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