MISTER A’S LAUNCHES SATURDAY JAZZ BRUNCH
This 58-year-old Bankers Hill rooftop restaurant has introduced a New Orleans-style brunch service on Saturdays only, with live jazz music in the bar. Executive chef Stephane Voitzwinkler and pastry chef Amy Simpson’s a la carte Louisiana-inspired menu includes frog legs à l’Alsacienne, crispy shrimp po’boy, hush puppies, moules frites, cornbread and fresh-fried beignets. NOLA-style cocktails are also available. The regular a la carte brunch menu will also be served. 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturdays. 2550 Fifth Ave., San Diego. asrestaurant.com
Avant Vine-to-Table Series Wine Dinner: Avant restaurant at the Rancho Bernardo Inn has partnered with Caymus Vineyards for a wine pairings dinner prepared by chef de cuisine Sergio Jimenez and sommelier Joe Baumgardner. Dishes include hamachi with green garlic and gooseberries, Spanish octopus with mole blanco and cavair, and braised wagyu zabuton (Denver cut). 6 p.m. Thursday. 17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive, San Diego. $165. avantrestaurant.com
SeaWorld Seven Seas Food Festival returns: SeaWorld San Diego has kicked off its annual spring weekend festival of food, cocktails, beers, wines, live music and dance (and, on some nights, fireworks). Seven Seas food and drink stations are set up around the theme park, serving more than 100 food and drink offerings, including 30 craft beers. Sampler tickets start at $70 for 10 items. Park admission is not included, but SeaWorld is offering Southern California residents an annual pass deal for $11 a month. Presented Fridays-Sundays, through April 30. 500 Sea World Drive, San Diego. seaworldsandiego.com
Elements of Nature dinner series: On March 30, Alila Marea Beach Resort’s chef Claudette Zepeda will launch a yearlong series of five-course menus with cocktail pairings themed to the four elements of earth, fire, water and air. The Nature of Fire dinner will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. March 30 in the hotel’s Vaga restaurant. Tickets are $199. Follow-up Elements of Nature dinners are planned for June 22, Sept. 21 and Dec. 21. 2100 N. Coast Highway 101, Encinitas. vagarestaurant.com/events
California Wine Fest returns in June: The California Wine Festival, a 20-year-old touring trade event featuring wines from throughout the state, will return June 23 and 24 to the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in Carlsbad. The weekend event will include a Sunset Rare & Reserved Tasting event on June 23 in the Aviara resort’s gardens, followed by an afternoon Beachside Wine Festival on the 24th on the resort’s Heron Lawn. Tickets range from $88 to $230. Details at californiawinefestival.com