Two restaurants we got all flummoxed and happy about a long time ago are finally getting their opening this weekend. The first is Blue Ribbon Rustic Kitchen in Hillcrest, which opens tonight (June 28). It’s the center city arrival of talented chef Wade Hageman, a one-time white tableclother who ditched Blanca to open Blue Ribbon Artisan Pizzeria in Encinitas. That’s been a huge success. This new Blue Ribbon will focus on fresh pastas and small plates instead of pies. But that butterscotch pudding is making the ride…. The second is on Saturday for the Downtown location of Tender Greens, the organic roughage and fancypants meat shop run by top-notch charcuterie guy Pete Balistreri. It’s located in the former Greyhound bus station whose clientele once made surrounding businesses very sad… Stone Brewing’s exec chef Alex Carballo has given his two-week notice. Good hunch he’s staying local with a new project. We’ll know next week… And finally, a longstanding restaurant that trailblazed a now-trendy spot near Downtown is changing owners. Again, annoyingly, we’ll tell you next week.
OPEN, SEASON
