San Diego Magazine's Happy Half Hour

Latest Episodes:

The co-founder of Imperfect Produce drops in Sep 27, 2018

Show notes

In today’s episode of the Happy Half Hour, Erin, Troy, and Archana are chatting restaurant news, like a new Mexican eatery at Fashion Valley started by the team behind True Food Kitchen and Flower Child. Plus, the mezcal tasting room Tahona is coming to Old Town next month and Common Stock is now open in Hillcrest. Our guest is Ben Simon, the CEO and co-founder of Imperfect Produce, the produce subscription service that sources “ugly” fruits and vegetables from farms and delivers them to your door. They just launched in San Diego, and Simon tells us how his company is helping cut down food waste, why San Diego was the right city to launch in, and how his food journey started at his college campus dining hall. In Two People/$50, we’re recommending Wrench & Rodent, Cross Street Chicken and Beer, and Cucina Basilico. And did you hear? San Diego Magazine has launched its Insiders club, offering exclusive discounts at editor-picked restaurants, bars, spas, and more for just $10 per month. That’s right—it’ll cost you less than happy hour.

Hundred Proof cocktail revamp, Indian food to South Park, and Lola55 owner drops in Sep 19, 2018

Show notes

On today’s episode of the Happy Half Hour, we’re talking about Hundred Proof, the gastropub in Hillcrest that just hired former George’s at the Cove bar director Stephen Kurpinsky to revamp their cocktail offerings. Plus, an Indian restaurant is opening next month in South Park and Aero Club will live on thanks to its new owners, The Waterfront’s Chad Cline and Jason Nichols. Today’s guest is Frank Vizcarra, the owner of the new East Village taqueria, Lola55. His resume spans professional soccer, working at Pizza Hut and McDonald’s, and investing in Tender Greens. He opened Lola, a tribute to his 81-year-old mother, earlier this month with many of the recipes he grew up eating. Frank talks about why McDonald’s is the most misunderstood company in the world, his nationwide taco research tour, and expansion plans for Lola55. In Two People/$50, we’re recommending Civico1845, El Carrito, and Carruth Wine Cellars Garden. And did you hear? San Diego Magazine has launched its Insiders club, offering exclusive discounts at editor-picked restaurants, bars, spas, and more for just $10 per month. That’s right—it’ll cost you less than happy hour.

A local vodka co. wins big, and Bertrand Hug of Mister A’s and Mille Fleurs drops by Sep 12, 2018

Show notes

A local vodka co. wins big, and Bertrand Hug of Mister A’s and Mille Fleurs drops by by San Diego Magazine

A Daniel Boulud protégé has plans for San Diego, and Cyclops Farms’ Luke Girling drops in Sep 06, 2018

Show notes

For today’s episode, Erin, Troy, and David are kicking things off with some beer—a saison San Diego Magazine created in collaboration with The Bell Marker. Our producer and in-office beer expert David shares the details on how we picked the style, the fruit he himself peeled, and where you can drink find it around town. In Hot Plates, we’re discussing the Daniel Boulud protégé who’s going to launch his own restaurant in San Diego next year, a new Carlsbad bistro, and Farm to Fork Week’s return. Our guest is Luke Girling of Cyclops Farms, the Certified Organic Farm in Oceanside’s Fire Mountain where Girling grows anywhere from 30 to 45 different varieties of fruits and vegetables on his 2.5-acre plot. He gives us the origin story of Cyclops, how a health scare led to partnerships with Oceanside’s top chefs, and why he throws a dinner party on his farm (almost) every month. Today’s hot topic is about a new residential and commercial development that may come to Oceanside and what it means for locals like Girling. We end with Two People/$50, including Officine Buona Forchetta, The Balboa, Local Tap House, and Wrench & Rodent. And did you hear? San Diego Magazine has launched its Insiders club, offering exclusive discounts at editor-picked restaurants, bars, spas, and more for just $10 per month. That’s right—it’ll cost you less than happy hour.

Poway food hall coming, Chula Vista's huge brewpub, and Perfect Bar’s co-founder Bill Keith Aug 29, 2018

Show notes

On today’s show, Erin, Troy and Archana are chatting about the opening of Simsim in Kearny Mesa, the new brewpub coming to Chula Vista next year, and a food hall going into a mixed-use space in Poway. Our guest is Bill Keith, co-founder and CEO of Perfect Bar. Dubbed “The Original Refrigerated Protein Bar,” the bar was the brainchild of Bill and his 12 siblings, their way of sharinf their dad's whole food protein bar recipe with the world. Bill talks about how he dropped out of college after his dad got sick, how they initially sold the bars in Ziploc bags, and what it took to get the company off the ground (i.e. sleeping in his car and showering at 24 Hour Fitness). Today’s hot topic is about Constellation Brands laying off the majority of their craft beer sales team. (That was the company that bought Ballast Point for $1 billion, remember?) We end with Two People/$50, including Himitsu, Tocaya Organica, and Bare Back Grill. And did you hear? San Diego Magazine has launched its Insiders club, offering exclusive discounts at editor-picked restaurants, bars, spas, and more for just $10 per month. That’s right—it’ll cost you less than happy hour.

Lola 55 opens, a new weekly market debuts by the bay, and Cowboy Star’s Angie Weber drops by Aug 22, 2018

Show notes

In today’s episode of the Happy Half Hour, Erin, Troy and Archana are discussing Lola 55’s opening in the East Village, a new Mexican restaurant in Coronado, authentic Filipino in Miramar, and Lane Field Park Markets, the new weekly market on downtown’s North Harbor Drive featuring food, drink, and art. In the guest seat we have Angie Weber, co-owner of Cowboy Star Restaurant and Butcher Shop. She talks to us about how she and her husband never intended to open a steakhouse, the lengths they go to get good quality meat (it involves animal science expert Temple Grandin), and their latest venture—beef jerky. Plus, she gives us the scoop on changes coming to the restaurant. Today’s hot topic is about what it takes (or how little it takes) to call an item “organic.” We end with Two People/$50, including Mitch’s Seafood, Venissimo Cheese, Hanna’s Gourmet, Harvest by The Patio, Cucina Sorella, Beshock Ramen, Lotus Thai, and Pamela’s Kitchen Table. And did you hear? San Diego Magazine has launched its Insiders club, offering exclusive discounts at editor-picked restaurants, bars, spas, and more for just $10 per month. That’s right—it’ll cost you less than happy hour.

North Park gets more beer, and Stone Brewing’s co-founder Greg Koch drops in Aug 15, 2018

Show notes

On today’s show Erin, Troy and Archana are talking about Ramen Ryoma’s entry into San Diego, Taproom’s new North Park location, and the San Diego restaurant that will be cooking at the prestigious James Beard House in New York. Our guest is Stone Brewing Co. co-founder and chairman Greg Koch, fresh off a trip to Shanghai to open the latest Stone outpost and on the heels the beer brand’s 22nd anniversary (which includes a beer festival this Saturday!). He gets candid with us about the challenges of opening locations abroad, the lawsuit he filed against MillerCoors, why he took a four-month sabbatical, and what he thinks of our craft beer industry today. We also taste-test the nut butters from his new condiment line, Nutista, which he created alongside fellow locals Tristen Cross and John Huber. (Troy called it one of the best things he ate this month.) Today’s hot topic is about beer of course. We asked Greg what he thinks about the new report that reveals American are drinking less beer. Turns out, the trend is strongest among millennials. We end with Two People/$50, including Yakudori, Pizza Port, Turf Supper Club, and—for not quite $50—Addison.

A buzzy chef is headlining a new project DT, and Venissimo Cheese’s Gina Freize drops by Aug 08, 2018

Show notes

In today’s episode of the Happy Half Hour Erin, Troy and Archana are talking Hot Plates, from the new Death by Tequila in Encinitas and its claim to have “the best margarita in town” to chef Paul McCabe’s new project downtown. Our guest is Gina Freize, co-owner of Venissimo, the beloved local cheese shop that launched 14 years ago in Mission Hills and has since opened locations in North Park, Liberty Public Market, and Del Mar’s Flower Hill Promenade. She tells us about how she fell for the stinky stuff, why American cheeses are so darn expensive, and why it’s easier to run a brewery than a cheese shop. Plus, she gives us the scoop on how you can order wedding cheese-cakes, and we talk about the UC San Diego professor who studies cheese for a living. Today’s hot topic is about, what else, cheese. Gina analyzes Bon Appetit’s list of the 25 most important cheeses in America and dishes on her personal favorites. We end with Two People/$50, including Alforon, Pho Fifth Avenue, and Carin de Ria.

Pop Pie Co.’s new ice cream venture and Sam The Cooking Guy makes us tacos Aug 01, 2018

Show notes

On today’s show, Erin, Troy and Archana are talking Hot Plates, including Pop Pie Co.’s new ice cream shop landing next month in University Heights, a new ramen spot in Kearny Mesa, a long-awaited holiday event coming to Polite Provisions, and more. In the guest seat is Sam “The Cooking Guy” Zien, the former biotech-er turned cooking show host, cookbook author, Emmy winner, and founder of Not Not Tacos at the new Little Italy Food Hall. He talks about why a “Jewish white kid from Canada” can make the classic Mexcian dish, answers reader questions, and tells us about that time he and Troy were on a bomb-threatened plane. Today’s hot topic is about Seattle’s Pike Place Fish Market being sold to its own longtime employees. Discuss! We end with Two People/$50, including Queenstown Public House, Civico 1845, Born & Raised, and Masala Street La Jolla.

A massive new brewery in La Mesa and chef Claudette Zepeda-Wilkins drops in Jul 25, 2018

Show notes

In today’s episode, Erin, Troy and Archana are talking Hot Plates, including the Cohn Restaurant Group’s two-acre project in La Mesa (miniature golf in involved), the openings of Nomad Donuts and Young Hickory downtown, and a steakhouse chain that’s finally opened in the Gaslamp after years of construction delays. Joining us is Claudette-Zepeda Wilkins, whose resume includes: pastry chef at El Bizcocho, chef de cuisine at Bracero, contestant on both Top Chef and Top Chef Mexico, and now, partner and executive chef at El Jardín. She walks us through the nearly two years she spent brainstorming, conceptualizing, and overseeing the co-creation of her new Liberty Station restaurant, what is was like to learn authentic recipes from Mexico’s culinary ambassadors, how she edits her menu, and why she’s now a self-proclaimed “seed nerd.” Plus, she answers your burning questions. What was it like to work with Javier Plascencia? She gives us the scoop. Today’s hot topics are about a 21-year-old waitress at a Georgia pizzeria who body-slammed a customer who groped her and a story out of Paris about vegans vandalizing butcher shops. We end with Two People/$50, including Punjabi Tandoor, Parc Bistro-Brassiere, and Jaynes Gastropub.

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