Wine, Dine, and Shine in The Jewel

Congratulations are in order for Alfie Szeprethy, Executive Chef of Sammy’s and Toasted Gastrobrunch + Dinner, who was named San Diego’s Chef of the Year at the recent Gold Medallion Awards, an event hosted by the San Diego Chapter of the California Restaurant Association. Beginning his career with the company as chef at Roppongi and evolving into corporate chef for Sammy’s menus, which combine California cuisine with Mediterranean influences, Szeprethy now manages all 15 kitchens under the Sammy’s restaurants — including a Pearl Street location in the heart of La Jolla — and Toasted Gastrobrunch umbrella. “Chef Alfie has been with us for ten years and we couldn’t be prouder of him and the passion he has shown,” says Sammy’s founder Sami Ladeki. “I am lucky to have him working side by side with me to put my culinary wishes on the plate. Not only is he talented and creative, but he is also a leader and has the respect of all who work with him.”

Nature lovers rejoice! Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography has debuted Blue Beach, a place for people to connect with the ocean and each other. Through August 30, Blue Beach will be home to a series of family-friendly happy hours featuring a special menu of craft beer and wine paired with bite-sized foods and tasty treats. The happy hours take place Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings from 5 to 6:30pm and also include music, outdoor games, and pop-up interactions with Scripps scientists. “I hope that our community leaves Blue Beach feeling relaxed by the ocean but also pleasantly surprised by what they’ve learned, from the wonders of La Jolla’s deep underwater canyons to the uniqueness of our annual leopard shark aggregations,” says Director of Exhibits Megan Dickerson. “We’ve now created a space where our community can learn and play together within view of the ocean that we are so inspired to protect.”

On September 17, Sandpiper Wood Fired Grill & Oysters and its executive chef, Marty Fay, are swapping out standard dinner service for a family-style, all-you-can-eat steamed crab feast. Fay, who hails from the Baltimore, Maryland area, is bringing this favorite East Coast tradition to La Jolla Shores with seatings at 4pm and 6:30pm. For $85 per person, guests can enjoy as many Maryland blue crabs as they can eat. All draft beers will be $5 that evening as well. 

The legacy of La Jolla’s beloved Harry’s Coffee Shop, first created by Harry Rudolph in 1960, is being carried on and expanded upon by two of his nine children, John Rudolph and sister Liz Rudolph Gotfredson. The duo recently purchased longtime Del Mar staple Americana and adjacent restaurant Elixir, the first of which is rebranding as Harry’s Coffee Shop Del Mar, and the latter as Harry’s Taco Club, a taco and margarita concept John has already launched in Ocean Beach and downtown’s East Village with separate restaurant partners. In Del Mar, Gotfredson says the Harry’s Coffee Shop menu will feature a scaled back selection of “greatest hits” from Harry’s in La Jolla, paired with a full bar. 

Primely situated on Prospect Street, Mermaids & Cowboys, a concept originally created by restaurateur Parnell F. Delcham for his best friend Michael Matthews, struck tragedy a year ago when Delcham suddenly passed away. Matthews, the former behind-the-scenes owner and Delcham’s protégé — an entrepreneur with years of experience in entertainment and business — has taken the reins to revive and reinvent the restaurant. He has entrusted a menu makeover to his newly minted partner, La Jollan Dwayne Gale, butcher and former Eddie V’s back-of-house star and now chef-partner who brought his finest resource from Eddie V’s, his former sous chef Elias Gonzales, to be Mermaids’ executive chef. “Mermaids & Cowboys has been the ever-evolving vision of Parnell’s that has had more than its share of ups and downs,” says Matthews. “Our resilience and love for hospitality and good food and drink kept us going and we could not be more excited to again bring incredible heritage recipes and specialty cocktails to our community. We’re back, and we’re better than ever, carrying on Parnell’s legacy as he intended.” Chef Gale’s new menu features sumptuous quail, jerk-spiced lamb chops, salt spring mussels, saffron cioppino, fennel-adorned branzino, and ceviche with aji amarillo, to name but a few.

Be sure to book a stay at La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club to enjoy the newly renovated Walnut Lounge. The reimagined space offers a refined and inviting atmosphere for both hotel guests and club members to relish craft cocktails and bites. Situated within the renowned oceanfront hotel, the Walnut Lounge has undergone a transformation that blends classic sophistication and modern comfort: tasteful walnut wood accents and stylish mid-century modern decor that complement the coastal backdrop of La Jolla Shores. The space is accessible from the beach, featuring an upscale two-sided bar as well as the lounge for an enhanced open-air ambience. “This project is only a glimpse into the exciting plans we have in store for the coming year, including other amazing upgrades to our facilities and services for our valued club members and hotel guests to experience this season,” says Michael O’Donohue, Managing Director of La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club.

Up the hill from the shores, Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa has completed a comprehensive renovation of its 210 guest rooms and suites. The vision of award-winning design firm EDG, the reimagination merges elements of casual comfort and nostalgia with refined luxury. “Passion has been the driving force behind this renovation and we’re so excited to be able to share the new rooms with our guests,” says General Manager Eric Jenkins. The redesigned guest rooms are a cohesive juxtaposition of past and present, blending nods to the property’s equestrian heritage with luxurious accents and finishes. Interiors are adorned with a neutral yet striking color palette of earth tones and pops of color accented by rich wood furniture, finishes, and textured fabrics. Thoughtful details including custom wall coverings, wood dressers with elegant curved edges, and leather-fronted bedside tables add to the tailored feeling of each room, while technology upgrades such as wireless chargers and access to major streaming services further elevate the in-room experience. The transformation also includes the introduction of one new lawn and the revitalization of five existing lawn spaces, bringing vibrancy and an element of freshness to the property’s grounds.