Ten years ago, Juniper & Ivy took a chance. The 7,580-square-foot warehouse was abandoned, cavernous, and off Little Italy’s main drag a few blocks away. Michael Rosen knew it was perfect.
Rosen was ahead of his time with the restaurant, helping transform San Diego into the culinary powerhouse it is today. Plenty of big names have been (and some still are) part of the J&I family—Richard Blais, Anthony Wells, Jon Sloan, to name a few—but there’s a new branch of the family tree, with Jonathan Kinsella taking over as the new executive chef.
Kinsella has worked overseas, as well as in big-name kitchens in the U.S., like André Balazs’ Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles; Sunset Beach in Shelter Island Heights, New York; and Daniel Boulud’s Daniel in New York City; but this is his first foray into the city’s still-emerging culinary scene. “San Diego has long been one of my favorite cities in America,” he explains. “I look forward to contributing to its legacy as an international dining destination.”
Juniper & Ivy made its name as a staunch supporter of sustainable and seasonal ingredients before it became a fairly common practice. Kinsella will continue that commitment, leveraging his experience in classic French technique and traveling through Europe and Asia. He adds that there’s another element he often looks to for inspiration. “Growing up in the kitchen with my father, a certified Master Chef in the United States, has been the cornerstone of my culinary journey,” he explains. As the son of Irish immigrants, “I developed a strong work ethic and drive for success from an early age.”
Don’t expect too much change too soon from Kinsella. Taking the reins of a legacy restaurant—yes, it’s safe to say ‘legacy’ only 10 years in the city’s nascent dining development—often means finding subtler ways to infuse one’s influence on the menu. But with a bar remodel looming and some fresh blood in the kitchen, I think it’s time to watch and wait for what Juniper & Ivy has in store for 2025.
San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events
San Marcos Says Goodbye to My Yard Live
According to local beer publication SD Beer News, My Yard Live, the 17,500-square-foot brewery venue launched in 2018, is closing its doors for good on Friday, November 15. Since opening, the charitable-minded community space has raised over $100,000 for various causes, including employing and assisting people with developmental disabilities through the 4DUDESBREW series. The enormous space includes a 10-barrel brewhouse, arcade, indoor stage, outdoor event space, kid’s play areas (yes, plural), and plenty of places to eat, drink, and commune with friends and loved ones. It was always an ambitious endeavor and one that this beer-loving parent appreciated. You’ll be missed, My Yard Live.
Beth’s Bites
- I recently mourned the absence of Peruvian restaurants in San Diego, and the universe heard my cry. Al Toque Peruvian Kitchen, the popular food truck that leaped brick-and-mortar, is now open in Oceanside. Before you ask, yes, catering is available, and no, I won’t be cooking for Thanksgiving.
- Le Parfait Paris is on a hot streak and ready to party. On Saturday, November 23, they’re throwing a 10-year birthday party for themselves, complete with plenty of baked goods, cocktails from Understory Bar, food from The Sushi Stand, and beers from Hopnonymous Brewing. Tickets are $5 for adults and free for kids under 15, but RSVPs ahead of time are required so they can plan accordingly.
- A snack menu? I’m listening. George’s at the Cove recently launched a bar-only “snacks menu” on the rooftop terrace, with tidbits that include a grilled cheese sandwich with Holey Cow cheese and caramelized onions on focaccia, La Brújula tinned mussels with pickled sauce and whipped herb crème fraiche on homemade crackers, and, of course, classic housemade potato chips that I think would go perfectly with boquerones—fresh anchovies, pre-cure. Yes to it all.
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