#350 In this week’s Happy Half Hour, Amanda Palomino, a Chopped winner and Hell’s Kitchen alum, tells us about the mission of Kitchens for Good, a nonprofit that not only combats food waste but also provides culinary training for San Diego residents facing barriers to employment. Palomino shares how every part of food has value, as seen in the preparations for the upcoming WASTED event—a tastemaker festival where chefs create upscale dishes using food that would otherwise be discarded. We talk about how Kitchens for Good helps students find pride in cooking and a sense of belonging, something she aims to pass on to every apprentice who walks through its doors. To follow Kitchens for Good click HERE. To follow chef Amanda Palomino click HERE.

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#349 It’s Del Mar Wine + Food Festival week. On this episode, we talk about the news of Mister A’s massive new $15 million project coming to San Diego, the expansion of favorite SD husband-and-wife bakers Le Parfait Paris, our “burger of the year” Rosemarie’s getting a second location… and we revisit a favorite interview with SoCal’s star chef, Eric Greenspan, formally known as “the cheese guy.” After time at El Bulli and working with Alain Ducasse, Eric found himself facing Bobby Flay on Iron Chef, and opening his own LA restaurant called The Foundry, which famed food critic Jonathan Gold named one of his “Essential 99” restaurants you needed to try in the city. There, this chef with the huge pedigree ironically became known for his spins on grilled cheese sandwiches. A cookbook followed, and now New School American Cheese—a line of American cheese made how a chef who worked with Ducasse would make it. Eric will be back with New School at Del Mar Wine + Food on October 5-6 (click link for tickets). To follow New School click HERE.

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#348 This week on Happy Half Hour, Tommy and Daneyel Walker of The Mental Bar serve more than just coffee—they tell us about the cultural haven they built in Encanto. Their hallmark is comfort food and signature drinks like "Sexual Chocolate," a cold brew mixed with strawberry lemonade, and other drinks with adaptogens. When floods devastated the area, The Mental Bar became a community lifeline, offering resources and support. For the Walkers, this isn’t just a café; it's a passion project aimed at creating the "third space" they never had growing up, where everyone can connect and thrive. To follow The Mental Bar click HERE.

Discover more at San Diego Magazine HERE.