Shows / San Diego Magazine's Happy Half Hour
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half Hour
The weekly guide to San Diego's food + drink scene, hosted by award-winning food writer and Food Network host Troy Johnson and San Diego Magazine's culture brain, Jackie Bryant. Field notes and perspectives on restaurants, bars, and chefs—including dishes and drinks you gotta try, restaurant openings and closings, events worth your time, and laugh-cry interviews with chefs, restaurant owners, farmers, brewers, and makers who make San Diego's food + drink scene hum.
Episodes
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourSkrewball co-founder Steve Yeng explains his journey from refugee camps to the face of spirits
The story of Skrewball deserves its own biopic, if not a 30-part Netflix series. On the surface, you see a good-time peanut butter whiskey from San Diego—one…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourNatural Wine and Petco Park's Facelift
Restaurant openings, restaurant closings, and Manny Machado becomes a nail tech. Just kidding, but only about the restaurant closings. Gotcha again. There will…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourGoing through the 5 stages of SDs iconic beer with the face and voice of BP, Jeff Lozano
So much history in this place. It's where brewers came up with one of the beers that put San Diego on the national map. It's where a person signed a deal for a…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourWe introduce one of San Diego's best pizzas to one of its best beers
Lake San Marcos is such a mystery to me. Like if you took the water feature from a miniature golf course and expanded that over a couple miles—that's what it…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourRanting About Food with Padres Funnyman, Mark "Mudcat" Grant
When I went to Padres games as a kid, a man stood 30 feet away from you and hurled a hot dog at your face. Maybe you got some popcorn whose best attribute was…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourThe Next-Gen of Vietnamese Food with Shank & Bone's owner Han Tran
Not sure how many San Diego restaurants have a real, bonafide Shepard Fairey art piece—sanctioned by the artist, famous for his propaganda art like the Obey…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourRanch45 Expands in Del Mar
This meat looks geological. Like lovely, delicious geodes. In the refrigerated case, huge racks of Brandt Beef just lay there at Ranch45—have been laying for a…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourStone Delicious IPA, a birria flatbread, and a Claudia Sandoval
The birria flatbread at Stone World Bistro & Gardens is one of those dishes that's gone in minutes. On this podcast, we huddle around it. Poke at it. Demolish…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourThe Magic of Woodsmoke
We've been here for two weeks and I'd like to stay another thirty. I've brought my overnight bag and a note from my wife. Gonna make my case. We're at Park…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourRichard Blais: Chef, TV Star, Golf Influencer
This is a fun one. I've known Richard Blais for a long while, and we tend to bring the best stories out of each other. Like golf foraging. When most of us lose…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourSan Diego Chef Grows Michelin-Star Mold
During the day, Michael Vera cooks at standout Pacific Beach restaurant, The Fishery. In his off time, he grows delicious bacteria. The words mold or fungus…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourSan Diego's New Star of Modern Japanese Food
I must stop talking about the cabbage. I won't shut up about it. So I figured if I brought chef William Eick to talk me through it, it will resolve my…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourGrand Ole BBQ y Asado is Back!
It is, finally, open. Almost. When Grand Ole BBQ y Asado shut down its North Park location for renovation, it was supposed to be for a couple of months. That…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourKingfisher Takes San Diego by Storm
In 2004, Jon Bautista made his mom cry. She spontaneously wept when he told the family he'd enrolled in culinary school. To be fair, in the same breath he also…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourSan Diego's Mike Hess Brewing Releases Exclusive Hazy IPA for SeaWorld
I'm not sure how many stages of coping there are, but when Greg Hess told his wife and family they were moving to San Diego to start one of the first "nano…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourRoller Coasters, Hazy IPAs, and Podcasts... Oh my!
I'm suspended fourteen stories above San Diego Bay. I am being dangled over the edge of a cliff made of metal. I smell vaguely of quality craft beer. I am an…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourThe Giant-Big Chef News at Iconic Lodge at Torrey Pines
Kelli Crosson bid her time, put in the work, earned this. The California native cooked alongside Jeff Jackson for 11 years at AR Valentien as his chef de…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourLan Thai Enclave Expands "Food as Medicine," Takes Over San Diego Farm
As a young girl growing up on a farm in San Diego County, Lan Thai's dad would hand her shrimp shells from that night's dinner and tell her, "Go feed the…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourJoJo Ruiz Is Everywhere
Why does brunch feel so good in all the right parts of your soul? It is redemptively irresponsible. It's breakfast, if breakfast were better. If your weekend…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourThe New Owner of Mr. A's Joins us to Talk about what Changes He will (and will not) be Making
The iconic Mister A's is being sold (don't worry, it's not going anywhere, and this is a good story). Last week, we talked with Bertrand Hug—the restaurateur…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourThe Massive Impact of Kitchens for Good
Atiim "Tee" Smith is now one of the promising young cooks at one of the city's better restaurants, Cucina Enoteca. He started his kitchen career a few years…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourThe Creative Team Behind San Diego's First Absinthe Restaurant
Absinthe sure got pigeonholed. We are all aware that within 15 minutes of drinking it, you speak in tongues, dictating the next great American novel onto the…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourMeet Amy Truong of Paru Tea Bar
Ted Lasso is the hero we need and America's de facto life coach, but he needs to fix himself when it comes to tea. It is finally taking off in U.S. culture, at…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourDid Troy Johnson and his wife Claire really just buy San Diego Magazine?
Wait, what? Longtime writer and person on TV Troy Johnson and his wife Claire have become the new majority owners of San Diego Magazine. When did this happen?…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourMeet Mike Minor, the New Executive Chef at The Marine Room
Welcome back to the Happy Half Hour! This week's special guest is Mike Minor, the new executive chef at The Marine Room in La Jolla. The Marine Room has been…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourWe Go Inside Barons Market, a Local Family-Owned Grocer
Welcome back to the Happy Half Hour! This week, we're chatting with Rachel Shemirani, senior vice president at Barons Market. Barons is a gourmet grocery store…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourAddison Received Two Michelin Stars! We Check In with Chef William Bradley
Welcome back to the Happy Half Hour! We're excited to have chef William Bradley of Addison back on the show. In case you missed it, Addison was recently…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourMeet Saman Javid, the New Executive Chef at George's at the Cove
Welcome back to the Happy Half Hour! This week we're excited to welcome Saman Javid, who is now leading the kitchen at La Jolla's iconic George's at the Cove…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourA Family Affair: Karina's Mexican Seafood Celebrates 40 Years in San Diego
Welcome back to the Happy Half Hour! This week our special guest is David Contreras Curiel of Karina's Mexican Seafood, a San Diego institution that is…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourWe Talk Vegan Food, Music, and Tiki Drinks with Kindred's Kory Stetina
Welcome back to the Happy Half Hour! This week our special guest was requested by listeners, and we're excited to have him on the show: Kory Stetina, owner of…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourWe Indulge Our Sweet Tooths with Baker Justin Gaspar of Hommage Bakehouse
Welcome back to the Happy Half Hour! We're back after a short Labor Day break, and we're with Justin Gaspar, the head baker at Hommage Bakehouse in Pacific…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourWe Share This Year's 'Best Restaurants' Issue with Chef Brad Wise
Welcome back to the Happy Half Hour! We're sorry that the audio quality this week isn't fully up to par; David was still in the desert during recording. In…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourFrom Madison Avenue to Margaritas: Meet Ian Tenzer, Puesto's New R&D Chef
Welcome back to Happy Half Hour! We are sorry, the audio quality this week isn't fully up to par. You can blame David for being in Las Vegas for a heavy metal…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourWe Get the Inside Scoop on Upcoming Concerts and Events (Including Golf!) at Petco Park
Welcome back to the Happy Half Hour! We're recording this episode from a premier club suite at Petco Park, thanks to this week's sponsor, the San Diego Padres…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourWe're Talking Beer and Baseball from a Suite at Petco Park
Welcome back to the Happy Half Hour! We're returning from a short break and taped this episode from a premier club suite at Petco Park, thanks to this week's…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourSay Hola to Hellote, Which Serves Mexican Street Corn with a Twist
Welcome back to the Happy Half Hour! This week we're with Emmanuel Favela and Tony Haro, founders of Hellote in Chula Vista. Hellote is a new outdoor eatery…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourWe're Celebrating Pride Week with Roanna Canete of North Park's Gluten Free Baking Co.
Happy Pride Week! Our special guest is Roanna Canete, owner of The Gluten Free Baking Company in North Park. Roanna founded the company in 2015 when her son…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourMeet Tara Monsod, Animae's New Executive Chef
Welcome back! This week we chat with Tara Monsod, who recently took over as executive chef at Animae, the high-design Asian fusion restaurant owned by Brian…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourA New Film Documents San Diego's Craft Beer Scene
David, Marie and Troy are still at our sponsor, Home Brew Mart. Rumor has it David brought a cot and this is where he lives now. Understandable. The Linda…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourWe Talk Beef Jerky with Will Dryden, Founder of Baja Jerky
Welcome back to the Happy Half Hour! We're recording in person at Home Brew Mart by Ballast Point in Linda Vista, our sponsor for this week's episode. Ballast…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourHow Milton's Deli in Del Mar Went from a Neighborhood Staple to a National Brand
Welcome back to the Happy Half Hour! This week's special guest is Barry Robbins, founder of Milton's Delicatessen Restaurant in Del Mar. The New York–style…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourHomestead Brings a Locally-Sourced Neighborhood Market to Solana Beach
Welcome back to Happy Half Hour! This week we have two special guests, Jamie and Marie Brawn, owners of Homestead Solana Beach. The business—which served…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourLocal Writer Beth Demmon Speaks About Reporting On Sexism in the Craft Beer Industry
Welcome back to Happy Half Hour! This week's special guest is Beth Demmon, a freelance writer and journalist who specializes in craft beer. Beth started…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourKindred Bartender Dannika Underhill Gives a Front-of-House Perspective on Tipping
This week's special guest is Dannika Underhill, a bartender at Kindred in South Park. Dannika has been in the restaurant industry for over 15 years. She's a…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourGustavo Tonella Is Bringing Sonoran-Style Hot Dogs to Imperial Beach
Welcome back to Happy Half Hour! This week's special guest is Gustavo Tonella of Doggos Gus in Imperial Beach. Gustavo started his catering company in 2010…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourRestaurants Are Struggling to Find Workers. Dario Gallo of Civico 1845 Explains Why
Welcome back to Happy Half Hour! Today's special guest is Dario Gallo, owner of Civico 1845 in Little Italy and Civico by the Park in Bankers Hill. Dario was…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourWe Chat with Acclaimed Chef Eric Greenspan about the World of Ghost and Virtual Kitchens
Today we have a very special guest, chef Eric Greenspan. Eric has over 20 years of experience in the culinary world, having worked with chefs such as Alain…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourHow Food Writer Sabrina Medora Galvanized Local Chefs for an Event to Fight Racism through Food
Welcome back to Happy Half Hour! Today's special guest is Sabrina Medora, food writer and founder of Un-Plated, a national multimedia platform that celebrates…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourChef Travis Swikard's Long-Awaited Callie Restaurant Is Finally Opening!
Today's special guest is chef Travis Swikard, whom we last had on the show in March 2020. Travis is a San Diego native who spent ten years working with…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourWe Talk Baseball and Burritos with Padres Outfielder Wil Myers
Welcome back to Happy Half Hour! We have a special treat for our listeners this week: Joining us on the show is Wil Myers! The San Diego Padres are the most…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourA Toast to an Award-Winning Wine Made Right in Ocean Beach
Today's special guest is Keith Rolle, founder and winemaker of Gianni Buonomo Vintners in Ocean Beach. A little over a week ago, Gianni Buonomo won several…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourKaci Goff Embraces Her Malaysian Tamil Heritage at Wolf and Woman Pop-Up
Today's special guest is Kaci Goff, chef and owner of contemporary Malaysian pop-up restaurant Wolf and Woman. While serving Malaysian Tamil cuisine like…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourEmily Green at Sisters Pizza Is Building a Legacy of Pizza and Community
This week's special guest is Emily Green, owner of Sisters Pizza in Hillcrest. Since 2019, Sisters Pizza has been serving up New York– and New Jersey–style…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourBrewer Megan Stone on Receiving a National Award for Promoting Inclusivity within Craft Beer Culture
Welcome back to Happy Half Hour! This week's special guest is Megan Stone, media coordinator at Societe Brewing Company in Clairemont, who was recently named…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourWe Try Ballast Point's Two Newest Beers: Big Gus and Wee Gus
Welcome back to Happy Half Hour! This episode was sponsored by Ballast Point, and two special guests from the brewing company joined us this week: Aaron…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourIndulgent Vegan Food? Avonte Hartsfield of Rollin' Roots Shows It's Possible
Welcome back to Happy Half Hour! This week's special guest is Avonte Hartsfield, owner of Rollin' Roots food truck in Kearny Mesa. Rollin' Roots has been…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourWe Chat with Tommy Gomes about His New TV Show, The Fishmonger
Welcome back to Happy Half Hour! This week, Tommy "The Fishmonger" Gomes, a local expert on all things seafood and spokesperson for San Diego's fishing…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourWe Check in with Richard Blais about His Pandemic Projects and New Restaurant
This week we chatted with chef Richard Blais, whom you may recognize as both a contestant and a judge on Top Chef, and as a judge on Guy's Grocery Games and…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourMeet Tony Guan, Executive Chef at Fortunate Son
Welcome back to Happy Half Hour! In celebration of the lunar new year on February 12 and the Year of the Ox, we chatted with Tony Guan, executive chef at…
San Diego Magazine's Happy Half HourWe Talk Tacos with Ernie Becerra, Founder of ¡Salud! in Barrio Logan
Welcome back to Happy Half Hour! This week we chat with Ernie Becerra, founder of San Diego Taco Company and ¡Salud! Tacos in Barrio Logan. Ernie is a…