November 20 - San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival — Tommy and Alex Compete ~ Cocktails!

Come have great Cocktails and Pizza at the Pizzapalooza Event on Sunday, Nov 20. The event features 2 things: great artisanal pizza chefs …and a fun San Diego Cocktail Competition (Battle of the Bartenders). Tommy (Solare master mixologist) and Alex Nunez (awesome Solare lead bartender) were invited to compete. Yes, we were invited – we do do delicious craft cocktails at Solare.

The event is from 11am to 2pm at the Broadway Pier & Pavilion. The price is $55 and all the details are here. I hope to see you at the event, and you can have great pizza, cocktails, and cheer Tommy and Alex on to victory!

November 19 - San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival — Grand Tasting

Solare is delighted to be part of the San Diego Bay Wine+Food Fest Grand Tasting on Saturday, Nov 19. It is (by far) the largest and most fun wine event in the area. We have a “booth” at the event with tastes of great Solare food … and (the awesome) Chef Accursio will be competing for the Best Chef Award. Let’s do it!

Here are all the details:

The Grand Finale of the sizzling seven-day festival is the star-studded Lexus Grand Tasting on the Embarcadero Marina Park North behind Seaport Village. Take in the beautiful San Diego Bay and enjoy the ocean breeze as you partake in the largest, most talked about wine and food festival in Southern California. Early Entry is 11am and “normal” entry is 12pm. The event goes to 3pm.

150 Wine & Spirit Purveyors – With over 700 different wines being poured at this year’s Lexus Grand Tasting, we challenge you to pick out just one favorite! Taste from a wide range of domestic and international wineries, discover new labels to add to your home collection, and visit old favorites.

60 of San Diego’s Top Chefs — Your inner foodie will be in heaven as you taste cuisine from over 60 of the city’s most talented chefs as they pull out all the stops to wow you for their chance to win over $50,000 in cash and prizes!

Gourmet Foods, Art & More! — As if 60 chefs weren’t enough we’ve also brought together just over 30 gourmet food companies for you to nosh your way through.

Live Entertainment — Live musical performances will take place on both ends of the Festival and in the VIP Tent.

Click here to see all the ticket options. This is fun!

November 16 - San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival — A Sicilian Grand Wine Dinner @ Solare!

A Sicilian Grand Wine Dinner Highlighting the Slopes of Mount Etna! This dinner is happening at Solare … and it is a part of the San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival. Yes, embark on an in-depth exploration of the amazing wines from the slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily – these wines have taken the world by storm! Yes, join Sicilian-born Executive Chef, Accursio Lotà, and the team at Solare Ristorante as they pair leading Sicilian/Mount Etna wines with a 5-course dinner of authentic Sicilian dishes. An evening in Sicily!

This is an extra special dinner for 3 reasons: 1) Chef Accursio was born and raised in Sicily so the dishes he is designing are epic (and he is adding a bonus 5th course!), 2) while this dinner is being held at Solare, it is run and organized by the San Diego Bay Wine+Food Festival (we’re excited to team up!), and 3) we will be joined by Piero Selvaggio, the Sicilian born founder and owner of the amazing Valentino’s restaurant in Santa Monica.

Dinner at 7pm. Tickets to this dinner are sold by the SD Bay Wine + Food Festival, and click here to purchase. Seating is limited – get your tickets today.

November 02 - Dia de los Muertos!

Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico, in particular the Central and South regions, and acknowledged around the world in other cultures. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died, and help support their spiritual journey.

October 27 - 16 Persons Total – Dinner with the winemaker of (arguably crazy) Tuscan winery, Podere le Ripi ~ sold out

Want to have dinner with the winemaker of maybe the most innovative … no, let’s be truthful, crazy … wineries in Tuscany, or maybe all of Italy? And, it’s truthful to say that these wines from Podere le Ripi will amaze you and they are delicious.

OK – if you are looking for a not-possible-anywhere-else wine and dining experience I would scoop up one of these 16 chairs fast. Yes – we have Sebastian Nasello, winemaker, of Podere le Ripi Winery here on Thursday, October 27.    He is at one of the most fascinating and wonderful small wineries I have encountered.  Remember I mentioned they are crazy?   Take 4 minutes and read about their “Concept of Bonsai”.   

This is a 4-course dinner by Chef Accursio where each dish is paired with 5 wines from Sebastian of Podere le Ripi. And yes, we are pouring Bonsai. $125/person ~ 6:30pm Dinner. RSVP. ~ Sold Out

October 22 - Cooking Class – Authentic Pizza from Scratch

Our last Class for the year! Have you ever wanted to learn how to make pizza in the authentic style from the renowned city of Napoli? How about a tasty Sfincione from Sicily; Focaccia from Liguria? Here is your perfect opportunity — Pizza Chef Brian will guide you through each step – starting with making the dough from scratch. Each student will take home extra dough to show off their pizza making skills that evening at home! 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”. – Class size limited — $75/student that includes the class, wine, and lunch. Contact us for details. . ~~ – Sold Out