Food & Drink OCTOBER 29, 2013

San Diego Bits & Bites

Sweet Spot

San Diego Bits & Bites

A cult favorite at local farmers markets. The Cravory opens a brick-and-mortar bakery this month. Get the classic pancake and bacon flavor (2$ each, pictured) or a Teaser Box cookie membership, which arrives monthly with six new flavors ($16). 3960 West Point Loma Boulevard, Point Loma

San Diego Bits & Bites

Pancake and bacon cookies from The Cravory

Pancake and bacon cookies from The Cravory

Pancakes Point Loma

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Everything SD JANUARY 14, 2026 (Updated Dec 29, 2025)

Snake Oil Venue Company Reopens the North Chapel in Liberty Station 

After years of closure, the wartime venue has been restored and will begin hosting community gatherings and celebrations once more

Snake Oil Venue Company Reopens the North Chapel in Liberty Station 
Photo Credit: Theshukans Film & Photo

For more than 80 years, the North Chapel has been one of Liberty Station’s defining silhouettes. Opened in 1942, the multi-faith chapel  has hosted Navy services, weddings, memorials, and countless community milestones during wartime years. Its story stretches from religious services for military men and women to cultural anchor.

Then came a stalemate. In 2018, a new tenant, 828 Events, proposed a modernization of the building’s interior, sparking fierce pushback from preservationists and neighbors. The San Diego Union Tribune reported that the online leasing opportunity boasted the chapel would be “perfect for a restaurant or retail tenant.” The suggestion that the historic chapel may become a restaurant caused uproar from local community members. According to Congressman Scott Peters’ official website, his office requested an investigation by the City Attorney. The plan was halted, but what remained was a structure in limbo. 

Large group of people eating at San Diego restaurant and bar Nolita Hall in Little Italy

In the years following, Liberty Station reshaped itself; breweries opened, restaurants buzzed with crowds, and gelato melted on children’s hands in sunny courtyards. The chapel remained unopened in a district otherwise reborn—until now, when Snake Oil Venue Company became its new stewards.

Interior of Liberty Station's North Chapel reopened as an event space by Snake Oil Venue Company in Point Loma, San Diego
Photo Credit: Theshukans Film & Photo

If you’re wondering why a company known for cocktails is reopening a historic chapel, the answer is simple: they’re no longer just a cocktail company. In 2019, after a decade crafting cocktails, Snake Oil launched its first venue, Julep, and pivoted into full-service events. Growth snowballed from there. This April, it opened Bramble Bay in Imperial Beach, followed quickly by Vesper at Liberty Station. In just one year, its footprint jumped from 32,000 square feet of event space to more than half a million.

Best San Diego wedding venues featuring Venue 808 in East Village

But, even as experienced venue operators, the chapel was a unique endeavor. “This wasn’t acquisition; it was responsibility,” says Snake Oil’s CEO Michael Esposito.

Exterior patio of Liberty Station's North Chapel reopened as an event space by Snake Oil Venue Company in Point Loma, San Diego
Photo Credit: Theshukans Film & Photo

The first time he walked inside, the neglect was unmistakable. “Here was a sacred San Diego landmark sitting quietly in a deteriorated state,” he recalls. Curtains were stained, corners layered with dust, and the once-ornate woodwork was overshadowed by a red carpet that “smelled like damp newspapers.” 

The chapel had sat unoccupied since 2019, according to Joe Haeussler, executive vice president of Pendulum Properties Partners, which acquired the leasehold to the chapel and several other Liberty Station properties in 2018. After considering several proposals for the dormant space, Pendulum brought Snake Oil on in 2023 to reopen and steward the building. “We felt their plans were the most respectful of the historic asset and would open the building to the public in the right way,” Haeussler explained.

Photo Credit: Theshukans Film & Photo

Rather than impose a new vision, Snake Oil chose preservation. While it’s now an events space, it has retained its original intent as a gathering place for the community. Restoration, in this case, meant listening to the building. When the team began pulling up the carpeting, they uncovered exquisite, period-specific 1940s Douglas Fir flooring. They refinished the planks rather than replace them, breathing life back into the chapel’s historic foundation. Even the stained glass windows, which were not part of the original Navy design, remained. The earlier plans featured frosted panes that brought in soft, controlled daylight, but the stained glass had become part of the chapel’s collective memory. The restoration cost nearly $1.2 million.

Interior of Liberty Station's North Chapel reopened as an event space by Snake Oil Venue Company in Point Loma, San Diego
Photo Credit: Theshukans Film & Photo

Beyond sentiment and preservation, the North Chapel’s renewed functionality includes a main hall which offers 4,000 square feet of flexible space and seats roughly 425 guests, with additional pew seating on a mezzanine. An adjacent side chapel adds another 600 square feet for more intimate gatherings. Outside, three connected exterior zones (over 3,000 square feet total) provide ample room for receptions, cocktail hours, or garden-style events.The venue will have a preferred-vendor list, with some flexibility for outside vendors. Beverage and cocktail service is handled exclusively by Snake Oil Cocktail Company.

Interior of Liberty Station's North Chapel reopened as an event space by Snake Oil Venue Company in Point Loma, San Diego
Photo Credit: Theshukans Film & Photo

Christopher Bittner at OBr Architecture, Tim Wright of Wright Management, and Andre Childers with Pacific Building Group Construction led the improvement process, while Melissa Strukel of We are Human Kind designed the interiors and furnishings. Bittner says the project was shaped less by reinvention than by attention to what was already there.

“The building itself was the inspiration,” he says. Rather than dramatic alteration, the work focused on careful adjustment. “The building needed small, yet thoughtful, modifications to allow the building to be used for the new use. We worked through many options for how the building would function and at each stage thought through the potential historical ramifications.” 

Interior of Liberty Station's North Chapel reopened as an event space by Snake Oil Venue Company in Point Loma, San Diego
Photo Credit: Theshukans Film & Photo

As word spread of the restoration, the stories came streaming in, carried by people whose most meaningful life moments unfolded within its walls. “For some, it was a grandfather who found a moment of resolve here before leaving to serve in World War II,” says Esposito. “For others, a bride who walked down the aisle as a young woman, or the loved one of a first responder whose life was honored within these walls.” The stories varied, but the sentiment was shared: the chapel’s legacy matters.

Ingrid Yang

About Ingrid Yang

Ingrid Yang, M.D., J.D. is a hospital-based physician in San Diego, CA, certified yoga therapist, and longevity specialist. She loves *double hearts* San Diego and spends her days helping people fully engage in long, healthy lives through evidence-based lifestyle medicine. Her books include Adaptive Yoga, Zen Mindfulness, and Hatha Yoga Asanas. When she’s not leading international wellness retreats, she is chasing sunsets, handstanding in nature, or geeking out over mitochondria.

Food & Drink JANUARY 7, 2026

San Diego’s Viral Crab Rangoon Roll Now in La Jolla

The pop-culture phenom, Slurp, makes its way to Westfield UTC this Friday as the mall's first Thai restaurant

San Diego’s Viral Crab Rangoon Roll Now in La Jolla
Courtesy of Slurp San Diego

If you search “crab rangoon roll” on any search engine or AI chatbot, you’re likely to get one result—Slurp in San Diego. 

The ultra-rich, decadently crabby, cream cheese-stuffed, deep-fried burrito served sliced with a side of sweet chili sauce went mega-viral last June, when a few food influencers started posting videos of themselves crunching, dipping, and moaning over the indulgent Thai-California fusion dish at Slurp’s first location in Liberty Public Market and second in Escondido. 

Views went from a few hundred… to a few thousand… up to a few million. 

“Our business exploded,” explains Gene Kim, partner and CFO of Slurp. “We used to sell 100 in a week, if that, and now we’re selling 300 to 500 per day.” 

Somebody should check on the global crab supply, because they’re probably about to sell quite a few more. The third Slurp space soft opens on Friday, January 9 at Westfield UTC, with a grand opening planned for later in the month. 

Gene’s wife and Slurp CEO Bella Kim came up with the now-immortalized crab rangoon recipe and entire Slurp concept. She came to the United States from Thailand in 2018 with an F-1 student visa, and missed street food dishes like barbecue pork, wontons, chow mein, and spicy fried rice. “Every item on the menu, that’s all my favorite things from my hometown,” she explains. 

Despite the massive influx of different Asian cuisines to Westfield UTC, from Sichuan hot pot at Haidilao to Taiwanese soup dumplings at Din Tai Fung, Slurp will be the first Thai restaurant at the mall. That’s part of their calculated (and ambitious) growth plans, says Carlo Perez, the group’s third partner brought on to open UTC and facilitate their expansion across San Diego, which they hope to seriously focus on in the coming year.

Courtesy of Slurp San Diego

The group is actively eyeing sites near colleges, universities, and in the second phase of the San Diego Airport terminal redevelopment. With a few more prime locations and some long-term social media strategy, Gene says Slurp could become an iconic local chain as ubiquitous to San Diego as Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, Phil’s BBQ, or Hodad’s. 

But the Slurp phenomenon has already spread far beyond Southern California. Perez’s niece, a student at the University of Wisconsin–Madison sent them a screenshot of a friend asking where they could get a crab rangoon roll in Wisconsin. He laughs. “You have to come to San Diego to come and get it.”

Slurp soft opens on Friday, January 9 at Westfield UTC (4545 La Jolla Village Drive, Suite E-25). Hours are Monday through Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday through Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Beth Demmon

About Beth Demmon

Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.

Food & Drink NOVEMBER 18, 2025

Trio Behind Cesarina & Elvira Announce New Concept

Corallino will open near Shelter Island next spring, marking the group's third restaurant

Trio Behind Cesarina & Elvira Announce New Concept
Photo Credit: Arlene Ibarra

They say the third time’s the charm, but what if the first two are already pretty damn charming? I guess we’ll find out when Cesarina Restaurant Group goes for a trifecta of Italian joints. They’ve announced plans to open a new spot on Shelter Island next spring called Corallino at 1101 Scott Street. 

The restaurant group is known for its round-the-clock-made pasta, consistently named some of the best in the city. Founded by chef Cesarina Mezzoni, her husband Niccolò Angius, and longtime friend Giuseppe Capasso, they first opened Cesarina in 2019 in Loma Portal (that stretch between OB and Point Loma on Voltaire St.). Then came Elvira in 2023, a Roman grandma–centric spot in the iconic hobbit-restaurant location at the entrance to Robb Field in OB (formerly Thee Bungalow, Bo Beau). Corallino will keep things close by, just on the eastern side of the peninsula in the former Pummarò restaurant space.

Ownership team of Italian restaurants Elvira, Cesarina, and now Corallino opening in San Diego
Photo Credit: Arlene Ibarra

Angius and Mezzoni have opened all three in the Point Loma area because that’s where they live; the restaurants are them sharing their Roman heritage with their neighborhood. They tapped the same architect who handled the Elvira remodel—Limes Architetti—to redo the 3,100-square-foot space, which is only slightly larger than Cesarina (2,700-square-feet) and Elvira (2,400-square-feet). It’s cozy and manageable, but can still hustle and bustle like an authentic Roman ristorante. 

Katie Brooks, Buona Pasta

Corallino (Italian for “coral”) is still in early stages as far as design and menu, but the group says they’re planning to continue their vision of neighborhood-centric comfort food with handmade pastas and a modern Italian.

Interior of San Diego Italian restaurant Elvira in Ocean Beach
Photo Credit: Kimberly Motos
Interior of Elvira from Limes Architetti

And, while some local outlets have claimed that Corallino is a partnership with Cohn Restaurant Group, this is untrue, say its reps. CRG co-owner David Cohn is a financial investor—much like he is in Callie and other high-end restaurants.

It’s an important clarification. For instance, Tony Hawk is an investor in Puffer Malarkey restaurants Animae and Herb & Wood, but the relationship wouldn’t be billed as a “partnership” because Hawk isn’t in there making restaurant decisions.

So, Corallino will be operated and run by the Roman trio, not Cohn, and it will not be part of the Cohn Restaurant Group. And, with the Cesarina trio having won “Best Pasta” three years in a row for SDM’s annual “Best Restaurants” issue, only time will tell if their third location can make it four.

Rendering of new La Jolla restaurant and food complex STATION8 Public Market on UCSD's campus
Rendering Courtesy of BASILE Studio

San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events

La Jolla Expands Its Culinary Footprint with Station8 Public Market

UCSD is a behemoth that just keeps getting bigger. The campus’ Theatre District Living and Learning Neighborhood spans around 1.5 million square feet and 11 acres (not too shabby in pricey La Jolla), and in August 2026, 20,000-square-feet of that will become Station8 Public Market. Designed by Basile Studio (Roseacre, Born & Raised), STATION8 is Tiger Hospitality’s latest project, an on-campus food hall with 10 different vendors, two bars, and a 5,122-square-foot mezzanine concept that’s still TBD.

Between this, Dora by Accursio Lota (Trattoria Cori Pastificio), Daffodil Cafe in La Jolla Commons, and all the goodies going into Westfield UTC, La Jolla is more delicious than ever, and UCSD is leading the charge in 2026.

Food from new San Diego sushi restaurant Cherryfish in Pacific Beach
Courtesy of Cherryfish

Beth’s Bites

  • A year past a planned opening date is right on time for most restaurants, and Cherryfish is no exception. The modern American izakaya opened this week in Pacific Beach. With chef Marcus Twilegar busy with Dockside Fish on weekends, working with a nonprofit to fight food insecurity, and opening a restaurant. I’m surprised he’s still able to dish out toro rolls and spiny lobsters—but dish them out he does.
  • The year 1985 brought us the discovery of the Titanic wreck, the first Back to the Future movie, and the first Woodstock’s Pizza at SDSU. On Nov. 20 the classic pizza shop celebrates 40 years of pie slinging in the College Area with pizza and beer specials. Hey, maybe bring your parents. They probably remember when it opened—and how much a pint of beer cost back then, too. (Cue quiet sobbing.)
  • Much has been made of San Diego’s recent bagel wave, but wait, there’s more! East Coast-based PopUp Bagels is opening its first SoCal spot at 637 Pearl Street in La Jolla on Friday, November 21, bringing its signature “Grip, Rip and Dip” bagels meant to be torn and dipped in your topping of choice rather than cut and smeared. I’ll admit the disorderly eater in me who secretly hates cutlery is intrigued by the concept. If anyone’s already tried it out and has thoughts to share, let us know at [email protected].

Listen Now: The Latest in San Diego’s Food and Drink Scene

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].

Beth Demmon

About Beth Demmon

Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.

Studio S JULY 25, 2026

These San Diego Companies Are Driving the Region’s Next Wave of Growth

This month, the 2026 San Diego Business Impact Awards recognized local businesses making an impact in clean energy, biotech, hospitality, and beyond

These San Diego Companies Are Driving the Region’s Next Wave of Growth
Photo Credit: Matt Furman

Renewable energy companies building hundreds of power plants. Biotech startups using artificial intelligence to create personalized medicine for children with rare diseases. Hospitality companies quietly powering thousands of local events. Consumer brands growing from beach-town startups into national businesses. These are the kinds of companies driving San Diego’s economy today, and the businesses recognized at this year’s San Diego Business Impact Awards offer a snapshot of where the region is headed.

Hosted July 23 by San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and JPMorganChase, the second annual awards event honored four local companies for innovation, growth, and economic impact. More than 100 nominations from San Diego’s middle-market businesses were reviewed by a 10-person judging committee, with winners selected across four categories: startup, early-stage innovator, rising star, and established heavyweight.

Two-time honoree Jimbo Someck, founder of Jimbo’s organic grocery stores, also joined the event for a fireside chat on buying local, supporting emerging brands, and giving back to the community.

“San Diego’s strength comes from its makers and builders—the resilient people who endure great risks and overcome obstacles to build and scale a company,” says Aaron Ryan, San Diego Region Manager and Middle Market Banking at JPMorganChase & Co. “These awards aren’t just recognition; they spotlight the talent, grit, and innovation shaping our region’s future. By celebrating those who create and build, we foster connections and fuel the growth that keeps San Diego thriving.”

Photo Credit: Matt Furman

Building the Infrastructure Behind Clean Energy

Heavyweight honoree SOLV Energy has grown alongside the country’s rapid investment in renewable power. “It’s an exciting time for SOLV Energy as we are experiencing significant growth,” says CEO George Hershman. “The business has doubled over the last year and has almost double-digit growth since its inception.”

The Rancho Bernardo-based company designs, builds, operates, and maintains utility-scale solar and energy storage facilities. Since its founding in 2008, SOLV Energy has built more than 500 power plants.

Growth has translated directly into hiring. About 200 employees work from the company’s local headquarters, including roughly 20 interns. “Our intern program is a big part of the way that we grow our workforce,” Hershman says. “Last year, 43 percent of our interns became full-time employees. We believe San Diego is a great community to build and grow a high-tech infrastructure and technology company because of the incredible workforce—the ability to attract top talent and draw from world-class universities.”

Photo Credit: Matt Furman

Developing Medicine One Patient at a Time

Startup honoree La Jolla Labs is tackling one of medicine’s biggest challenges by developing personalized RNA therapeutics for patients with rare diseases—many of them children with neurological disorders like ALS. Using proprietary artificial intelligence and machine learning tools, the biotech company develops treatments tailored to each patient’s specific genetic mutation.

CEO Tamar Grossman says the recognition reflects how far the company has come despite limited resources. “We’re honored to be recognized for our ability to change and save patients’ lives and turn our lean startup into a clinical company with very minimal resources,” she says.

Grossman credits San Diego’s concentration of research institutions—including UC San Diego, the Salk Institute, and Scripps Research—with creating a pipeline of talent and collaboration. “San Diego is one of the world-leading centers for technology, genomics, and RNA therapeutics,” she says. “We have over 30 RNA therapeutics companies here, and we support each other and help with anything related to drug discovery.”

She says that collaborative spirit extends beyond formal partnerships. “You can walk around Torrey Pines, go into a café, and find colleagues from the industry and have an ad hoc conversation,” Grossman says. “That’s something very unique to San Diego.”

Photo Credit: Matt Furman

Powering San Diego’s Special Celebrations

While Snake Oil Venue Company may not be a household name, chances are many San Diegans have attended one of its events. The early-stage innovator honoree has expanded from beverage catering and mixology consulting into venue management, operating Julep Venue in Mission Hills, Bramble Bay Venue in Imperial Beach, Vesper Venue, the Chapel at Liberty Station, and five outdoor venues throughout Liberty Station—more than 500,000 square feet of event space altogether.

“We do a lot of launch parties for corporations and new products,” says CEO Mike Esposito. “I really like working on the entrepreneur side of things, where new businesses are entering the San Diego market and looking to make a splash.”

Snake Oil has executed more than 16,000 events, employed more than 1,000 people, and partnered with more than 900 local vendors, including caterers, florists, photographers, entertainers, and other hospitality businesses. The company also works with many of San Diego’s nonprofits, museums, and cultural institutions. “We get to celebrate people’s most important moments,” Esposito says. “Whether that’s a wedding, celebration of life, or quinceañera, we’re fortunate to be involved in the community in so many different ways.”

Photo Credit: Matt Furman
Photo Credit: Matt Furman

Growing a Beach-Town Brand into a National Business

Rising star honoree ALOHA Collection is proof that a simple idea can grow into a thriving company. Founded by two roommates who wanted a better way to carry wet swimsuits after a day at the beach, the lifestyle brand has grown into a business while maintaining strong year-over-year growth.

Now headquartered in Carlsbad, ALOHA Collection employs more than 100 people and operates its California flagship store in Encinitas, which is slated for a remodel. With roots in Hawaii, the company is known for its lightweight, splash-proof travel bags that have become a familiar sight on beaches in San Diego and beyond.

“‘Aloha’ is part of our name, but it’s also how we move through the world,” says CEO Lynna Barnard. “It’s how we show up for people, the way we travel, the way we give back.” Since day one, the company has maintained a 5 percent giveback to Hawaii conservation efforts, contributing millions of dollars over the years.

“I think what’s so inspiring about ALOHA Collection, and the founders in particular, is when you dream big, those dreams can come true when you work hard and trust in the universe,” Barnard says. “It’s inspiring to be a role model for other people wanting to start businesses from humble beginnings. Start small and watch it grow.”

Together, businesses like these form a cornerstone of San Diego’s economy—not only through the jobs and revenue they generate—but through the local workers they hire, vendors they support, and investments they make in the region. Their growth doesn’t happen in isolation; it ripples outward, strengthening the broader business community and the people who call San Diego home.

Photo Credit: Matt Furman

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Food & Drink MAY 23, 2025

First Look: Bianchi Pizza & Pasta

Palermo-born pizzaiolo Ignazio Tagliavia brings pizza mastery to the Bahia Resort Hotel in time for Memorial Day

First Look: Bianchi Pizza & Pasta
Photo Courtesy of Bahia Resort Hotel

Move aside, New York City. Chicago, make way. Don’t trip, Detroit. There’s a new contender for the best pizza city.

Us, it’s us. 

San Diego’s pizza scene has exploded, with accolades pouring in not just from San Diego Magazine but from outlets like 50 Top Pizza, the Washington Post. The bar for measuring pizza excellence keeps rising like a 48-hour ferment.

When Bianchi Pizza & Pasta opens this weekend at the Bahia Resort Hotel, it kicks up another notch. 

Photo Courtesy of Bahia Resort Hotel

Palermo, Italy-born chef Ignazio Tagliavia is the man behind the new pizza program. His resume starts in his teenage years and reads like an atlas: restaurants from Italy to Egypt, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, before eventually landing at Elvira in Ocean Beach. So when Bahia general manager Stefan Peroutka was looking for the person to launch the property’s completely reimagined Tangier Bar—the classic spot perched in the southeast corner of the bayfront property—Tagliavia had the right experience, authenticity, and passion.

Tagliavia’s menu goes hard on pizza and pasta (obviously), utilizing the gold standard of serious pizza ovens: a Marra Forni Pizza Oven designed in Italy and made in the U.S. The chef knows the oven well, even recently slinging slices for team Ferrari in Miami. The machine looks just as sleek as one of the sports cars, but Peroutka says its ability to heat up to 950 degrees isn’t something your standard pizza oven can typically do.

“The oven produces an authentic product, because it’s really all about getting the oven to the right temperature,” he explains. “[It’s] the market leader.”

Photo Courtesy of Bahia Resort Hotel

Pizzas range from margheritas to the signature Bianchi (smoked mozzarella, prosciutto cotto, fennel sausage, Italian speck, mushrooms, and parsley). Plant lovers can grab an Ortolana (moz, crushed tomato, eggplant, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, basil); meat lovers will have the standard options plus Calabrian soppressata, prosciutto di Parma, or mortadella.

Pastas embrace simplicity and showcasing ingredients, like a bolognese, spaghetti with clams, and penne al pesto. Both pizzas and pastas come with gluten-free options, which may not be strictly Italian, but this is Southern California. They’ll have tableside tiramisu, made with vanilla sponge cake, espresso, mascarpone cream, amaretto, and a dusting of cocoa.

To create a comfortable, retro take on an Italian trattoria, the hotel took inspiration from vintage car and bike ads by the Italian brand Bianchi. Evans Hotels’ principal designer Kristine Smith brought in pops of Bianchi’s signature shade of blue-green, called Celeste, alongside lots of white and other neutrals for a calming bayside space. The 1,600-square-foot restaurant seats 75 total, roughly split between indoor and outdoor seating, with 10 seats at the bar and a private dining room that holds up to 20. 

Photo Courtesy of Bahia Resort Hotel

Beverage director Benjamin Dunn’s menu will cover everything, including an after-dinner selection like Bianchi’s Sgroppino (an Italian palate cleanser made with Prosecco, vodka, and lemon sorbet). Expect the usual suspects (Negronis, spritzes, Peroni), plus some specialty concoctions like the Bicicleta (Belvedere vodka infused with lemon and basil, blue curaçao, and Cointreau) or the Fiore (Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla gin, Italicus liqueur, black tea lavender syrup, pineapple, and lavender bitters).

Bianchi GM Jacqueline Rixe rounds out the team, bringing along plenty of experience after running the food and beverage programs at the Bower Hotel and its new rooftop bar, Dive, as well as The Nolen’s rooftop bar. (Bianchi is firmly planted on terra firma, but I’m sure the bay views make up for the lack of altitude.)

Courtesy of Del Mar Wine + Food Festival

Bianchi opened for hotel guests last week, but will officially debut on May 23. Peroutka says that despite Bianchi being a hotel restaurant, he hopes it draws in everyone from around San Diego.

“Our whole overall vision is that this becomes the place where you just want to stop by for a glass of wine and a great pizza or a bowl of pasta on your way home from work, but also come and have your celebration here, or your date night out,” he says.

He had me at wine and pizza.

Bianchi Pizza & Pasta opens at the Bahia Resort Hotel at 998 West Mission Bay Drive in Mission Beach on Friday, May 23.


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].

Beth Demmon

About Beth Demmon

Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.

Food & Drink FEBRUARY 7, 2025

Pezzi Del Mio Cuore Opens in Point Loma

Brothers and longtime restaurant operators Teodulo and Gaspar Mauricio open an Italian trattoria this week

Pezzi Del Mio Cuore Opens in Point Loma
Courtesy of Pezzi Del Mio Cuore

This is the year to just go for it. Thinking of growing your pop-up business? You definitely should. Want to open your first restaurant? Why not? The future is uncertain, eggs are scarce, and tariffs are going to be expensive, but enterprising restaurateurs across San Diego are saying YOLO and doing the damn thing in spite of it all. I mean, we’ve all gotta eat.

The latest partners throwing caution to the wind are brothers Teodulo and Gaspar Mauricio, along with Teodulo’s son Brayan Mauricio. After working in restaurants like Allegro and Vincenzo Cucina & Lounge in Little Italy and Osteria Panevino in Gaslamp Quarter for over 30 years, the brothers are finally taking the leap to open their own restaurant—Pezzi Del Mio Cuore.

Founders of New San Diego Italian Restaurant Pezzi Del Mio Cuore opening in Point Loma
Courtesy of Pezzi Del Mio Cuore

The concept opened this week in Point Loma, and it’s been years in the making. The Mauricios came to the United States from Mexico when Bill Clinton was president, and have been in the heart of San Diego’s restaurant scene ever since. Pezzi Del Mio Cuore, which translates to Pieces of My Heart, is a love letter to the city’s culinary scene. “This is about creating a place where people feel at home,” explains Teodulo.

San Diego restaurant Pali Wine Co. featuring Valentine's Day Dinner specials in 2025

To craft that homey vibe, the Mauricios developed a menu of classic Italian comfort foods, emphasizing fresh pastas and house-made sauces. Look for familiar favorites like lasagna alla bolognese with homemade pasta smothered with meat sauce and bechamel au gratin. Their take on linguine ai frutti di mare spotlights all the best fruits of the sea in olive oil, garlic, and tomatoes in a white wine marinara sauce. (If there’s a better combination than garlic, white wine, and seafood, I have yet to find it.) 

Pasta dish and wine from new San Diego Italian Restaurant Pezzi Del Mio Cuore opening in Point Loma
Courtesy of Pezzi Del Mio Cuore

They’ll also serve plump gnocchi with melted mozzarella and fresh burrata; ravioli stuffed with lobster meat in a vodka cream sauce; cioppino made with calamari, shrimp, clams, mussels; and a fish of the day—I’ll have one of each, please. Beer and wine (mostly Italian) round out the menu, and there are also gluten-free options to accommodate a variety of diets. That’s intentional, the brothers say. Offering alternatives means all guests feel welcome, comfortable, and cared for.

The restaurant is now open in the former Sabor Brazilian Grill space. Hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a short break between lunch and dinner. Dinner hours resume from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. 

Restaurants at the La Mesa featuring the First Annual Taste of La Mesa Village food and drink event in 2025
Photo Credit: Becka Vance

San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events

La Mesa Launches First Annual Taste of La Mesa Village

It’s about time! There are “Taste Of” events for pretty much every neighborhood across San Diego by now, and with La Mesa’s ongoing revitalization, especially with new food and drink concepts coming to the quaint East County town, means it was due for its own version. The first annual Taste of La Mesa Village is Thursday, April 24 starting at 5 p.m., with over a dozen restaurants, breweries, bars, and coffee shops already signed on with the promise of more to come. There will be boba from Boba Life, beer at Helix Brewery, fancy cheese from Bougie’s, pizza, pasta, and lots more. It won’t be nearly as crowded at the largest Oktoberfest in San Diego, but I’m betting it will be equally as delicious. 

Beth’s Bites

  • The days of dollar oyster nights are gone. (Thanks, inflation!) But the next best thing is $2 oyster nights, which Finca in North Park now offers on Sundays from 3 p.m. until close. Grab a bottle of bubbly and a dozen oysters as you like them—raw, Rockefeller, smoked, or fried.
  • Camellia’s Brunch is the latest spot to open in Bonita, and if their Instagram stories are any indication of what’s in store, I’ll be heading there shortly for some chilaquiles and mimosas.
  • Congrats to the family behind Sisters Pizza, who recently opened their second location in the heart of North Park. They have big shoes to fill in the former Sicilian Thing location, but when you make it onto San Diego Magazine’s “Best Ofs” list in a few categories (Best Pizza and Dog-Friendly), you know it’s gotta be good.

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].

Beth Demmon

About Beth Demmon

Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.

Partner Content JULY 31, 2026

Blood Pressure Basics

Hypertension is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease and premature death in women

Blood Pressure Basics
Courtesy of Scripps Health

It’s estimated that 44% of women in the U.S. have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, but many don’t know it. The disease often has no symptoms, and when symptoms do present, they can appear similar to many other conditions. High blood pressure increases the risk for heart disease and stroke, so it’s critical that it’s detected and treated early. And for women at risk of developing high blood pressure, prevention is key. Click here for the basics of high blood pressure and how Scripps physicians at Scripps use screenings not just as a diagnostic tool, but as part of routine preventive care.

For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.

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