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High-End Dining at Sessions by the Bay

Inside the menu at San Diego's first cannabis cafe opening in February in National City

By Jackie Bryant January 9, 2025

Rendering courtesy of Sessions by the Bay

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This week, Troy and Jackie talk to the crew behind the groundbreaking Sessions by the Bay, California’s first legal Amsterdam-style cannabis café opening in February in National City. Owners Alex Ayon, Pearl Ayon have created a 5,000-square-foot lounge featuring lush Moroccan-inspired interiors, immersive art installations, and indulgent food from chef Jorge Bendesky’s nearby Kimball Coastal Eatery. With dishes like brisket-blend burgers, housemade rice waffles topped with ahi tuna, and micro-dosed infused mocktails, Ayon and Bendesky detail how Sessions intends to blend culinary creativity with cannabis culture, adding a whole new element to San Diego’s dining scene. We also chat San Diego’s latest food buzz, from Lucha Libre Taco Shop closing its North Park location to a bagel renaissance sweeping the city with spots like Desperado, New Wave, and Marigold.

About Jackie Bryant

Jackie is a long-time freelance journalist covering cannabis, food/restaurants, travel, labor, wine, spirits, arts & culture, design, and other topics. Her work has been selected twice for Best American Travel Writing, and she has won a variety of national and local awards for her writing and reporting.

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