April 9, 2013
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| Brian Malarkey and Chef K showing off The Taste gold |
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We watched the
first episode of ABC's The Taste with the man himself at the flagship of his fabric restaurants - Searsucker - all the while feeling proud to witness the blooming of San Diego's renowned
Top Chef. It's been less than three years since Brian Malarkey took this town by storm with the opening of Searsucker in the Gaslamp. Since then, along with his business partner, James Brennan, the duo operating as Enlightened Hospitality Group has opened five more restaurants (
Burlap, Gabardine, Gingham,
Herringbone, and a
Searsucker in Scottsdale, AZ), an office campus eatery (Green Acre), and they now have plans to open two more Searsucker locations in Austin and Los Angeles (possibly San Fran as well, based upon current rumors). In addition to popping out restaurants like Gordon Ramsay on Ritalin, Malarkey has also partnered with other esteemed local chefs to open the Campine catering company. He released
his first cookbook in 2012, and to top it all off, he
joined the likes of Anthony Bourdain as a mentor and judge on ABC's primetime cooking competition,
The Taste. As loyal San Diegans, we were rooting for Team Malarkey all season, and when his young Fillipino chef Khristianne Uy brought home the win, we knew it only meant great things would be coming to San Diego. Shortly after
The Taste finale,
announcements were made that Malarkey would be hosting price fixed dinners with Chef K at three of his San Diego eateries. We knew that the Burlap meal would not disappoint, as
Chef Anthony Sinsay would be behind the curtains, ensuring that everything came out perfectly... and right we were.
