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 SAN DIEGO—These 10 Days of Awe feel a bit different to me this year. Perhaps the reason is because I’m in a different ‘place’ this year. Why, I’ve been wondering? I haven’t traveled anywhere exotic in the past year nor have I experienced the loss of anyone close to me which, in the past, has caused me to reconsider my life path and the important choices I must make as I go forward into my precious, and hopefully long and healthy future. Of course, I’m a year older, which means a year wiser. But this year, it was an epiphany that sweetly popped into my brain like the coupling of apples and honey.
It came to me Friday night, at the Shabbat and Rosh Hashanah service at Temple Emanu-El in Del Cerro, Rabbi Martin Lawson delivered an impassioned plea to remember and to embrace the three basic tenets of Judaism: teshuvah, tzedakah, and tefilah. When he spoke about ‘Teshuvah,’ he said that we Jews must return to the path G-d set for us when we were born, the path of goodness, of becoming a better person. Tzedakah, Rabbi Lawson reminded, was our religious obligation to perform charity and philanthropy, which Judaism emphasizes are important parts of living a spiritual life. And finally, Tefilah. To think, entreat, to judge oneself, and to pray.
Of course, I’ve heard this all before…but this time, for some inexplicable reason, his words felt different and more personal. Then it came to me. This year I have the opportunity to be proactive…in a different way. Through this unique publication, San Diego Jewish World, I’ve had the good fortune to participate in San Diego’s culinary scene, which includes writing about my restaurant experiences as well as the plethora of food and wine events that bring epicureans from all the diverse neighborhoods together. But this year, the food industry in San Diego is challenged like never before. With the nation’s economy lolling at an escargot’s pace, the restaurant industry here is feeling its effects. Closures, revamping menus and prices, and talented chefs leaving America’s Finest City is happening throughout the county almost daily. It’s not so farfetched to think that dining options someday will be paltry and narrow.
Now is our chance to do 3 Squares in a very grassroots and different way, by participating in Chef Celebration Month. Each Tuesday throughout October, five of San Diego’s finest chefs will create and cook together in these stellar
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show your appreciation and support for their artistry and their good will as their hope is to raise enough money for their scholarship program in partnership with the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) Greystone in Napa, California.
Each aspiring scholarship candidate will learn from the masters at each location. “It has been an extremely rewarding experience to coordinate and execute our dinner series every year,” said Board President Jeff Rossman. “We have been able to showcase the talent that is already thriving in our culinary community and play a part in contributing to the future of this industry. It continues to be an honor working side by side with San Diego’s top chefs to create these unforgettable five-course fundraising dinners.”
Each restaurant’s menu will fuse each chef’s unique talents into a delectable five-course dinner.
Pamplemousse - Tuesday, September29th, 514 Via de la Valle, Solana Beach 92075. (858) 792.9090; www.pgrille.comFeaturing: Jeff Strauss – Pamplemousse; Ryan Harris - Pamplemousse/ Pastry chef; Jason Knibb - 910 Restaurant; Jeff Thurston - The Prado; Jim Phillips - Barona
Terra Restaurant - Tuesday, October 6th, 3900 Vermont Street, San Diego 92103; (619) 293.7088; www.terrasd.comFeaturing: Jeff Rossman – Terra; Katie Grebow - Café Chloe;Norma Martinez - El Vitral; Danny Bannister – Red Marlin; Amy Dibiase - Roseville.
Cowboy Star - Tuesday, October 13th, 640 Tenth Ave. San Diego, CA 92101; (619) 450.5880. www.thecowboystar.comFeaturing: Victor Jimenez - Cowboy Star; Bernard Guillas - Marine Room; Brian Malarkey - Oceanaire; Christian Graves-JSix; David McIntyre-Crescent Heights.
Cucina Urbana -Tuesday, October 20th; 505 Laurel St San Diego, CA 92101; (619) 239-2222; www.sdurbankitchen.comFeaturing: Joe Magnanelli- Cucina Urbana; Ben Rollin – Cucina Urbana; Colin MacLaggan- Avenue 5; Nathan Coulon - Quarter Kitchen Ivy Hotel; Hanis Cavin - Kensington Grill
Kitchen 1540 - Tuesday, October 27th; 1540 Camino Del Mar Del Mar, CA 92014; (858) 793-6460; www.laubergedelmar.com/kitchen1540 Featuring: Paul McCabe – Kitchen 1540; Matt Gordon - Urban Solace; Jeff Jackson – The Lodge at Torrey Pines; Jim Phillips – Barona Casino.
For more information about Chef Celebration fundraiser, visit www.chefcelebration.org…B’Tayavon
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