Restaurants in San Diego Gaslamp Quarter

The Sous Chef Showdown was a gathering of rising stars from the Gaslamp Quarter culinary scene who battled for the “Best Up and Coming Chef in the Gaslamp” Guests sampled some amazing creations and voted for their favorite by placing a poker chip in a glass dish at their favorite “bite” station.

Rose Lane- Barleymash- Stout braised short ribs served on a creamy corn polenta cake, pickled onions and a horseradish-marscapone cream

Raul De La Cruz- Don Chido- Braised beef tongue huarache: epazote goat cheese, black bean puree, chantrelle mushrooms, chili de arbol truffle

Edgar Sanchez- Henry’s Pub & Restaurant- Mama’s peppered salmon with mashed potatoes

Khien Luong- Ida Bailey’s Restaurant- Spicy chicken sandwiches

Gustavo Rivera- Meze Greek Fusion Cuisine- Lamb street tacos

Brad Austin- Parq Restaurant & Nightclub- Buttermilk biscuit with pimento cheese and house smoked pork belly.

Michael Mora- Rustic Root- Surf and turf sushi cake

Henry Lopez- Tin Roof- Nashville hot fish: spicy tuna tar tar topped with pickled okra on a chicharron.

The winner was crowned as the last Lamplighter Award of the night. Congratulations to Michael Mora from Rustic Root! He was not only awarded bragging rights, but also a Global Chef’s Knife engraved with the Gaslamp Quarter Association logo and “The 2016 Sous Chef Showdown Winner.”