San Diego Farmers Market

If you support locally grown food, you’ll love the abundance of fruits and vegetables, herbs, dairy products, poultry and meat produced by California farmers and made available at Little Italy Mercato. Look for vendors like Swiss Mountain View Egg Farm, JR Organics, Smit Orchards, Tom King Farms and many more.

Food Purveyors

Apart from produce and other farm-grown foods at Little Italy Mercato, you can stock up on fish, bread, pasta and sauces from vendors like Poppa’s Fresh Fish, Praline Patisserie, La Bella Olives, Basiltops Pesto and many more.

Dining

Don’t just stock up your pantry – enjoy food onsite at Little Italy Mercato as well. Local chefs specialize in beverages, desserts and Thai food. Watch the masters at work as you enjoy meals and snacks at Joes on the Nose, Ranchwood Deli BBQ, Viva Pops Popsicles, Seb’s Panini and several others.

Flowers and Plants

Shop for orchids and other fresh flowers at vendors that include Dramm & Echter, Encinitas Orchids, Hidalgo Flowers, Maldonado Farms, Orchidanica and Rivera Treasure Garden. You can also find bedding plants sold by these vendors.

Gifts and Specialty Items

Shop for woodcrafts, baskets, jewelry, electric bikes, clothing, pottery and more. Little Italy Mercato vendors selling these specialty items can be found between State Street and Union. They include Dirtdance Stonewerks, Julia Children’s Clothing, It’s My Green, Keys Creek Lavender Farm, LilyGirl and many others.

Pet Place

If you’re in the market for some natural pet foods and accessories, head over to the top of Date Street near Amici Park. There, you’ll run across vendors like Puppy Paws Productions, Doggie Beer Bones, Natural Pet, Handmade Green and Katy Helen Pet Portraits.

Do you want to stay in a legendary resort in the heart of San Diego? If so, then your next visit calls for a reservation at the Town & Country Resort Hotel conveniently situated just minutes from dozens of attractions in San Diego. Book your room today and stay up-to-date with Town & Country by following our blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube channel, or by finding us on LinkedIn.

San Diego Botanic Gardens Chocolate Festival

On Saturday, May 12, 2012, come enjoy the family Botanic Gardens Chocolate Festival from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. If you’re staying in San Diego for Mother’s Day, this is a perfect way to spend one of your days in the city. The event is one of the most anticipated attractions in San Diego for locals and travelers alike.

You’ll enjoy tasting delectable chocolate, viewing demonstration, snacking from a chocolate fountain and much more, all while listening to the “Sounds of Mexico” by musician Martin Espino. Here’s a look at what to expect at the family-friendly Botanic Gardens Chocolate Festival.

Chocolate Vendors

Local vendors come to the Botanic Gardens Chocolate Festival to showcase their finest creations. Demonstrations and chocolate snacks are offered by vendors like Eclipse Chocolat, My Kitchen, The Melting Pot, Caxao Chocolates, David Bacco Chocolatier, Sweetfields and more.

Gift Vendors

In addition to irresistible chocolates, the Botanic Gardens Chocolate Festival is also a place for gift vendors to show off their goods. Purchase exclusive jewelry from Cookie Lee Jewelry, handmade soap and other skincare products from the Lotion Lady, chocolate plants from SDBG, and unique artwork from Cam Delynn Creations. These and many other vendors will be present at the event.

Food Vendors

Two food vendors supply visitors with snacks and desserts during the Botanic Gardens Chocolate Festival. Visit the Divine Fresh stand for gyros, chicken kabobs, falafel, wraps, Greek salad and baklava. Opt for the Coffee Hut if you’re craving coffee, ice cream, hot dogs or other snacks.

Activities for Kids

You can bet the kids will be kept busy during the Botanic Gardens Chocolate Festival! Activities for the kids include making a kite wind chime, creating a Mother’s Day keepsake, fashioning a garden-themed plaster ornament and potting plants with pot decorations. A face painting booth will also be set up for the kids.

Do you want to stay in a legendary resort in the heart of San Diego? If so, then your next visit calls for a reservation at the Town & Country Resort Hotel conveniently situated just minutes from dozens of attractions in San Diego. Book your room today and stay up-to-date with Town & Country by following our blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube channel, or by finding us on LinkedIn.

First, give her a $100 gift certificate to Bella Tosca Day Spa & Salon, which you can purchase for only $80. The salon, which is located at the Town and Country Resort Hotel, features 12 private treatment rooms, a separate locker room area for men and women, a relaxation area, sauna steam room and jacuzzi. With her certificate, your wife or mother may choose to spend her Mother’s Day in San Diego getting a manicure, having her hair highlighted, receiving a massage or enjoying another service provided by the on-site salon.

Bella Tosca Spa Mother's Day Special

Second, take that special lady out for a Mother’s Day brunch at Trellises Garden Grille. This restaurant is known for its impeccable service and fresh cuisine, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and every meal in between! Celebrate Mother’s Day in San Diego with a fresh seafood entree, hand-cut steak or another specialty dish in a beautiful garden setting outside the Town and Country Resort Hotel.

Finally, experience your entire Mother’s Day in San Diego for less by enjoying 25% off any mother’s stay at the Town and Country Resort Hotel this Mother’s Day weekend.  You’ll still enjoy all the high-class amenities you expect from Town and Country while leaving a little money aside for you to experience more of San Diego during your visit!

Do you want to stay in a legendary San Diego resort and enjoy Mother’s Day in San Diego? If so, then your Mother’s Day weekend visit calls for a reservation at the Town & Country Resort Hotel conveniently situated just minutes from San Diego’s city sights and attractions. Book your room today and stay up-to-date with Town & Country by following our blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube channel, or by finding us on LinkedIn.

• For an upscale twist on a familiar comfort food, try Trellis Garden Grille’s Lobster Mac and Cheese. First, heat oven to 375, then bring a four-quart saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add twenty-four ounces of penne pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until it is cooked about halfway through, about three minutes. Drain the pasta, transfer it to a bowl, and set it aside. Melt one tablespoon of butter in the saucepan, over medium heat, and add a tablespoon of flour, stirring constantly, for about a minute, to make a roux. Stir in one quart of half-and-half and continue to cook, stirring often, for about ten minutes, or until the sauce has thickened and coats the back of a spoon. Removing the pan from the heat, stir in eight ounces of shredded Jack cheese, eight ounces of Mascarpone cheese, one-cup clam juice, one half cup brandy, one tablespoon of nutmeg, and two minced chives. Season with salt and pepper, and add reserved pasta. Sautee twelve ounces of chopped lobster meat with two or three ounces of olive oil, and a little bit of salt and pepper, until it is cooked halfway through, about two minutes. Fill four ovenproof eight-ounce ramekins halfway with pasta mixture, then spread one quarter of the lobster evenly across the top of each serving. Fill the remaining space with pasta mixture. Mix together a cup of panko breadcrumbs, and two or three ounce of olive oil, and cover the top of each ramekin, to form a loose crust. Bake for about ten to twelve minutes, until the surface of each ramekin is golden brown and cheese is bubbling. Remove from oven and garnish with fresh chives.
• Another of Town and Country’s award winning recipes is Cioppino. For this delicious stew, cook eight large minced garlic cloves, two finely chopped medium onions, half a California bay leaf, a teaspoon of dried oregano, and a teaspoon of hot red pepper flakes one and a half teaspoons of salt, one half teaspoon of black pepper, and a quarter cup of olive oil, in an eight-quart heavy pot, over medium heat, for about five minutes, until onions are softened. Add a diced green pepper and two tablespoons of tomato paste and cook, continuing to stir, for about a minute. Add one and a half cups of dry white wine and boil until reduced by half, about five or six minutes. Stir in a can of whole plum tomatoes, chopped, and their juice, a cup of clam juice, and a cup of chicken broth, season with salt and d pepper, then cover and simmer for thirty minutes. While the stew simmers, hack a pound of King crab leg through the shell into two to three inch pieces. Add these pieces and eighteen small hard shell clams, scrubbed, and simmer, covered, until clams just open, about five to ten minutes, checking every minute after five minutes to transfer opened clams to a bowl.  Lightly season a pound of skinless red snapper or halibut fillets, cut into one to one and a half inch pieces, and add fish, with one pound of deveined and shelled large shrimp and three quarter pounds of scallops. Simmer, covered, until just cooked through, about five minutes. Discard bay leaf, return clams to pot, stir in a quarter cup of finely chopped parsley and three tablespoons of finely chopped basil, and serve immediately, accompanied by focaccia.

Of course, even if you can make some of Town and Country’s award wining recipes at home, nothing compares to the impeccable service you will enjoy when you visit Trellises Garden Grille. Aside from the regular dining, Trellises also features the Tiffany Room, which is the perfect venue for semi-private and private dining. Whether you are feasting on Town and Country’s award winning recipes, exploring the city, or just enjoying the perfect San Diego weather, a stay at the legendary Town and Country Resort Hotel, conveniently located minutes from downtown and dozens of thrills and attractions, is a great option. Call to reserve accommodations and stay up to date with Town and Country by following our blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube channel, or by finding us on LinkedIn.

• The theme starts with the invitations. If you are hosting the shower, you are probably close to the bride, and know her personal style. Use that, combined with the spa bridal shower theme, to find the perfect invitation. Whether homemade or store-bought, the invitations should convey a sense of pampering, and guests should be encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and bring spa themed gifts.
• Decorations need not be elaborate, but ambiance is important. If you are holding the spa bridal shower at a private residence, make it spa-like, with candles, plants, baskets of rolled towels, and perhaps a tabletop fountain. Play soothing music, or relaxing nature sounds.
• Provide a variety of services. Manicures and pedicures, massages, facials, and makeovers are all good choices. You can also hire an aroma therapist, or offer a yoga class. Consider the preferences of your guests and the bride, and give as many options as the budget allows.
• Offer light refreshments. Fresh fruit and vegetables, tea sandwiches, and spa themed cupcakes or petit fours are all good choices for a spa day menu.
• A spa bridal shower offers great options for favors. Depending on the personality of the bride and the general atmosphere of the event, you might go for fun and girly favors, like bubble bath and nail polish in a cute gift bag. If the event has more of an eco-friendly feeling, all natural lotion and a candle, in a small basket, tied with a raffia bow, might be more appropriate. For upscale luxury, choose a plush robe and slippers, in elegant wrapping. The range of available favors is only limited by your budget and your imagination.
• To make it easy on the hostess, hold the spa bridal shower at day spa. Rather than hiring a facialist, a masseuse, and a yoga teacher, you can bring the party to the professionals, and let them handle the details.

If you are having a spa bridal shower in San Diego, consider the Bella Tosca Day Spa & Salon. The perfect place to escape with your friends, Bella Tosca can accommodate small parties, or you can rent the entire spa for the day. The experienced professional staff will offer your guests a full menu of services, and afterwards, you can enjoy a light meal in the Rose Garden.

Bella Tosca Day Spa & Salon is located in the Town and Country Resort Hotel. Please contact Bella Tosca at 866-91RELAX or email us for more information at k.brown@bellatosca.com. Stay up-to-date with the latest information by following our blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube channel, or by finding us on LinkedIn.

In the spring, San Diego’s temperatures reach the low to mid seventies, with relative humidity at an ideal sixty percent. The skies are bright and blue, though the beaches have some fog and low clouds. It is pretty close to perfect, though a light jacket or sweatshirt is a good idea, since the mild temperatures can sometimes feel a little bit chilly. For those who prefer inland activities, there is still plenty to do! From public art, museums, and gourmet cuisine, to SeaWorld, Safari Park, and the World Famous San Diego Zoo, there are activities to delight everyone in your family.

Asking residents of San Diego best weather tips will probably garner enthusiastic responses about the late summer and early fall. From July to October, the high temperatures are in the mid seventies, but the lows only reach the sixties. Sunny and warm, with almost no rainfall, the city is the perfect place to relax. During this time of year, calling San Diego, “Best Weather City” is not an exaggeration. At this time of year, the beach and the pool are the preferred places to be.

When you are ready to experience San Diego, best weather, gorgeous beaches, and all, we have a suggestion. A stay at the legendary Town and Country Resort Hotel, conveniently located minutes from downtown and dozens of thrills and attractions, is a great option. Call to reserve accommodations and stay up to date with Town and Country by following our blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube channel or finding us on LinkedIn.

What is your wedding style?

What’s your wedding style? No two brides are alike, and weddings are as different as the brides who plan them. You might have been planning the big day since you were a little girl, or you may feel totally lost as you begin the process, but somewhere along the way, you will discover your own style. Town and Country Resort Hotel, a wedding venue in San Diego, has some tips to help you get started.

• Recognize that style is difficult to categorize. Yes, what we are saying here is that when you ask the question “what’s your wedding style”, you may quickly realize that it is impossible to define. Think about words that inspire you, and write them down, to get you started on choosing a direction in which to take your wedding. You might choose words like avant garde, vintage, handmade, chic, or romantic. It does not matter which you choose, they only have to speak to you.
• Draw your inspiration from different places. Your city may inspire you, or you may be inspired by the season, or your favorite hobby. Some brides choose a theme for their weddings; others find inspiration in a pattern on a favorite fabric. Maybe the Art Deco era excites you, or maybe you maybe a favorite song provides the ideas you need. Once you know how you want your wedding to feel, browse magazines, wedding books, and the internet to find out what fits into your vision. Pinterest and Etsy are great places to get inspired, and TheKnot offers plenty of ideas.
• Choose your level of formality. Some brides like glitz and glamour; some prefer a wedding that is homespun and comfortable. There is no wrong answer to the question, “what’s your wedding style?”, but you need to know how formal you want it to be, before you start planning.
• Don’t be afraid of color. Choose colors that make you happy, and fit in with your theme. Do not assume you are chained to the idea of a white dress, either. Your wedding gown can be any color you like, as long as it looks great on you!
• Dare to step outside your box. Maybe you are an athlete or tomboy in your every day life. That should not stop you from swathing your wedding in lace and frills if you want to do so! You and your groom are the stars of the show for one day, so make it as over the top as you want. The main thing to remember is that the primary consideration is your happiness.  Whatever you choose when designing your wedding, as long as it makes you happy, it is the right choice.

What’s your wedding style? No matter what you decide, we can accommodate you if you are planning a wedding in San Diego. Please contact the wedding specialists at the Town & Country Resort Hotel at 619-908-5010 if you want to hold your wedding in a legendary resort in the heart of San Diego. You can also email for more information at cater@towncountry.com. Then, stay up-to-date with the latest information by following our blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube channel, or by finding us on LinkedIn.

• Rock Climbing and Hiking:  Hiking in San Diego can be as easy as a family stroll overlooking the Pacific Ocean, or as strenuous as a canyon hike to a mountain peak. Rock climbing opportunities abound, with Mission Gorge holding the title of  the oldest established climbing area in San Diego County. Composed of metamorphosed granite, unique to the county, the rock is extremely hard and water polished, and offers a mixture of crack and face climbing. Routes range from forty to eighty minutes, and can accommodate beginners as well as experienced climbers.
• Sailing: What could be more pleasant than a serene sail in the sparkling waters of Mission Bay? For the more ambitious, there are sailing classes and spinnaker races, as well as opportunities for jet skiing, parasailing, windsurfing, and wakeboarding.
• Surfing: If you’re more interested in hanging ten, sports in San Diego certainly wouldn’t be the same without surfing! Surfing classes and camps can accommodate all  levels of proficiency, and some surf schools even offer fitness classes that incorporate surfing! Equipment is provided, so do not miss this opportunity to enjoy the California surf.
• Stand Up Paddle Boarding: This is one of the newer sports in San Diego, but is enjoying immense popularity. Sometimes described as “yoga on water”, stand up paddle boarding offers a gorgeous view and a full body workout. Lessons and gear are available, so give it a try!

While you’re having fun with the sports in San Diego, you will need a comfortable place to relax and prepare for the next round. A stay at the legendary Town and Country Resort Hotel, conveniently located minutes from downtown and dozens of thrills and attractions, is a great option. Call to reserve accommodations and stay up to date with Town and Country by following our blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube channel or finding us on LinkedIn.

St. Patrick's Day in San Diego

St. Patrick’s Day in San Diego is a gigantic party. With the city’s shamROCK event hyped as the biggest Irish celebration west of the Mississippi, and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival turning Balboa Park into a Celtic village, there is sure to be something to suit everyone’s tastes. Town and Country, a resort in San Diego, knows how to join in the fun, with Irish food and drink specials to get the party started!

• shamROCK 2012, sponsored by Miller Lite, benefits the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation. For seventeen years, shamROCK has been the party of the year, and this year, the celebration  of St. Patrick’s Day in San Diego will feature three stages of live entertainment. Once again, shamROCK  will be held on 6th Avenue between E and G Streets, “F” Street between 5th and 7th Avenues, and G Street between 5th and 6th Avenues in the Gaslamp Quarter, with over eighty thousand square feet of Astroturf turning the streets green to transform the area into an urban version of Ireland’s rolling hills. Lasting from 2pm to midnight, the event will have three ticket prices, with advance tickets going for $35, and increasing to $40 and $45 at the door. Your wristband gets you not only in and out privileges, but also special deals at some of the hottest nightclubs and restaurants in town. Since St. Patrick’s Day in San Diego is crowded, and will especially so this year, because it falls on a Saturday, you would do well to get your tickets early!
• The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival is fun for the whole family. With a parade worth watching, a Celtic Village with historical reenactment, a kid zone with face painting, games, llamas, and more, and live entertainment in keeping with the celebration of all things Irish, the event is sure to be a treat! Presented by the Irish Congress of Southern California, the festival is free to the public.
• Town and Country celebrates St. Patrick’s Day in San Diego all month long. Ranging from an Irish Kiss, with whipped cream infused vodka, Crème de Cacao, and Green Crème de Menthe, to a Leprechaun Cooler with vodka, elderflower liqueur, lime juice and mint, to a Shamrock Margarita that features melon liqueur and lime juice, Town and Country’s drink specials are varied and imaginative. On the 17^th, the party amps up with a sing along at the piano bar, green beer on tap, and corned beef and cabbage for dinner.

If you are ready to experience St. Patrick’s Day in San Diego, consider a stay at the legendary Town and Country Resort Hotel. Conveniently located minutes from downtown and dozens of thrills and attractions, it is a great option. Call to reserve accommodations and stay up to date with Town and Country by following our blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube channel or finding us on LinkedIn.

Town & Country Resort, a legendary hotel in San Diego, discusses tips to planning the perfect family vacation in San Diego.