Kiss My Glass

Logan Mitchell, who runs Collins & Coupe with her husband Gary McIntire, talks about how Cellar Door supper club came to be, the growth of El Cajon Boulevard, the importance of dining for the experience and balancing her passions with her day job.

The Pearl’s bar manager TJ Majeske talks about the hidden hospitality gem in Point Loma; evolution of food and drink scenes in local beach neighborhoods; San Diego emerging as a cocktail capital and more.

Bar manager Stephen Kurpinsky, who is also the current president of the San Diego chapter of the U.S. Bartenders Guild, believes in the importance of cross-border relationships pushing the region forward when it comes to elevating the area’s food and drink cultures.

There are a lot of breweries in San Diego County, but Pure Project founder Jesse Pine says that competition helps elevate the craft beer industry as a whole. The three-year-old brewery has increased its production capacity in Miramar, is nearing the opening of its second tasting room, which will be in Bankers Hill, and has more plans for growth in North County.WWWW

Randy Elskamp has been around the bar industry since he was a kid when his mom tended bar, and, despite a few attempts to escape the industry, he now spends most of his time working at North Park’s Cantina Mayahuel and as a brand ambassador for Ilegal Mezcal.

Most well known around San Diego for his contributions to the local music scene thanks to his ownership of the Casbah, Tim Mays also has his hands in the food and beverage industry in such places as Starlite, Krakatoa, Soda Bar and, at one time, Turf Club.

With two core products in distribution, barrel-aged Old Fashioned and Celebrated whiskeys, Jesse Fanning, distiller and CEO of Henebery Whiskey in Vista, is always asking, “What do consumers deserve?” By creating a unique range of spirits, he can offer up options that haven’t always been available to customers from longer-standing, larger, traditional spirits companies.

Kelsey McNair, owner and head brewer of North Park Beer Co., always loved the culinary arts, but never thought he’d make a career of it — until he was gifted a home brew kit one Christmas. Now, thanks to a successful start as a home brewer and his award-winning recipe for Hop-Fu!, he and his wife are able to share their love of beer with the community in which they also live.

A particular fine dining experience in New York City left Jason O’Bryan desiring a similar experience in San Diego. Fast forward to the launch of the monthly dining series Tortoise, where O’Bryan and his team pay as much attention to the customer experience as they do to the thoughtful seasonal menu.

At only two years old, You & Yours Distilling Co. and owner Laura Johnson are making a big impression on the San Diego cocktail scene with several key collaborations, a destination urban distillery space and, most recently, its launch of a line of canned cocktails.

Christian Siglin, who has been a big part of the San Diego cocktail scene for the past 20 years including notable stints at Noble Experiment and Cutwater Spirits, launches a new project in San Diego’s South Park neighborhood called Fernside.

Matt Cieslak and his two bars, The Manhattan, which just marked its 61st anniversary, and The Elwood are a major part of the #SouthBayUprising movement helping revitalize west Chula Vista. Never miss an episode! Subscribe here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/kiss-my-glass/id1315459349?mt=2

Founded in 2014 by husband and wife Jeff and Dande Bagby, Bagby Beer Company in Oceanside brews about 1,200 barrels a year, which is just shy of ⅓ of its max yearly capacity. ________________________________________________________________ Please take a few minutes to complete our podcast survey so we can make sure we're covering the stories you want to know about. http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=Kv7xaSXfStEq&ver=standard

Dennis Borlek owns Fathom Bistro, Bait and Tackle, an inconspicuous shack on Shelter Island dubbed San Diego’s best kept secret. Before that, he was at a number of bars, played in a band and worked as a nurse. ________________________________________________________________ Please take a few minutes to complete our podcast survey so we can make sure we're talking about what you want to listen to. Fill out what you want, skip what you don't....

Master Brewer Lee Chase was just employee No. 4 at Stone Brewing and since then has gone on to open, with his partners, Blind Lady Ale House, Tiger! Tiger!, Panama 66 and Automatic Brewing.

Jill Davidson, San Diego Brewers Guild president emeritus and senior sales and brand dev Jill Davidson, San Diego Brewers Guild president emeritus and senior sales and brand development manager for Pizza Port, talks about the growth of the beer industry in San Diego, working with the Baja Brewers Guild and Mexicali Brewers Guild and what went into the collaboration beer that gives a nod to Beyoncé.

Chef Mike Arquines has his hands in a lot of projects. With more than 300 worldwide collaborations in the past five years, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who has worked on more in the San Diego area.

With hands in projects including Mason Ale Works, The Barrel Room, Urge Gastropub, and so many more, Grant Tondro and 3 Local Brothers are trailblazing through Rancho Bernardo and North County San Diego.

As a Mexican American growing up in Southern California, Erick Castro points to the fruits and other fresh produce from his childhood as the perfect catalyst to propel him into the bartending scene later in life. Along with the fresh, inventive cocktails he creates, Castro is a partner in North Park hot spot Polite Provisions, as well as a documentarian with the film Bartender at Large.

Before craft beer was a big thing in San Diego there was coffee. Small roasteries, including Pannikin and Café Moto, have grown into modernized coffee powerhouses. The Café Moto roaster in Barrio Logan is completely solarized and produces about 3,000 pounds per day. Plus, a lesson in fare trade coffee and what the future of coffee in San Diego looks like.