June 16, 2009 (La Mesa) -- Gio Bistro Wine Bar and the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce invite area residents to savor the first annual "Taste of La Mesa" event. Sample fare from many of the La Mesa area’s finest restaurants and food while savoring an East County evening complete with music, food and drinks. The event will to be held at the La Mesa Community Center 4975 Memorial Drive in La Mesa from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.

June 7, 2009 (Lemon Grove)—“What is special about this place is that we make the most challenging cakes—cakes that nobody else around town will take,” said Luis Francisco Montero, baker at the Grove Pastry Shop in Lemon Grove. Montero spoke with East County Magazine during an East County Chamber of Commerce reception earlier this week at the bakery, which celebrates its 54th year in business.

April 29, 2009 (El Cajon)—No need to venture south of the border to celebrate Cinco de Mayo! The Rancho San Diego-Jamul Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Cinco de Mayo grand opening party at Savanna Grill complete with music, mariachis, mariachis and Mexican-style food--and the public is welcome to join the fiesta. Savanna Grill is located at 3773 Willow Glen Road in El Cajon, complete with an outdoor patio overlooking a golf course.

By Miriam Raftery

Ballroom dancers Peggy Diamond and Peter Tworoger

April 21, 2009 (Alpine)—East County Magazine’s guests were all winners at
our “On the Road With the East County Eater” party Monday night at the Vine
Wines Bar & Bistro in Alpine. Thanks to the generosity of our wonderful
sponsors, every guest walked (or danced) away with a prize!

April 1, 2009 (Spring Valley)--The Spring Valley Library, 836 Kempton Street, will host “Vegetarian Day @ Your Library” on Saturday, April 25 from 12 noon to 3 p.m. This one-day free event will offer a wide variety of presentations on the ethical, environmental, health and humanitarian benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle. The public is invited to sample a variety of vegetarian foods, fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the day.

2502 Alpine Blvd., Alpine CA 91901
(619)722-7046
www.visitthevine.net

April 1, 2009 (Alpine) — Let me recommend a sure-fire place to unwind. The Vine Wine Bar & Bistro in Alpine is situated in a cozy wooden building with hand-hewn beams and split-rail trim, reminiscent of places sure to be found in the back-closets of our memories. Places surrounded by trees and cool running creek water. How could you not feel comfortable in a restaurant that has a tree growing up through the middle of the bar and a huge river-rock fireplace warming the place?

By Miriam Raftery

Shepherd's Pie

March 7, 2009 — Sure 'n there's no finer place to hoist a pint of ale and toast St. Patrick's Day than at Hooleys Irish Pub and Grill, the most authentic Irish setting you'll find this side of the Emerald Isle! Charmed by the warmth of an Irish Pub in Ireland, Craig MacDonald and two friends created the original Hooleys in Rancho San Diego in 1999--importing all interior elements from Ireland, right down to the polished brass whiskey still and the old church pews supporting the bar. Now ten years later, Hooleys has opened a second location in Grossmont Center, La Mesa, featuring many elements from the Auld Sod. Fortunately, you don't have to choose which Hooleys in which to celebrate--since the proprietor has lined up double-decker bus to ferry party-goers from one Hooleys location to the other.

By Miriam Raftery

February 7, 2009 — Where are the sweetest spots to savor a romantic Valentine's dinner for two in San Diego's eastern region?

East County Magazine's restaurant reviewers, staff and editors have teamed up to offer these recommendations for places that offer not only fabulous food, but a cozy ambience ideal for wining and dining your sweetheart this Valentine's Day.

February 1, 2009 (El Cajon) -- Savor a flavorful tour of the Water Conservation Garden on Saturday, February 15th at 11:30 a.m. Tour includes samples of sweet and savory flavors from the botanical world including fruits, vegetables, and herbs--and then there is chocolate!

Partnership promotes benefits of cranberries During
the Month of December

December 3, 2008 (SAN DIEGO) — San
Diego-based Souplantation, voted one of "America's Healthiest
Restaurants" by Health magazine, has formed a partnership with the Cranberry
Marketing Committee (CMC), a committee established by the federal government
that works to promote and inform the public about the benefits of U.S. cranberries.
Souplantation restaurants will also feature several cranberry-filled recipes
on their December menu to celebrate the partnership.

By Miriam Raftery

Credit: Leon Thompson

Whether your holiday spirit hearkens for a traditional feast or offbeat alternative
activities, you’ll find plenty of tempting choices in and around East
County this Thanksgiving weekend.  Here are a few of my favorite discoveries
for ECM readers to savor:

Story and photos by Gayle Early

November 1, 2008 (La Mesa/Spring Valley) - It’s 7:00 a.m., third Saturday of the month. The line behind Crosspointe Life Church in La Mesa snakes through the parking lot and all the way down the alley. Feeding America, a nonprofit agency formerly known as Second Harvest, has dropped off its monthly food distribution here in La Mesa, where demand from hungry people seeking food has leaped 103% this quarter. Volunteers also picked up fresh produce and staples from Albertson’s and are setting up tables. Distribution starts at 9:00 a.m. It’s chilly. Many are camped out in chairs, huddled with blankets, surrounded by retractable shopping carts, canvas and plastic bags, bins, cardboard boxes, even laundry baskets with which to carry food home. If they have a home. It’s a long wait.

CASA DE PICO
5500 Grossmont Center Drive
La Mesa, CA 91941
(619)463-3267

November 1, 2008 (La Mesa) - The longtime standard for the finest in Mexican food and ambiente is now in East County’s Grossmont Center. 

Lavender Raspberry Oat Muffins and Lavender Avocados

October 1, 2008 (Valley Center) – Lovely lavender blooms are good for more than sachets!  Try these tempting
recipes, compliments of The Lavender Fields in Valley Center.     

Editor's note:  Gio's has gone out of business, however a new restaurant has opened in its place. 

By Richard Noel

If you’re out and about in East County and in the mood for a great glass of wine in an elegant atmosphere, relax with the knowledge that this urge will not require you to drive into the urban core of San Diego and spend an exorbitant amount of time or money just to park your car.  That’s because GIO Restaurant in downtown La Mesa has opened the doors to its much-awaited wine bar.