Summer Solstice offers taste of the city

Jun 25, 2012 • 291 views • 0 comments

The Del Mar Village Association sold all 700 tickets, at $50 each, for the 17th annual Summer Solstice, held June 21 at Powerhouse Park. Photo by Bianca Kaplanek

DEL MAR — With the Pacific Ocean as their backdrop, chefs from nearly two dozen Del Mar restaurants and representatives from area wineries and breweries provided samples of their finest offerings at the Del Mar Village Association’s 17th annual Summer Solstice held June 21 at Powerhouse Park.

The event also included live music, massages, facial treatments, feathered guests from Free Flight exotic bird sanctuary a silent auction featuring vacation packages, passes to the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, overnight stays at area hotels, complimentary meals at local restaurants and one year of free parking in the city deemed “priceless” but with a starting bid of $600.

All 700 tickets, at $50 apiece, once again sold out in advance. Proceeds support the DMVA’s downtown revitalization efforts.

: Victor Jimenez from Jake’s Del Mar prepares day-boat scallops, which are served with bacon-scented dashi broth, butternut squash puree, sea beans, shitake mushrooms and pickled mustard seeds. Photo by Bianca Kaplanek

: Duvinh Ta prepares an appetizer featuring day-boat scallops with bacon-scented dashi broth, butternut squash puree, sea beans and shitake mushrooms. The dish from Jake’s Del Mar is finished with pickled mustard seeds. Photo by Bianca Kaplanek

: Alex Boswell (left) and Jennifer Powers serve crispy prosciutto macaroni and cheese from Zel’s Del Mar. Photo by Bianca Kaplanek

: Del Mar resident Ben Giangiulio (right) a frequent customer at En Fuego Cantina & Grill, tries their tamales prepared and served at Summer Solstice by Alfredo Soto and Kelsey Gepner. Photo by Bianca Kaplanek

: Tasting the various wines and sampling the crispy prosciutto macaroni and cheese from Zel’s Del Mar are, from left, Marian Benassi, Kristen Boehmer, Linda Ilijevski and Mary Grieb. Photo by Bianca Kaplanek

: Pantea Khodami (left) and Isabel Newton of San Diego sample a swordfish taco with jicama yogurt and salsa caliente from Poseidon on the Beach. “I love it,” Khodami said about her first visit to Summer Solstice. Photo by Bianca Kaplanek

: The Del Mar Village Association sold all 700 tickets, at $50 each, for the 17th annual Summer Solstice, held June 21 at Powerhouse Park. Photo by Bianca Kaplanek