As we mentioned earlier this week, every year, Eater San Diego closes out the year by surveying local food writers about their take on the past year in the San Diego dining scene. Here are my contributions to parts 5 and 6 of that survey:
What was the biggest restaurant grievance of 2015?
The departure of Anthony’s from the iconic downtown harbor side location might have been a chance for a major upgrade of more than just income to the Port of San Diego. Instead, it will look nicer, the food might be a notch better, but I cannot help but feel the sense of missed opportunity. The Brigantine may be local but it is not much better than average, and Miguel’s struggles to see “average” from where they’re lodged. This could have been an opportunity to truly define our waterfront and highlight what San Diego has to offer. Instead a cramped bidding timetable and singular focus on revenue left only the big boys — the average boys — to play and mediocrity to carry the day.
What was the biggest dining surprise of 2015?
The closure of Común Kitchen, Kitchen 4140, Table 926, Table 10, Toast Enoteca and the collapse of Blush. We’ve lost a frightening amount of kitchen talent in the last two months of the year. The Heavenly Hog Fall Pig Out took place on October 12th at Blush. Of the ten chefs participating in that dinner only three still stand behind the same professional stove they did two months ago.
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