Recently named “top beer city in the nation” by Men’s Journal, San Diego is hopping into its deserved spotlight with its first annual Beer Week, scheduled for Nov. 6-15. The countywide event will take place at bars, breweries and restaurants. In addition, the San Diego Brewers Guild Festival will be held on Friday, Nov. 6 at the World Beat Center in Balboa Park. Participating venues include Great News Cooking School, Quarter Kitchen, Hamilton’s Tavern, Venissimo Cheese, the Green Flash and Karl Strauss. “We are encouraging breweries to push the envelope and create events at places not typically associated with craft beer,” says Colby Chandler, president of the San Diego Brewers Guild. For updated information and a schedule, visit www.sdbw.org.

The popular Bamboo Lounge wine bar in Hillcrest has made way for Ami Sushi, located in the lounge’s foyer. Owner Alex Marin recently hired two expert sushi chefs who crank out a colorful variety of rolls using fresh fish from Ocean Harvest. Mosey in between 5-8 p.m., and get a free happy roll with the purchase of two. Or on Thursdays and Sundays, the specialty rolls are “two for one.” Bamboo Lounge is located at 1475 University Ave. in Hillcrest. For more information, call 619-291-8221.

Terra Restaurant & Bar introduces Random Mondays, which features an ever-changing menu of appetizers and entrees, all priced at $10 or less. “It gives customers a chance to graze on a variety of plates,” says Mike Rossman, who co-owns the restaurant with his son Jeff, the executive chef. In addition, whole Maine lobsters are creating a frenzy on Fridays at the restaurant, when they’re available for $19.95. The lobster is also incorporated into various items on that evening’s special menu. Terra Restaurant & Bar is located at 3900 Vermont St. in the Uptown District Shopping Center in Hillcrest. For more information, call 619-293-7088.

A culinary competition replete with all of the dramatic staging of Food Network’s Iron Chef will take place at the NTC Promenade in Point Loma’s Liberty Station on Thursday, Oct. 22 from 6-9 p.m. The event features a panel of judges and two teams of top local chefs competing for victory using surprise ingredients. The showdown, now in its fifth year, is a benefit for the Center for Community Solutions in observance of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Supporting restaurants will be on site doling out gourmet food samples. Admission is $125 or $200 for VIP tickets. For more information, call 858-272-5777, ext. 120 or visit www.ccssd.org.

A recent study by the Institute of Food Technologists shows that oils from oregano, allspice and garlic may serve as natural barriers against E. Coli, Salmonella and Listeria. The research rated oregano oil as the most effective.