On this episode, we head to the Normal Heights area of San Diego, for a sneak peek at the soon to open Whiskers & Wine Bar, a cat lounge & wine bar. Nicole & Chris, owners of Whiskers & Wine Bar gave us a tour of their new venture. They will be offering the opportunity to interact with adoptable cats, while enjoying a nibble from the food counter. …

We stop in for a visit with our friend Michael Tomkins, a marriage and family therapist, yoga instructor, and spiritual guide, for a chat about mindfulness in eating and in life. We chatted about choosing food, chewing our food, not getting too serious about rules, and how the idea of making conscious decisions about diet also translates to the res…

This months guest is Avonte Hartsfield of Rollin Roots. Avonte tells us about starting his food industry career as a dishwasher then serving tables to becoming a restaurant manager.His passion for vegan food led him to starting out on his own. First at farmers markets, then after much hard work he had funds to open his own restaurant. Covid changed…

This months podcast takes us to North Park to interview Anchi Mei who is Executive Director of MAKE Projects (Merging Agriculture Kitchens & Employment). We recorded our interview outside on their small farm. MAKE Projects is a job training social enterprise that prepares refugees and immigrants to achieve their dreams. Anchi tells us about program…

Elly Brown is the executive director of the San Diego Food System Alliance, a network of more than 100 organizations working to make our current food system more equitable, healthy, and sustainable through collaboration, policy change, education, and community empowerment. We talk about the launch of The San Diego Food System Alliance Food Vision 2…

Inspiration and perspiration. Kris Schlesser of Lucky Bolt is on a mission! In this episode, Kris Schlesser, the founder and force behind Lucky Bolt, talks to us about his mission to connect us to local, healthy , convenient food. Kris shares his journey from hunting for the perfect breakfast burrito in New York City to bicycle delivery in San Fran…

After years of traveling up and down the west coast (Oceanside, CA to Port Angeles, WA and back) on surfing and skateboarding adventures since 2004 and visiting farms along the way, Luke Girling got the bug to learn about organic farming. Eventually Luke had the opportunity to attend UC Santa Cruz’s Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Syste…

In this episode, we talk with Stephanie Parker of Epicurean San Diego. Stephanie and husband Dan started Epicurean San Diego with the mission of introducing people to the bounty of local San Diego food and beverage producers with curated events large and small. Stephanie tells us the affects of the pandemic on the event industry. This year, Epicure…

We talk with Jesse Vigil of Big Table San Diego & Davin Waite of Wrench & Rodent Seabasstropub in Oceanside. Jesse talks about the work that Big Table does to assist restaurant and hospitality industry workers that need help, especially since the pandemic hit in March. Davin talks about his personal experiences of working in the kitchen as well as …

On this episode, I head to the docks to interview two of our local commercial fishermen. I was accompanied by my trusty companion Scott Higby, owner of Studio C Creative Sound Recorders. Co host Trish Watlington stayed home enjoying spending time with her new grand baby (Go Grandma!) She will be joining us again next time. When we arrived Captain J…

"There's nothing like a winemaker having their own footprints in the vineyard," says Denise Clarke, co-owner of Altipiano Vineyard & Winery in North County San Diego. "I come from a long line of farmers and always loved having my hands in the dirt." Denise tells us the remarkable story of the journey to becoming a respected grower of grapes and win…

On this podcast we had the pleasure of chatting with Troy Johnson. Troy is a writer, television personality and commentator on the San Diego food community. We discuss how the pandemic has affected restaurants. What will San Diego dining look like in the future? Will it be dominated by large chains? How many small eateries will survive to serve the…

In this episode we interview Hannah Gbeh who is the executive director of the San Diego Farm Bureau. Hannah is and environmental scientist, teacher, researcher, farm owner and mother of three (among many other accomplishments). We talk with Hannah about small farms, women farmers, innovation, the high cost of land and water in San Diego County, ove…

On this episode, Trish Watlington and I talk about the effects of the pandemic on our local San Diego food industry, and ways to keep healthy, nutritious food on our tables. How are our local restaurants, farmers and fishermen adapting to the restrictions in place right now? What is the way ahead for them when things get “back to normal?” What will…

Par Keith Langhorn and Trish Watlington

Par Keith Langhorn and Trish Watlington

Par Keith Langhorn and Trish Watlington

Par Keith Langhorn

On this episode of our podcast, my co-host, farmer Trish Watlington, producer Scott Higby, and I head to Wild Willow Farm and Education Center. Our guide was farm manager Cat Henning. Wild Willow Farm is a vibrant working farm located on five acres of land, three miles from the ocean and less than a mile from the Mexican border. We learned about th…

On this episode, we talk with Ellen Goodwin, facilitator of Dive Bar of the Month Club. Dive Bar of the Month is designed with only two purposes in mind: to bring like minded Dive Bar lovers together and to have fun. They succeed in both of those goals. San Diego is home to some great Dive Bars and it's time each of them was checked out and enjoyed…

On this episode, we talk with Trish Watlington, founder of Farm to Fork San Diego, a grassroots group of restaurants, beverage makers, businesses and non-profits that support local farmers and fisher families and a fairer, more sustainable food system. Trish gives us the inside scoop on the upcoming Farm to Fork week, Sept 8 thru 15. Farm to Fork w…

On this podcast, we head to Southeast San Diego to chat with Aviva Paley, who is the senior director and co-founder of Kitchens for Good. Kitchens for Good's mission is to break the cycles of food waste, poverty, and hunger, through innovative programs in workforce training, healthy food production, and social enterprise. The program is a tuition-f…

In this episode of Food for Thought, we interview Coral Fodor Strong, who with her husband Russ, owns and operates Garden Kitchen, in the Rolando neighborhood of San Diego. We spoke with Coral in her newly opened, casual, elegant and cozy wine lounge. In the relaxed atmosphere, our conversation took many interesting twists and turns. We talked abou…

In this episode, we talk with Logan Mitchell and Gary McIntyre of Cellar Door Supper Club, and Collins & Coupe Bartending Supplies. We talk about Cellar Door Supper Club, how it started, the gourmet multi-course dinners they serve in their small, intimate space, and the drink pairings that Gary creates to complement each course. In 2018 the couple …

On this episode of Food for Thought, we head to Cueva Bar, located in the University Heights neighborhood of San Diego. Cueva Bar is an eatery specializing in empanadas and tapas. Chef Oz opened Cueva Bar nine years ago, with no previous experience in owning a restaurant. He has created a warm intimate space to enjoy hand crafted empanadas and tapa…