Hands-on cooking demo with farmers market picks and sustainable selections

Hillcrest Farmers Market (Photo by Maria Desiderata Montana)

I spent a Sunday afternoon shopping at the Hillcrest Farmers Market with Chef Graves of J-Six Restaurant.

After we scoured the market for the freshest fruits and vegetables that we love best, we went behind the scenes in the kitchen and cooked … You can too!

On select Sundays starting August 2nd, Jsix restaurant chef Christian Graves will offer guests the ultimate chef’s table with a “Chef’s Kitchen Experience.” Diners will have the opportunity to explore the Hillcrest Farmers Market, San Diego’s top stop for local produce and fresh meats, with chef Graves. As guests interact with local purveyors, they will hand-select ingredients such as artisan cheeses or fresh local artichokes to inspire a three-course meal to be prepared for them in the Jsix kitchen. Guests will observe chef Graves’ devotion to using local, sustainable ingredients as they watch and participate in his preparation of a farmers market-inspired meal with carefully selected wine and cocktail pairings.

Jsix’s “Chef’s Kitchen Experience” will include:

• Transportation to and from Hillcrest Farmers Market
• Three-course meal featuring hand-selected ingredients from Hillcrest Farmers Market, prepared by chef Graves
• Wine or cocktail pairing with each course
• Complimentary parking at Kimpton’s Hotel Solamar, adjacent to Jsix restaurant

“Chef’s Kitchen Experience” is $120 per person, including gratuity and will be offered on the following Sundays in 2009: August 2, September 6, October 4, November 8 and December 13. 2010 dates have not been released. Reservations can be made by calling the restaurant at 619. 531.8744.

Arrival time for “Chef’s Kitchen Experience” is 10:00 A.M. at Jsix restaurant. Jsix restaurant is adjacent to Kimpton’s Hotel Solamar and is perfectly positioned in the bustle of downtown San Diego at 616 J Street. For additional information or reservations, please call 619.531.8744 or visit www.jsixsandiego.com.

ABOUT JSIX RESTAURANT

Adjacent to Hotel Solamar, is one of Kimpton’s iconic chef-driven restaurants, Jsix. Executive Chef Christian Graves’ mouthwatering menu features Coastal California Cuisine, showcasing the freshest ingredients in a refreshing combination of clean, bright flavors. A perfect compliment to the exciting menu is the decor of the dining room, designed by native San Diego son, Bob Puccini’s Puccini Restaurant Group. Jsix offers an exotic, sensual ambiance, blending different cultural influences and mirroring the diversity of the area.

Maria Desiderata Montana is an award-winning food and wine journalist, editor, and published author based in San Diego. She gained an appreciation of European cuisine from her parents who were born and raised in Calabria, Italy. Visit her website at www.sandiegofoodfinds.com.