Little Lion Launches; Chili Cook-Off; Food Film Screening

OCEAN BEACH— Little Lion, the new Belgian-Californian cafe with an illustrious San Diego food pedigree has officially opened near Sunset Cliffs. Serving a healthy, locally-sourced breakfast and lunch menu from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, with brunch on weekends, the cafe and bar plans to expand into dinner service this coming summer. [EaterWire]

SOUTH PARK— The SoNo Fest and Chili Cook-Off, a super fun annual community event, is back on Sunday, December 7. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the intersection of 32nd and Thorn Street, 40 local restaurants including will vie for the top chili spot; a $20 fee includes a handmade bowl from the San Diego Ceramic Connection plus five tastes from the restaurant entries. There will be a beer and wine garden with more than 16 craft breweries and local wine, plus live music, a kids zone and a game truck. [EaterWire]

MISSION VALLEY— The latest film from famed director Wayne Wang (The Joy Luck Club, Smoke), entitled Soul of a Banquet, documents legendary Chinese American chef Cecilia Chang and the evolution of San Francisco's Chinatown. On Thursday, December 11, Pacific Arts Movement will screen the movie at the UltraStar Cinemas in Mission Valley at 5:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online with an optional sticky rice in lotus leaf box dinner from Emerald Restaurant. [EaterWire]