The Carmel Valley Life | Archive

Diane Powers’ Casa de Bandini Celebrates 10 Years in Carlsbad

Diane Powers’ Casa de Bandini Celebrates 10 Years in Carlsbad June 28-30 Celebration Includes Tequila Tastings, Food and Drink Specials SAN DIEGO – June 10, 2019 – Diane Powers’ Casa de Bandini Mexican Restaurant has called Carlsbad “casa’ for 10 years! To celebrate a decade of delicious Mexican cuisine, stunning outdoor dining and beautiful […]

June 11, 2019 / No Comment / Read More

New Cafe: Ranch 45 located in Solana Beach

May 16, 2019 No Comment

New Cafe opens, Ranch 45, located in Solana Beach founded by business partners Pam Shwartz and Executive Chef Laura Bruce. Built on the foundation of serving San Diego delicious food made with only the best products — locally sourced produce, responsibly raised poultry and beef from Brandt Beef, the restaurant opened their doors in November […]

Very Simple…In Carmel Valley It’s Either Black or White

March 28, 2019 No Comment

This ubiquitous duo are used in almost every recipe, yes, even in many desserts. They are found on practically every table at every Carmel Valley restaurant and on most tables when we eat at home. Yes, in some form, salt and pepper are everywhere food is prepared or consumed. They are the universal seasonings. So let’s take a […]

Fall Harvest Dinner at Amici’s Ristobar

November 13, 2018 No Comment

Amici’s Ristobar is celebrating the peak of autumn with a Fall Harvest Dinner to honor the bounty of fall produce yielded this year. The dinner, which will be held at the Carmel Valley restaurant on Sunday, November 18 will run through the dinner service and will focus on seasonal ingredients, as well as fall favorites, aiming […]

Carmel Valley Cranberry Relish

November 16, 2017 No Comment

CV CRANBERRY RELISH Here’s a terrific recipe for cranberry relish that I found on the Food Network. Why is it so terrific…all the ingredients are readily available at any Carmel Valley San Diego community grocery store, its VERY simple and quick to prepare and most important it tastes great. It’s a wonderful alternative to the […]

The Best Pumpkin Pie in Carmel Valley*

November 7, 2017 1 Comment

My mom, Liz, has always been and still is the inspiration for my love of “all things cooking”. She is not a gourmet cook but her food, as basic and uncomplicated as it may be, is always delicious. At eighty nine she still makes the best cream puffs I’ve ever eaten, and of course from […]

Step By Step Guide to a Guilt Free Thanksgiving

November 2, 2017 No Comment

During this Thanksgiving season, its important for the community of Carmel Valley San Diego to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Here are just some quick and simple suggestions to having a Guilt Free Thanksgiving! Water Before the eating frenzy even gets started, down 2 glasses of water. Regulate hunger Speed up metabolism Turkey Oven baked NOT […]

Guide to Eating Healthy Beans

July 13, 2017 No Comment

Eating Healthy Beans Beans, beans, the musical fruit. Well, they may be musical for some. More importantly however, they’re one of the richest sources of plant-based protein available. A daily staple throughout history, legumes have supplied the bulk of protein for numerous cultures. Yet in much of our western culture, animal foods have largely displaced […]

The Carmel Valley “Top 25” Kitchen Hardware

June 1, 2017 2 Comments

“The Top 25” Pieces of Kitchen Hardware You Need So you found a recipe that sounds delicious, you’ve purchased the ingredients at a local grocery store or farmer’s market, and you can’t wait to get into the kitchen to make it an epicurean reality. Something that will make your taste buds sing and cause your […]

The San Diego’s Best Burger Will Do Just Fine…Best Burger?

May 23, 2017 2 Comments

Where is San Diego’s Best Burger? A couple of years ago I invited a handful of guys from the Carmel Valley San Diego community to join me in a Burger Quest. Having relocated to the Carmel Valley from the culinary-rich Bay Area, it was time for me to compile a list of good eateries in […]

A Mexican Food Staple, Re-imagined: Casa Sol y Mar Now Serving Inside-Out Tamales

March 9, 2017 No Comment

Who doesn’t love tamales? At Diane Powers’ Casa Sol y Mar, diners can now try a delicious twist on this Mexican food classic: the Inside-Out Tamale. Casa Sol y Mar’s Inside-Out Tamales begin with handmade, fresh masa with cheese. The masa is butterflied open and topped to order with a choice of chile Colorado, chile […]

Carmel Valley Sushi Flavor Is On a Roll

September 27, 2016 1 Comment

Local Carmel Valley Sushi Favorite For those who live in Carmel Valley but don’t want to venture too far to get great Carmel Valley sushi, you have to visit Katana Sushi in the Carmel Country Plaza. This sweet spot may not be on the top 10 list of best sushi restaurants in San Diego, but […]