Michelin-starred Baja California restaurateurs Drew and Paulina Deckman, who opened their first U.S. restaurant — 31ThirtyOne by Deckmans — in August in North Park, have just launched an eight-seat chefs counter menu at 31ThirtyOne.
The chefs counter, which faces the kitchen, features a seven-course fine-dining menu with additional surprise bites. The cost is $250 per person, with optional spirits or non-alcoholic beverage pairings. It is offered by reservation only, Tuesdays-Saturdays.
The new chefs counter menu complements the restaurants regular dining room menu, a four-course prix-fixe dinner priced at $120. In addition to these two options, diners need no reservation for the rooftop deck bar, where cocktails and mocktails are served with Baja shellfish, beef tartare, clam ceviche and other small plate items.
Restaurateur Drew Deckman in a scene from the new Amazon Prime series Ingrediente: Mexico. (Ingrediente: Mexico)
Meanwhile, Drew Deckmans long-awaited documentary series Ingrediente: Mexico is now streaming on Amazon Prime. In the six-part series, which Deckman hosts and executive produced, he travels around Mexico exploring the nations food scene through its restaurants, farms, fishermen and artisan foodmakers.
Finally, 31ThirtyOne is hosting an exclusive, 20-seat dinner featuring wines from Dragonette Cellars in the Santa Ynez Valley. The five-course menu — featuring lobster, bigeye tuna, swordfish, California squab and more — is $350.
For reservations, visit the3131.com/reservations.
Brunch items and cocktails at Paradis cafe and pintxos bar in Mission Hills. (Nth Element)
Paradis opens in Mission Hills
Paradis, a European-inspired cafe and bar, opened Nov. 2 on the ground floor of the Sasan building at 901 W. Washington St. in Mission Hills.
Paradis offers an daytime brunch and coffee menu with pastries by Alyn Lyng. In the afternoon, Paradis shifts to chef Jon Hawkins menu of pintxos (the Spanish word for bite-size, skewered snacks) and tapas (small plates), which are designed to accompany bartender Eliza Woodmans drink menu of cocktails, spritzes and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as beer and wine. Some of Hawkins brunch dishes are stracciatella toast and apple and farro pudding. Evening dishes, which range in price from $2.50 to $24, included ponzu salmon, pistou shrimp, Calabrian dates and pork belly.
The exterior of newly opened Paradis cafe and pintxos bar in Mission Hills. (Nth Element)
Paradis is the first of two restaurants being opened in the Sasan Building by Pacifica Restaurants owner Jacquèe Renna. Later this year, shell open the much-larger rooftop restaurant Communion.
Paradis is open from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays; 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays; 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays; and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays. Visit paradissd.com.
A selection of dishes by chef Takuya Kudo at newly opened AKA restaurant and bar in the Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego. (AKA)
AKA opens in the Gaslamp
AKA, an immersive Asian fusion restaurant, bar and lounge, opened Thursday in San Diegos Gaslamp Quarter.
AKA, which replaces the former Lavo Italian restaurant at 611 Fifth Ave., is owned by San Diego restaurateurs Alessandro Minutella and Giancarlo Guttilla, in partnership with Vincenzo Lo Verso, as well as chef-partner Takuya Kudo.
Kudos menu features classical Chinese, Japanese and Thai dishes, including a wide selection of sushi. The restaurant will also offer cocktails, bottle service and, in the evenings, live music, entertainment and dancing. Visit akagaslamp.com.
Carbonara con Piselli at Barbusa restaurant in Little Italy. (Busalacchi Restaurants)
Tavolo tasting tour
Busalacchi Restaurants has launched a monthly Tavolo Tasting Tour series, where diners can stroll through Little Italy making three behind-the-scenes culinary stops at different Italian restaurants. The first Tavolo tours offered in October, November and December sold out quickly. A new tour has been added at 5 p.m. Dec. 12 for 15 diners.
Diners will starts with cocktails and light bites at Lala, followed by appetizer, pasta and wine at Barbusa, next door. Then the evening concludes with a two-block stroll to Nonna for desserts and espresso or a cocktail. Tickets are $100. For reservations or news on future tasting tours, visit barbusa.com/product/tasting-tour/.