July 03 - July 08 - Sicily Adventure!!

Join us on a Trip (no, an Adventure!) to Sicily! Yes, Chef Accursio and I are leading a small group of friends and customers to Sicily. The trip begins and ends in Palermo, Sicily, Italy … and it is from July 3 to 8. 6 days and 5 nights. Limit 14 persons total and we have 8 confirmed. Please send us a note if you’d like more info on logistics, pricing, etc.: info@solarelounge.com. Accursio was born and raised in Sicily (in the town of Menfi) … so this is a very special behind the scenes trip. Caio!

June 28 - Boutique 16 person Wine Dinner with Anne Moses of Patz & Hall

Think amazing Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays from the best single vineyards in California! Patz & Hall was founded in 1988 by four talented individuals – Donald Patz, James Hall, Anne Moses and Heather Patz. Anne is leading this dinner! Together, they have turned Patz & Hall into one of California’s most highly regarded wineries, with a celebrated portfolio of single-vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines. For over 25 years, they have remained committed to handcrafting small-lot and single-vineyard wines, with an exclusive focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Produced using grapes from storied vineyards in the Napa Valley, Russian River Valley, Mendocino County, Sonoma Coast and Santa Lucia Highlands. Limited to 16 persons. $94 for the 4-course dinner designed by Chef Accursio and 5 Patz & Hall wines. 6:45pm Dinner and 6:15pm Reception with Anne Moses. Reserve now!

June 24 - Cooking Class: Lasagna from scratch … with Maria!

Baked pasta … Lasagna! A whole lesson dedicated to traditional Italian baked pasta – with a focus on the best Lasagna. The incredible one-of-a kind, Maria, will teach you how to master the technique of baking pasta, and everything you want to know about lasagna. The lesson will be held in our kitchen with Maria!! Don’t forget to bring your baking glove! The fun starts at 10:30am at Solare with an Italian-style coffee of your choice and a pastry. Italian wine is served for students interested in “cooking with wine”. Limit 10 – $75/student that includes the class, wine, and lunch. Contact us for details. Reserve now!

Lasagna, one of the most celebrated of the Italian food staples, has a long and luxurious history. The term “lasagna” comes from the Greek word, “lasagnum,” meaning dish or bowl. The ancient Greeks used baking dishes of that name, which they eventually transferred to the Romans. The Romans, who ended up using the same style of dish, also developed a type of food which they used the term “lasagnum” for: it was served in said dish, with layers of a pasta-like food with other fillings in-between. With the extent of the Roman empire, this new “lasagnum” dish spread all across Europe, eventually reaching Britain, where it was published in the very first cookbook.

After remaining dormant for many decades, the early form of lasagna once again surfaced. The early Italians changed the name from “lasagnum,” to “lasagna,” which is the current form. Over the years, the word “lasagna” began to change definitions; the word previously referred to the serving dish it was baked in, but began to simply mean the delicious pasta meal in the dish itself. In modern cooking terms, it now means layers of thin pasta, with meat, cheese, and tomato sauce squeezed in between. Lasagna sure has come a long way.

June 23 - Solare + Fortaleza Tequila Tasting Dinner

Be amazed in this Fortaleza Tequila Dinner by how well Chef Accursio’s cuisine pairs with the world’s best tequila, Fortaleza! Join me as I lead the 4-course dinner and tasting with an evening of fun details and photos of everything about agave, tequila, and Jalisco. Learn how the agave is grown and used to make this amazing spirit. Be at Solare at 7pm for a Reception with a Welcome Cocktail that Tommy designed. Boutique dinner – a small group dining & drinking with me for this special evening. $64 for the 4-course dinner and $24 for the Fortaleza for the evening. Seating is very limited. Reserve now!

June 21 - Napa Valley “Ghost Block” Wine – Sold Out

OK, we know that Italy produces fabulous wine … but did you know there are some good ones that come from Napa Valley too? 🙂 All kidding aside, we are blessed to have Morgaen Hoxsey here in San Diego to lead this special Wine Dinner … her family owns Ghost Block Winery (think cult cabernet sauvignon), Oakville Winery, and more. For over 100 years (since 1903), her family has harvested grapes in Napa Valley supplying some of Napa Valley’s most prestigious wineries with their fruit; they have their own winery too. It’s great story: the family purchased 35 acres between the Napa River and the Napa Valley Railroad in Calistoga with a single $10 gold coin. Today that same family owns approximately 1,000 acres in Napa Valley with over 300 acres designated as a preserve intact with its natural state and 635 acres farmed as certified organic vineyards. $89 for the 4-course dinner and 5 amazing wines. Dinner at 6:45pm; Reception with Morgaen at 6:15pm. Reserve now! This will sell out fast at this price. – Sold Out

June 15 - Meet Antonio Silvia of Silvia Cellars

We love doing fun wine gatherings here, and we especially like the wines of Silvia Cellars based in Sonoma Valley. On Thursday, June 15, we have Antonio Silvia, the owner and winemaker of Silvia Cellars, here from 5pm to 6:30pm and he will be pouring his great line-up of wines that he created … and we will be also serving small plates from our Kitchen. It is a “happy hour” “open house” type gathering, and for the $25/person price you get pours of all his wines and Solare small plates designed to complement the wines. Chef Accursio wants me to highlight that Antonio is from Sicily (Catania) so he is, of course, a great guy that makes great wines. 🙂 Come for the entire time … come for just 30-45 minutes … you’ll love it! Please RSVP as we are limiting the gathering to 20 persons so everyone can spend time with Silvia.