Opinion

Boney’s Bayside Market in Coronado is the archetypical San Diego grocery store. It was created for those who enjoy an epicurean lifestyle — people with refined taste buds and not-so-refined wallets. Admittedly, despite not having the budget, I often stroll the beautifully decorated aisles of fancy grocery stores to feel a sense of calm. This […]

Buona Forchetta is a place for hosting. And usually with hosting comes celebration. It says a lot about a restaurant when no matter when you go in — a random Wednesday or a busy Saturday — someone is celebrating a birthday, a baby shower, a graduation.  Typically, I would try to avoid these types of […]

When it comes to culture, many long for something concrete. Because America is such a melting pot of identities, I’ve noticed that food from our ancestors is often what we hold onto most tightly. At Spiro’s, that longing is evident. The menu is Greek, but there’s also a section labeled “not so Greek.” Walking in, […]

Island Pasta, an Italian restaurant, opened for 30 years, has officially come to a close. Its successor? A retro American burger spot, Double Standard. According to them, the name is a play on the “double double” burger, supposedly the double being the standard. I admit, the name and its explanation made me a bit skeptical […]

Among the top crises facing California is the affordable housing issue. Just in San Diego alone, the city will need 108,000 new homes by the end of the decade to meet the demand of all income levels, according to the San Diego Association of Governments’ Regional Housing Needs Assessment.  A scarcity of such size drives […]

I am curious about what the Coronado community thinks of brunch. Because it’s a rather controversial meal in the culinary world. The late celebrity chef, Anthony Bourdain, once said, “Then there are the People Who Brunch. The ‘B’ word is dreaded by all dedicated cooks.” Food writer Jeff Gordinier has described brunch as “the gastronomic […]

During my preteens, I lived in Cardiff-by-the-Sea. On some Sundays, my family and I would walk to the local grocery store, Seaside Market, where they sold “Cardiff Crack” in a tent outside. I remember the wafting smell of smoky tri-tip preceded me as I watched people line up for lunch.  When I saw the business […]

In a town like Coronado – with North Island units involved in the war and many military-connected community members  – we are not all that insulated from the conflict raging in the Middle East. In fact, for so many of our neighbors, the news headlines hit very close to home.  We’re entering the fourth week […]

In honor of the old Irish patron, St. Patrick, I went to McP’s Irish Pub in Coronado for this week’s review. Ireland’s culture has always been whimsical to me: a land of writers, cliffside seascapes, rolling hills and witty storytellers. Oh, and Guinness (unfortunately something I cannot drink more than a sip of). When I […]

Jolie, located on the ferry end of Orange Avenue, is generous in all the ways you might not expect. Self-identified as French-California coastal, Jolie — meaning “pretty” in French — is Chef Jason Witzl’s fifth concept. It began as a butchery with a six-item menu: oysters, crudo, scallops and a few salads. Executive Chef Jack […]

Orange Avenue is not your run-of-the-mill street. It’s the island’s main street dripping in character, peppered with funky mom-and-pop establishments and coastal art. It can also be a parking nightmare. The boutique shops make Coronado unique, but it’s getting harder and harder for them to stay afloat, and more common for chains to swoop in.  […]

Situated on C Street, tucked into the corner of a small commercial plaza, sits Nado Republic, owned by Chef Gorgio Cortelli. From outside, the sectioned-off terrace gives the impression of two separate restaurants, but inside feels like someone’s living room.   In the spacious bar, stacks of wine, champagne and liquor bottles backdrop the bartender. A […]

For passersby strolling the beach walk in front of the Hotel del Coronado, intricate sandcastles have been an occasional and welcome discovery.  At least they were for years. On Feb. 5, the hotel parted ways with the Sandcastle Man, Bill Pavlacka, after nearly 20 years of allowing his sand designs in the hotel’s backyard. Engagements, […]