Whether you’ve lived in San Diego your whole life or are new to America’s Finest City, the ability to be comfortable outdoors year-round just never gets old—particularly if you hail from colder climates. Add to that an abundance of sweeping landscapes and vibrant, world-class cuisine, and we’d say we’ve got quite the trifecta here.

If this all sounds too good to be true, well, it’s not. But if we’re being fastidious, we suppose there is one small drawback to living in California’s coastal paradise. You see, with the number of picturesque settings and outstanding food options, the challenge isn’t finding a table with a view—it’s narrowing down the list of choices.

From uptown to downtown; oceanside to bayside, we’re running through the top spots to take in San Diego’s views during Restaurant Week and beyond.

The Best Spots to Dine by the Beach

For the best in San Diego’s seaside fare, a drive along scenic Highway 101 is sure to yield great results. And while we usually encourage planning ahead when it comes to picking the best meal, in this case, we kind of think the less planning—and more wandering—the better. Here’s a route to get you started:

Kick-off the day in Oceanside with breakfast on or near the pier before heading south through Carlsbad to Encinitas where, if you’ve struck the right balance of driving and meandering, you’ll be ready for a fabulous oceanfront lunch in Cardiff-by-the-Sea. The stretch of South Coast Highway 101 in the charming and historic surf town of Encinitas serves as its own little restaurant row, with a variety of great dining options to take in the view before you hit the road due south.

If you’re planning on spending time at the beach, Del Mar, just south on the 101, is the perfect place to sunbathe for the afternoon, do a little shopping at the plaza and grab a happy hour bite at one of the city’s several beachside haunts. Fair warning, however—these places fill up quickly, so you may want to try for a reservation if possible, especially if you anticipate finding yourself there around sunset. But for that, we’ve got an even better idea…

Up next on our epicurean tour of the San Diego coastline is La Jolla, home to adorable sunbathing sea lions, out-of-this-world ocean views and what we’re convinced are the most incredible sunsets on this side of heaven. It also happens to be home to one of San Diego’s most vibrant dining scenes. For the best views, we recommended scouting out a spot near the cove—and be sure to bring your camera.

Once dinner’s done, we couldn’t think of a place better to end a San Diego beach day than in the quintessentially-California town of Ocean Beach. While the bohemian beach community is bustling during the day with surfers, skaters and sunbathers alike, the food and beverage scene really comes to life at night. Grab a local beer at one of several breweries along Newport Avenue, or make your way toward the ocean for a (responsible) nightcap at one of several beachside bars before calling it a day—or ditching the car and calling a ride.

Best Areas to Dine Around San Diego Bay

For the ‘best of the bay’ in terms of culinary experience, we’d be remiss if we didn’t recommend starting in the Crown City of Coronado, where world-class, waterfront restaurants abound. If you’re coming by ferry, you won’t have to wander far—there are several great options right at the Coronado Ferry Landing, where you’ll get a stellar view of the downtown skyline across the bay. As you make your way into town, follow Orange Avenue (a dining mecca in itself) as it curves left to visit the historic Hotel del Coronado or pop into a dockside restaurant along one of the island’s marinas.

If you’d rather stay cityside, Downtown San Diego offers several bars and restaurants right along the water—and, of course, the historic Gaslamp Quarter, a vibrant hub for food, art and culture. If you find yourself downtown after dark, hit up one of the area’s 20-plus rooftop lounges for a spectacular 360-degree city view.

Looking for a more off-the-beaten-path setting? Harbor Island, Shelter Island and Point Loma all have varied, world-class dining options set among serene bay views.

Best Views Period.

As much as we love to tout the fact that we have 70—yes, 70—miles of coastline along which to enjoy some of the world’s freshest, most vibrant fare, we also happen to have a plethora of natural wonders that also serve as an ideal backdrop to a delicious meal. From the rolling hills of Escondido to the sprawling gardens of Balboa Park, it’s actually pretty difficult to get a bad view in this town.

San Diego Restaurant Week 2019 is hitting all corners of the city with eight days of deals from new establishments and time-honored culinary institutions alike. Check out axs2ow70g8-staging.onrocket.site to narrow down your picks by neighborhood, cuisine or price range, and be sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram for all the mouthwatering updates. See you September 22–29th!

You probably have at least one person in your life raving about kombucha. And if not, statistically speaking, there’s a good chance you are that person.

Whether you’re a proud proponent of this ancient Chinese health elixir or wondering what exactly the hype is about, here’s what you need to know about the fermented mushroom tea known as kombucha (it really has nothing to do with mushrooms).

What Exactly Is Kombucha?

Advertised largely for its health benefits (and sometimes for the taste, depending on the one you get), kombucha is a slightly bitter, slightly sweet fermented tea containing sugar, yeast and the “good bacteria” known as probiotics. Kombucha is loaded with these tummy-loving immunity boosters, which is undoubtedly why it’s being touted by nutritionists, influencers and your health-conscious friends alike. While black tea is most commonly used as the base ingredient, kombucha can also be made with green tea or oolong tea – just not herbal tea, as it’s not conducive to the health of the SCOBY (more on that in a second).

How Is Kombucha Made?

The key ingredient in kombucha is, for lack of a better descriptor, a blob-like mixture called a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast). And while no mushrooms are involved in the process of making the SCOBY, it’s the fungal element (again, no more flattering synonym available) that likely created the mushroom association – that, or the fact that the Chinese words for mold, fungus and mushroom happen to contain the same character.

Once the SCOBY is set, it’s added to a mixture of tea and sugar and left to ferment for a week to a month, at which point the product is transferred into bottles and refrigerated to slow down the carbonation and fermentation process. Because fermentation involves converting sugar into alcohol, kombucha naturally contains a small amount of alcohol, which is why slowing down the process is crucial to preventing the ABV from creeping up too high.

Health Benefits of Kombucha

Evidence of the specific health benefits of kombucha is limited, but because the tea is rich in good bacteria, some research suggests it may offer some of the more studied benefits of probiotic supplements.

Whether founded or myth, many swear by kombucha for its digestive and immune-boosting qualities – and that’s nothing new. In fact, the purported health benefits of kombucha date as far back as the fermented tea drink itself, thought to have originated in Northeast China around 220 B.C. In addition to its more widely regarded benefits, people have credited kombucha with treating some pretty serious ailments, from high blood pressure to AIDS and even cancer. These claims, while intriguing, are purely anecdotal.

Is Kombucha Dangerous?

Not only do we not know much about the health benefits of kombucha, but some experts believe it may actually be harmful if certain precautions aren’t taken. Because the tea is often brewed at home, there is the potential for contamination due to improper handling, especially since you’re dealing with raw, fermented materials. If you get a bad batch (the smell of which may or may not tip you off), you’re probably fine if you drink a glass of it, but much more could lead to tummy trouble or a more serious allergic reaction. All things considered, it’s probably better to just buy kombucha than to make it yourself.

For commercial production of kombucha, the FDA has suggested several good manufacturing practices (GMPs) and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to promote product safety and has issued specific regulations around the alcohol content, mandating an ABV limit of 0.5 percent for commercial sale as a non-alcoholic refrigerated beverage. If the ABV exceeds 0.5 percent, the product must be labeled with the health warning statement required by the Alcoholic Beverage Labeling Act of 1988.

Going Kombucha Crazy in California

While kombucha likely originated in ancient China, we had a feeling its resurgence had roots in SoCal – and turns out, we were right. The first-ever hard kombucha bar opened in San Diego’s North Park just last year, and a quick search of kombucha in San Diego turns up nearly a dozen cafes, tap rooms and retail locations serving the super drink.

Miss the kombucha train or just not quite on board with it yet? Check out San Diego Restaurant Week January 20th-27th to find your 2019 #foodlove. And for more foodie insights, be sure to follow us on social media @SDRW.

Whether you’ve been together for 10 days or 10 years, there’s one question that always arises in every relationship: what to do for dinner. From the earliest days of your courtship, setting the right tone when it comes to dining can be as monumental a moment as deciding whether you’re dog or cat people.

With all the awkward conversations to be had, weird quirks to overcome and inevitable decisions to be made over the course of your relationship, we’re giving you one less thing to worry about with our tried-and-true tips for choosing the perfect date night restaurant for any occasion.

1. Don’t Try to Break the Bank

If you’re in a new relationship, it makes sense that you’d want to impress your date with a five-star experience. While wining and dining certainly has its place, we recommend that place be reserved for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, promotions and other major milestones. If you’re just getting to know each other, choosing a less formal, more relaxed setting can help alleviate some of the pressure—both on the conversation and your wallet. The best memories are often born from spontaneity, and you’ll probably cherish the one of that awesome late-night taco joint you stumbled upon over that awkward seven-course meal you started to fear may never end.

2. Be Wary of Food that Fights Back

Ramen, buffalo wings, corn on the cob—all delicious, but perhaps best to save the tougher-to-eat foods for dates five and beyond. Especially as you’re just getting to know each other, trying to balance the act of eating and conversing is a challenge in itself. No need to make it that much more complicated with foods that require slurping, peeling, cracking or any other tool beyond a fork and knife. As a good rule of thumb, if it can’t easily fit on a fork, it’s probably not the best choice for at least a preliminary date night. So maybe hold off on all-you-can-eat crawfish night for the time being.

3. Set the Right Ambience

Date night is about connecting, which is why it’s so important to choose an environment that allows you to really enjoy each other’s company. Obviously, being able to hear is number one, but it’s not just about acoustics. It’s about the atmosphere as a whole.

If you’re starting with happy hour, consider finding a spot outside or on the beach and kicking off the evening with some sunshine before moving inside for dinner. The quality of the food, of course, is a non-negotiable—but you also want to strike the right balance between sharing a table with the couple next to you and being the only two people in the place. After dinner, take a late-night stroll to your favorite café or gelateria. Creating the perfect date night will take some trial and error and will vary depending on the occasion, but thinking more about the experience as a whole rather than the meal itself will help ensure a night to remember (for all the right reasons).

4. Keep a Shortlist

This is key to avoiding what can easily become an hours-long decision every time you decide to go out (not to mention having to consult the embittered feedback of the Yelp community to aid in the process). As you find a great spot, make note of it and add it to your list of go-to restaurants. In San Diego especially, there will be plenty of opportunities to try the newest and hottest in world-class cuisine, but having a list of places you both know you like is an absolute must. Not only will a shortlist save you considerable time in the decision-making process, but it will allow you relive some of those great memories you’ve established over the course of your relationship.

5. Take Advantage of Restaurant Week

There is an unparalleled time to scope out the scene and build out your perfect date night: San Diego Restaurant Week. With more than 180 restaurants participating in eight straight days of vibrant tasting menus, uniquely crafted cocktails and unbeatable deals, it’s a fun and cost-effective way to check out some of the best in local fare and set the stage for your 2019 #DateNightGoals.

Is your favorite date night spot on our list of participating restaurants? Visit axs2ow70g8-staging.onrocket.site/restaurants to see which of San Diego’s culinary masterminds will be showcasing their talents January 20-27, and be sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter @SDRestaurantWk for all things #SDRW!

We’ve all seen that guy—the one mopping up his forehead over a basket of hot wings or taking the chef to task over a yawn-worthy Pad Thai that boasted a four-chili-pepper rating on the menu. (And by “seen,” we mean “been.” We’ve been that guy.)

Once the sweat and tears have subsided and we’ve regained our composure, we inevitably find ourselves wondering why exactly we insist on enduring that level of discomfort in the name of a spicy dish—and, more importantly, whether we’re doing irreversible damage in the process.

With San Diego Restaurant Week just a few weeks away, we’re here to clear up the misconceptions so you can clear your palate for eight days of the city’s best in spicy fare—or whichever of the 180-plus gastronomic experiences in which you decide to indulge.

‘Spicy’ Isn’t Exactly a Flavor

Sweet, salty, bitter, sour and umami (aka, savory)—these are the five basic tastes recognized by our taste receptors. Notice how spicy isn’t one of them? That’s because it isn’t so much a taste as it is a pain signal.

Let’s back up a second. In order to understand why our brains interpret spice as pain, it’s important to first understand, on a basic level, how the human tongue works. The tongue has millions of microscopic receptors that allow us to taste flavor, as well as a whole other set of receptors that enable us to feel pain—those are called VR1 receptors. When a piece of spicy food hits your tongue, it sends a signal to your brain, which interprets it as something physically hot and, in turn, cues the burning sensation we all know too well.

Capsaicin is the Culprit

Capsaicin is a chemical found in chili peppers and the active ingredient that makes spicy food, well, spicy. It’s also the thing that tricks your taste buds into thinking there is something actually hot in your mouth—and the trigger for the fire alarm set off by your brain. And if you’ve ever forgotten to put on a pair of kitchen gloves before chopping up a hot pepper—or worse, forgotten you chopped up a hot pepper and then accidentally rubbed your eyes—capsaicin is the one to blame for that burning sensation, too.

Myth: Spicy Food Destroys Taste Buds

While intensely spicy food can have some undesirable effects on parts of the body we won’t mention here, the good news is, it doesn’t actually destroy your taste buds—it just numbs them. The common misconception that too much spicy food can lead to the inability to taste is a myth that’s been debunked by seasoned scientists and amateur foodies alike. The loss of sensation might make you think your taste buds are dying, but it’s only a temporary effect. You should be back to normal and ready for your next vindaloo within 24 hours.

How to Beat the Heat

If the burning sensation we feel from eating spicy food is actually our brain interpreting it as something extremely hot in temperature, then cold water should naturally be the solution, right?

Unfortunately, no. Water doesn’t really help at all in this instance and, in fact, can make things worse. Capsaicin is insoluble in water, which means it does nothing but actually spread the sensation further around your mouth when you take a sip. While it may be tempting to reach for that glass of ice water on the table, you’ll fare much better with a dairy product like milk or sour cream, or a sugary drink like juice or even wine, as sugar blocks capsaicin from attaching to your pain receptors.

What Have We Learned?

Now that we’ve gotten to the bottom of why exactly spicy food makes us feel as if we may spontaneously combust, let’s take a moment to investigate why we do this to ourselves in the first place. For starters, research has shown that spicy food can boost your metabolism and may even lead to a slightly longer life. But gratuitous statistics aside, let’s be real—we do it because as painful as it may be, the pleasure of consuming the vibrant, world-class cuisine we are lucky to enjoy as San Diegans far outweighs the temporary pain of our mind literally playing tricks on us.

So, eat more spicy food, wash it down with a glass of wine and sweat it out with us during #SDRW2018.