Barron Looking to "Evolve" with New Venture
Two weeks ago, I reported chef Daniel Barron's departure from Blue Point Coastal Cuisine. I also shared the opinion that he'd never seemed a conventional fit for that restaurant due to his affinity for futuristic molecular gastronomy. After doing so, …
A Safe Supping Gamble at Sycuan
Last summer, I reported Augie Saucedo’s departure from The Shores Restaurant to become executive chef at Sycuan Golf & Tennis Resort. Saucedo had spent the past eight years—an eternity for a chef in this day and age—working at the gourmet …
Four High-Ranking Arguments for Staycationing
As we've all trudged our way through the economic downturn, the word "staycation" has become extremely popular. As a native San Diegan, I've always thought our community to be one of the few that could really qualify as a place …
Ballast Point's Newest Spirit Surfacing in Bay Park
Of late, a number of local bars and their associated tenders have been warding off the alcohol world's most transparent spirit. The same can not be said for Scripps Ranch-based craft distillery Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits. They're all set …
Vista Beer Tour: Iron Fist Brewing
Part V Looking back on this week chronicling each stop of my tour of Vista's breweries, it's hard to believe it all happened in one day (one afternoon, to be exact). It really goes to show just how fortunate any …
Vista Beer Tour: Prohibition Brewing Company
Part IV When an industry experiences such immense success, people who shouldn’t be brewing on a professional level see others who are jumping into the ring and succeeding. They figure they can too, but unfortunately, they aren’t ready for prime …
Vista Beer Tour: Mother Earth Brew Co.
Part III My third stop was at Mother Earth Brew Co., a combination brewery, tasting room and homebrew supply store. When I first visited Mother Earth in June of 2010, their equipment setup looked more like a soup kitchen—several large …
Vista Beer Tour: Aztec Brewing Company
Part II The second stop on my tour of Vista breweries was Aztec Brewing Company, a business started August of last year by a group of SDSU alums. Their mission was to add a dose of flavors from our neighbors …
Underbelly Scheduled for Some Serious Bloating this Summer
For most, opening a modern homage to traditional Japanese noodle houses would be enough to garner plenty of oohs and aahs. But not when the restaurateurs behind said venture also own a neo-urban gastropub with an illustrious built-in speakeasy and …
Vista Beer Tour: Latitude 33 Brewing Company
Part I Brewhouses are opening at an astounding rate around San Diego County, but no one region has experienced as much growth over the past year-and-a-half as the city of Vista. Once home to just two breweries, Green Flash Brewing …
Coming Attractions: Towne Bakery
Del Mar Highlands Town Center is quickly becoming a well-rounded nosh zone. Burlap provides upscale yet accessible eats for the Highlander scenester sect;The Counter provides a good build-your-own-burger option; Urban Plates makes Souplantationers weak in the knees; and Cinepolis has …
Barron San Diego's Latest Kitchenless Chef
When the Cohn Restaurant Group brought aboard executive chef Daniel Barron, a chef who treats his kitchen like a laboratory for scientific experimentation, he seemed an odd hire. And not just for the restaurant he'd helm, Blue Point Coastal Cuisine …
First Look: Prepkitchen Little Italy
Before comfort food and reclaimed chic were the trends in America's Finest, there was Whisnkladle. The product of young restaurateur, Arturo Kassel, and partner in crime, executive chef Ryan Johnston, WNL took La Jolla, and then the entire county, by …
Gastronomic Girl Power on the 101
Last year, Encinitas' St. Germain's Bistro & Cafe brought aboard Kaitlin Ramos to fill their executive chef vacancy. This move seems fairly pedestrian, but Ramos' gender makes her hire standout a bit. While home kitchens the world over are primarily …
Two Ways to Find Foodie Solace
Now that chef and restaurateur Matt Gordon has gotten through the first several months at his newest eatery, Solace and the Moonlight Lounge in Encinitas, the spot’s running well enough for him to take a breath and have some fun. …
Extra Motiva-TION to Hit SD’s Oldest Craft Beer Bar
A bar stool at San Diego’s most venerable craft beer bar, O’Brien’s Pub, on an uncharacteristically busy Wednesday night turned out to be the right place at the right time for this beer journalist. That was when owner Tom Nickel …
Soup & Sandwiches (in that order) at Bolillo Tortas
Gringos are familiar with the taco, burrito, enchilada and extreme nacho sections of Mexican to-go joints. They’re the unofficial signature cuisine of America’s Finest City. Yet, there’s one prominent, well stocked portion of the standard taco shop bill of fare …
Set in Concrete: Rossman Opening New Restaurant
Chef Jeff Rossman is pretty well known around San Diego. He’s helmed his restaurant, Terra (in its first iteration in Hillcrest and now as Terra American Bistro in College East) received accolades for his stunning farm-to-table cookbook, From Terra’s Table …
Chef Jason Maitland Resurfacing in Red Light District
Close dining scene observers were surprised last year by the sudden separation of chef Jason Maitland from his former restaurant, Flavor Del Mar. After all, he'd been very enthusiastic about the venture and worked tirelessly to get it open and …
Last Minute Luxury: Truffle Dinner at Jsix
Like a mid-twentieth century toaster, the pop-up restaurant trend is ejecting another special one-night-only event. This time, it's the product of Cooks Confab. Earlier this week, I made mention of their Super Bowl Sunday fundraiser. While that event is for …