AVANT Hires Chef; Carnitas Gets Booze

RANCHO BERNARDO — The opening's still a few months away but AVANT (the new restaurant replacing El Bizcocho in the Rancho Bernardo Inn) already has their man — James Kozak will be AVANT's Chef de Cuisine. Kozak, a Chicago native, previously worked as Chef de Cuisine at the city's legendary now-closed Charlie Trotter's and on our coast at Napa Valley's Angele. [EaterWire]

NORTH PARK— San Diego Magazine's reporting that Carnitas' Snack Shack has finally received their long-awaited liquor license and are in the process of setting up a little outdoor bar/event space called The Pig Pen out back of the eatery. Catch up on Chef Hanis Cavin and read about his first year as a restauranteur in our Eater Interview. [SDMag]