anthologysd.com

By Lee Schoenbart | Carmel Valley News

Most music aficionados know that an anthology is a collection of their favorite recording artist’s music – not all of them chart-toppers, yet very special to the collector. Aboxed set, however, is the ultimate collection.

For Carmel Valley residents Howard and Marsha Berkson, Anthology – the name of their supper club – was a better fit, although it has boxed-set appeal.

The Berksons cultivated a knack for pairing marvelous menus with amazing talents from across the spectrum of musical genres.

At this paper’s press time, jazz fusion artist Al Di Meola was wrapping up a two-evening set. He’s being followed by rocker Dave Mason for two nights, then Acoustic Alchemy, the smooth jazz quintet. Next month, talents as varied as Anthology’s menu will grace the stage including Diane Schuur, Jon Secada and Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

As for dining, guests at Anthology can choose from dinner, lounge and happy hour menus along with wine and bar lists.

Anthology is the vision of San Diego-based real estate developer Howard Berkson who opened the venue during the summer of 2007. Marsha Berkson, philanthropist and volunteer with Jewish Family Services, has handled the day to day operation of Anthology since 2008. In preparation for Anthology, the Berksons, avid travelers, spent 20 years visiting music clubs worldwide.

“I grew up in Chicago where going out for a great meal paired with live music was part of the cultural experience,” said Howard, a string bass player and guitarist in a buddy band with perhaps some closet musical aspirations of this own.

Responding with great laughter after being referred to as “Lady Madam Impresario,” Marsha said, “It was really my husband’s dream to build this venue; I had no idea what I was getting into!”

Then, about her responsibilities, she added, “It’s so big, there are so many moving parts to it – the restaurant, the music, all the different genres we bring in. There was so much to be involved in. It’s not just running a restaurant, it’s not just running a music venue and how you have to work the two together.”

But Marsha’s weathered the last couple of years of a terrible economy and Anthology continues to be one of the brightest nighttime destinations in downtown San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood.

“There’s so many great perks about it, said Marsha about all the fascinating components to running Anthology. “It’s exciting having this very unique entrepreneurial place where people feel they get such a great experience when they come to it. They sit down, have great food and listen to a terrific artist.

“And I love when people come up to me at the end of the evening saying, ‘Oh my gosh, that was so much fun, we had such a great time, thank you so much, it was such a really special evening.’ There’s something special about being in that realm,” Marsha said.

“Then,” she explained, “when you go back stage, and you thank the artist, ‘Thank you so much, it was a great show,’ and they look at you and say, ‘There’s no place like this, this is the most wonderful place, I hope to come back here and I’m going to tell everybody about it.’ So, it’s a great experience from the front of the house to the back of the stage.” Anthology is at 1337 India St. For reservations and show information, call (619) 595-0300. To learn more, visit www.anthologysd.com.

The Anthology Gift Card - the perfect gift for Birthdays, Celebrations, Thank You’s and Congratulations!

Check out these great gift card ideas:

$25 - Fun for Two
2 Happy Hour Drinks + 2 Appetizers
- or -
Two Fresh Vibe Tix + 2 Glasses of Wine + 2 Appetizers
- or -
2 V-tix + 1 appetizer

$50 - Great Vibes
2 Fresh Vibe Tix + 2 Drinks + 2 Entrées
- or -
2 V-tix + 2 Glasses of Wine + Nosh
- or -
2 Tickets for Main Floor Seating

$100 - Big Night Out
2 Fresh Vibe Tix + 2 Drinks + Two 3-Course Meals
- or -
4 V-tix + 4 Martinis + Appetizers
- or -
Happy Hour With the Gang

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For more information contact our box office at 619-595-0300

Before she became the cofounder of trendy Anthology, Carmel Valley’s Marsha Berkson(front row, center) formed Hand Up Youth Food Pantry as a way to involve high school students across San Diego in the plight of the perpetually hungry.

By Lee Schoenbart

Food, it would seem, is a recurring theme as the vocation and avocation of Carmel Valley’s Marsha Berkson.

Before she became cofounder of trendy Anthology, which pairs fine cuisine with just the right genre of live musical performances, Berkson formed Hand Up Youth Food Pantry as a way to involve high school students across San Diego in the plight of the perpetually hungry.

In 2006, Berkson presented Jewish Family Services with a plan where high school students would staff and manage a food bank distributing groceries in a manner that would respect the recipients’ dignity while teaching these young people invaluable life lessons - all involved would benefit.

“I have always been passionate about instilling community service and values in our teenagers,” Berkson said. “When I was a volunteer mom, I would head-up our social action programs at the San Diego Jewish Academy and every month I would take the kids and they would do something. We’d go pick oranges for the homeless, play with underprivileged preschool kids, pack Thanksgiving baskets and distribute them.”

Berkson’s plan for Hand-Up offered a business and social roadmap to beginning adulthood for San Diego’s high school students who got involved. She said: “They would form committees at their schools and learn how to put together food drives, learn how to motivate each other in committee meetings, learn how to speak in front of people, learn how to call the principal of a school and organize a food drive or talk to a corporation and organize a food drive.”

In Carmel Valley, Hand Up has committees at San Diego Jewish Academy, Torrey Pines High School, Canyon Crest Academy and Cathedral Catholic. Throughout San Diego, it has 39 student executive committee members with 560 annual volunteers.

Berkson has two sons in Carmel Valley schools who walk the talk. Fourteen-year-old Brandon attends Canyon Crest and is on the Hand Up executive committee. Although Jake is only 11 and a fifth grader at the San Diego Jewish Academy, he still goes to distributions to help out when Berkson attends.

About the experience for the students, Berkson said, “It’s really two-fold. First of all, it is doing something that is for the good of the community - teaching kids how to give back, understanding hunger and seeing the face of hunger. The other thing it does is gives them some really great leadership skills.

“Of course,” Berkson said, “making sure they see what the face of hunger looks like is really important because you can collect the food, run a committee meeting, but in order to hand out food and see that ‘Wow, I’m really making a difference’ and ‘I’ve made people feel good today’ is an important component.”

Nowhere is that more evident than assisting the families on base at Camp Pendleton. Hand Up’s monthly event on the base operates more like a free version of Food 4 Less where military families go through a shopping line to choose what they really need as opposed to standing in a food line for a generic bag of whatever.

“We don’t want people to feel like they’re getting a hand out; we want them to feel like they’re getting a hand up,” she said. “It’s hard enough that they probably have a loved one overseas, so when they come in and get food from us, we want to put it together almost like a super market. They’re not handed a bag, they’re going through a line that has all different items they can choose from. We’re good to their dignity.”

The pantry delivers food to 12 locations throughout the county: once a week at St. Paul’s Cathedral downtown, once a month at Camp Pendleton and Murphy Canyon Military Housing, and as needed to its clients at Chabad Downtown, Alef Center, Julian Pathways, College Avenue Older Adult Center, Foodmobile, Foothills High School, Turk Family Center, JFS North County Coastal office and JFS North County Inland office.

For volunteer opportunities at Hand Up, call (858) 637-3088 or e-mail jfsonline@jfssd.org.

To learn more about the youth food panty, visit the Jewish Family Services Web site.

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Via SolanaBeachSun.net

By Michelle Poveda | Examiner.com

There’s a reason this city is called the finest city in America. With spectacular mountain views, gorgeous beaches and a downtown right by the bay, it’s the ideal place for romantic rendezvous. With the most romantic night of the year just around the corner, you may find it difficult to narrow down your choices. So here, a little help to make Valentine’s Day super special.

Anthology is the place to go for a fine dining, live music, old-school supper club experience. This place absolutely oozes romance, with candle votives glowing on each table, a wall blanketed in dreamy colored light and seating that allows for first class views anywhere in the restaurant, it was made for lovers. On Valentine’s Day the house band will play romantic tunes while Chef Eric Bauer creates a special prix fixe menu including a Jerusalem Artichoke Bisque, choice of Whole Roasted Prime Cap Steak or Pan Sauteed Sustainable Chilean Sea Bass and finally, the super sexy Vanilla Bean and Pistachio Souffle with Dark Cherry Gelato. It’s basically like love in your mouth. Even if you’re unable to make it here for Valentine’s Day, (which is quickly selling out) it’s worth a visit any night of the week. Check out Fresh Vibe Tuesdays, in which Chef Bauer makes weekly changes to his comfort food inspired menu. A recent “Small Bite” feature of Buffalo Veal Sweetbreads is absolutely mouth watering. Just imagine the best super bowl buffalo wing you ever had with an upgrade of class and lasting flavor. A very friendly staff and ideal location of Little Italy makes Anthology an everlasting experience.

Bleu Boheme is a charming French bistro specializing in comforting French country classics. Located on Adams Avenue in the heart of Kensington, long tapered candles, melodic background music and an old European feel will make you never want to leave this romantic getaway. A prix fixe Valentine’s Day menu will be offered both Saturday and Sunday with selections of Homemade Creamy Lobster Bisque, Filet of Salmon with Large Shrimp, Braised Short Rib, Filet Mignon and two dessert selections of Tahitian Vanilla Crème Brulee or Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse with Raspberry Pomegranate Jelly and Flourless Chocolate Cake. These descriptions don’t even begin to express the overwhelming feeling of warmth and sensuality these dishes will bring you. If the many selections of sweet white and deep red wines don’t entice you, please try the very popular Basil Martini. A house creation, this delectable drink is fresh and unique. If you’re lucky enough to have Leticia as your server, a warm and welcoming night lies ahead, as she and the rest of the staff create an environment that feels as if you’ve just been welcomed into their old country home.

Love is a tricky, tricky thing. Dinner is not. Try Anthology and Bleu Boheme, your taste buds will thank you.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Via Examiner.com

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Click here for more information and how to reserve your table to celebrate Valentine’s Day at Anthology.

By Brandon Hernandez | SanDiego.com

There are certain experience-enhancing amenities—great music, tasty food and plenty of refreshing beer—that pretty much guarantee a good time. Looking to provide patrons with plenty of all three (especially the latter), Anthology has implemented a monthly event series spotlighting one of our community’s most revered local commodities—craft beer.

“Beer is a huge part of our culture here in San Diego,” says Anthology executive chef Eric Bauer. “It’s great to support local brewers just like we do local farmers and growers, and exciting to show the public that it’s not just about the pairing of food and wine any more. Beer is an art and cannot be achieved without dedication and a very keen eye on superior ingredients and styles.”

Bauer’s main vehicle for exposing diners to the thoughtfully developed flavors of local brews is a special menu consisting of over a dozen dishes (ranging from $5 to $15), each of which are engineered to pair with specific craft beers. The first draft of this brew-centric bill of fare was unveiled at Anthology’s first craft beer event in late January, which featured the beers of Miramar-based Airdale Brewing Company against the melodic backdrop of Eagles cover band, The Long Run.

“Marsha Berkson (co-owner of Anthology) and Chef Eric approached us with an obvious growing passion for local craft beer and an expertise in what they do,” says Airdale owner Tony Clarke, who was on hand along with brewmaster Dave Lusk to speak with patrons about their line of beers during the event.

“We strive to produce beers that have great layers of flavor while not being overpowering to the palate, which makes them perfect compliments to food on the dinner table,” says Clarke. “I think Eric did a wonderful job of isolating distinct flavors from the beers and incorporating them into his pairings.”

“Whenever we pair food with drinks, we always look at the flavors that are in the beer and look at food items that pair well with these,” says Bauer, who took the time to cite examples of his pairing methodology using epitomic dishes from his Airdale-inspired menu.

Tuna Crudo: “This dish has a bit of everything, from the spiciness of shaved jalapeño to the acidity of a yuzu emulsion to the clean flavor of tuna. It’s a great match with the Airdale Horizon Hefeweizen, with its clean, light flavors that will not overpower the tuna. The tuna is still the star, and the beer helps along the flavors that are paired with it.”

Open Face Burger: “The depth of flavors and big ending with a duck egg and tomato Béarnaise sauce make this a great match against the Airdale Afterburner Amber Ale with its hoppy notes and caramel color. This beer is great as it will cut through some of those more pronounced flavors and help to keep the palate clean and looking for more.”

Chocolate and Chipotle Cake: “Airdale Dark & Stormy Imperial Stout is a great match with sweets because of its rich flavors and subtle sweet profile. The chipotle in the chocolate gives the cake a distinct smokiness that helps pull together the sweet side of the dish as well as bring about the caramel notes in the beer.”

Other menu offerings included warm goat cheese toasts with blood-orange marmalade, saffron risotto bites studded with chorizo sausage (both of which are built to marry with the Airdale Horizon. There were also rosemary and honey-brined chicken tenders with quince mustard served with Airdale’s Homecoming Porter, which was used to braise chicken for enchiladas served with roasted poblano chilies and caramelized pearl onions.

The next two iterations of this series are on tap for February 17 and March 17 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. February’s featured brewery will be Karl Strauss Brewing Company, which will celebrate its operation reaching legal drinking age by debuting its 21st Anniversary Ale, a Belgian strong ale fermented with juice from California old vine zinfandel grapes.

March’s headlining brewery has yet to be determined, but as Bauer says, “I am sure that, with all the quality craft brewers in San Diego, it will be no problem making this a great event that brewers are excited to be a part of.”

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Via SanDiego.com