You’ll find our list of the Best Restaurants of 2024, featuring picks from food critic Troy Johnson and your reader faves, which are based on more than 41,000 nominations (a new record). Sprinkled throughout, you’ll meet some of the top people behind San Diego’s vibrant dining scene, explore trends shaping SD’s food culture, and probably feel some belly lust for sushi, pasta, burgers, pizza, tacos, and countless other provisions. Loosen your pants now—it’s a feast.

See the Best Restaurants 2024 Winners List

And there’s so much more. This is a holy text.

We bring you a beautiful profile from author, scientist, and cook Madhushree Gosh on the family ties behind one of her favorite restaurants, Punjabi Tandoor. On page 112, we’re celebrating 100 years of Tijuana’s Caesar salad, and we’re bar-hopping and mirror-selfieing through some of the city’s sexiest bathrooms.

Thirsty? We’re playing a game of cocktail telephone, in which we ask bartenders to tip their hats toward their favorite drinks around town. We bring you a hand-painted guide to legendary glassware. We’re having fun over here, and this issue gets prettier by the page.

On the cover, you’ll find Oceanside’s Jordan Howlett—a viral video come to life—who broke bread with me and let me in on what it took for him to rise to the 25-million-follower echelons of social media stardom. Since his videos are typically casual affairs shot in the bathroom and kitchen of the home he shares with his parents and older brother, we asked to style him to the nines to offer our readers a look most of his fans have never seen before. There are more photos in the feature. Check it out.

We’re excited to share this spread. This issue is our ode to the people who keep our city fed and quenched, day after day. The ones putting their livelihoods on the line to open new spots, and the ones sweating in the kitchens and behind the bars, warming our plates and chilling our glasses. These visionaries and craftspeople are the fluid in the engine of San Diego—they keep us fueled and running smooth, and, for that, we can’t help but sing their praises. Shoutout to them and the restaurants they call home.

Personally, restaurants have shaped the course of my life. I spent 20 years bartending while working to build my writing career. For me, the two were complementary. A good bartender knows how to talk to anybody— they can find reciprocity in the smallest of minds. And the same goes for reporters. I’ve been very fortunate. My bartending jobs helped propel my reporting career by paying my rent and allowing me the freedom to travel, research stories,and write books.

A decade ago, while researching in Palestine, I was introduced to the Arabic phrase “beynatna khubz wah milah,” or “between us bread and salt.” It’s a nod to the deep tradition of hospitality in the region, meaning that once you have a meal with someone, you’re connected to them. Sharing food bonds us with each other. That’s why we eat with our favorite people on our favorite days and why we cheers our glasses before we drink. In doing so, we acknowledge that when we share meals, good things happen.

So here’s to breaking bread, and here’s to the folks who bake it.

The post Editor’s Note: Between Us Bread and Salt appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Concerts and Theater | Festivals and Art | More Things to Do

Concerts & Theatre in San Diego

To the Stars at Mandeville Auditorium

May 4-5

Celestial sounds will echo through UCSD’s Mandeville Auditorium with To The Stars. Presented by the La Jolla Symphony and Chorus, each of the production’s two shows offers live renditions of moving compositions by Anton Webern, Osvaldo Golijov, and Johannes Brahms.
9390 Mandeville Ln, La Jolla

San Diego Ballet’s Giselle at Balboa Theatre

May 4-5

The San Diego Ballet stages a uniquely SD take on Giselle, a heartbreaking love story originally set in medieval Germany, at the Balboa Theatre. Artistic Director Javier Velasco’s version transfers the tale to Spanish-colonial California and turns the traditional “Wilis”—ghosts of scorned women—into Mexican lloronas.
868 Fourth Ave, Gaslamp Quarter

Stir at the Old Globe Theater

May 4-26

Two siblings bridge the physical and emotional distance between them through a shared love of their mother’s favorite recipe in Stir, a recently commissioned, world-premiere play at the Old Globe, proving that food truly does bring people together.
1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park

2024 Wonderfront Music Festival

May 10-12

San Diego’s annual Wonderfront Music Festival is back, welcoming headliners Weezer, Kaytranada, Beck, Dominic Fike, Mt. Joy, and JID, among other artists, for three days of good food and drinks and even better music against a backdrop of nonstop sun and glistening waves in downtown.
100 The Embarcadero, Seaport Village

Justin Timberlake Concert at Pechanga Arena

May 14

“This I Promise You”… former N*SYNC boy bander Justin Timberlake’s show at Pechanga Arena on Midway will be jam-packed with bops. The 10-time Grammy winner will play tunes from his 2023 album Everything I Thought I Was.
3500 Sports Arena Blvd, Point Loma

Swan Lake at the Civic Theatre

May 17-18

In the running for the most well-known ballet on the planet, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake follows Odette, a princess turned into a swan by dark magic. Hand-painted sets and elaborate costumes bring the classic story to life at the Civic Theatre.
1100 Third Ave, Gaslamp Quarter

Festivals & Art Exhibits in San Diego

San Diego International Fringe Festival

May 14-26

The one thing you won’t find at the San Diego International Fringe Festival? Censorship. Everything else is fair game. The 12th annual iteration of this free-to-low-cost fest celebrating out-of-the-box theatre, dance, and art brings hundreds of bold performances to Balboa Park and beyond.
Balboa Park

More Fun Things to Do in San Diego

Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch

May 1-12

Ring in spring with the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch’s annual ranunculus extravaganza. Get lost amid 55 acres of blooms while wandering peaceful gardens and a sweet pea maze, snacking on food truck eats, and chugging through the kaleidoscopic fields in a tractor-pulled wagon.
5704 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

May 1-12

Birds, bees, and butterflies are the stars of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s spring activities in Escondido. Expect breakdancing pollinators, guitar-playing bluebirds, and the chance to try your hand at nature photography in the park’s colorful Butterfly Jungle.
15500 San Pasqual Valley Rd, Escondido

The post San Diego Events Calendar: May 2024 appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Katsuya Ko at Westfield UTC will be the first outpost of the iconic Katsuya restaurant brand from hospitality group Sbe and chef Katsuya Uechi, which currently has locations in California, New York, Florida, Dubai, and the Bahamas. Ko means “child” in Japanese, and Katsuya Ko is what Sbe founder Sam Nazarian describesThe Kids Are Alright, They’re Just Sober Now as a vision of what Katsuya’s child would be—a more approachable experience that aims to appeal to a more Gen Z and Millennial clientele versus Katsuya’s higher-end brand. 

Slated to open this fall, the 3,000-square-foot restaurant is across from Alo Yoga near True Food Kitchen and will seat 80 inside and 32 on the outside patio. Studio Murnane handled the design to create an elegant but comfortable vibe where all guests, including families, can feel at home. 

Chef Uechi is still behind the menu development, which will mix traditional Japanese cuisine with California comfort with shareable items like miso cod bites, pork and kimchi gyoza, and chicken yakitori. Katsuya Ko will also offer Katsuya classics such as sushi and sashimi and baked crab hand rolls, plus some new items like the Ko burger with special bulldog sauce and corn croquettes, where corn gets roasted on a robata (a Japanese charcoal grill), then cut from the cob, mixed with a miso-potato mixture, doused in panko, and served with taberu rayu (similar to Chinese chile oil) aioli, bonito, and pickled ginger.

The team behind Katsuya Ko says this is just the first concept to launch, with their eyes already fixed on global expansion. Sbe’s hotel division recently partnered with Wyndham and lifestyle brand HQ, which will allow the Ko concept to enter strategic Wyndham hotel locations worldwide quickly. UTC is just the beginning.

San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events

George’s at the Cove Celebrates 40 Years With Series of Chef Alumni Dinners

Homecomings are always nostalgic affairs, and chefs returning to kitchens they previously worked in is a great way to revisit the days of yore (and get a great meal out of it). On Tuesday, May 7, chefs Jon Bautista (most recently of The Fishery), Brad Chance (Hotel La Jolla’s Sea & Sky), and Lori Sauer (Café Monarch in Scottsdale, Arizona) will return to George’s at the Cove to dish out an eight course prix fixe menu for $200 per person. Reservations are required, and you can view more Alumni Dinners coming up here. 

ARTIFACT at Mingei Launches New Programming

Eating at the mall is great, as evidenced above. Eating at a museum can be just as tasty, especially if said museum happens to be Balboa Park’s Mingei International Museum, which completed a $55 million renovation in 2021 and is launching several new initiatives at ARTIFACT by at Mingei by Urban Kitchen Group to attract hungry arts and culture lovers.

Every second and fourth Friday of each month from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. is now Dine & Vibe, a partnership with San Diego’s Winyl Club. Expect a listening experience paired with a four-course prix fixe or a standard dinner menu. Culinary director and partner Tim Kolanko also announced the spring and summer Regional Dinner series, exploring the cuisines of Colombia (April 18), Pacific Northwest (May 23), Greece (June 20), Yucatán (July TBD), Sardinia (August TBD), and Turkey (September TBD). 

Beth’s Bites

• Coin-Op Game Room North Park recently launched a menu right up my alley—hot dogs. Nothing but hot dogs. There’s a chili cheese dog, a TJ dog, a Chicago dog, and a veggie dog. They even paired each hot dog with a suggested cocktail (for example, the Short King cocktail goes with the NY Dog). I’m speechless with joy and currently stocking up on quarters. 
• The high holy day May the Fourth, is quickly approaching, and Star Wars fans can get their annual fix at California Wild Ales in OB. They’re bringing back beers like Jabba the Hop, C3-POrter, Darth Citrius, and the Mangolorian, plus a few surprises.
• Speaking of what to drink in May, Fridays at Cutwater are looking sweet. It’s agave season at their tasting room, and every Friday this month, they’re offering a different experience, each guided by a master of the craft. Things kick off May 2 with a tequila tour and tasting with co-founder and master distiller Yuseff Cherney, followed by a guided tasting on May 9 with head of innovation Gwen Conley, tequila cocktail class on May 16 with beverage ambassador Laura Price, and mezcal cocktail class on May 23 with bartender Hayley Wilcox. Sign up for each class on their site.

Have breaking news, exciting scoops, or great stories about new San Diego restaurants or the city’s food scene? Send your pitches to [email protected].

The post A New Iteration of Katsuya Coming to Westfield UTC appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

“[The exhibition is like] pilots testing the sound barrier of Mach 1 […] pushing into the unknown,” says artist Jason Clay Lewis. The show is a feast of sensory engagement, featuring sculptures that inspire touch fantasies, paintings that creep into the third dimension, and fabric pieces that wrap the viewer’s experience in silk and netting. Within every work, details anticipate their moment of reveal. 

Although it is a large group show, artists do not have to fight for their limelight. Each piece feels perfectly positioned, the space curated into zones of understanding and energy that create room for thoughtful and purposeful experience.

The show is, in many ways, similar to the gallery that hosts it. Techne Art Center is quickly making a name for itself in the contemporary art world. The space expands inwardly, offering art like Mary Poppins pulling magic out of her capacious bag. It includes many smaller rooms, which offer artists the opportunity to install expansive work and create a treasure-hunt experience for viewers. Around every turn, new art greets you and pulls you in.

In one of those rooms, an installation piece by Tim Murdoch turns the space into a surreal echo of local ecology; it is quiet, mysterious, and meditative. Murdoch’s work not only transforms the room, it also showcases his masterful ability to transform the materials he is using. A simple but powerful color palette and attention to balance and shadows transfigure familiar wood into something entirely new. “I really like spaces like this because there’s freedom to explore new things and show work that is challenging,” Murdoch says.

Prominent San Diego ceramic artist Sasha Koozel Reibstein has taken up the same call. Her work Antivenom stands tall in the main space, drawing attention with offshooting, open-mouthed snake heads; anthropomorphic petals; unexpected textures; and loud colors. 

Murdoch and Reibstein’s pieces resonate so strongly at Techne because it is surrounded by work from artists who are all pushing towards their own version of Mach 1. As a whole, the show boldly requests the viewer set aside everything they know and expect from certain materials. In exchange, it offers radioactive painted ceramics, massive circuit boards woven from fabric, and paintings that deal purely in deception and distortion.

Artist and Techne founder Charles Thomas says his goal for opening his space was to “show work that is so good, people have to come out.”

In Afterburner, he has succeeded. His careful curatorial approach has produced an imperative body of work. 

Afterburner opens at Techne Art Center (1609 Ord Way, Oceanside, CA 92056) on Saturday, April 27, from 5 to 8 p.m. 

The post Afterburner Breaks the Sound Barrier at Techne Art Center appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

I realize this is a pretty apocalyptic way to introduce our annual celebration of San Diego’s food and drink culture—our bible of the restaurant scene, with its attendant bao bun psalms and birria haikus.

But that lurking doomery only underscores the heights San Diego’s restaurant culture has finally reached. It’s never been harder to operate a restaurant, and yet our food and drink people made national headlines and hype reels again. It has not always been this way. After eras of deep-fried pain, we’re in a far better place.

Why? Because our seafood’s right there. Because our produce is among the best on the planet—and any cook will tell ya that using the world’s best ingredients is like running a 100-yard dash and starting at the 40-yard line. That’s why the top chefs have come. Plus, moms and pops who started cooking furiously four years ago (due to The Terrible Thing) are opening kitchens. The proximity to Mexico’s fire and ash and stew culture never hurts. So many reasons.

This list is a citywide tradition we’re honored to keep. You guys picked your favorites (with 41,000-plus votes, a new record), and I picked mine.

I switched it up a bit. I left out a few that have become institutional and duh-of-course. Once Addison landed three Michelin stars, no one needed to be told to go there. Same with Jeune et Jolie, a pinnacle of Frenchishness. I politely placed them over on Mt. Olympus and made room for other places that deserve that spotlight.

I’ve been lucky enough to document, study, and tell stories about food and drink for almost two decades. I did the math recently and realized I’d been to thousands of restaurants, tried tens of thousands of dishes. It’s been an obscenely obsessive career without complaints.

I know food better than I know myself. That said, I’ll never pretend my list is somehow the only valid take. It’s just mine. It’s the list I keep in my pocket and constantly update as I eat my way through the city and send to friends when they come to town and ask, “What should I eat in San Diego?”

I urge you to make your own. –Troy Johnson

And Now the 2024 Best San Diego Restaurants Winners List…

You voted. Food critic Troy Johnson picked his favorites. We chose the must-try dishes at some of the winning joints and unpacked the people and trends changing SD’s dining scene for the better. Hope you’re hungry, because it’s time to dig in.

The post San Diego’s Best Restaurants of 2024 appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Getting real with you all each week has been fun, eye-opening, and anxiety-inducing (please send nice messages on Thursday nights). Recently, I took the time to think about what lessons have come from my adventures and my chats with readers and friends. I share those insights below.

While there are still more vulnerable pieces of me that I’m not ready to share yet publicly—like the lingering effects of my past relationship—having so many new friends rooting for me and sharing their own stories has been incredibly humbling in the best way. I’m the most hopeful I’ve ever been that maybe we can figure this out together.

So, here are five things I’ve learned since starting this column:

Men are struggling, too

As a woman, it can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking men have it easy when it comes to heterosexual dating (stay tuned for guest columnists speaking to other types of relationships). It’s not uncommon to hear women complaining about men’s reluctance to commit and about how hard it is to find someone genuine. 

I’ve been surprised, though, at the amount of men who have written to me to say thank you for this series. They’ve shared their stories, opened up to me personally about unrequited love, and took the time to reflect on some of the things I have written about. Many have also said that they don’t speak about this stuff to anyone. 

In a society where little boys are taught to hold their feelings in, hopefully more men will start to see the benefit in talking out their emotions with friends or seeking advice from experienced professionals such as therapists. After all, you can’t know what you don’t know, and sometimes the best advice will come from those with unbiased opinions. 

Dating is a numbers game

I’ve never dated so much in my life. With my matchmaker setting me up with potential suitors, DMs rolling in from readers of this column, and friends introducing me to their single pals, it’s been overwhelming (and a little exhausting). 

Most of the dates I’ve been on haven’t led to a second date, but they have taught me more about what I want, what I’m willing to potentially compromise on, and what I need to work on personally in romantic connections.

Expecting to find “the one” by only going on one or two dates every few months means that you’re significantly lowering your chances. Get outside, invest in hobbies that you love, head out to happy hours, sign up for classes, keep swiping (if you’re into that kind of thing), take chances on strangers at bars, say “yes” to everything—you never know who you may meet. 

What you ask is just as important as doing the actual asking

One of the biggest things I hear from women is that men don’t ask any questions on dates. It’s not completely a gendered issue, but research shows that men and women are taught to approach conversations differently. 

After I wrote about this, we got a flood of comments on our Instagram post and in my inbox from people who could relate. It seems obvious, but if you’re out there and dating, just ask a question—it may lead to your next relationship. 

But what you ask also matters. During a singles mixer this past February, matchmaker Sophy Love walked participants through some dating exercises with a focus on first-date questions. We learned that asking deeper, more emotionally driven questions tends to make people feel more connected to the asker. 

I genuinely became more interested in the people sitting across from me during the exercise. So skip the “what do you do for a living” questions and ask what childhood memory stands out as one of their favorite experiences. 

People will put in the effort when they’re interested

One of the first people I met during this column was a guy who I was very attracted to but who was only putting in the bare minimum when it came to dating me. He was cute and we had fun, but he only made plans with me last minute and made me feel like an afterthought. 

I remember telling him that I would like him to be intentional if he really was looking to get to know me. We ended things. 

There are people out there who will make it clear that they are wanting to get to know you and will make time to do so—and desiring that effort is not too much to ask. But we have to be willing to ask for what we want and be willing to walk away if they can’t provide it. I’ve also learned recently that the ones who are ready to be in a relationship won’t leave you guessing about future dates. You won’t be an afterthought. 

You can have it all

I recently asked the question, “Can you really have it all when it comes to love?” Stability, support, and compatibility and butterflies, passion, and bedroom chemistry with someone? At a certain age, we can start to feel the pressure to settle to avoid being alone.

Recently, I met someone who is making me believe that it’s possible to find a person who meets all your needs and wants. We’ve only been talking for a short time, but he’s unknowingly helping me heal from the trauma of a past relationship by being incredibly kind, honest, and intentional. On the other hand, I get nervous and excited to see him, something I’ve been missing in the past few dates.

I don’t know if this connection will turn into anything more. But what it is giving me is hope that I don’t have to settle for anything less than amazing. Fairytale romances aren’t just a thing in storybooks.  

If you’re new to Unhinged, catch up on all the dating chats you’ve missed here and follow along at @monicles and @sandiegomag on Instagram to know when a new article drops each week.

Sign-up now for the Unhinged newsletter for exclusive content, Q&As with Nicolle, and subscriber-only meet-ups!

[sdm-newsletter-placement]

The post Unhinged, A Dating Series:  What Looking for Love Taught Me appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Rad Revenue

Is there a case where you are constantly feeling tired, or a situation where your anxiety level is always high? Maybe you barely sleep a night when you are supposed to, and you have probably used a lot of medicine to try to fix the situation, yet it persists. 

If you are in any of these situations and you are staying in need of a solution, delta 8 gummies are one of the best solutions on the market.

Many people have this preconceived idea that marijuana is bad for the body. As a result, they refused to be educated on other aspects of cannabis that can be enjoyed. One of the potential benefits of cannabis is that it acts as a depressant for many mental issues. It may also be effective in suppressing body pain. 

These gummies have created a safe zone for people to consume cannabis and suppress their issues without being noticed. These products do not harm the body, and you can consume them discreetly. They help the body in various ways, such as relieving body pain, stress, anxiety, insomnia, and others. 

Our main aim with this article is to recommend five different brands of the best delta 8 gummies to customers so they can be guaranteed to enjoy legit products. The research process we employed was in-depth and well-detailed. We refused to give some brands slack and ensured every one recommended to you underwent the whole process.

5 Best Delta 8 Gummies (Updated List)

1. Exhale Wellness – Overall Best Delta 8 Gummies on the Market

2. BudPop – Strongest Delta 8 THC Gummies With Variety Of Flavors

3. Hollyweed CBD – Premium Quality Delta 8 Gummies

4. Cheef Botanicals – Recommended For Delta 8 THC Gummies

5. 3Chi – Affordable Weed Brand To Buy Delta 8 Edibles

#1. Exhale Wellness – Overall Best Delta 8 Gummies on the Market

Exhale Wellness is regarded as one of the best brands in the industry, and they are arguably the best. The brand has been in the industry for a while, and they have been able to build a reputation as being one of the most reliable brands available. 

They are highly committed to offering customers the best-quality products to enable them to live their best lives. 

The team behind the brand’s operations is committed to conducting further research on how they can improve the quality of their products to satisfy customers’ needs further.

Highlights

• This brand ensures their delta 8 gummies are created using natural and organic ingredients. 

Their delta 8 gummies are free of any form of GMOs and do not contain any artificial ingredients, including preservatives, coloring, or flavoring agents.

• The brand ensures its products are suitable for vegans and others. 

Furthermore, they endeavor to maintain the 0.3% THC concentration level so their products can remain within the confines of the law.

• There are two varieties of delta 8 gummies offered by this brand. The 750mg jar has a THC concentration level of 25mg per gummy. 

The 1,500mg jar has a THC concentration level of 50mg per gummy.

• This brand offers customers a 30-day money-back guarantee in case they are unsatisfied.

Customers who want their refund can contact the brand’s customer service, and the refund process will be initiated.

Pros 

• 100% natural and organic ingredients

• Suitable for vegetarians and vegans

• Transparent brand

• Variety of product types

• 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons 

• Only available on the official website

Customer Reviews

The customers that have used the products of Exhale Wellness have praised them for the quality they offer. In addition, the potency and effectiveness of the products have been a point of high praise.

=> Click here to visit the official website “Exhale Wellness”

#2. BudPop – Strongest Delta 8 THC Gummies With Variety Of Flavors

BudPop has built its reputation as a reliable brand in the industry. They have been successful in their bid to consistently produce quality products to satisfy the needs of various customers. 

The team behind the brand’s operation has a combined 30 years of experience in the cannabis industry, and they are committed to providing customers with products that manage their health issues. BudPop ensures the quality of its products remains regardless.

Highlights

• This brand offers its customers varieties of products to choose from. Their delta 8 gummies come in strawberry, watermelon, and blueberry flavors.

All of those flavors are obtained naturally and organically from plants or fruits.

• The ingredients used in making these products, in their entirety, are obtained naturally and organically. 

The brand makes sure they do not use any ingredients related to animal gelatin so the products can be suitable for vegans.

• One of the best parts of this brand’s products is that they are affordable while the quality remains top-notch. Also, customers get to enjoy various discounts when they purchase from this brand. As a new customer, you will enjoy 20% of the total cost of your first purchase.

Pros 

• U.S.-grown hemp

• No artificial ingredients

• Highly potent

• Various discounts available

Cons 

• Only available online

Customer Reviews

BudPop has managed to become one of the best. As a result, customers can rely on the potency and effectiveness of their product.

=> Click here to visit the official website “BudPop”

#3. Hollyweed CBD – Premium Quality Delta 8 Gummies

Usually, it would be considered a mistake if we did not include HollyweedCBD in our list. All of this brand’s operations are conducted by experienced teams of experts, and they are charged with producing quality products that will satisfy the needs of various customers. 

The products from this brand have a fast-acting effect on the body, and customers have been noted to say that the effect is felt within two hours of using the product. 

All ingredients used in producing their delta 8 THC gummies are obtained naturally and organically from farms in the United States. Hollyweed CBD ensures the safety of their product is guaranteed, as well as the quality of the product.

Highlights

• This brand offers customers varieties of different flavors to choose from. They have created their delta 8 gummies in different flavors and maintain high quality. 

They do not employ the use of artificial flavoring or coloring agents. Also, their gummies are easy to take, and they come in fun shapes.

• The brand invests resources to ensure delivery does not exceed five to seven days. They also have their team process orders within 48 hours of initiation. Unsatisfied customers can return the product and ask for a refund under the brand’s 30-day money-back guarantee.

• This product is the most expensive on our list; however, it provides excellent value for your money. It is essential, effective, and enjoyable.

Pros 

• Vegan-friendly

• Made in the U.S.

• Variety of flavors

• Monthly subscribers enjoy 25% discounts

Cons 

• Pricey

Customer Reviews

Hollyweed CBD has been praised for its effectiveness in relieving body pain. Customers have also praised the varieties of flavors available and the product’s effectiveness.

=> Click here to visit the official website “Hollyweed CBD”

#4. Cheef Botanicals – Recommended For Delta 8 THC Gummies

Cheef Botanicals was one of the few brands that first started the production of delta 8 gummies in the industry. They are committed to providing customers with various means of obtaining solutions to their health issues. 

This brand is concerned and focused on building a loyal relationship with its customers. The team behind the operation of this brand is filled with scientists, doctors, chemists, and farmers. 

The quality of the products manufactured by those teams cannot be questioned. They consistently research ways to improve their products’ quality. The makers of Cheef Botanicals believe there are still lots of benefits to be discovered from using cannabis.

Highlights

• This brand’s product is one of the most potent in the industry, and their delta 8 gummies are made with a mixture of THC and CBD. 

• This is one of the most transparent brands in the industry. As we said, they believe that high demand can only be generated when you have a loyal relationship with your customers. 

As such, they are open about their operations with customers, including the results of their third-party lab testing.

• The brand only offers free shipping on products that cost $100 and above, and the delivery time is within two days. They also offer a refund policy of 30 days after purchase.

Pros 

• Balanced level of flavor and quality

• All products undergo third-party lab testing

• Amazing customer service agents

• Committed to guaranteeing customer satisfaction

Cons

• Products are often sold out

Customer Reviews

This brand was able to build its popularity in the industry due to its Chill Plus Delta-8 Square Gummies. Their delta 8 gummies were very effective in treating insomnia, according to customers.

=> Click here to visit the official website “Cheef Botanicals”

#5. 3Chi – Affordable Weed Brand To Buy Delta 8 Edibles

This is one of the first brands to begin the production of delta 8 gummies. 3Chi’s founder was a biochemist with 15 years of experience in the cannabis industry, and he channeled that experience into producing quality products that would satisfy customers’ needs. 

The brand’s method of extracting the delta-8 compound from hemp plants was coined by their founder in 2019. It is regarded as one of the best extraction methods in the industry.

Highlights

• This company is committed to sourcing its hemp plants from farms in the United States. 

The farms they work with cultivating hemp using organic and natural methods.

• The gummies are primarily made for people who experience constant insomnia and tiredness. 

Their gummies are a mixture of CBD and THC.

• The brand ensures its products undergo third-party lab testing at ISO-approved labs so customers can rest assured of the safety and quality of their products.

Pros 

• Affordable pricing

• Cruelty-free

• Gluten-free

• Amazing flavor options

• Uses U.S.-grown hemp

Cons 

• Products tend to be unavailable quickly

Customer Reviews

3Chi’s products are some of the industry’s most potent products, which is why users recommend first-timers only consume half of a gummy to start. 

How We Chose These Top Brands Selling High-Quality Delta 8 Gummies

One of the first things we did before we started our selection process in full was to set up factors that we felt made up a top brand. All of these factors were grouped into one to act as our committee of judges, which helped us streamline our list of brands to the top five. 

Throughout our selection process, we refused to go easy on any brand. The same factors judged all of the brands we recommended above. 

But, it is important that you only consume a legit product. With the wealth of brands in the market, it is difficult for customers to differentiate legit brands from scams. This has led to various online complaints about how ineffective so many products are. 

Our selection process results from the five brands we have recommended above, and our research leads us to believe that these brands are the best in the industry. In addition, customers who have patronized these brands have spoken generously about the quality of their products. 

The factors we used in judging those brands are explained in detail below:

What We Looked For: 

• Quality: The only way your health situation will be settled or solved without any other complication is if you use a high-quality product. This is why this factor was our first focus during our selection process. 

We understand the customers’ needs and aim to ensure the brands selected could satisfy that with the quality of their products. First, we invested a lot of time into finding brands committed to consistently offering high-quality products. 

A significant factor contributing to the quality of the product is the hemp used in making the product. The best way to judge the quality of the hemp is to know where it was sourced from. 

There are farms located in some regions in the United States that are well-known for their natural and organic cultivation skills. A brand committed to serving its customers with quality must obtain its hemp from any of these farms.

According to the Farm Bill of 2018, all farms must be committed to using natural cultivation methods to grow their hemp. One of the significant parts of all this is that the hemp is obtained from farms in the United States. 

That way, there is some assurance that hemp has a high percentage of being cultivated naturally. Obtaining hemp from other regions will doubt the plant’s quality. 

Also, one of the main reasons we believe the farms in the United States are superior to others is the clean soil available to farm this plant. Another factor contributing to the product’s quality is the extraction method used in obtaining the delta-8 compound from the hemp plant. 

Currently, the best extraction method known in the industry is the CO2 extraction method. So, we ensured every brand recommended to you uses this method to extract their delta-8 compound. 

This extraction method is the best because it extracts the compound, ensuring substances or chemicals do not contaminate it. That way, the safety of the product is guaranteed.

• Third-Party Lab Testing Results: These are a significant factor in our selection process. No matter how highly advertised a product is, the only way to verify all of the benefits stated by its manufacturer is through third-party lab testing results. 

These results make it easier for customers to verify the authenticity of a product and to be sure the product will satisfy their needs accordingly. They also use these results to verify the safety of the products and to know how potent the product can be. 

These labs that carry out the third-party testing make sure to check every aspect of the product so they can offer an accurate and fair opinion. Transparency also plays a part in the results of third-party lab testing. 

Only transparent brands will post their results on their website for customers to see. If the results cannot be easily accessed online by customers, then they cannot be fully trusted to be true. The results issued by the third-party lab testing are called Certificates of Analysis.

• Customer Satisfaction: This is one of the major players in deciding if a product is suitable to be used by a customer. If the customer does not see value in the product, they may refuse to pay any amount for the product. 

We could only ascertain if customers would be satisfied with the products by checking various customer reviews posted online. The best places to check for those reviews were the official website of each brand and third-party review sites. 

However, we also sourced customer reviews from social media pages and handles. The brands capable of having a high positive-to-negative review ratio were selected to move on to the next factor. 

At the same time, the others were trashed immediately. We expect that once customers have decided on any of the products above, they will continue to patronize that brand because they offer them services and products that satisfy their needs. 

That way, you can stick to one brand without having to source for others.

• Ingredients: One of the significant factors that contribute to the quality of the product is the ingredients used in making the products. If there are less active ingredients in a product or if they are less concentrated than they are supposed to be, customers will experience a low potency level. 

Before we recommended any of the brands above, we cross-checked their ingredient list to ensure all ingredients needed to make quality delta 8 gummies were present. 

Also, our focus remained on ensuring the brands only used natural and organic ingredients. Brands that had an atom of artificial ingredients in their products were trashed immediately.

We have nothing against artificial ingredients; however, it does not guarantee the safety of our customers. As expected and stated by the Farm Bill of 2018, all brands that produce delta 8 gummies must ensure they do not contain more than 0.3% THC concentration. 

It will be considered an illegal product if it contains more than that. Also, a brand committed to satisfying its customers’ needs would avoid using artificial preservatives, colorings, or flavoring agents. 

• Services Being Offered: The central part of a brand’s service is its customer service system. The brand must not conclude that all of its customers would have prior knowledge of the industry or the product. 

Therefore, it is essential that their customer service agents are available at all times to answer all inquiries that might be asked of them. The first thing we considered as part of this factor was the brand with easy-to-understand website features. 

Brands should know that not all of their customers would be technically knowledgeable, so the features of their website should be easy to understand by laypeople. 

Also, the tab to contact customer care service should be visibly available. The other services we checked were the delivery service and return policy. We believe these services contribute to the brand’s quality and play a part in determining if a customer would patronize the brand or not.

Certain brands refuse to charge their customers for the shipping fee, so products are shipped to customers for free. However, if you need the products in a quicker time than the free delivery service will take, you can pay for expedited shipping. 

All the brands we have recommended above walk in the same light as everything we just discussed. They ship products to customers for free and offer a suitable return policy. 

Beginner’s Guide: All You Need to Know Before Buying Delta 8 Gummies & Weed Edibles

One of the worst parts of being a customer in this industry is being a beginner. All of the scams in the industry target beginners because they have no prior knowledge of purchasing a product. 

They feel they can corner you to believe all of their advertised benefits. Before purchasing your product in the industry,  you will be required to conduct in-depth research. That way, you can gain full knowledge before you purchase a product from any brand. 

Certain factors make your research easy because there are things to look for in a top brand. We have taken our time to explain all of those factors below, and if you follow them accordingly, you should arrive at one of the legit brands. 

The factors are:

Brand Reputation

One of the worst parts of the research process is that you might end up with zero legitimate brands. However, one of the factors that can easily lead you to a brand that offers quality products is the reputation of the brand. 

Certain brands are well-known among market enthusiasts and previous customers, and these brands will always stand out in the market. For example, you should find a brand that has been in the industry for several years and has been able to maintain its position as one of the best in the industry. 

But, it could have only done so by consistently providing customers with quality products. You can find out about a brand’s reputation by asking around your neighbors or friends and reading the customer reviews posted by previous customers. 

Therefore, you must consider this factor during your selection process to give yourself the best chance of selecting a brand that will offer you quality products without change.

Third-Party Lab Testing

One of the first factors we thought about when considering the ones that would help your selection process was third-party lab testing. We want to believe that every quality brand should allow their products to undergo testing by a third-party lab, and the testing results should be posted on their website clearly for customers to see. 

However, before a customer can understand the content of third-party lab results, they must have been well educated on the terms that will be used. One of the easiest ways to end your research is to review the results posted online and select any brands you feel will satisfy you. 

For a brand to be comfortable posting its Certificates of Analysis on its website, its products must be of the highest quality. These third-party labs ensure they check for the product’s safety, potency, and effectiveness.

The third-party lab results clearly state if a product contains artificial ingredients, chemicals, or harmful substances. Also, if the THC gummy contains more than 0.3% delta-9 THC concentration, the results state that. As we have said before, if you plan to stay on the right side of the law, you should avoid delta-8 gummies that contain more than 0.3% THC.

.As we have said, a top-level brand will make its Certificates of Analysis available via its official website. However, if they are unavailable on the brand’s website, you can decide to request it. 

Variety

This is one of the mistakes that most brands in the industry make. They expect that any products they provide to customers should satisfy everybody. One of the best parts of brands that are committed to satisfying the needs of their customers is that they consider everyone. 

Customers always love product variety so they can choose the one they feel more comfortable with. Some brands recognize these factors and maximize the benefits they tend to gain from them. 

The ability to provide customers with various products and maintain the same high quality can only be achieved by brands that employ the best manufacturing methods. The best type of products will offer you a high level of quality and potency and still give you variety to choose from. 

Customers that find it hard to decide on one type of product can continue to test run the different types until they find the one they are comfortable with. The variety available makes it easier for customers to select something that will satisfy their needs and provide them with the taste and color they want.

Ingredients

One of the first parts of your research should be to look at the ingredient list of the products. Educating yourself on the types of ingredients expected to be used in making a best delta 8 gummies is essential. 

That way, when considering your selection process, you will have a preconceived idea of the types of ingredients we expect from a brand committed to satisfying its customers. In addition, your focus should be that the ingredients should not be artificial. 

Everything concerning the ingredients used in making the products, including the preservatives, colorings, or flavoring agents, should be obtained naturally and organically. The best delta 8 gummies are usually made without animal gelatin. That makes them suitable for everyone, including vegans.

For those that have various types of allergies, you should endeavor to cross-check the ingredients correctly to ensure there is nothing to trigger your allergy. Also, when considering this factor, you should put the safety of your health first.

Customer Reviews

We have heard people say that this factor is entirely unnecessary, but we beg to differ. This particular factor is one of the best ways for beginners to get in-depth knowledge of the industry. 

Considering that many people must have used delta 8 gummies before, it is essential to hear their side of the story to gauge if the product will satisfy your needs. These reviews are available on the official website of each brand or through third-party review sites. 

You can also check on social media to see customers’ conversations about the brands online. Also, you can watch YouTube review videos to see how well the product works. You must refuse to trust the advertised benefits of a product. 

Instead, you should trust your research, which is an endeavor to gain knowledge from previous customers. These reviews are critical, as they can help you decide on your brand without going further. You will read reviews from verified customers who have purchased the product.

Price 

Some people think that when you purchase a less expensive product, you purchase a product of less quality. Sometimes this can be true, but it does not apply to every situation. This factor plays a significant part in the customer’s decision process. 

For example, customers who need the strongest delta 8 gummies to relieve their health issues usually look for affordable products. It is only the wealthy that would be out searching for expensive products. However, we advise customers to avoid purchasing products that are too cheap. 

The cost of obtaining high-quality hemp cultivated naturally and organically is high. So, for a product to be cheap means the manufacturer must have used lesser quality hemp in making the product. But, this does not mean you cannot get an affordable, high-quality product. 

Several brands are committed to providing cost-effective products and maintaining high quality. The best thing you can do to help yourself is to curate a list of various brands so you can decide on your options. Also, you should try to patronize a brand that provides you with a product with excellent value for money.

Extraction Method

One of the most significant factors to consider during your research process is the method that the delta-8 compound was obtained from the hemp plant. The best extraction method to use is the CO2 extraction method. 

However, you must recognize that if a brand uses an extraction method that is not of the best quality, the delta-8 compound cannot be purely extracted. So, whichever brand you patronize, you should ensure the extraction method employed is the CO2 extraction method.

FAQs Related To Delta 8 Gummies

Q – What Is the Timeframe for the Effect to Be Felt?

A. This depends on a variety of factors. However, the forecast is within two hours of consumption.

Q – Are There Side Effects to Using Gummies?

A. Yes. However, the side effects are not severe when you consume gummies made from natural ingredients and in the correct dosages.

Q – What Is the Correct Dosage for Using Gummies?

A. The correct dosage depends on the manufacturer and the ingredients used in making the product. Therefore, we advise you to stick to the recommended dosage from the manufacturer. 

Q Are delta 9 gummies stronger than delta 8 gummies?

 Delta 9 gummies are typically stronger than delta 8 gummies, delivering a more potent psychoactive effect. When it comes to most potent delta 9 THC gummy brands, popular names like Exhale, Budpop, and Cheef’s are known for their quality and variety, catering to users seeking a powerful cannabis experience.

What Are The Best Brands Of Delta 8 Gummies?

It is important to note that all the delta 8 gummy brands recommended above were selected using the highest quality selection process. 

Therefore, we believe that if you decide to patronize any of the delta 8 gummy brandswe have recommended, you can rest assured of being satisfied with the product.

The post Best Delta 8 Gummies Of 2024: Top THC Edibles To Buy Online appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

The Eucharistic Liturgy of the novel conference carried a distinguished air as both a warm welcome to guests visiting USD’s Alcalá Park and the official beginning of the university’s 75th anniversary — appropriately themed “Lighting the Way Forward.” 

“It is timely for us to gather at this moment to rethink, reimagine and rearticulate our deepest purposes and our highest aspirations,” USD President James T. Harris III, DEd, said during his welcome speech. “I sincerely hope this conference will provide an opportunity to draw wisdom from the incredibly rich history of Catholic higher education and chart a course forward to navigate a more inclusive, sustainable and hopeful future.” 

Roughly 250 individuals representing more than 40 Catholic colleges and universities and numerous K-12 school districts participated in the conference, held to explore what it means to be a Catholic university at a time in history riddled with urgent global challenges, including climate change, structural racism, lack of trust in institutions, polarizing political discourse, breakdown of communities and more.   

Cardinal Robert W. McElroy provided the keynote plenary session on Care for Our Common Home. After his talk, McElroy, the bishop of the San Diego Diocese, was named a Laudato Si’ Fellow for his efforts promoting Care for Our Common Home, one of the university’s Envisioning 2024 pathways that embodies Pope Francis’ urgent call of Laudato Si’. 

In his 2015 papal encyclical, the pope called for urgent action to support the poor and the vulnerable who are disproportionately impacted by global environmental problems such as climate change, pollution, access to clean water and loss of biodiversity. Care for Our Common Home is one of USD’s six core values.

Other plenary topics at the conference included: Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging; Pope Francis’ Pontificate and Catholic Colleges and Universities; the Liberal Arts; and the Emerging Needs, Challenges and Opportunities of Generation Z.  

The genesis of the conference emerged during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Fall 2020. USD Vice President of Mission Integration Michael Lovette-Colyer, PhD, began working with others in Mission Integration to determine what a post-pandemic world would look like in Catholic higher education.

Pope Francis published an opinion piece in The New York Times on Nov. 26, 2020, titled “A Crisis Reveals What Is in Our Hearts.” In the article — which was subsequently turned into the bestselling book Let Us Dream — the pope makes the argument that society will emerge from any crisis either better or worse, but never the same. 

“What will make the difference, he says, is if we take the time to honestly reflect on what happened and then to dream together of a better future,” explained Lovette-Colyer. “We were really struck by that.” The Office for Mission began to have conversations, both internally and with colleagues around the country, and there was a strong desire to put together this unique gathering. 

Ultimately, the conference exceeded expectations, Lovette-Colyer said, both in terms of the attendance and the quality of presentations.

“The energy that came from gathering people from different institutions was really exciting. We can sometimes get caught up in our own narrow focus, but to realize that we are all a part of something much larger elicits a great deal of hope and joy.”  

The Lighting the Way Forward Conference was a reaffirmation of USD’s unique identity and an important milestone in the university’s diamond jubilee. 

“In the moment, I profoundly appreciated how appropriate it was that we were beginning the conference in Founders Chapel inside Founders Hall, one of the very first buildings constructed at USD,” said Lovette-Colyer. “It was the perfect way to mark this transition from our first 75 years to the next 75. The dream of Bishop Buddy and Mother Hill has come true in so many ways and required an incredible amount of faith and grace. For us to be in the Chapel to remember the faith of our founders and all those who got us here was incredibly touching as we think about what is ahead of us.” 

— Story and photos by Matthew Piechalak, Assistant Director of Digital Communications at the University of San Diego

The post Lighting Our Way Forward  appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

But at the end of the 2024 baseball season, Basic Pizza will vacate its longtime home at 410 Tenth Avenue. The mashed potato pizza-loving masses need not fret too much—Mangini plans to reopen Basic as part of the Park 12 development in time for next baseball season, if not slightly earlier. 

“We’re done after this baseball season, and then I just want to be open before next baseball season,” he says. “If I had to guess, it’s probably going to be in the December-ish area… if there’s any way possible to get it built, we will.” (In the in-between time after closing and reopening the new space, he invites pizza lovers to visit one of the locations of his other pizza project, URBN Pizza.)

Even though the space at 100 Park Plaza is just on the other side of Petco, it’s a bittersweet move. Basic had been in the same spot for 18 years, and Mangini had no notions of leaving. When he heard his landlord would not renew his lease, he knew he wanted to stay in the immediate area.

“That was the big thing—we really did lay down roots there, and we don’t want to leave,” he says. But once open, he hopes to replicate the same revitalization on the “sleepier side” of East Village and bring their loyal fans with them. 

The new space will have the same menu and team but slightly new look by Avent Design, construction by CLTVT (who also designed the One Paseo location of URBN), and the deal was facilitated by Michael Burton, founder of Urban Strategies Group, division of Flocke & Avoyer.

At just under 5,000 square feet, the Park 12 space is similar to Basic’s current location, but Mangini says he plans to lean into more concrete and steel rather than try to recreate the same industrial brick aesthetic.

Thanks to a sublease agreement with the new tenants, Basic Pizza will remain at its current location until the end of this year’s Padres season (Mangini hopes for a long one). “As long as the Padres are playing, we’re going to be staying,” he says. “We’re rooting for the Padres to go all the way so we can stay as long as we possibly can.”

San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events

8 Courses, 2 Chefs, 4-Hands, 1 Night

When two Michelin-starred chefs cook together, culinary magic tends to follow. On Tuesday, April 30, at Ambrogio by Acquerello, chef Silvio Salmoraghi of Acquerello (Milan, Italy) and chef Fabio Ugoletti of Mar’Sel at Terranea Resort (Rancho Palos Verdes, California) will serve eight courses of Italian-inspired seasonal cuisine. Two seatings are available—one at 5 p.m. and one at 8 p.m.—and reservations are available here. Part of the proceeds will benefit Labs and More Dog Rescue.

But the magic doesn’t stop there. The next day, Wednesday, May 1, Kinme Omakase (2505 5th Avenue, Banker’s Hill) will host the Ambrogio by Acquerello team for another 4-hands dinner to spotlight the best of Italian and Japanese Kaiseki. Like the night before, two seatings at 5 pm and 8 pm are available, and you can make reservations at Kinme’s website.

Beth’s Bites

Two Ducks co-founder Dante Romero is now the executive chef at The Lion’s Share and is expanding the Two Ducks pop-up residency within the space. A dozen years of moving up has paid off for the industry, darling!

Happy first birthday to Majorette! Please never take the burger off the menu again. 

It’s tea time at La Valencia Hotel’s Mediterranean Room—at least every Friday through May 11. Make your reservation for the award-winning tea service right here, and remember your complimentary glass of bubbles before the fun begins.

Have breaking news, exciting scoops, or great stories about new San Diego restaurants or the city’s food scene? Send your pitches to [email protected].

The post Basic Pizza Closing in East Village appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

View the 2024 Best Restaurants Winners List

The Smokeshow: Brad Wise

By Troy Johnson

When it comes to things on fire, in Wise we trust. This year, San Diego’s star steakhouse chef went national. Brad Wise had a great track record (Trust, Fort Oak, Cardellino, The Wise Ox), but his casual-ish take on the steakhouse experience—Rare Society—boomed at a different decibel. Why? Because he’s nailed the art of woodsmoke, which has 400-something more flavor compounds than oven- or pan-seared proteins. And Rare’s lazy-Susan “steak boards” offer commitment phobes a ménage à steak. He expanded the concept up and down the West Coast, from Santa Barbara to Washington (the sixth iteration will open in Vegas next year). But he’s not done here at home—his “French-ish” brasserie arrives in North Park next summer.

The Experience: Omakase-Only

By Troy Johnson

San Diego’s Japanese food scene owes a debt to Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Seven years after watching the 2011 documentary, John Hong opened Hidden Fish on Convoy Street. Like Jiro’s famed restaurant in Japan, Hong’s spot is omakase-only—no à la carte ordering. The chef simply serves you course after creative course, using the day’s best ingredients. Taking choice away from Americans? Scandalous, blasphemous, and gold. It was the first of its kind in San Diego. Hong received national press, as did his newest concept Hitokuchi. Now he’s not alone. In the last year, two more omakase-only spots opened: Kinme (in Bankers Hill, from the beloved Azuki Sushi crew) and Ichifuji (thanks to two chef vets from Michelin-starred spots). A third, Hasekura, is on its way in Barrio Logan. Choice is overrated.

The Trend: Dry-Aged Fish

By Jackie Bryant

Finally, it’s being said. The supremacy of fresh fish is a myth. Sushi only gets its trademark silkiness when aged. Most beef served in high-end steakhouses is aged over 20 days, so why wouldn’t the same benevolent science work wonders on seafood? It does. While the craft was already popular in Spain (where aged, cured tuna is called mojama), San Diego fishmongers and chefs—from Tommy Gomes of Tunaville and the crew at La Jolla’s Marisi to Davin Waite of Oceanside’s Wrench & Rodent Seabasstropub (one of the OGs of the trade)—started tinkering with the technique this year. “Dry-aging fish is a game-changer when it comes to hedging the peaks and valleys in local fish supply,” Waite says. “It’s just like putting a piece of fish in the fridge, only it gets better with time, instead of worse.” Even though the process has “literally been around forever,” he adds, it’s still new to many of us. Not for long.

The Place: North Park

By Beth Demmon

North Park’s been billed as the heir to the city’s central food nerve for a long, long time. After a decade of revitalization, it’s finally happening. From Tribute Pizza (pictured) and Finca to Mabel’s Gone Fishing, Happy Medium, and Saigon Coffee, something delicious awaits every few feet. Three new concepts are incoming from some of the biggest names in the food and drink scene: Drew Deckman’s 31ThirtyOne (arriving around May), CH Projects’ Persian-fusion concept Leila (summer-ish), and Brad Wise’s French brasserie (sometime next year). The simmer is now a boil.

The Treat: Asian Bakeries

By Beth Demmon

There’s a time and place for Boston creams and maple bars. And that time ended around when skinny jeans went out of style. This year, San Diego’s pastry adherents turned to melt-in-your-mouth Japanese milk bread, sugar-sprinkled Chinese doughnuts, and uber-fluffy red bean buns. SD’s Asian-owned and -inspired bakery scene exploded—probably because Asian desserts tend to be less excessively sweet than their Western counterparts, and the nation’s collective palate has shifted away from sugar bombs. Enter ube, black sesame, mango, and pandan treats. At places like ASA Cafe Bakery or Phoenix Dessert, you can switch up that iced vanilla latte in favor of royal milk tea, shaved ice with coconut milk and various fruits, or boba Thai iced tea.

The Arrival: José Cepeda

By Troy Johnson

The biggest news in the city’s dining scene this year was arguably the 6,000-or-so (okay, seven) concepts artfully shoved into North Park’s newly re-loved and relaunched LaFayette Hotel. The food had to make a statement as loud as the décor (not easy). CH Projects tapped elite chef Perfecte Rocher (El Bulli, Tarsan i Jane, Manresa) to quality control the whole operation, but the one to watch is Puebla, Mexico–raised José Cepeda, chef at the hotel’s signature Baja-goth restaurant, Quixote. “My grandmother used to tell me you get people from the stomach—that’s how people fall in love with you,” he says. Quixote’s menu is a mix of his family’s favorite dishes with twists learned during his time cooking alongside Joshua Gill at LA’s Mexican standout Mírame. Cepeda’s crab corn doughnut alone is a fairly romantic notion.

The Fermentalist: Tiago Carneiro

By Troy Johnson

Hard kombucha hasn’t yet made a huge splash nationwide, but it’s catching fire ($179 million in 2023, with a projected $17 billion market over next decade). San Diego is ground zero for the movement thanks to our athleisure souls and twin fangirling for both probiotics and happy hour. Brands like Boochcraft and JuneShine broke the seal, and now the emerging force is Tiago Carneiro and Nova Easy Kombucha. Raised in Brazil by a father obsessed with fermentation, Carneiro and his brother built and sold Brazil’s largest craft brewery, Wäls. He moved his family to San Diego and opened South Bay’s first brewery, Novo Brazil, in 2015. The pandemic had him on the edge of losing it all. “I said to myself, ‘This was the biggest failure of my life,’” he recalls. So he gave spiked booch a try, and Nova took off. His bright pink, just-sweet-enough La Ola Dragon Fruit—a collab with Wave FC— was the drink of last summer and this summer, too. Now he’s partnered with the Padres.

The Cocktail Whisperer: Beau du Bois

By Troy Johnson

His first move was to ditch bottled lime juice. To do this for an operation as large as Marisi (one location) and Puesto (nine), Beau du Bois hired a juice guy—a full-time role to keep fresh juice flowing, storing it in kegs to preserve shelf-life and eliminate waste. By opting for seemingly minor, time-consuming tweaks (like using a centrifuge to clarify peach juice for Marisi’s epic white peach bellini), du Bois and co-conspirator Derek Cram are producing some of the most craft-driven drinks in the city. No surprise, since the former was beverage director of a three-star Michelin (The Restaurant at Meadowood) before coming to San Diego. Up next is a 100-seat, Mexico City–inspired cocktail bar in downtown called Roma Norte, set to open this summer. The bar man says we can expect the best rum and Coke he’s ever had, using clear cola made from scratch.

The Curator: Tracy Borkum

By Troy Johnson

For decades, museum food in the US was a forgery. Art on walls, shrugs on plates. Other cities realized Renoirs didn’t pair great with fridge-flavored pita wraps, so New York got Untitled from Danny Meier, Seattle got Taste from Craig Hetherington, and (finally) San Diego culture-seekers have Tracy Borkum and chef Tim Kolanko. Most know Borkum for her string of Italian cucinas (Urbana, Enoteca) and her Jewish deli, Goldfinch. But over the last few years, she has radically improved the mealtime fates of aesthetes in the city with Artifact at the Mingei and The Kitchen at MCASD La Jolla. Borkum got her art history degree from UC Berkeley, so maybe we owe a bit of gratitude to selfish pursuits.

The Vin-Garde: Chelsea Coleman + Coco Randolph

By Jackie Bryant

San Diego’s not historically a wine town. But that’s changing, thanks in part to juice nerds like Chelsea Coleman and Coco Randolph. Coleman is co-owner of three low-intervention wine temples—Mabel’s Gone Fishing, The Rose, and Bodega Rosette (along with sourdough bakery Secret Sister)—and she co-founded the natural wine festival Nat Diego, which lured national wine icon Alice Feiring to town. Randolph is wine director at North Park bistro Black Radish, as well as co-owner of the two-Michelin-star Californios in San Francisco. She won tons of accolades for her work at the latter, including Michelin’s 2021 Sommelier of the Year.

The Coffee: Saigon Coffee

By Maren Hawkins

Vinh and Tu Duong’s father set the bar high for how a husband should treat his wife. Growing up, the siblings—and Saigon Coffee founders—saw their dad travel to faraway villages in the central highlands of Vietnam to bring back the finest coffee beans for their mother. Their mom taught them to slow-brew java with time-tested Vietnamese phin filters (pour-over, but make it fancy). From humble beginnings in 2012 at the Hillcrest Farmers Market to two bustling brick-and-mortars in North Park and University Heights, Saigon Coffee creates every cup with this ancient technique. The rich egg foam that tops one of their strong, satisfying iced beverages is worth being late for work… which you will be, unless you rise with the baristas themselves to beat the omnipresent line.

The Bread: Wayfarer Bread

By Amelia Rodriguez

If Crystal White’s sourdough starter were a human child, it’d be in second grade right now. But instead of learning to subtract, the bubbly colony of lactic acid and wild yeast is doing what it does best: making bread delicious, with help from White’s lovingly obsessive attention to details like humidity and the seasons. Trained by bakers at The French Laundry, Tartine, and Proof, White launched Wayfarer Bread in Bird Rock in May 2018 following a series of successful pop-ups. The humble outpost has since made like its starter and sent San Diego’s bread culture rising ever-higher. While White’s crackly baguettes and fluffy cream buns generate Disneylandish morning queues, weekend evenings draw fans for pizza nights, when Wayfarer lays down veg- and meat-loaded pies with—you guessed it—killer crusts.

The Pizza: Amalfi Cucina Italiana

By Troy Johnson

When four Italian friends who’d helped build the Buona Forchetta empire struck out on their own, some raised brows at the spot they chose—Lake San Marcos, a man-made, cult-loved boat community in suburban North County. Not exactly food-scene central. And maybe that was their stroke of genius. Putting a six-time World Pizza Champion (chef Marcello Avitabile) in a part of the county that’s been unfairly ignored by the culinary arts? Like putting a tiki bar in a PTA meeting. Huge hit. Now, the quartet has expanded to another un-hyped food neighborhood with Amalfi Cucina Italiana in Carmel Valley. The menu and specials are different, but both locations offer the same hefty Valtellina pizza, crafted with speck, provola di agerola, brie, caramelized onion, and sausage and wood-fired in a majestic Napoletano-style oven.

The Breakout: Shawarma Guys

By Amelia Rodriguez

Shawarma Guys founder Bryan Zeto grew up in an Iraqi Chaldean family in Detroit and was hailed as a top-notch home cook. But he still had a lot to learn about Middle Eastern cuisine before launching his food truck in South Park in 2019. A month of daily munching on slow-roasted meat, falafel, and other dishes helped the former phone salesman hone his recipes, including his now-iconic Wagyu shawarma and an addictive “garlic paste.” The truck nabbed a feature on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, and, in 2020, Yelp named it the number-one restaurant in the country. The long lines that followed helped Zeto open a brick-and-mortar in La Mesa, with a Mira Mesa location on its way. His shawarma-stuffed egg rolls will melt you.

The Next Big Thing: Tanner’s Prime Burgers

By Troy Johnson

Get ready to hear this name. A lot. Years ago, Brandon Rodgers moved to San Diego to learn from iconic chef Tony DiSalvo of the now-defunct Jack’s before joining Gavin Kaysen at El Bizcocho (Rodgers cooked on Kaysen’s Iron Chef team, winning the battle against Michael Symon). After a stint at French Laundry, he helped his friend Corey Lee open Benu. Rodgers was chef de cuisine when Benu was awarded its third Michelin star. And now he’s back in San Diego for a burger with a hell of a resume. He teamed up with Eric Brandt of family-owned Brandt Beef to open the first Tanner’s in Oceanside. Their calling card is one-third-pound USDA prime patties, smashed then topped with beef bacon, caramelized onions, New School American Cheese, sauce, sweet onions, pickles, and tomatoes on a brioche bun. Oh, and they also serve a beef tallow ice-cream sandwich. Watch out, Shake Shack.

The Marquee Maker: Jojo Ruiz

By Troy Johnson

Some of the most promising chefs never get the support they deserve. Others get too much “support,” their talent and dreams sucked up by the bottom line of an unfeeling corporate structure. San Diego born-and-raised JoJo Ruiz seems to have found just the right fit with Andy Masi and Clique Hospitality. Together, they crafted marquee restaurants for two of the city’s top properties (Serẽa at Hotel Del and Lionfish at The Pendry), plus a sustainable sushi hand roll bar in Encinitas (Temaki). This year, their big unveilings were Lilian’s and Bing’s—the signature restaurant and bar, respectively, of the $100 million reimagining of the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe. Their secret? “JoJo’s passion is contagious, and it’s the soul of what we do together,” Masi says. A James Beard nod for Ruiz’s work in sustainable seafood doesn’t hurt, either. And they’re not done yet.

The Cornerstones: Mario + Morgan Jean Guerra

By Troy Johnson

Leucadia’s got loads of charms: unincorporated shagginess, farmy beach town chutzpah, cliffside homes with stairways once used to smuggle drugs. But, for decades, a thriving food scene was not one of them. Mario Guerra did something about that. Born in Mexico City, he moved to San Diego when he was young (he was GM at downtown’s sorely missed Candelas). He got “real jobs” in finance and manufacturing and moved his family to Leucadia, but he kept dreaming about that restaurant life. He traveled the world based on food scenes and became a hell of a home chef. And, finally, he couldn’t resist: He opened Moto Deli in 2015 as a little food truck, and now he and his wife Morgan (head of design) have seven concepts, including Hamburger Hut (good burgers meet tiki drinks), Corner Pizza, pheromonal date spot Valentina, and Vale Bodega. Leucadia’s food scene owes a debt to his inability to stay away.

The post 17 Trends and Icons Shaping San Diego’s Food Scene in 2024 appeared first on San Diego Magazine.