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Food & Drink OCTOBER 14, 2022

SD’s Top Chef Recipes: Chef Brian Redzikowski’s Kale Salad

Kettner Exchange's executive chef shares a quick recipe for those on-the-go with easy-to-make dish

SD’s Top Chef Recipes: Chef Brian Redzikowski’s Kale Salad
Courtesy of Kettner Exchange
KEX kale salad

KEX kale salad

Courtesy of Kettner Exchange

Executive chef Brian Redzikowski of Kettner Exchange (KEX) in Little Italy is the master of a fast and yummy crowd pleaser. The KEX kale salad is just that.

“Back when I was at the Thompson Hotel, we needed a simple salad that was a crowd pleaser. My brother was killing it with a kale salad in Boulder,” says chef Brian. “We decided to give it a shot. We had some different ingredients around the kitchen that we put together… All the components came together, and we’ve been using it at the restaurants ever since.”

Prior to KEX, chef Brian’s path to San Diego began with attending the Culinary Institute of America and roles in some of the nation’s top kitchens such as Nobu Aspen, Le Cirque in NYC and Joël Robuchon, the only three-Michelin-star rated restaurant in Las Vegas.

On top of a stacked resume, chef Brian was also on Iron Chef Showdown. All that to say, you should probably give his salad recipe a shot.

The dynamic combination of fuji apples, almonds, golden raisins, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and a lemon pepper vinaigrette atop a bed of earthy kale makes for just the right combination of salty and sweet. With an only half hour prep time, it’s a quick and easy recipe that you can whip up anytime.

To make chef Brian Redzikowski’s KEX kale salad, follow the instructions below:

KEX Kale Salad 

Servings: 3 ea

Cooking / Prepping Time: 30 min

Salad Ingredients:

1ea bunch green kale stems removed, thinly sliced

1ea bunch purple kale stems removed, thinly sliced

1ea Fiji Apple

1/4 cup toasted almonds

1/4 cup golden raisins

1/4 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated

Dressing Ingredients:

10-12 ea lemons, segmented squeezed and seeds removed. (You will need 2 cups of lemon)

1 oz salt

1T whole black peppercorns

5 oz sugar

50 oz grape seed oil

5 oz olive oil

Instructions:

1). Blend all dressing ingredients together using a Vita Prep or high power blender, puree until smooth.

2). Assemble, season kale with salt.

3). Slice the apple thin.

4). Add parmesan, sprinkle almonds and raisins. Toss all together

5). Add dressing to your liking.

6). Plate and enjoy!

Lilly Corcoran is a journalism student at Point Loma Nazarene University. She likes old movies, new TV, and bacon egg and cheeses.

Recipes Top Chefs

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Features SEPTEMBER 20, 2023

Recipe: Easy Spiced Vegan Pear Cake

Enjoy this sweet fruit cake bursting with fall flavors and comforting spices at home

Recipe: Easy Spiced Vegan Pear Cake
Recipe Easy Spiced Vegan Pear Cake from Rachel Steenland of The Garden Party

This sweet fruit cake recipe is bursting with fall flavors and uses all the warm and comforting spices that you crave this time of year. The gooey pear caramel topping takes the cake to the next level. You can get the best flavor by using fresh, in-season pears. This recipe is perfect for serving at holiday gatherings. –Rachel Steenland

Easy Spiced Vegan Pear Cake (Serves 12)

Toppings

  • 2 red pears
  • 6 tablespoons dairy-free butter
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  1. Prepare pears by cutting them in half and removing seeds and stem, then thinly slicing them lengthways.
  2. Mix together dairy-free butter and brown sugar, then spread mixture over the bottom of a nine-inch round baking pan. Top with sliced pears, overlapping to create a circular pattern.

Batter

  • 1 stick (4 oz.) dairy-free butter
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup oat milk
  • 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 cup cane sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • Pinch of salt

Cooking Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit. In a medium mixing bowl, add dairy-free butter and brown sugar and mix to combine. Then, add vanilla extract and oat milk and stir to combine.
  2. Into a second medium mixing bowl, sift all-purpose flour, baking powder, and baking soda, then add cane sugar, ground spices, and salt. Stir to combine.
  3. Pour wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients, then stir until combined.
  4. Pour batter into the baking pan on top of the butter, brown sugar, and pear topping.
  5. Place pear cake into the oven and bake for 45 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the cake comes out clean. Set aside to cool.
  6. Once cooled, flip your pear cake. Place a serving plate over the top of the baking pan. Then, holding the plate and the pan together tightly, turn the pan upside down, placing the plate on your kitchen counter. Carefully remove the baking pan to reveal the spiced pear cake.
  7. Serve warm or at room-temperature with a scoop of dairy-free vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Features Recipes
Food & Drink FEBRUARY 15, 2023

SD’s Top Chef Recipes: Octopus Shawarma

La Valencia's executive chef Fabian Aceves shares this delicious method for making octopus at home

SD’s Top Chef Recipes: Octopus Shawarma
Photo Credit: Marley Kepano
octopus-shawarma-sdm-0223.jpg

octopus-shawarma-sdm-0223.jpg

Photo Credit: Marley Kepano

Octopus can be daunting. Unlike the chicken or beef you probably have hanging out in your freezer at any given moment, it’s a rare ingredient on most American’s grocery lists. (Also, chickens don’t have tentacles.) Prepared skillfully, octopus is buttery, tender, even lightly sweet. Cook it wrong, and you’ve got rubber with suckers—which is why we usually leave it to the professionals to get it right.

But if you’ve got guts and a recipe (like the one you’re about to read), then you’re capable of transforming the aquatic critter into your most impressive dinner party entree ever. This octopus shawarma serves as a delicacy at the California coastal restaurant Mediterranean Room, located inside of the La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla.

Courtesy of executive chef Fabian Aceves, the recipe pays homage to the restaurant’s waterfront location by bringing together elements of both land and sea. “Octopus is nostalgic for me because it has a connection to memorable days I’ve spent cooking, eating, and learning delicious new versions of it over the years,” Aceves says.

To make chef Aceves’ octopus shawarma, follow the recipe below:

Octopus Shawarma

Octopus

Ingredients

1 whole 3–5 lb octopus (Spanish preferred)

4 gallons water

1 oz whole black peppercorns

1 oz fennel seed

1 oz bay leaves

1 cup red wine vinegar

½ cup sea salt

1 tsp chili flakes

Shawarma Marinade

Ingredients

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

Zest of 2 lemons

7 oz lemon juice

7 oz white vinegar

7 oz orange juice

¼ cup tomato paste

2 lb yogurt

1 tbsp onion powder

2 tbsp sumac

1 tbsp coriander

1½ tbsp cumin

3 tbsp ground turmeric

1 tbsp dried oregano

Salt to taste

Mediterranean Bean Mix

Ingredients

1 qt cooked chickpeas

1 qt cooked gigante white beans

2 roasted red bell peppers, diced

2 cloves garlic, crushed

½ cup olive oil

¼ cup fresh dill, finely chopped

1 oz lemon juice

1 tbsp cumin

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp sea salt

Garnish

Ingredients

1 cup mayo

2 tbsp squid ink*

Chili thread to taste

Instructions

  1. Poach the whole octopus in water with peppercorns, fennel seed, bay leaves, red wine vinegar, sea salt, and chili flakes for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
  2. While the octopus is poaching, marinate chickpeas and gigante white beans in garlic, olive oil, dill, lemon juice, cumin, black pepper, and sea salt for 30 minutes. Mix together shawarma marinade ingredients. Make squid ink aioli by stirring together mayo and squid ink*.
  3. Strain the octopus and portion out whole tentacles. Discard the octopus head. Once tentacles are cooled, sear on a flat top grill or large skillet until crispy on both sides (about 2 minutes on each side).
  4. Toss the tentacles in the shawarma marinade and bake in a salamander oven or broiler until crispy again (about 4 minutes).
  5. Create the Mediterranean bean mix by tossing the marinated garbanzo beans and gigante white beans with the roasted peppers together in a bowl.
  6. To serve, arrange the octopus shawarma around the bean mix. Dot squid ink* aioli around the plate and garnish with chili thread.

*If squid ink is not available, substitute lemon juice to make a lemon aioli.

Melody Bathaee is a freelance lifestyle writer and creative producer based in San Diego, CA. She's covered arts & culture, food, politics, and music at regional and nationally recognized publications. When she's not scoping out the local music scene or rock climbing, you'll find her working on different media projects across SoCal. For more information, visit melodybathaee.com.

Recipes
Food & Drink JANUARY 31, 2023

FIRST LOOK: California English

The new decades-long project by celebrity chef Richard Blais is set to open on February 2

FIRST LOOK: California English

Richard Blais has been working on the menu for California English for more than a decade but the concept started long before that, when Blais was just a teenager. “I’ve always wanted to do fish and chips at a restaurant, ever since I worked at McDonald’s at 14-years-old and was the ‘poissonnier’ on the Filet-O-Fish station,” he says.

Through his storied career—which includes Juniper & Ivy, Crack Shack, and Ember & Rye in San Diego, plus a few books and TV shows (Top Chef, Next-Level Chef, etc.)—California English marks the first time Blais has put fish and chips on a menu. He pulled out all the stops for the iconic dish. The chef is as fanatical about fries as he is about the crispy battered fish; he created a three-day process for the perfect potato.

Blais, who is 55.3 percent British himself, had been thinking about creating a British SoCal fusion restaurant since his London honeymoon, jotting ideas into a moleskin. “It’s an interesting time in my career; I can look back and say I’ve always wanted to do this, and just do it,” he says. “A couple of months ago I spent 40 days living in West London in preparation for this project, marching around eating. I’m a massive futbol (soccer) fan; I have a vision of this place being a happening Saturday and Sunday futbol scene. I look forward to those 7 a.m. mornings, turning this place into the poshest of futbol viewing venues.”

Located in the Biovista life sciences campus, California English is a partnership with Longfellow Real Estate Partners—which has 200 employees in bio-innovation clusters across the US and the UK. They plan to open another restaurant together nearby sometime next year. “Sorrento Valley is close to everything, next to nothing,” says Blais. “So California English will be a destination.”

At 6,000-square-feet, California English is smaller than many of Blais’s other concepts, but just as visually stunning.“I always feel like a chef, so sometimes I struggle with being a restaurateur,” says Blais. “Ten years ago, I wasn’t necessarily thinking about lighting and sound and the material on chairs. But the food and space have to match.” PGAL Architects designed both the interior and exterior space at California English with a style they describe as whimsical and approachable. The playful wall mural is an art piece by San Diego-based Matt Forderer depicting flying bowler hats over an English castle; another installation is planned for the hallway.

The British influence is notable in the small marketplace filled with UK snacks like prawn crisps and scones. The restaurant menu focuses on reimagining English dishes with Southern California ingredients. “It’s not traditionally British, it’s California English,” says Blais. “Fusion gets a bad wrap but when it’s done right, it can be great. It’s interesting when you look at global cuisine and you realize how much we all have in common.”

In addition to the signature fish and chips, the menu will also feature a Scotch egg, the soft-boiled egg comes wrapped in bangers and dipped in vindaloo chili oil, served with whipped maple. The burger will get a British spin by being lathered in Welsh rarebit sauce, a combination of cheddar, beer, and Worcestershire sauce. Within the cocktail program, look for options like the London Fog, a martini of Bombay Sapphire, St. Germaine, lemon, simple syrup, and muddled fresh raspberries, topped with a signature Blais bubble scented with elderflower.

Mouths were made for this.

Michelle Stansbury is a San Diego-based freelance writer who writes about travel, food, and parenting. Misuse of the word "literally" drives her figuratively insane. @discoverwithmichelle

Openings Top Chefs
Studio S JULY 17, 2026

NOW CFO: Specialized Financial Solutions for San Diego Businesses

NOW CFO provides scalable, on-demand accounting and finance support to companies ranging from pre-revenue startups to billion-dollar businesses

NOW CFO: Specialized Financial Solutions for San Diego Businesses

Entrepreneurs typically launch businesses because they’re passionate about a product or service, not because they want to manage its finances. While working to carve out a niche in their respective industries and drive their companies forward, many business owners find themselves bogged down by day-to-day accounting. Their existing accounting tools don’t provide the necessary visibility or insight, and they don’t have the time or resources to hire additional staff or a chief financial officer. That’s where NOW CFO comes in. 

For more than 20 years, NOW CFO has been pairing businesses across the country with experienced accounting and finance professionals. Its outsourced model allows clients to customize solutions that match their individual needs, size, and financial challenges, whether that’s fractional or interim support, project-based services, or full-time placement. 

NOW CFO’s clients range from startups preparing for rapid growth to established companies that need additional financial leadership without the commitment or expense of building an in-house team. However, many of these companies don’t fully understand their needs until they experience a “trigger” event: preparing for an acquisition or capital raise, navigating a first-time audit, or another period of transition. With a team of over 300 consultants nationwide, NOW CFO can start quickly and match the right expert to the right business. 

“It’s important for companies to have financial visibility, and we can help them avoid a lot of the potholes that companies often run into,” says Mariah Block, a partner at NOW CFO’s San Diego branch. “Roughly half of our clients have an in-house finance person or department, and we’re resourced for more bandwidth when they need an extra set of hands at the staff or senior accountant level, or the controller or CFO level. Some clients use this a few hours a month and others use multiple people close to full-time. Our model is solution-based and customizable. We’re like a faucet you can turn on and off.” 

With NOW CFO, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Solutions are based on the client’s individual goals, challenges, needs, and budget, meaning a client never pays for more than they need. Whether it’s a few hours of executive-level guidance or a full accounting team to support daily operations, NOW CFO meets businesses where they are and grows alongside them. 

“We pride ourselves on providing our clients with the right resources at the right rate and being able to evolve as their needs evolve,” says Block. 

And clients appreciate on-demand access to cost-effective support designed to improve performance and profitability.

Luxury car storage service Auto Concierge has partnered with NOW CFO to support growth over the past year. The arrangement began with a staff accountant who covered a leave of absence, but as the client’s needs changed, they also added a controller role. This allowed Auto Concierge to put effective processes in place and navigate operational challenges. Lori Church, Auto Concierge’s chief operating officer, says NOW CFO has been an “outstanding resource” and a “true strategic partner.” 

“From the controller to the bookkeeper, every professional they’ve placed has brought a high level of expertise, responsiveness, and professionalism to our organization. Their team took the time to understand our business of high-profile clients and needs, adapted quickly to our fast-paced environment, and became a trusted extension of our team,” she says. “As Auto Concierge continues to grow, having a reliable financial partner like NOW CFO has allowed us to strengthen our financial and business operations while remaining focused on delivering exceptional service to our clients.” 

Partner Content
Food & Drink DECEMBER 15, 2022

SD’s Top Chef Recipes: Porcini Chestnut Soup

A.R. Valentien's chef Kelli Crosson shares this quick and easy recipe to keep you warm this winter

SD’s Top Chef Recipes: Porcini Chestnut Soup
chestnut soup, AR Valetien

chestnut soup, AR Valetien

When nightfall begins at 5 p.m., the temps drop to a below-freezing 50 degrees, and San Diegans start to begrudgingly wear close-toe shoes, it can only mean one thing: porcini chestnut soup at A.R. Valentien inside the Lodge at Torrey Pines.

“Many of our regular guests (and cooks for that matter) look forward to seeing this on the menu,” shares chef Kelli Crosson. “This year you’ll find a variation of it on our Christmas prix rixe menu.” Having worked under chef de cuisine Jeff Jackson for the past 11 years at the restaurant, chef Kelli has finally taken the reins of fine dining venue. She’s earned it.

Kelli Crosson

Kelli Crosson

Now, it’s her turn to make her mark on the beloved chestnut soup. Over the years, it has gone through its fair share of iterations, including using different nuts, becoming vegan, getting garnished with extravagant flavors such as truffles and chestnut tuille, and simply getting fancied up by adding crème fraîche and chives.

We asked chef Kelli to share her recipe for us to make at home and luckily, this year’s version doesn’t include any crazy bells and whistles—just some good old fashioned roasted chestnuts to get into the festive spirit. “This is the perfect soup to serve for your holiday dinner,” says chef Kelli. “It’s full of earthy flavor and I’d venture to say it’s unlike most mushroom soups you’ve tasted.”

To make chef Kelli’s porcini chestnut soup, follow the recipe below:

Porcini Chestnut Soup

Ingredients

1 Each Yellow Onion, Small Dice

1 Each Leek, Sliced

1 Pound Frozen Porcini

1/2 Pound Cremini Mushroom, Sliced

1/2 Pound Frozen Chestnuts

1/2 Cup White Wine

1 Cup Dry Sherry

1 Each Bay Leaf

1 Sprig Thyme

3 Quarts Chicken Stock

3 Tablespoons Clarified Butter***

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Thaw porcinis. Squeeze the juices from the mushrooms and reserve.
  3. Thaw chestnuts and place on sheet pan. Roast in preheated oven until golden brown. Approximately 10 minutes.
  4. In a large pot, heat one tablespoon of clarified butter over medium heat. Add leeks and onions and sauté. When tender add in the reserved porcini juice.
  5. In a separate sauté pan, heat 2 tablespoons of clarified butter over high heat. Add cremini mushrooms and cook until golden. Add porcinis and continue to sauté until they’re golden brown as well. The more color you get on the mushrooms without burning them, the stronger the flavor will be.
  6. Add the sherry and white wine to the pan with the mushrooms. Let cook for a minute or two, until the alcohol cooks off.
  7. Transfer the mushrooms and chestnuts into the pot with leeks and onions. Add the herbs.
  8. Cover with chicken stock by 2 inches.
  9. Bring to a boil, turn down to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes
  10. Blend in batches in blender until smooth.
  11. Serve immediately topped with a dollop of crème fraiche and chive.

*** can use other high heat oil like grapeseed or avocado

Recipes
Food & Drink DECEMBER 6, 2022

SD’s Top Chef Recipes: Chef Q’s Uptown Sink Gumbo

Louisiana Purchase's executive chef shares his recipe for the best gumbo this side of New Orleans

SD’s Top Chef Recipes: Chef Q’s Uptown Sink Gumbo
Courtesy of Louisiana Purchase
Louisiana purchase uptown sink gumbo

Louisiana purchase uptown sink gumbo

Courtesy of Louisiana Purchase

It’s cold out—well, cold for us San Diegans at least (ignore us, Idaho). And with 5 p.m. feeling more like 10 p.m. these days, all we really want are holiday lights outside, cozy blankets inside, reality TV and comfort food to fill our evenings with.

So, we looked to none other than Louisiana Purchase for the goods on what to make to warm up our bones this winter. Their suggestion? Chef Quinnton “Q” Austin’s Uptown Sink Gumbo.

The New Orleans native marinates the charm and character of his hometown into every item on the menu, creating diverse Cajun flavors and creole tastes—with his chef Q twist.

“The background of the Uptown Kitchen Sink Gumbo is taking a little bit from everyone I’ve been around that made great gumbos, bouncing from house to house on Sunday and being a taste tester,” says chef Q.

Louisiana Purchase, gumbo vertical

Louisiana Purchase, gumbo vertical

Courtesy of Louisiana Purchase

There are many different kinds of gumbos and choosing your flavors means you get to pick your party. Chef Q likes to use chicken stock, onion, celery, file, garlic, herbs, and proteins such as andouille sausage. Though he notes it’s hard to find in San Diego.

But the real trick to a good gumbo is the roux, which is equal parts fat to flour, and should be dark brown and silky. For the kitchen sink, you’ll want to throw it all in—go ahead, get crazy.

Chef Q goes with roasted chicken, shrimp, crawfish, and blue crab. “Yes, California people, blue crab,” he says. “Don’t put snow crab in a Louisiana person’s gumbo.”

Finally, don’t forget the spices. Don’t mess with Louisiana’s spices. To make Chef Q’s Gumbo at home, follow the recipe below:

Louisiana Purchases’ Uptown Sink Gumbo 

Ingredients

Lite vegetable oil

1 lb diced onion

1 lb diced celery

2 cups garlic

3 tbsp thyme

2 tbsp oregano

3 lb sausage

½ cup file

Garlic powder (to taste)

Onion powder (to taste)

Cayenne pepper (to taste)

Creole seasoning (to taste)

12 bay leaves

Brown roux

3 gallons chicken or seafood stock

5 blue crabs

2 lbs roasted chicken

3 lbs shrimp

3 lb crawfish tails

3 lb crab meat

Instructions

  1. Sweat down your onions, celery, and garlic then add your ½ cup of file

  2. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and creole seasoning to taste and add your bay leaves, brown roux, three gallons of chicken or seafood stock, and blue crabs.

  3. Allow this to come to a simmer, then add your roasted chicken and shrimp. Take it up to a boil then reduce again to a simmer.

  4. Once all of your flavors come together, taste and season more to your liking.

  5. Add your crawfish tails and crab meat at the very end and cook for only a few minutes till done.

Kayla Barber

About Kayla Barber

Kayla Barber tells stories about culture, leadership, and sport through her writing and visual journalism as a photographer. She creates for Major League Baseball, San Diego Magazine, and is a freelance storyteller for purpose-driven entrepreneurial ventures.

Partner Content JULY 10, 2026

Health & Wellness Summer 2026

It’s a Self-Care Summer. Because your best self is our favorite self.

Health & Wellness Summer 2026

If you’re anything like us, it can be easy to get so caught up in taking care of everyone else, that your own needs get lost in the ether. But while this may be a cliché, that doesn’t make it any less true: You can’t give your best self to other people unless you’re taking care of yourself.

Sometimes, that looks like stopping in for your regular acupuncture or chiropractic appointment. Other days, it means giving your body the fresh, organic fuel it needs to truly feel and function at its best. And some other times still, it involves leaving your responsibilities behind for a weekend to pamper yourself at an incredible resort and spa.

Only you can decide what your truly need. We’re just here to help you find the best ways to get it.

Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa

Island living meets desert luxury at the Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa in Indian Wells. When you step onto the 11-acre property, you’ll be surrounded by sweeping view of the Santa Rosa Mountains with olive trees and fragrant citrus groves decorating the grounds. In other words, everything about this relaxed but refined resort is primed to help you let go of the stress from home and enjoy easy sun-soaked days and gorgeous starry nights.

The rooms blend calming, woven textures with Tommy Bahama’s signature tropical prints and feature private lanais, making it easy unwind the moment you walk in the door. If you book one of the four Villa Suites, you’ll be treated to exclusive Tommy Bahama furniture and unique personal touches to further that feeling of instant ease.

At the award-winning Spa Rosa, the expert team will help reset and recharge your body and mind using methods and rituals inspired by the desert. The 12,000-square-foot retreat includes outdoor soaking pools, eucalyptus steam rooms, and outdoor cabanas, as well as massages, facials, and body masks—all aimed at creating a day dedicated to you. We’re particularly partial to the Day Long Escape, an indulgent all-day affair of CDBs soaks, renewing scrubs, life changing massages, and transformative facials.

Following your treatment, continue the experience with a meal on the patio at Grapefruit Basil. We love the Hamachi Crudo, a light, citrus-forward dish featuring premium yellowtail, house-made ponzu, creamy avocado, and fresh seasonal garnishes.

Whether you’re strolling the gardens, relaxing beside its saltwater pools, or indulging in a restorative treatment, you’ll be able to escape in style and relax in luxury at the Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa.

Healcove Chiropractic

There’s no shortage of ways to stay active in San Diego—but if you really want to enjoy everything the city has to offer, you’ve got to make sure you’re giving your body its tune-ups. Enter: Healcove Chiropractic. The board-certified chiropractors and wellness professionals at Healcove are experts at addressing that stage where you’re not injured, exactly, but you’re not at 100%, either. Maybe you’re feeling a bit tense or stressed out. Or it could be that you’re not quite moving the way you want to. Sometimes, it’s just that the accumulation of days, weeks, or even years of daily strain is starting to take a toll. No matter what stage you find yourself at, the Healcove Chiropractic team can provide integrated, preventative care centered on long-term, science-backed approaches that ensure you can always stay active and live the life you want to live pain-free.

This starts by providing truly individualized care. Every patient can expect a thorough 60-minute consultation session that includes a posture and movement screening. This allows the team to develop a completely personalized plan. That plan might include chiropractic care, acupuncture, or massage therapy, as well as functional fitness training, vibration and sound therapy, and Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization, a clinical rehabilitation method that retrains the body’s stabilization systems. Whatever the team recommends, you can be sure that it’s tailored to meeting your body’s needs today and the future.

There’s a reason that San Diego Magazine named Healcove the “Best Chiropractor in San Diego”—don’t wait until you’re struggling with an injury to find out why. Book an appointment today for holistic, integrated care that helps ground and heal your body before it reaches a crisis point. 

Juice Holler

West Coast wellness culture meets the community feel of Southern Appalachia at Juice Holler. Juice Holler’s menu consists of made-to-order smoothies and smoothie bowls, as well as grab-and-go cold-pressed juices, wellness shots, salads, and more. It operates from the blissfully simple premise that fueling up with food and drink that’s guilt-free and good your body should be simple, accessible, and, above all else, delicious. And if you haven’t yet made it out to the Encinitas café, which opened just this year, let us be the first to tell you: Juice Holler delivers on each and every of these fronts.

We love the Supercharger smoothie, a mood-lifting and body-fueling option made with banana, almond butter, blue spirulina, maca, grass-fed whey protein, raw cacao nibs, medjool dates, and coconut milk. We’re also partial to the Thrive Alive smoothie bowl, where avocado, mango, sea moss, spirulina, mint, coconut milk, and agave are mixed and topped with coconut, chia seeds, strawberry, mango, and chocolate drizzle. The wellness shots include the Detoxifier, a cleansing blend of kale, cucumber, lemon and spirulina, plus a shot specially designed to fight inflammation (named, fittingly, Anti-Inflammation). Probiotic overnight oats, lemon turmeric bars, and strawberry shortcake chia pudding are other standouts on the grab-and-go menu.

Much of the vibe feels beachy North County chic—think green tile with orange and pink accents, grounded with greenery and natural wood—but Juice Holler founder Kelly Sergott, a longtime Encinitas local, has also enfused the space with her Kentucky roots. In Appalachia, a holler is small valley between hills and mountains, where nature reigns, community is king, and nourishment comes right from the land. At Juice Holler, Sergott has created a holler for the busy modern times, using local ingredients to create a spot for people to come together and enjoy fresh, fast, feel-good fuel for their day.

Everwell Acupuncture

We’ve all had that experience with a medical professional where we’ve felt rushed, ignored, or misunderstood—and ultimately, like we didn’t get the answers that we needed. But at Everwell, the holistic acupuncture practice located in Solana Beach, the care team wants to transform your understanding of what healthcare can look like.

Patients at Everwell experience care rooted in intentional listening and radical empathy—and trust us, those aren’t just corporate buzzwords. This place actually puts those ideas into practice. You will always be given the time you need to tell your story— initial in-take appointments are two hours long—and you can rest assured that your story will be believed. Every single question and concern will be addressed by a dedicated practitioner who wants to find the specific solutions that work best for you, and you’ll receive care that’s aimed at healing the body, mind, and spirit.

Everwell’s highly trained, doctorate-level practitioners blend evidence-based acupuncture with the practice of classical Chinese medicine. (If you’ve never tried acupuncture before or aren’t sure if the team will be a fit, we’d highly recommended Everwell’s complimentary 20-minute consultations.) Research shows that by stimulating specific points on the body, acupuncture activates a natural healing response in the body, helping to restore balance, regulate the nervous system, and improve overall wellbeing. This allows the practice to address an incredibly wide range of conditions from chronic pain and autoimmune disorders to digestive issues, from stress and burnout to headaches migraines, fertility and postpartum struggles, hormonal imbalances, sleep concerns and more.

At Everwell, you can expect to feel heard, trusted, respected, and cared for. This is a space that doesn’t want to be just another healthcare provider you visit; it wants to provide patients with dedicated partner who will be there for their entire health journey.

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