By Lookout Staff

January 8, 2020 – Food lovers have until Sunday to sample local offerings from award-winning Santa Monica eateries during the eighth annual Restaurant Week.

Santa Monica Travel & Tourism’s (SMTT) signature culinary program will feature Santa Monica’s top restaurants, a new custom ingredient and a social media contest giveaway, tourism officials said.

This year's featured ingredient is the golden-orange kumquat, which is readily found at Santa Monica Farmers Markets during the winter months.

"The grape-sized citrus is renowned for packing two flavors into its petite size –- its edible peel is sweet while the flesh is tart," Restaurant Week sponsors said.

"Nutritional benefits also abound as the fruit is rich in vitamin C and fiber and also contains amounts of B vitamins, vitamin E, iron, magnesium and more, all offering a boost to your health."

A record 37 participating Santa Monica restaurants will offer specially-crafted dishes, "all created to highlight the generous health benefits of this year’s featured ingredient," sponsors said.

Featured dishes include Kumquat and Candied Walnut Salad with Grilled Salmon, Quail with Pineapple and Kumquat Sauce, Fish Tacos with Kumquat Salsa and Kumquat Sorbet

“We are fortunate to have a city that boasts a proclivity of world-class restaurants, fueled by the fresh, local ingredients found at our four weekly Farmers Markets and bold practices of our beloved chefs,” said Misti Kerns, President/CEO of SMTT.

“As a long-time resident of the beach city, Santa Monica Restaurant Week is one of my favorite times to enjoy our restaurant scene with friends and family, and I hope many of my neighbors do the same this year,” Kerns said.

Diners who share Santa Monica Restaurant Week photos on social media using the hashtag #SMRestaurantWeek have a chance to win a $500 gift card to dine at Santa Monica restaurants.

For more information on Santa Monica Restaurant Week, including a full list of participating restaurants, click here