You ought to be able to hoof it 10 blocks from The Waterfront (chipotle sliders) to Karl Strauss (serving home-brewed beer), but don’t expect to get in a foot race with Sandi Cottrell. Bummer for the Taste of Little Italy event organizer: The popular walking event kicks off today (May 27), but she took a fall in Cancun a couple days ago and broke her ankle.
Cottrell’s crack will prohibit her from visiting all 20 of the restaurants participating in downtown’s Taste of Little Italy. But she doesn’t want that to stop anybody else. For $35 dollars, from 5-9 p.m. ticket buyers are entitled to one free sample at each place.
You’d really have to pace yourself to eat 20 samples at 20 sites in four hours, but if you’re not on crutches, give it a go. Ilume is offering braised pork shoulder with orzo, spinach, and feta cheese. Indigo Grill’s got ceviche, and Spicy Pickle picked paninis. Enoteca Style will offer a Prosecco tasting, and Pappalecco is spooning out gelato.
Cottrell says ticket sales are limited to a moderately intimate 750, and they could probably sell twice that many if so many of the participating establishments were so intimately sized. Some tickets are still available by phone (619-615-1092), and a few will be sold for $40 at the Date and India street corner ticket tent.
“Even if you don’t get a ticket, its fun to come down and see the people and enjoy the scene,” says Cottrell. “Some people have never experienced the atmosphere of The Waterfront, or tried the new Yogurtland.” At the very least, you could come down and sign Cottrell’s cast.
Ron Donoho, formerly executive editor of "San Diego Magazine," is a regular contributor to NBCSandiego.com who covers local news, sports, culture and happy hours.
