“We get emotional about good food, good plates, good drinks,” says Giovanni Siracusa. “It’s not just a business for us.” Siracusa is talking about Decore, an Italian restaurant he’s opening with longtime friend and first time business partner Giorgio Corletti. In Roman dialect, Decore means “with heart.”
“Everything is made with heart,” explains Corletti, from made-from-scratch pasta to the homey ambiance they hope people feel when they step through the doors into the tiny-cozy East Village space that was longtime home to one of San Diego’s most beloved bistros, Cafe Chloe.
“People had an attachment to that place,” says Siracusa.
Both partners are from Italy and met working in restaurants in San Francisco, including Nihon Whiskey Lounge and Bar 821. Siracusa prefers working behind the bar, while Corletti says his mother’s cooking inspired him to work in kitchens from a young age. In Italy, he learned to be a chef under famed Michelin-star and Gambero Rosso-winning chef Gianfranco Vissani, who taught him to work only with “the best food, the best ingredients, the best suppliers.”
Currently running the kitchen at Nado Republic in Coronado, Decore will open the second week of April. The menu will feature traditional Italian ingredients and preparation—simple, classic, and elegant. In the meantime, the pair are working on renovating the space that’s sat vacant since Cafe Chloe closed in 2018. Corletti describes it as an Art Deco vibe, with emerald greens and pops of gold—not casual, but not too high-end.
“We are trying to give a middle space, where you can sit for the full dinner, or just sit and have a great dessert and a glass of vermouth,” he says. “In Italy, when there is a bar in the neighborhood, or there is a restaurant, it’s kind of like an anchor point for the community. That’s where you feel at home. That’s what we want to do.”
Beth’s Bites
- Despite its residents making sizable business deals over surf sessions, Cardiff’s food scene has long leaned more casual than Del Mar and La Jolla—which gives it more of an under-the-radar bougie charm. On May 1, you can taste their intentional mellow at the 15th annual Taste of Cardiff with longtime favorites like Besta-Wan Pizza House, Seaside Market, VG Donuts, plus AleSmith, Boochcraft, Local Roots.
- One of my absolute favorite San Diego beer events is coming up on March 29—the annual Pucks & Pints charity hockey game. Watch a bunch of brewers and brewery employees face off at Pechanga Arena for the friendly fundraising hockey game at 12:30 p.m., then stroll across the parking lot to Bay City Brewing for a beer and barbecue festival from 2-5 p.m. If you’re so inclined, stay and watch the real deal Gulls take on the Calgary Wranglers. Proceeds go to five different local nonprofits (like the Boys & Girls Club) and it’s always a pucking great time.
- Tasting all the way through Little Italy simply isn’t possible in one day, which is why the annual Taste of Little Italy is wisely spread over two days. (Honestly, it could easily be an entire week, but moderation is key, I suppose.) On June 17-18, guests can eat through one of San Diego’s most delicious neighborhoods with 48-square blocks of eateries, coffee shops, bars, and cafes. Tickets always sell out, so if you’re interested at all, snag yours now.
- Spring into spring at Carlsbad’s annual Spring Art & Wine Walk on Saturday, April 5 at The Forum Carlsbad. Browse (or buy!) the collection of art, which ranges from paintings to photography, while sipping on wine from places like Sipwell Wine Co. and bites from vendors like Mirabelle Charcuterie and McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams. Bring along the kids for activations at places like Geppetto’s, but note that the wine garden is 21+.
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