Looks Like We Made It… Yelps Last Night On Earth At Busalacchi’s A Modo Mio!

With the end of the world in sight, 150 Yelp Elites and their guests marched into Busalacchi's A Modo Mio on a chilly December night for one last hurrah. The crowd ranged from the dapper to the deep-sea diver, and all were prepared to celebrate their final hours with Yelps Last Night On Earth At Busalacchi's A Modo Mio.

After checking in and walking through the symbolic pearly gates, Yelp Elites and their lucky guests gathered on the outdoor patio and prepared to party — one final time. As always, every surface was covered with Yelp schwag, decorations were hung, photo opportunities were tactfully positioned, and the fire pit was lit. Staff: ready. Mood: set. Effect: created. It was time to eat and maybe drink just a little bit too!

Joey Busalacchi himself encouraged the Yelp Elites and their guests to jump head first into the feast he had prepared for them. Gathered on the toasty patio, trays of short ribs on potato cakes, butternut squash ravioli with sage cream sauce, and homemade pasta with dungeness crab and serrano chili amongst other house specialties made their way around the crowd. It was a true Italian feast prepared and served with all the TLC that you would expect from the Busalacchi family. To top it all off, halfway through the night Joey opened the doors to a "top secret" paradise which included more that 500 handcrafted desserts. Excuse me? Come again? 500?! Catching our breath and moving on… Peroni was poured, Jameson sipped and collective oohs and ahhs could be heard with every glass of the Yelp Apocalypse Sangria or Karlsson Vodka cocktail prepared by the expert bar staff. Tucked in the corner but easily located was Lindsay who was pouring the finest reds and whites from Ste. Michelle Winery. The wine highlight of the night: tastings of the Antinori Tignanello, which rings in a $150 a bottle. Now that's going out in style!

Along with the unforgettable food and drink dished out by Joey and his staff, it was the extras
that truly made the evening memorable. By checking into the event, Elites walked away with a bag of Busalacchi's homemade pasta while Smilin' Jack, the accordion sensation  played everything from Christmas classics to old Italian favorites all night long.  Why the heck do the call him Smilin' Jack anyway? I guess we'll never know. The
crown jewel of the evening isn’t what yelpers took; it was what they gave.
Proving themselves to be Elite people as well as Yelpers, Yelp San Diego donated enough canned goods to fill two fifty gallon drums which will benefit the San Diego Food Bank. Because of these Elites, people in need throughout the city are guaranteed to have something to eat this holiday season and for that, this
recapper could not be more proud. Ace photog and familiar face Jon Bagalso took the shots here and the eager have already scribed their impressions here. Enjoy the holidays, be safe and we’ll
see you in 2013.

Brad B

Yelp San Diego Community Manager