Food for Thought

Hamburgers, milkshakes, blueberry cream cheese buns—food writer Erin Jackson has covered them all. In addition to scoping out the best eats as a contributor for the national food blog Serious Eats and as city editor for Dining Out San Diego, Jackson contributes her foodie (and other) insights to San Diego Magazine. Today, she talks about her favorite cuisines, a guilty pleasure, and the “two-bite rule.”

What’s your favorite food?

I’ve written nearly 200 reviews for A Hamburger Today on Serious Eats, so cheeseburgers are right up there, but when I’m eating recreationally, I gravitate towards Thai (panang curry, drunken noodles, and pad thai), Vietnamese (vermicelli noodle bowls with BBQ pork), and Indian (meat and vegetable curries). Those cuisines have some of the most vibrant flavors, and ethnic food is always affordable (if you know where to go), so it’s that much easier to give into my constant cravings.

What’s your favorite guilty pleasure?

Right now, it’s the Neapolitan milkshake at Hodad’s. Splurging on a triple-hit of ice cream (chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry) feels especially decadent when you’ve already committed to a burger and fries. I get the “mini” cheeseburger, so I can sort of (but not really) justify it. I love how they serve it with an ice cream iceberg drizzled with chocolate syrup. It’s practically a sundae on top of a milkshake.

Any exciting new discoveries?

The pistachio salsa at Puesto is pretty epic. It’s light green and creamy, so it looks like it should be mild, but it has a nice, spicy bite. I could eat it by the bowlful.

Are there any new openings you’re looking forward to?

Yes! I can’t wait for 85°C (a Taiwanese bakery) and Bruxie (sweet and savory waffles) to open. Soon, San Diegans will know the unparalleled joy of blueberry cream cheese buns and Liege waffles filled with dark Belgian chocolate.

Speaking of dessert, how do you stay in shape?

Exercise comes with the territory of writing about food; it’s a necessary evil. This is something I discovered in my first year, after packing on quite a bit of extra padding. I got it off the usual way: a lot of sweat, some tears, and by learning the difference between “eating” and “tasting”. Sometimes it’s necessary to employ the two-bite rule, especially when I’m reviewing things like an all-bacon burger or the entire dessert menu at Olive Garden. Even if it’s physically possible to eat that much food in one sitting, it’s not a smart idea, unless you have the metabolism of a hummingbird (I don’t).

There’s a good chance you’ve spotted Allison Hunsley’s sizable murals and other artwork around town, perhaps at One of Us Bar or Brickhouse Apartments in North Park, Slowly Restaurant & Bar in Pacific Beach, or Mary’s Salads in Ocean Beach. Or maybe you’ve seen her live painting at an event like last year’s Del Mar Food & Wine Fest or Ballast Point’s The Art of Beer. A Pacific Beach resident, Hunsley lands clients through word of mouth and Instagram inquiries—businesses and individuals asking her to come paint on the side of their building or help beautify their space with a mural.

Hunsley uses both acrylic and spray paint in her work, often blending the two together. Observers especially like watching her spray paint in action during live painting events, where she makes freestanding murals and canvases while strangers walk by and make comments.

We interviewed Hunsley about her art career, live painting with a crowd watching, and the rigors of painting massive murals (our fingers are cramping just thinking about it). Here’s what she had to say. 

How did you get your start in the art world and become a professional artist?

I always knew I wanted to be an artist ever since I could hold a pencil. When I said I wanted to be an artist, people told me it was a better hobby than a job. I didn’t have many examples of people close to me in Minnesota who were doing it full-time, so I just made small commissions at first. I was always really into drawing and was in all the art classes in high school, where people started having me draw tattoos for them or paint small family member things.

Later in high school, I started winning a few awards and gaining a bit more confidence and recognition. From one of those awards, I got a scholarship for a summer program at Minneapolis College of Art and Design, where I did three weeks in a painting course. That was the first time I ever fully painted, so it was a crash-course in learning to paint. I fell in love with it.

I went to college at the University of Minnesota for product design. It was a good mix of art and engineering—because I’ve always loved math, too—and I thought it was a more realistic career where I could still use my creativity. While in school, I was still making art on the side for people, and my Instagram was getting a little traction. It was the summer after my first year of college when I was at a coffee shop and found an old bucket list I made, and one of the bullets said: paint a public mural. 

So I opened my laptop and sent an email to a few local businesses. One antique shop got back to me immediately and said they’d love for me to come paint on their building. It was a very steep learning curve and initially I had no idea what I was doing, but eventually I figured it out and loved it. The community loved it, too, so from there things slowly started ramping up. I got a few community grants and then started juggling mural painting with school—to the point where I was showing up to class covered in paint and going back to paint in between classes. I was trying to juggle it all and slowly realized I could make money with it. I knew if I graduated, I would still only want to do murals. So I took a leap of faith and left school to pursue art full time starting in December 2019.

What brought you to San Diego?

My friend and I started traveling around the country to figure out where we wanted to live. I didn’t want to be in the Midwest forever where it’s far too cold, which makes mural painting really hard. When it got too cold there, I’d have to blow-dry the paint as I go. We kind of stumbled upon San Diego—I had never been here before, and we were only planning on staying for a few months… but four years later we never left.

It was a pleasant surprise coming somewhere with a year-round window so I don’t have to think about my paint freezing. It was kind of tricky starting over when I got here because I didn’t have a clientele built up. I walked around with business cards throughout Pacific Beach and La Jolla and slowly built a bit of a network. After landing my first project here in California, I remember jumping up and down excited.

How is the painting experience different when you’re working on a massive mural versus a smaller canvas?

You’re watching your hand paint all day without necessarily seeing the full piece always come together. I do a lot of painting and then take 10 steps back to look at the wall, then come back to make a tweak. It’s almost like a fun surprise sometimes because I’m breaking it down into smaller pieces and being more strategic about color blocking, and then standing back and seeing how it’ll all come together. When you’re working small, you’re working the whole scene and it’s a lot more technical.

Certain projects require more manual labor, especially the big outdoor ones. I’ve worked on boom lifts and scissor lifts, which was another fun learning curve that I didn’t expect when I first got into this. I can be navigating a lift, climbing up and down ladders all day, or on a job site fully working in dirt and wearing a hard hat and yellow vest. If I’m wearing a respirator outside working with spray paint, it’s a very intensive process. It’s also a lot of my body being put in positions that it maybe doesn’t want to be in… definitely a lot of arm soreness and back straining.

The largest mural I’ve ever painted was about 1,200-1,500 square feet. Most of my mural projects take between one to seven days, usually about four days depending on how big and detailed they are.

On one of my first-ever jobs when I was about 20 years old, I was working in a dark warehouse so I was super nervous because I was projecting at night before virtual reality was really a thing. So my mom would come and sleep in a lawn chair with me so that I wasn’t out there by myself.

How does live painting with an audience compare to painting in your studio?

When I first started doing murals, I was super anxious about people watching me paint because all paintings go through the ugly phase. I was so embarrassed and would want to tell everyone walking by “It’s going to look so much better when it’s done, I promise!” So it’s funny that now I’m doing live painting. Through murals, I learned that people loved watching them come together. In a way the murals felt like live paintings.

Depending on the event, a live painting can last anywhere from two hours to a multiple-day installation. I’m definitely feeding off the energy of the crowd and I love hearing people’s comments. I think people are a little hesitant and I can see them get confused about why I put a certain color down somewhere, and then slowly they watch it come together. I think it shows people to trust the process and it’s fun because you’re working a lot faster. I find myself being less meticulous, more free-flowing and social. It feels more energetic, quick, and fun versus being a bit more perfectionist in my studio.

What are some of your most favorite projects you’ve worked on recently?

I’ve done a few Boys & Girls Clubs up the coast now. I just got hired for a really big Boys & Girls Club mural in Santa Monica, which was a really fun one because we had the students all help. Murals like that are really fulfilling—directly watching young kids feel inspired and see that art and creativity is a path and can be a career.

When I was younger, I never really saw any muralists or full-time artists. So it’s been really cool to listen to some of the kids tell me they want to be an artist when they’re older. I watch them light up while putting paint on a wall—which is something they’re told not to do in day-to-day life—and then see it come together. They look at the concept at the beginning and it’s super daunting and they don’t think they can do it. But when we do it piece by piece as a group, it’s really cool to see their reactions at the end and know they had a hand in it—and that it’ll live there forever. They’re always so proud to show their parents and friends.

I also did live painting at a Jonas Brothers concert which was awesome. I love live music and was a big concert goer when I was younger. It was really cool to see how art and music can play together. I feel like people at live concerts tend to have an extra appreciation for art and music, so I found that crowd to be really excited and involved. It was definitely one of my favorite projects I’ve ever done.

I did a baby nursery recently, which was a lot of fun. It’s interesting working in people’s homes and going off of the vibe, knowing that they’re going to live with it and be so close to it. I want it to be perfect and feel like it belongs naturally in their space.

Why do you think arts and culture is so important to a city like San Diego?

I feel like buildings have gotten more muted… everything has turned more beige. We have to actively fight to bring more color, uniqueness, and joy to our spaces. The whole mission of art is to literally bring brightness and leave the world a better, more beautiful place. It directly impacts everyone’s mental health and helps build community. A small community grant is actually how I got my first-ever paid mural (the antique shop I did for free). That grant really kicked off my career and changed the trajectory of things.  

Photos Courtesy of Allison Hunsley

September is San Diego’s unofficial second summer—the crowds thin, the weather stays warm, and the city’s calendar somehow gets even busier. This month brings stadium-sized rock shows, Broadway’s buzziest comedy, a new anime convention, world-premiere theater, gallery openings, food festivals, and the first signs of spooky season. Whether you’re ready to lean into fall or determined to keep summer going, here are the best things to do in San Diego this September.

Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do

Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Month

9/2 

As Guns N’ Roses storm into decade five, their appetite for destruction persists. During their Snapdragon Stadium concert, hear the hard rock anthems, new material and a set from The Black Crowes.

9/23

Kehlani is proof that the romance and earnest sensuality of old-school R&B will never go out of style. Hear her take it back to the aughts at Viejas Arena.

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Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Month

9/6-10/11

From the silver screen to The Old Globe stage, John Carney will Begin Again (again) with a world premiere musical adaptation featuring new songs—courtesy of Train—and a story overflowing with hope. 

9/12-10/17 

The concept of work is a guiding principle for San Diego native and multidisciplinary creative noé olivas. Observe his community-informed approach via Tierra y Cielo (Earth and Sky) at Best Practice Gallery. 

9/18-10/25 

Two workers grapple with the weight of their roles at a temporary migrant shelter in Mario Vega’s world premiere play Our Lady of the San Diego Convention Center, set for citywide performances. 

9/26-2/28/2027

Luminous visions of peace and the Punjabi-American roots of Rupinder Kaloti inform The Gathering, a wondrous unification of family foretold via paintings at Oceanside Museum of Art. 

9/29-10/4 

It’s Mary Todd Lincoln’s world and we’re just living in it. See the presidential paramour barrel to her way to stardom at the Civic Theatre during Oh, Mary!, Cole Escola’s political spoof. 

More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Month

9/5 & 9/6

Pros and Con(vention)s: Anime San Diego will debut at the San Diego Convention Center with cosplayers, panels and more than 400 vendors well-versed in Japanese animation.

9/11-10/31 

Scaredy cats beware: SeaWorld San Diego’s Howl-O-Scream embraces frights forged in darkness. Enjoy an ominous lineup of live shows, scare zones and bloody bars ahead of Halloween. 

9/12

The best parts of Artivál and the Alley Cat Art Walk have united for the free Alley Cat Art Fest, an all-day outing for live music and immersive artwork in Downtown El Cajon.

9/12 & 9/13 

Take a Grecian vacation for a fraction of the price during the annual Cardiff Greek Festival, two days of immersive cuisine and culture—with plenty of dancing—on the Encinitas coast.

9/13-9/20

Step away from the stove! The California Restaurant Association has eight days of eating experiences with your name on it. During San Diego Restaurant Week, explore by meal, neighborhood or cuisine for your personal dining plan. 

9/16 

Nourish yourself with an all-inclusive spread of Pacific Beach eats and locally-crafted artwork during the HeArt of PB Restaurant Walk on Garnet Avenue.

9/19 

When it comes to stand-up comedy, Chelsea Handler is always ready to roast. See Handler tell anecdotes and skewer an assemblage of victims during her Balboa Theatre performance. 

Ramona Rodeo

Meet some rodeo queens (or be crowned as one yourself) in R-Town’s annual celebration of the Wild West. Three days of mutton bustin’, tie-down roping, and barrel racing are all doing the community some good: Proceeds from the event funnel into local organizations like Ramona Town Hall and the Guy B. Woodward Museum. This month marks the 45th annual Ramona Rodeo, which takes place in the Fred Grand Arena and draws more than 12,000 attendees each year.

Ocean Beach Street Fair & Chili Cook-Off

For nearly half a century, OB has hosted a chili cooking competition that has drawn thousands of hungry locals. (Buzz Cannabis presented this year’s event, so taste testers could have been under the influence of munchies-enhancing drugs.) Non-chili-related street fair festivities include beachfront live music, Fun Zone family-friendly play areas, and a Dirty Birds wing-eating contest.

Chicano Park Day

In 1970, Chicano Park was set to become a California Highway Patrol station. The problem: The city had promised a community park in that area. After decades of development fractured Barrio Logan and displaced thousands of families, Chicano locals were tapped out. So, for 12 days, locals occupied the area under the Coronado Bridge, blocking bulldozers and planting cacti. It worked. Construction stopped, and that area is now Chicano Park. Each year, locals celebrate the successful preservation of Chicano Park and the resilience of the Chicano Movement.

Fiesta del Sol

Solana Beach gathers at Fletcher Cove Park at the start of each summer for two days of live music ranging from country to pop to Chicano rock, plus an arts and crafts fair, an international food court, a beer and wine garden, and the Solana Beach Firefighters Association’s pancake breakfast. The event is free, but if you want an elevated experience, grab Seaside Pavilion ($75) or VIP Deck ($160) tickets for reserved seating, private cash bars, exclusive restrooms, and discounted swag.

North Park Music Fest

The entire North Park neighborhood hosts an annual music festival, meaning a dozen venues—from Queen Bee’s to Bacari to North Park Community Park—become live music spaces each June. Some locations are open to the public, but if you’d prefer lounge access at Granada House and line-skipping privileges, check out the $65 VIP passes. General admission otherwise starts at $25.

Lemon Festival

It’s weird if you don’t wear a lemon-themed outfit at Chula Vista’s annual Lemon Festival. For one day each August, Third Avenue pays tribute to the city’s former “Lemon Capital of the World” status with live music, citrus-themed photo ops, arts and crafts vendors, a lemon cook-off competition, and plenty of other food that doesn’t include the famed hesperidium. But who would want that at Lemon Fest?

After running El Agave Restaurant & Tequileria in Old Town for 30 years and opening Nómade Tapas & Records in North Park in 2025, owner Juan Carlos Gomez wasn’t actively on the hunt for a new project. But sometimes, you have to grab the opportunities as they come, unexpected though they may be.

He was taking a stroll in Bankers Hill last year when he noticed Barrio Star was closing after 17 years. “[It] was a neighborhood staple for a long time,” he says. So he figured he’d take a look. “We were talking with ownership and threw out an offer, and then it was accepted. So we were like, ‘Okay, cool, guess we’re going to get a new concept going!” (Much respect to the YOLO business style.)

That new restaurant is nearing completion. Filo will open early in September. The restaurant’s name, pronounced fie-low, references phyllo, the Greek word for “leaf” and an unleavened pastry dough commonly used in Mediterranean (often Greek) cuisines. Gomez says the menu will range from all over the Mediterranean region.

“I’ve always been a fan of European cuisine, obviously, but I can’t land on just one,” he laughs. “I’m part Spanish, so we wanted to do something Mediterranean, have a little bit of Spanish, have a little bit of French, Italian, Greek… a lot of olive oil, a lot of sea salt, and very, very light seasoning.”

Although the menu feels European, Gomez says expect the vibe and ingredients to feel very Southern Californian. There will be tapas, of course, and other small plates, along with housemade pastas, salads, with lots of seafood (like a whole branzino) coming from local purveyors. The accompanying beverage program will feel equally breezy, “fresh, very light, citrusy, salty,” he says. “We’re going to have a pretty hefty wine list and full bar.”

Gomez’s goal for Filo is for it to feel like a laid-back, seaside eatery on the craggy Mediterranean coastline—light colors, white oak, lime wash, flowing between the indoor dining room and outdoor patio. Personally, a European escape sounds pretty awesome right about now. 

Filo opens at 2706 Fifth Avenue in early September. Initial operating hours are 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with lunch and happy hour coming soon. (Subject to change.) 

San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events

Beth’s Bites

• It’s hotter than a mile of Georgia asphalt in July, but relief is on the horizon. No, I don’t mean autumn (or as we San Diegans call it, “second summer”). I’m talking about the Sails & Ales Beer Fest at Kona Kai San Diego. The annual brew fest takes place on Saturday, September 12 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Polynesian-themed Shelter Island resort, with over 30 local beverage makers bringing their most refreshing products to the hot and thirsty masses. Look for names like Pure Project, Coronado Brewing, Ketch Brewing, and a whole lot more, all of whom are donating a portion of the proceeds to Surfrider Foundation San Diego. Tasty waves? A cool buzz? Sounds just fine. 
• If you seek edible respite before September 12, Hotel del Coronado has you covered. On Friday, September 11 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the man behind global sushi powerhouse Nobu—Chef Nobu Matsuhisa himself—will host Taste of Nobu, an immersive evening of sushi and signature cocktails on the Paseo Lawn. Prepare yourself for the famous black cod miso, Wagyu dumplings, hand rolls galore, and much more. (Personally, I will also prepare myself to be somewhat star-struck.)
• I love a group grilling get-together, something Kingfisher must have known when the Golden Hill restaurant launched its Nướng Nights series. The recurring patio grill event brings patrons to the curb with a casual, but ridiculously delicious collection of skewers alongside special cocktails, this month coming from Realm of the 52 Remedies. Keep August 26 open for grilling glory (and save September 29 for the Mid-Autumn dinner with chef Helen Nguyen of NYC’s Saigon Social).

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