It was a beautiful location with fantastic food, but it was a bit out of the way for most San Diegans. Bay Ho's farm-to-table restaurant Kitchen 4140 closed its doors permanently on Wednesday, November 25, but owner and executive chef Kurt Metzger is already seeking out a location for a more central restaurant space with the intention of launching a new farm-to-table concept nearer to downtown San Diego in 2016. The new concept’s name and potential locations have already been decided upon, though details remain under wraps at this time.
During its five year run, Kitchen 4140 grew from a small location supplementing Metzger’s catering company, Concept Catering by CK, to a full service restaurant offering lunch, dinner and a popular Sunday brunch. Its organic garden, named one of the top 50 restaurant gardens in the nation by USA Today in 2015, paired with Metzger’s thoughtful fare made Kitchen 4140 a local favorite at its quiet spot along Morena Boulevard in Bay Ho.
While running Kitchen 4140, Metzger garnered a string of successes: he took first place at the I Love Poke Festival two years in a row, was named Chef of the Decade at this year’s Flavors of San Diego Culinary Gala presented by the American Liver Foundation, has been invited to cook at international dining destinations such as The Cliff at Cap Maison in St. Lucia and Deckman’s en el Mogor in Mexico’s Valle de la Guadalupe. He also pioneered a mentor program with local youth home Toussaint Academy, teaching at-risk teens about the importance of nutrition and eco-friendly food practices and providing them with opportunities to learn professional skills for their future.
We are sad to see Kitchen 4140 go but are excited to see what comes next for the talented and devoted Chef Metzger.
