Spill the Beans to Open Soon in OB
To celebrate their brand-new location, they’re offering a limited time promotional code for use on online orders only. Enter promo code ‘STBinOB’ at checkout for 10% off of your first online order at Spill the Beans: Ocean Beach. It’s at 4805 Newport Ave in OB.
Wildflour Deli at Liberty Station
“Wildflour is a take on a modern day heritage bakery, deli service and fast casual experience. From its namesake in the Philippines, the focus will be on local ingredients, seafood and provisions I’m the local region. Influenced by minimalist bakeries, hustling and bustling deli services from around the world and integrating a mix of a Southern California vibes. This is a casual sit down and takeout forward, all day experience.” 2690 Historic Decatur Rd Suite B, San Diego, CA 92106. Also see San Diego Magazine
Midway Has CoCo Playa
The Midway District has something new and unique: CoCo Playa. Short for coffee and cookies at the beach, CoCo Playa, a new drive-thru at 3030 Kurtz St. across from Staples at Kurtz and Rosecrans streets, serves up custom coffees, fresh-baked cookies, and “dirty” sodas, infused energy and soft drinks.
Owned and operated by the Feghali family and their friends, the goal of the new business, according to trycocoplaya.com, is to “create waves of flavor and spread smiles.” So-called dirty sodas, relatively new in California, are a combination of soda, coffee creamer, and flavored syrups. The drink has risen from humble origins. It started as a sweet treat for Utah residents abstaining from alcohol and caffeine, to become an actual business model. There is now a growing dirty soda chain named Swig. Beacon
Coffee Cycle Roasting Now in Ocean Beach
A homegrown coffee company has expanded from its cafe in Pacific Beach to a second storefront in Ocean Beach. Coffee Cycle Roasting, founded and owned by Chris O’Brien at 1632 Grand Ave. in PB, just opened a new site at 4856 Voltaire St. in OB. His new space is quadruple the size of his PB site inside, as well as having an outdoor patio. O’Brien is a true grassroots entrepreneur and coffee pioneer. Working since age 16, he spent seven years learning his craft at Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, before breaking out on his own. OB Rag
Hops for Stone
Wet hop beers are prized for their fresh aromas and flavors, stemming from the fact that the hops were harvested just a few hours before they landed in brew kettles. But in San Diego County, where hop farms are few in number and tiny in size, this presents a problem. Stone’s solution: Graham Gamache, the flying farmer of Toppenish, Wash. Gamache, 49, owns Cornerstone Ranches in Washington’s Yakima Valley.
On Sept. 1, he rose at 2 a.m., oversaw the harvesting of 365 lbs. of Centennial hops, stuffed them into sacks and loaded these into his Cessna 206. He took off at 7:15 a.m., flying south for Chico. There, he took a bathroom break and checked the weather. By 10:45 a.m., he was back in the air. At 3 p.m., he touched down at San Diego International Airport, where he was met by Stone’s head brewer, Jeremy Moynier. By 3:45 p.m., Cornerstone’s hops were in a brew kettle at Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens – Liberty Station. They’d traveled 1,136 miles in less than 14 hours. Stone plans to make 30 kegs of fresh hop Ruination IPA. SDUT
Shelter Island Gets a New Boatyard
Former Point Loma restaurant Fiddler’s Green is being reimagined into The Boatyard by a group of San Diego boating, fishing, and restaurant industry veterans. Led by Michelin-awarded chef Jason McLeod and featuring nautical designs by Paul Basile, the restaurant’s additional partners include Cal and Jan Muir, owners of Sail San Diego; Whitney Eckis, marketing executive, and entrepreneur Spencer Moran. The Boatyard will draw on the maritime history of the area and feature a menu centered around locally sourced seafood, prime steaks, an extensive wine and cocktail program, and the area’s first speakeasy. sdnews.com
Modern Troubles
Modern Times once was among the nation’s largest and fastest-growing craft breweries. The COVID pandemic hit the Point Loma-based brewery hard — as it did many businesses — but its troubles went deeper. Beset with massive debt, underperforming taprooms and an owner battling harassment allegations, Modern Times went into a tailspin before Maui Brewing acquired it in 2022. As Craft ‘Ohana, the two breweries maintain separate identities, but now Craft ‘Ohana is closing the original Point Loma location and shifting the brewing operation to Miramar. There, AleSmith is under contract to produce all Modern Times beers. SDUT
New Pizza on Voltaire
The drawing of the new “Boatyard” restaurant has an airy and very mid-century modern look, a style I really like and which should go well in Shelter Island. Here’s hoping!
/s/ Chris Kennedy
“… the restaurant’s culinary approach is rooted in… straightforward techniques that enhance…” the tourist experience.
seems kinda like a certain South Park episode…