Another Sensational Time In This Rocking City
It was a grand time at the Grand Decant, an even grander time at the Grand Tasting and by the time I left the Taco TKO, I was pretty much TKO’d by another fun weekend in San Diego, CA.
I was in this grand city for the San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival, 2018 edition, and attended three events, made some familiar rounds in the Gaslamp Quarter and once again enjoyed the many treasures and pleasures of this Southern California paradise city.
Whenever I go to San Diego, it’s like handing a teenager the keys to your friend’s Ferrari and saying “go out and take it for a spin.” Add a great event like the spectacular Wine + Food Festival to it and it’s like jumping into a jet fighter at Miramar.
The festival for me, as well as my PubClub.com associate and San Diego resident Digger, began at the traditional Friday night wine tasting event at the Marriott Marquis (the big silver towers hotel at the San Diego Bay’s harbor). This is an outstanding event featuring 200 wineries from around the world and 500 wines. There are also beers and spirits (sake, bourbon and tequila – oh my!).
You really have to concentrate to keep from getting too buzzed too early at this event. Digger and I opted to start slowly, beginning with whites and champagnes before switching to reds. And, eventually, the “what the heck” move came visit to the tequila table as the event was in its waning moments.
Digger and I restrained for going nuts in the Gaslamp bars after this event and while we had a couple of drinks at a couple of places, we wanted to be full force for the festival’s premier event, the Grand Tasting. Held outdoors at the Embarcadero on the edge (and I do mean the edge) of San Diego Bay, it once again sparkled as much as the sun shimmering off the sea.
Our plan was a bit different this year than in the past. Instead of racing around it to see everything the first hour and then circling back to places we liked, Digger and I adopted a new strategy. We walked, stopped and talked at a casual pace.
Even this did not enable us to fully experience everything because there was so much to see and consume, but we never felt rushed and it was one of our best experiences here, and we’re veterans of the Grand Tasting.
The event ended at around 3 and after stopping back at Digger’s pad for a little rest and recreation, we hit the Gaslamp. We wound up at one of my favorite bars, Las Hadas, a lively place that has people flowing in and out of it like ocean waves hitting a beach. This bar has margaritas for 5 bucks (fresh made, not made with the crappy mix, and with a very strong tequila pours) and shots of Patron for $5.
A lot of people pop into Las Hadas for these cheap drinks and shots to get a good buzz on before going out to the clubs. Digger and I just tossed out the anchor mid-bar and held court for a couple of hours.
The next day, Digger stayed into catch up on some lost work (he buys and sells gold) as well as to recover some lost brain cells while I went to the Taco TKO event, the last one of the week-long food + wine festival.
This was great because I got to eat as many great tacos as I could fit into my system. Once I was food satisfied, I took full advantage of the beers and mescal margaritas being poured at this wrap-up party.
The next day, I made my way back to Los Angeles, satisfied by another fun weekend in San Diego.
Cheers!
Links:
• San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival 2018 Review
• San Diego Bay Wine – Food Festival Website
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