According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Malarkey withdrew from the project "because of a need to focus on a line of cooking oils he had developed." The oils, branded as Chefs Life Cooking Oil, bear more than a passing resemblance to popular competitor Graza's squeezable bottle concept.
The airport’s food and beverage program, led by High Flying Foods, will now slot in longtime local restaurateur Carl Schroeder of Market Restaurant + Bar in Del Mar to replace Malarkey's planned space. Schroeder’s arrival marks a notable pivot for the project, which is set to debut its first phase on September 23.
Malarkey’s decision to bow out comes as he juggles multiple high-profile endeavors. He recently signed on as host of Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out, a reboot of Food Network’s cult-favorite culinary competition, which premiered this May. Behind the scenes, he remains in the midst of a multi-years-long divorce while continuing to operate an extensive restaurant portfolio through the Puffer Malarkey Collective and his new Brothers Malarkey Portfolio.
Locally, his holdings include Herb & Wood in Little Italy, Herb & Sea in Encinitas, the high-design Asian concept Animae near the bayfront, and Le Coq - a French steakhouse that took over La Jolla’s former Herringbone space in 2024. With the Irvine Company, he also co-owns Herb & Ranch in Orange County, and his most recent venture, Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge, brings cowboy energy to Bend, Oregon.
This is not the first time Malarkey has pivoted mid-project. In 2012, he sold his first restaurant group - including the now-closed Searsucker and Herringbone - to the Hakkasan Group for $25 million before embarking on a second act focused on splashy, design-forward dining rooms and a constant media presence. His latest exit from the airport project underscores both the volatility of celebrity chef ventures and the high stakes of securing a prime hospitality slot in one of the region's most visible public spaces.
When Terminal 1’s first phase opens next month, passengers will still find plenty of notable names among its 19 new food and drink spots, from skateboard legend Tony Hawk and Claudette Zepeda's Novecientos Grados to local favorites like Cutwater Spirits, Better Buzz Coffee, and The Taco Stand. But for those expecting to grab a Malarkey-branded bite before a flight, they'll have to look elsewhere in the city - or on television.
Originally published on August 14, 2025.
When Terminal 1’s first phase opens next month, passengers will still find plenty of notable names among its 19 new food and drink spots, from skateboard legend Tony Hawk and Claudette Zepeda's Novecientos Grados to local favorites like Cutwater Spirits, Better Buzz Coffee, and The Taco Stand. But for those expecting to grab a Malarkey-branded bite before a flight, they'll have to look elsewhere in the city - or on television.
Originally published on August 14, 2025.
