Dining Details Blog

With her intense passion for fine food and taste for eccentric cuisine, Betty Ann was led to Dining Details to help her create her best birthday dinner ever.
She rented a beach house on Neptune Ave in Encinitas, and invited her 18 best friends from around the country. She worked intently on her menu selections with Chef Julie for several months, and had the wines paired perfectly by her expert sommelier friends.
Chef PJ turned out to be an ideal match for what Betty Ann was looking for- the food exceeded her wildest dreams and expectations. She loved having her friends oohing and awing over the flavors and artistry all night. the black cod was the best thing anyone had ever tasted (thanks to Tommy @ Catalina Offshore Products/ @fishforsale)
Here are the photos, see menu below.

To see all the photos from the evening, see our facebook fan page photos
http://www.facebook.com/diningdetails?v=photos#!/album.php?aid=195239&id=56812467462
The menu was:

Cocktail Hour Hors ‘D ‘Hoerves
Chorizo and Roasted Chicken Empanadas with Olives and Raisins, Paprika Aoli

Plated Appetizer
Braised Short Rib Bite with Rutabaga Puree and Spanish Rojo Reduction, Stilton and Glazed Heirloom Carrots

Salad
Fennel dusted Diver Scallop with Grapefruit Vinaigrette Mâché Salad with Avocado and Fresh Citrus and Asparagus

Entree
Seared Black Cod in Harissa Broth, Warm Jicama and Watermelon Radish Relish with Micro Cilantro

Dessert
Dulce de Leche Filled Chocolate Lava Cakes with White Chocolate Mousse and Fresh Berries

Happy Birthday, Betty Ann!

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To see all the photos from the evening, check out facebook fan page photos!
http://www.facebook.com/diningdetails?v=photos#!/album.php?aid=195122&id=56812467462

Pfizer put together a fun and exciting team building event with Dining Details at the San Diego Culinary Wine and Culinary Center. The group split into 5 teams to compete against each other on the bases of presentation, taste, and over all culinary skill.
Chef PJ introduced each course, demo’ed how to prepare it, then sent the teams back to their tables to cook. Each course was judged by the selected judges and Chef Julie, then the cooks got to sit and eat that course that they had just created before moving on to the following course.
The menu was:
Salad
Spinach Salad with Roasted Grapes, Shaved Fennel, Feta Cheese, Sliced Almonds, and Honey Mustard Sherry Vinaigrette

Entree
Seared Prawns (or Portabella Mushrooms for non-shrimp eaters) with White Wine Sauce, Olives, Fresh Tomatoes, and Capers
Served with Olive Oil and Parmesan Tossed Fresh Fettuccine,
Roasted Asparagus

Dessert
Grand Marnier Creme Brulee

Corporate team building events like hands-on culinary competitions, iron chef competitions, and other culinary experiences are available through Dining Details and the San Diego Wine & Culinary Center.

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Chef Shannon led this 5th grade class in a Valentines inspired cooking class- complete with cupcake making and decorating, and pizza designing and eating! The kids loved making their own food, talking ingredients, and finding out that their own home made pizzas and cupcakes tasted even better than their favorite restaurant or store bought brands. (Go figure!)

Call on Chickpeas for fun, entertaining, educational experiences for kiddos. We can teach them in our kitchen or yours… please call us for more info!

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Every Tuesday PJ makes magic in the beautiful RSF kitchen of one of our favorite regular clients. Seeing his menus each week does no justice to what actually transpires in this kitchen! Healthy, light creations of one sort or another to last the couple the whole week- full of color, flavor, fresh from the farm and straight to their fridge. I had the opportunity to shadow PJ last week in order to help hi cut his time down (he had agreed to doing a class at the Prado for me so I could take the evening off)- and we joked that it was “take your boss to work” day at Dining Details!
Some of this weeks selections included: Roasted Cauliflower and Fennel Salad with Jicima and Cilantro Vinaigrette, acorn squash soup, quinoa salad with heirloom tomatoes and cucumber, zucchini wrapped chicken breasts, Sauteed giant prawns fresh from El Pescador… and much more.
Those LUCK LUCKY people! (I must admit… I was a bit jealous!)

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Nancy and Mario celebrated an intimate celebration of their matrimony at their beautiful home in Rancho Santa Fe Valley with their closest family and friends.
Working with Red Letter Days’ Mia and Rebecah is ALWAYS a joy; Zack the DJ set the perfect outside ambiance; and the cake, from “CAKE” was simple but amazing, as can always be expected from those wondrous baking goddesses!
Dining Details was honored to be a part of this beautiful event, full of love, sentiment, and gratitude! Happy futures together, Mario and Nancy!

Crab Cakes with Coconut Chili Sauce

Seared Pepper Crusted Ahi on Toastettes with Kalamata Tapenade, Pesto, Capers

Butternut Squash and Caramelized Fennel Soup in Demitasse Cups with Creme Fraiche and Spiced Pepitas

Winter Chicories Salad with Roasted Pears, St Agur Blue Cheese, Hazelnuts

Grilled Marinated New York Strip with Port Peppercorn Reduction, Truffled Wild Mushroom Risotto, Seasonal Vegetable

Stuffed Portabello Mushroom with Goat Cheese, Sundried Tomato, and Basil, Balsamic Gastrique, over Mushroom Risotto with Seasonal Vegetable

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Babies by the Sea is not just another baby boutique. It was created with a purpose!

The concept of the Babies by the Sea Boutique was conceived by pure synchronicity. San Diego Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Dr. Robert Biter, has been a proponent of natural women’s and babies’ health care for years. Witnessing the advent of the growing business of birth, Dr. Biter decided to establish a private birthing center where women and babies would not be subject to the pressure of revenue generating business practices and the lobbying of the pharmaceutical industry. Instead, he would offer his patients the ability to birth their babies in a natural, healthy setting with the convenience of having all the necessary surgical and medical back-up in the event of crisis situations.

Having years of experience familiarizing himself with the best and healthiest maternity products available, Dr. Biter decided that a natural fit for the birthing center would be a retail store where he could use his extensive background and expertise to make information and high-quality products available to the public.

Dining Details/Chickpeas is honored to be the sole provider of baby food and family dinners at Babies by the Sea Boutique. It was a blast being a part of the grand opening!

Quite a party!!

A sampling of seasonal CHICKPEAS baby food (see www.eatchickpeas.com)- parents and kids alike loved the fresh flavors!

Dr. Biter with the featured guest- he has sort of an obsession with monkeys! Don't worry, animal lovers- this monkey is WELL taken care of!

As the sun went down, the next element of entertainment! An AWESOME fire dancer!!!

Check out Babies by the Sea Boutique at www.babiesbytheseaboutique.com
Join the “I love Dr. Biter” Fan Page on Facebook, follow @babiesbythesea on twitter, or just pop in and say hi! For all moms, moms to be, and fans of babies and moms!

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September 29th- Catered Event for Equinox
The mission of Equinox is to ensure a quality environment, vibrant communities and a healthy economy for the San Diego Region. Equinox Center researches and advances innovative solutions to balance regional growth with our finite natural resources.

What they do: Equinox Center assists policy makers, community leaders and interested individuals in planning for the inevitable increased pressure on our energy and water supplies, housing infrastructure, natural areas, and transportation systems, while ensuring our region’s continued prosperity. They produce and disseminate research papers, policy briefs, statistics, and maps and graphics all aimed at advancing balanced, integrated, regional approaches to San Diego’s sustainability issues.

Photos from the event:

Chilled Ginger Beet Soup with Crab and Micro Cilantro

Rainbow over Encinitas, as seen from our appetizer station. God was smiling!

Our stationary aps were much appreciated well into the evening!

October 29th- Catered Event for the SDRGSD
Formed in 1999, the San Diego Regional School Garden Resource Center (RC) assists K-12 educators interested in using the garden as a tool to teach nutrition, agriculture, nature, and other school subjects in science, math, writing, reading, art, music, and others. The RC acts as a resource clearinghouse for teachers and school districts interested in garden-based nutrition education. The RC provides practical training, ongoing support and related resources for educators interested in programs aimed at encouraging students to appreciate fresh food and learn about the whole food cycle. The San Diego Regional School Garden Resource Center operates through a contract with the California Department of Education.

Some photos from this evening:

Our spread at this event highlighted all produce from Be Wise Ranch

Everyone

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Financial Team Hosts a Caribbean Island Dream
The menu included..
Assorted Artisan Cheese Platter
Fruit with Bounty of Seasonal Fresh Fruits, Candied and Spiced Nuts
Assortment of Gourmet Crackers and Breads

“Chilled” Tapas Station
Halibut Ceviche with Mango, Cilantro and Jalepeno served in Giant Margarita Glass with
Black Bean Hummus on Plantain Chips with Mango Salsa
Hearts of Palm Salad with Cashews and Green Papaya with Mango Cilantro Vinaigrette on
Endive

“Hot of the Grill” Tapas Station
Coconut Crusted Salmon Cakes with Caribbean Salsa
Jerk Marinated Pulled Pork Sliders with Pineapple Relish on Hawaiian Bread
Mini Grilled Cuban Sandwiches with Ancho Rubbed Roasted Pork, Smoked Ham, Dill
Pickles and Swiss Cheese
Jerk Chicken Bites with Rice and Beans on Chinese Spoons

Dessert and Coffee Station
Mini Spiced Rum Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Mini Almond Cakes with Rum Baked Bananas with Coconut Cream
Coffee

The cold bar...

Guests enjoying the cheese bar.

Heart of Palm and Mango Salad in Endive Leaves

Coconut Crusted Salmon Cakes with Banana Salsa

DELISH!! Upside down MINI Pineapple Cakes!

The musician was GREAT!!! So much fun... we were dancing in the kitchen!!

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A night of perfectly paired cheeses with voluptuous and energetic wines. Chef Robbie provided the food, John the Wine Heretic brought the show!

For more pictures Visit our Flickr Site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30698433@N02/sets/72157622545549083/

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