Carnitas’ Snack Shack founder and executive chef Hanis Cavin, project partner and chef Willie DePasquale (Moceri Produce), consultant pitmaster Ivan Muñoz (The Deck at Moonshine Flats), and co-owner David Cohn of San Diego's Cohn Restaurant Group are opening a chef-driven barbecue joint in San Diego. Check out The Pioneer's menu of mouth watering brisket, ribs, chicken, barbecue and burgers before the restaurant unveils this June.
San Diego pork master Hanis Cavin knows how to make meat, and after a short stint running McCarter's Bar & Grill in San Diego's San Carlos community, the team has longtime Cohn Restaurant Group designer Philippe Beltran leading the charge on renovating the 4,600 square foot space to turn it into The Pioneer. Along with longtime friend and colleague Chef Ivan Munoz - who is currently manning the smoker at The Deck at Moonshine Flats in downtown San Diego - as well as Chef Willie DePascale, who currently works at San Diego's Moceri Produce, and Cohn Restaurant Group founder David Cohn, the all-star crew will create a modern barbecue destination centered around "barbecue, burgers and brews".
Appetizers at The Pioneer will include items like honey glazed burnt pork belly ends with a mac & cheese smear, pulled pork flautas, smoked pork dirty fries, and rib croquettes. Standout sandwiches include a house smoked pork and beef sausage sandwich with spicy jardiniere and a Jacked Up Meat Loaf concoction with Jack Daniels, pepper jack, chili flakes and Texas toast. Burgers like the Double Cow - with brisket carmelized onions and cheddar cheese - will certainly be a highlight. Meats including ribs, brisket, chicken, sausage links, pork shoulder, and a chef's whim daily special will be cooked daily using a signature Southern Pride smoker. The restaurant will also have an array of sides & desserts, 14 beer taps, a full cocktail program, and select wines by the glass.
The Pioneer is located at 8622 Lake Murray Blvd in San Diego's East County and is anticipated to open around June 18. For more information, visit thepioneerbbq.com and check out the draft menu below.
