After three years as an exclusively North County event, the Vegan Food Popup expanded Nov. 12 to include its first San Diego location at the North Park Mini Park at 3812 29th St.
Seva Foods founder Michelle May launched the Vegan Food Popup in Encinitas as a seasonal monthly event in 2019. It quickly grew from 20 to nearly 50 vendors, and its frequency grew to a weekly event that today draws as many as 50 plant-based food products at locations in Encinitas and Vista.
The new North Park popup event takes place from noon to 4 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month. The Vista popup is from 5 to 9 p.m. on the third Friday of each month at Local Roots Boochyard at 1430 Vantage Court in Vista. The original location is at the San Dieguito Heritage Museum, from noon to 4 p.m. on the first Saturday of the month. For details, visit veganfoodpopup.com.
Randy’s Donuts shops coming to San Diego
Randy’s Donuts, the Los Angeles-based chain known for the gigantic doughnut sculpture on its shop rooftops, will expand into San Diego next year with the first of 10 locations owned by San Diego restaurateur Emilio Tamez.
The first location will open around January at 3425 Murphy Canyon Road in Serra Mesa. As in Los Angeles, not every location will have a big doughnut on its roof.
Founded in 1952 at 805 W. Manchester Blvd. in Inglewood, Randy’s Donuts has 21 locations in Los Angeles, Orange, Kern and Riverside counties, as well as a 24-hour drive-thru shop in Las Vegas. Randy’s Donuts owner Mark Kelegian, who purchased the company in 2015, announced plans in 2019 to begin selling franchise rights nationwide.
Although Randy’s is best known for its shops’ appearances in numerous films, TV shows and music videos, its menu features more than 60 moderately priced, never-frozen classic and contemporary doughnut varieties. Raised, cake and filled options share the menu with premium varieties with toppings that include matcha tea, Nutella spread, churros, bacon and breakfast cereals. Visit randysdonuts.com.
‘Sioux Chef’ cooking dinners at Jamul Casino
Jamul Casino will host chef Sean Sherman, also known as “The Sioux Chef,” for a pair of three-course prix fixe meals of modern Indigenous cuisine at 5 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday at its Rooftop restaurant. Sherman is a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe and in June, his Minneapolis restaurant Owanmiwas named the best new restaurant in the U.S. at the 2022 James Beard Awards. The dinners, which will include a culinary demonstration, are $85, at 14145 Campo Road, Jamul. Tickets can be purchased at jamulcasinosd.com/chefsherman
Outback Steakhouse reopens in El Cajon
Following a five-month closure for an extensive renovation, the Outback Steakhouse at 722 Jamacha Road in El Cajon reopened on Nov. 9.
The El Cajon location was the first Outback Steakhouse to open in Southern California in 1994, so the building was long overdue for an overhaul. The renovations included new flooring, furniture, bar top, lighting and remodeled restrooms, a new exterior facade, upgraded patio furniture and new outdoor lighting.
La Jolla’s Pacific Catch serving deep-water farmed fish
Fresh Catch, a San Francisco-based seafood restaurant chain with one location at Westfield UTC mall, is among the first in the country to serve the new sustainably raised Forever Oceans kampachi fish.
The farmed kampachi, also known as amberjack, is raised in net-lined farms 10 miles off the coast of Panama that are up to 330 feet deep. The farms are tended by satellite-controlled robotics, cameras, sensors and feed management software. The goal of this new fish-farming method is to grow sashimi-grade fish that will take some of the pressure off wild fish stocks that are in danger of overfishing.
The Forever Oceans kampachi is being featured at Pacific Catch locations in a dish with tomato confit, miso butter broccolini and crab mashed potatoes. The chain’s only Southern California location is at Westfield UTC, 4575 La Jolla Village Drive, Suite 1160, in San Diego. Visit pacificcatch.com/locations/la-jolla.
Kragen writes about restaurants for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Email her at [email protected].