San Diego Magazine's Happy Half Hour

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 53: Lucila De Alejandro from Suzie’s Farm and Catt White of San Diego Markets Jul 05, 2017

Show notes

On today’s Happy Half Hour podcast, hosts Erin Chambers Smith, Troy Johnson, and producer Archana Ram talk restaurant openings, including Fools and Kings in Mission Hills and Park 101 in Carlsbad Village. Our special guest is Catt White, the CEO of San Diego Markets and the force behind some of the city’s largest and most successful farmers markets, including Little Italy Mercato. She chats with us about what it takes to be a bonafide “farmers market” and how the city can better serve our farmers and producers. Joining the conversation is Lucila De Alejandro, co-owner of Suzie’s Farm, the 70-acre organic farm that recently announced it’ll be shutting down. She talks about why the farm is closing, the future of agriculture in San Diego, and what listeners can do to help. Also, is cannabis the savior of farming? Let’s discuss.

Ep 52: A new taco shop opens in North Park, local Masterchef contestant Brien O'Brien Jun 28, 2017

Show notes

In today’s episode of the Happy Half Hour podcast, hosts Erin Chambers Smith, Troy Johnson, and producer Archana Ram are chatting restaurant openings and closing, including a new taco spot in North Park. Today’s guest is Brien O’Brien, a San Diegan currently cooking his way through this season of Masterchef. The Pacific Beach resident tells us about what he made for judges during the interview process and what Gordon Ramsey is really like. We’re also talking about the best food documentaries on Netflix right now, an avocado heist, and the link between French fries and mortality. We end the show with recommendations for Two People/$50, including Enoteca Adriano, Oceana Coastal Kitchen, Tartine, and Petite Madeline.

Ep 51: Ceviche House expands, Amazon to buy Whole Foods, and chef Brad Wise of Trust stops by Jun 21, 2017

Show notes

In today’s episode of the Happy Half Hour podcast, hosts Erin Chambers Smith, Troy Johnson, and producer Archana Ram are talking local restaurant news, including what’s coming to the space once occupied by Café Bleu in Mission Hills, Ceviche House’s move to Old Town, and a two-level Gaslamp property due next month. Today’s guest if chef Brad Wise of Trust, Troy’s pick for Best New Restaurant in this month’s Best Restaurants issue. He chats about what it was like to start working at JRDN just a few days after moving to the West Coast at age 21, working in a 12-story hotel in Bakersfield, and the most agonizing 21 minutes of his life. We also chat about Amazon buying Whole Foods and female chefs who are leading the cannabis cuisine revolution. We end the show with recommendations for Two People/$50, including Yokohama Yakitori Koubou, Upper East Bar, and Panca.

Ep 50: Drive-thru pizza, a local company makes vodka out of past-due baked goods Jun 14, 2017

Show notes

It’s our 50th episode! And it’s a boozy one. Hosts Erin Chambers Smith, Troy Johnson, and producer Archana Ram chat about local restaurant openings, like a pizza drive-thru coming to Pacific Beach and the Quartyard’s move in the East Village. Joining us is the North County-based team behind Misadventure & Co., a vodka company that makes their alcohol from past-due baked goods. They tell us all about how they actually make the spirit, plus the sustainability mission behind their brand. They also brought us a few handles, so of course we do a taste test. We also chat about the problems with the rising popularity of mezcal and Coors rereleasing Zima. We end the show with recommendations for Two People/$50, including The Land & Water Co., Plumeria, and Wrench & Rodent.

Ep 49: The 10 Barrel Brewing debate, and chef Nick Brune of Lot 8 Jun 07, 2017

Show notes

In today’s episode of the Happy Half Hour, hosts Erin Chambers Smith, Troy Johnson, and producer Archana Ram talk local restaurant buzz, like the heated debate about 10 Barrel Brewing, a Hillcrest staple closing, a collaboration between Tajima and Carnitas’ Snack Shack, and what to expect during Negroni Week (like a peppercorn-bell pepper libation at Officine Buona Forchetta) Our guest is chef Nick Brune of Eco Caters, a sustainable local food business that caters the San Diego Gulls, Los Angeles Kings, the Dodgers, and more. He’s also leading his SoundBite Dinner Series at Lot 8, the new event space in Mission Valley. We’re also chatting about the rise (and fall) of fancy burgers and 58 of the most stupid orders chefs have ever heard. We end the show with recommendations for Two People/$50, including The Hake, 608 Oceanside, and Biga.

Ep- 48: Tijuana taco institution is headed downtown, fishmonger Tommy Gomes May 31, 2017

Show notes

On today’s Happy Half Hour, hosts Erin Chambers Smith, Troy Johnson, and producer Archana Ram chat local dining news, including Tacos el Gordo and Tacos el Franc opening downtown, the closing of Del Mar’s Mia Francesca, Lot 8 debuting in Mission Valley, and a grown-up take on Chuck E. Cheese coming to North Park. Plus, pssst: La Jolla may be getting a Crack Shack! Today’s special guest is Catalina Offshore Products’ fishmonger Tommy Gomes, a native San Diegan with deep roots in the city’s tuna fishing scene. He tells us about his history, how to cook fish via his YouTube channel, and Catalina’s new line of canned tuna. We’re also discussing the San Diego chef who’s making waves at a Noma pop-up in Tulum, Mexico and Pinterest’s “Shazam for food” app. We end the show with recommendations for Two People/$50, including Volare.

Ep. 47 - A new rooftop bar opens in East Village and UC San Diego “cheese professor” Rachel Dutton May 24, 2017

Show notes

In today’s episode of the Happy Half Hour, hosts Erin Chambers Smith, Troy Johnson, and producer Archana Ram discuss local dining news, including rumors about a brick and mortar location for the hush-hush dinner series Cow by Bear, the newly renovated (and newly named) rooftop at Hotel Solamar, and a new two-level market coming to North Park. Plus, Whisknladle Hospitality has announced a new project set to debut in late 2018. Joining us is Rachel Dutton, assistant professor at UC San Diego’s Division of Biological Sciences who studies cheese and its microbes. Yes, a professor of cheese! We profiled the scientist in our June issue and today Rachel drops by to talk about how her research can lead to better tasting cheese, a must-read food nerd book by Harold McGee, and what it’s like to be married to one of the Cheese Twins, who also took home gold in Food Network’s The Great Food Truck Race. We’re also discussing how scientists just can’t figure out how to make a natural version of Lucky Charms. We end the show with recommendations for Two People/$50, including Lionfish at the Pendry Hotel, Bahia Don Bravo, The Taco Stand, and Facing East Noodle & Bar.

Ep 46: Bo-Beau opens a new location, the lies behind seafood labeling, Bali Hai’s Tommy Baumann May 17, 2017

Show notes

On today’s Happy Half Hour podcast, hosts Erin Chambers Smith, Troy Johnson, and producer Archana Ram discuss local dining news, like the opening (today!) of Bo-Beau’s newest location in Hillcrest, the new Chinese spot Village North on Convoy, and Wrench & Rodent chef Davin Waite’s new menu items made with—wait for it— banana peels. Today’s special guest is Tommy Baumann, general manager of Bali Hai. We chat with Tommy about the resurgence of tiki culture, working in a restaurant family, his favorite tipple on the menu besides the potent Mai Tai, and the upcoming Tiki Oasis event. We’re also talking about how Britain is banning junk food ads before 9 p.m., the launch of healthy food prescriptions, and the mislabeling of certain seafood. We end the show with recommendations for Two People/$50, including Fifth & Rose at the Pendry Hotel, Blue Door Winery, Azuki Sushi, and Minh Ky.

Ep. 45 - Cutwater Spirits, Liberty Station Farmers Market, and Good Neighbor Gardens May 11, 2017

Show notes

In today’s episode of the Happy Half Hour podcast, hosts Erin Chambers Smith, Troy Johnson, and producer Archana Ram discuss local dining news, including the opening of Cutwater Spirits, a new lunch menu at Officine Buona Forchetta, Liberty Station’s new farmers market, and the upcoming Wolf in the Woods restaurant headed to Mission Hills later this year. Today’s special guest is Mia Vaughnes, founder of Good Neighbor Gardens, an urban sharecrop program that farms yards in San Diego homes and schools. They deliver locally grown, pesticide-free produce through a unique CSA model and are currently farming in 84 gardens, as far south as National City and as far north as Encinitas. She talks about the top crops of the season and supporting school garden education. Plus, a cool hack for growing avocados. Speaking of the green fruit, we also chat about a variety of avocados that may grow year-round in California, how hipsters driving up the cost of certain foods, the Aunt Jemima recall (check your freezer!), and a study about who eats the most fast food. It’s not who you think. We end the show with recommendations for Two People/$50, including Barbusa, TJ Oyster Bar, Tajima, and Moncai Vegan.

Episode 44 - Happy Half Hour - May 3, 2017 May 03, 2017

Show notes

What it’s like to be the general manager of a super fancy restaurant (Mister A’s), new restaurant openings in North County and North Park, plus the best things Troy Johnson ate in San Diego this week.

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