It’s a well-known “fact” that Del Mar doesn’t get much of a winter, but that doesn’t mean we can’t indulge in some seasonal favorites—the temperatures here do drop a bit after all. While you can still bask in sunny skies at Del Mar Plaza, we encourage you to try a wintery seasonal treat as well. Here are our six favorites.
Cristina Pizza | Il Fornaio
You can enjoy pizza any time of year, yes, but the Cristina Pizza at Il Fornaio has a very special seasonal ingredient: white truffle. The thin-crust, wood-fired pizza is topped with fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, shaved Grana Padano, mushrooms, wild arugula and then finished with a drizzle of decadent white truffle oil.
Spaghetti Squash | Pacifica Del Mar
Squash is available throughout the year, but we tend to eat it a bit more once the temperatures start to decrease. Pacifica Del Mar celebrates the fruit (contrary to popular belief, squash is actually a fruit, not a vegetable) with their delicious vegan dish. The squash is plated with hon shimeji mushrooms, oven dried tomatoes, arugula, and calabrian pepper hummus too.
Chai Tea Latte | Pacifica Breeze Café
Chase away any winter blues you may have with a warm cup of Pacifica Breeze Café’s Chai Tea Latte. Its spices are the perfect blend to keep you warm and lift your spirits all day long.
Farmer’s Salad | Monarch Ocean Pub
Del Mar Plaza’s newest restaurant, Monarch Ocean Pub has already made a splash, and it’s vegan Farmer’s Salad is proof of why. It’s made with California-grown sustainable greens, and a mix of end-of-year seasonal ingredients like toasted pistachios, pomegranate seeds, roasted butternut squash, and smoked beets, all tossed together in a blood orange vinaigrette.
Holiday Special Menu | Shimbashi Izakaya
Osechi ryori are traditional Japanese foods eaten at the start of a New Year and Shimbashi Izakaya is serving them as part of their Holiday Special Menu (available now through January 3). Each dish on the menu is prepared in the Osechi-style and serves as a symbol or wish for the coming year—like joy, prosperity, and good health.
Sukiyaki (Hot Pot) | Shimbashi Izakaya
Sukiyaki is another traditional winter meal in Japan, also eaten around New Years. Shimbashi Izakaya has the hot pot dish on its menu year-round, but the cooler temperatures of winter make it that much more enjoyable this time of year.
For more information on Del Mar Plaza’s award-winning restaurants or to make a reservation, visit us online!