Native San Diegan-turned-New York City chef Travis Swikard is finally ready to debut his first-ever hometown restaurant in downtown's East Village. Eater San Diego shares that story, plus other top news of the week from our food and drink scene.
Inside Chef Travis Swikard 's California-Mediterranean Menu
Native San Diegan Travis Swikard returned to San Diego after a decade cooking in New York City to open Callie, which is set to debut June 4. With a menu inspired by the cuisine of countries along the Mediterranean, but showcasing local ingredients, the chef hopes to help bring more attention to the San Diego culinary scene. Swikard shared his story with us on our Scene in San Diego podcast earlier this year – and everything it’s taken to get Callie off the ground. You can listen to our episode with Swikard here or below.
Listen/subscribe to the Scene in San Diego podcast to get the latest local lifestyle stories and news from our local food and drink scene. As we continue to adjust to life (back and forth, back and forth) in these times of the coronavirus pandemic, the way we enjoy our city has changed. We’ll keep you up to speed on how those changes impact the things you love to do in our city. Tap here to find Scene in San Diego wherever you listen to podcasts.
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Popular Cuban Restaurant Expanding to Mission Valley
Clairemont's Havana Grill is opening a second location at Westfield Mission Valley that will go beyond its Cuban comfort food menu to feature an on-site bakery whipping up fresh bread for Cuban sandwiches, as well as pastries and desserts. There’s also a Miami-inspired coffee counter at this second location, all set to pour Cuban-style coffee drinks.
Eater San Diego Round-Ups and The Scene
San Diego Extends Allowance for Outdoor Dining Spaces
The makeshift dining areas that have sprung up on sidewalks and streets during the coronavirus pandemic have helped provide a much-needed boost to many local restaurants. Now, those outdoor dining spaces will be able to stay put as the pandemic-era ordinance has been extended until summer 2022. Meanwhile, the city is also working on a proposal that would make these temporary spaces permanent. Mayor Todd Gloria joined our podcast earlier this year and talked about why those spaces – and keeping our streets “activated” – is so important. You can check out that episode of our Scene in San Diego podcast here.
Modern Italian Restaurant Lands in Downtown La Jolla
The team behind Ambrogio15 has taken over the former Prepkitchen space in La Jolla and turned it into Semola, which launches this weekend with contemporary Italian cuisine and all-outdoor seating. Featuring untraditional takes on classic Italian dishes and touches of modern technique, the menu includes contributions from a Michelin-starred Italian chef.
20 Essential Breakfast Spots in San Diego
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, right? Eater's latest guide is for the brunch-loving San Diego community, with 20 top recommendations for morning-focused restaurants around town, from the best diners and coffee shops to pretty cafés, artisan bakeries, and trendy brunch spots, see where to find your first meal of the day.
Candice Woo is the founding editor of Eater San Diego, a leading source for news about San Diego’s restaurant and bar scene. Keep up with the latest Eater San Diego content via Facebook or Twitter, and sign up for Eater San Diego’s newsletter here.
