One of the country's leading experts on sustainable seafood, Chef Rob Ruiz - who owns and operates The Land & Water Company sushi restaurant in Carlsbad - will open a 100% San Diego-sourced, hand roll-based, omakase eatery within Liberty Public Market in Liberty Station next year.
Oceanside native Chef Rob Ruiz honed his culinary chops working in Hawaii for a decade where he trained directly under James Beard award winner, Chef Alan Wong. He then went on to apprentice under Japanese sushi master chef Etsuji Umezu. In 2013, while working as Executive Chef of Old Town's Harney Sushi, Ruiz created edible QR codes to provide information on his sustainably sourced seafood. This led him to be contacted by the U.S. Department of Commerce to participate in their National Publicity Campaign featuring small businesses utilizing sustainable practices. In 2014, Ruiz opened The Land & Water Company in Carlsbad with a menu based around hyper-local, ethically raised and sourced ingredients.
Next year, Ruiz will take over the space currently occupied by Fishbone within Liberty Public Market and open The Hold Fast - a fast-casual, hand roll, farm-and-ocean-to-table sushi eatery that will source 100% of its ingredients from San Diego purveyors, including seafood from Tuna Harbor Dockside Market & San Diego Fisherman, and produce from certified organic area farms. The quick-service spot will offer a menu of gourmet temaki (hand rolls), as well as a yakitori, sashimi, and a chef's special omakase, multi-course option available through reservation. Like Land & Water, Ruiz will utilize whole fish, raise the bar for the No-Waste movement, and compost organic refuse. Hours will be based on when ingredients run out, as Ruiz aims to resource ingredients fresh for each day.
"The source of all ingredients will be the highlight, following the food full circle back into our soil," commented Chef Ruiz.
"The source of all ingredients will be the highlight, following the food full circle back into our soil," commented Chef Ruiz.
The Hold Fast is expected to open within Liberty Station in approximately 6 months.
