Michelin star chefs and culinary talent elevate San Diego’s restaurant scene
San Diego hasn’t always been a foodie’s dream destination. It wasn’t that long ago when big cities like New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas got all the culinary fame. Sure, you could find gems here and there: a fresh sushi roll, an authentic slice of NY pizza, or a crave-worthy late-night California burrito. However, it takes the proper mixture of adventurous foodies, memorable atmosphere, and award-winning celebrity Chefs to put a city on the dining destinations map. And San Diego is doing just that.
Over the last 10 years, San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter has been exploding with new restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Many venues serve as both entertainment and dining spaces, offering a wide range of environments for guests to explore eating, drinking, and dancing…all in one location. The competition has forced business owners and culinary teams to rise above the expected and serve up an experience that is both delicious and unforgettable.
The opening of Rustic Root and Volcano Rabbit made it clear to the RMD Group that there was a need for higher-level cooking and culinary expertise in the Gaslamp. Chef Marcel Childress was the inspiring force behind the successful venues, creating menus that were unique, seasonal, and much to be desired. RMD Development helped create a stage for the cuisine, designing dining rooms, private event spaces, and a rooftop restaurant that was craved by the Downtown San Diego community.
The hospitality industry can be a tough one, constantly in flux and always filled with high expectations. The recipe for a successful restaurant is not only difficult to master, but also dynamic and constantly changing based on trends, tastes, and locations. When RMD Group decided to open two new restaurant and event spaces, finding the right Chefs to partner with was crucial.
It was obvious there was a demand in the market from both locals and visitors for America’s Finest City to make a name for itself in the culinary world. Local Chefs, like award-winning People’s Chef, James Montejano, began rising to the top, stamping their signatures on dishes, menus, and restaurants, while winning the hearts of foodies everywhere. Chef James Montejano’s partnership with the RMD team to create the modern steakhouse Huntress, has been exciting and filled with anticipation. As San Diego’s culinary expectations grow, so does the appreciation of food that is responsibly sourced, ethically raised, and seasonally served. Chef James is an expert on creating beautifully prepared dishes with color, flavor, and artful plating.
To build San Diego’s reputation among the world’s best dining out locations, it has been important for the city to bring in some well-known heavy hitters. RMD called upon two-time Michelin Star winner, Chef Akira Back, to develop the high end, high up, Lumi, serving up adventurous sushi and elevated Japanese cuisine. Akira Back is known for his namesake restaurants in locations like Las Vegas, Dubai, Singapore, and Seoul. If San Diego wasn’t recognized for being a “food city”…it will be now!
In a world where cuisine, presentation, and dining atmosphere are sought after, restaurants, restaurant owners, and Chefs will continue to raise the bar. Awards like “Michelin Star” and “James Beard” matter, but receiving these coveted awards gets harder and harder as competition and talent increases. However, getting to play in the culinary game with the pros is an honor, and San Diego is in it to win.
Find out more about Huntress, a contemporary steakhouse.
Find out more about Lumi by Akira Back, a rooftop dining and drinking experience.
Find out how you can improve your existing venue, or to turn your bar, restaurant, or nightclub dream into a reality with RMD Consulting.