Beer-focused restaurants exploded in San Diego over the past decade, but it’s been a while since a new one opened locally, particularly with the pandemic under way.
Now comes Hidden Craft, a self-service 36-tap beer hall and eatery that opened June 11 in the shops lining the American Plaza San Diego Trolley stop in the Core-Columbia neighborhood downtown.
Hidden Craft is co-owned by longtime friends Amar Harrag and Othman Janati. They met in France, both attended college at the University of San Diego and have been business partners for 13 years. Harrag is the general partner for Tahona mezcal bar in Old Town San Diego and co-owns Matisse Bistro restaurants witih Janati in San Diego and Orange counties. Janati also owns the social impact catering company Catering Artists.
A bacon and brie burger with beer-glazed bacon, caramelized onions, brie cheese and brioche bun at Hidden Craft tap hall.
(Courtesy of Hidden Craft)
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Hidden Craft offers a rotating selection of three dozen craft beers brewed in San Diego County. Its menu offers an international selection of items priced from $9 to $14, including starters, salads, grain bowls, flatbreads, burgers, vegan options and desserts.
Harrag said the new business is opening gradually due to social distancing measures. But eventually they plan to offer live music, trivia nights, beer tastings and beer education programs. Hidden Craft takes over the 2,700-square-foot former location of the partners’ original Matisse bistro at 600 W. Broadway, Suite 130, in downtown San Diego.
“This location has a special place in our hearts because this is where Othman and I started our journey into the hospitality industry in 2007,” Harrag said. “These are difficult times, but we hope to bring something new and positive to the community.”
Claudia Sandoval photographed with friends last week at her Cochi Dorado pop-up at Sugar and Scribe bakery in La Jolla.
(Courtesy photo)
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Sandoval bakery pops up in La Jolla
One of the local casualties of the coronavirus pandemic was San Diego chef Claudia Sandoval’s Cochi Dorado, a modern Mexican-inspired bakery she’d planned to open in her hometown of National City this month.
Sandoval gained national fame in 2016 as the winner of Gordon Ramsey’s “MasterChef” TV competition. She also published a best-selling cookbook inspired by her heritage, “Claudia’s Cocina: A Taste of Mexico.” Her next big dream was to launch a gourmet panaderia with a twist called Cochi Dorado, which means “golden pig” in Spanish.
Sandoval raised nearly $60,000 through a Kickstarter campaign, leased a space, bought equipment and was counting on final approval for a bank loan to get the bakery’s doors open this month. Then on April 21, she posted a tearful Facebook video saying the bank canceled the loan because of the risk associated with opening during the pandemic and great demand for survival loans from existing businesses.
Then she got an unexpected invitation from Maeve Rochford, a friend and mentor who runs the La Jolla bakery-cafe Sugar and Scribe. Rochford offered Sandoval temporary use of her kitchen and half of her counter space for a temporary pop-up to test out her concept. On June 1, Sandoval’s Cochi Dorado pop-up opened and it will continue through June 30 at at 7660 Fay Ave. in La Jolla.
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The pop-up’s hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily or until sold out. Visit facebook.com/cochidorado/.
A selection of dishes at Garibaldi, a new speakeasy-style restaurant/bar at the Intercontinental San Diego hotel.
(Courtesy photo)
Garibaldi take two
Garibaldi, the new speakeasy-style Italian restaurant/bar at the InterContinental San Diego hotel, was only officially in business five days before social distancing orders forced it to close in mid-March. The Sardinian-inspired restaurant helmed by executive chef Amy DiBiase reopened on June 5. Indoor and outdoor dining is now available by reservation only from 5:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and from 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. There’s a two-hour time limit on tables and parking. Visit catchgaribaldi.com/.
One of the new cooking products being sold by Grain & Grit Collective at Sam “The Cooking Guy” Zien’s new Little Italy restaurant, Graze by Sam.
(Courtesy photo)
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Grain & Grit at Graze
Graze by Sam, the Little Italy restaurant/bar opened by Sam “The Cooking Guy” Zien and Grain & Grit Collective in March, has launched a line of bottled sauces, dressings and rubs developed by Zien and the Grain & Grit team. The products, including a sesame ginger dressing, soy garlic marinade and pork rub, are being sold at Graze by Sam and online at grainandgritcollective.com/products. Proceeds will go toward a hardship fund for company employees struggling as a result of the pandemic.
Sidecar Doughnuts in Del Mar has reopened with a giveaway deal.
(Courtesy photo)
Sidecar Doughnuts hosting giveaways
To celebrate its grand reopening, Sidecar Doughnuts at the Del Mar Highlands Town Center is luring customers back with free merchandise including doughnuts, coffees and gift cards through June 27. It is also featuring limited-edition doughnuts in June including cookies and cream, strawberry buttermilk and chocolate budino. The shop is at 3435 Del Mar Heights Rd., space D7, in San Diego. Visit sidecardoughnuts.com/del-mar.
Pam Kragen writes about San Diego restaurants for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Email her at pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com.
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The Dish: Hidden Craft beer beer hall opens near downtown Trolley station - The San Diego Union-Tribune
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