Lemons might not be the first thing (or second thing) you think of when talking about San Diego, but our town actually has some historical ties to this bright yellow fruit. When the Sweetwater Dam was completed in 1888, bringing in much needed water, the combination of our sunny skies and rich soil, led to massive lemon groves, especially in Chula Vista. Believe it or not, today San Diego has plenty of lemony activities to try out.
Did you know San Diego actually has a suburb named Lemon Grove? It only makes sense that the largest lemon statue in the world is located here. At over 3,000 pounds, 10 feet long and 6 feet wide, this impressive citrusy work of art has been on display for close to 90 years. Located on the corner of Main Street and Broadway, originally created to be a parade float, the statue was plastered in 1930 to become a more permanent outdoor fixture in the community. The base is engraved with San Diego's motto since 1925, "Best Climate on Earth," another reason why we deserve the title "America's Finest City."
At one point Chula Vista was the largest grower of lemons in the world. Whether or not this is true today doesn't stop the community from planning the popular Chula Vista Lemon Festival, a local favorite for over 20 years. This Sunday, August 7th from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, stop by the free event for live music, crafts, hundreds of vendor booths, and of course, plenty of lemon-flavored drinks and eats. You won't want to miss the lemon pie eating contest at noon and the largest lemon and lemon peel contest at 2:30 PM. The Festival Fun Zone will make the kids happy, and the Craft Beer Garden will put a smile on the adults' faces. Some of the craft beers served will be lemon-infused, and all beers will be priced at $5.
We've raved about the desserts at Extraordinary Desserts before, and when it comes to lemony confections, we have to say, this place is the best. All the sweets here look more like works of art than food and they never compromise on taste. There are two locations, one in Little Italy and one near Balboa Park, and both are amazing. You can start with their custardy lemon bars, a perfect mix of sweet and tart, or the lemon meringue tartlets, a perfect bite (or two) of lemon curd covering in their signature meringue. The Lemon Ricotta Cake is a light and creamy torte made up of lemon whipped cream layered between ricotta cakes that have been moistened with lemon juice and fresh blueberries and blackberries. The piece de resistance is their famous lemon meringue pie. Imagine four layers of lemon soaked ricotta pound cake and lemon curd all enveloped in toasted whipped meringue. You might need repeat visits to fully experience all the lemony dessert heaven served here.
For the best lemonade in town head over to one of two locations of the newly opened California-chain named Lemonade. This place looks like a cafeteria from the future, serving a seasonal menu that has health-conscience choices along with decadent options like white truffle mac and cheese and Nutella cheesecake. The only complaint you might have is that there are too many delicious choices, including their wide selection of homemade lemonades. The "Old-fashioned" never disappoints but there are also more exotic flavors like "Cucumber Mint" and "Blood Orange." We recommend asking for a sample before choosing which flavor to indulge in.
