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If you're into dining and drinking, it's impossible to ignore the food porn-y appeal of Instagram, the highly-addictive photo-sharing app. So welcome to Eater's new "Throwback Thursday" feature, where, on a monthly basis we'll showcase five of the weeks best photos from the Instagrams of established chefs and up-and-coming young guns from San Diego.
Future installments will also feature feeds from FOH and BOH members, from sous chefs and sommeliers to bar backs and bartenders, plus well-curated restaurant accounts too, but here are five of the best local food-related feeds to start following right now. Have a suggestion for an inspiring Instagram account we should track? If so, hit us up on the tip line.
Davin & Jessica Waite: Wrench & Rodent Seabasstropub
Cooking since he could reach the stove and working in the hospitality industry by 17, chef Davin Waite was running his first restaurant at 25. Together with wife Jessica, he now helms the acclaimed and cheekily titled "Seabasstropub" in hip south Oceanside, where creative concoctions like anchovy nigiri and Scottish salmon with caper tapenade are conjured up daily using the finest sustainable seafood. Sushi lovers, come for the strawberry salmon crudo with black garlic puree, and stay for the tuna with apple and white soy glaze. Follow Davin & Jessica on Instagam: @wrenchandrodent
Executive Chef Stephen Gage: Underbelly North Park
Touted as one to watch since working on chef James Montejano’s winning team at the 2014 San Diego Wine and Food Festival's People's Choice Award, prior to taking over as Exec Chef at Underbelly North Park the "top knot chef" put in stints at La Valencia, Café la Rue and Blush Ice Bar before joining the innovative restaurant-come-social engineering collective, CH Projects last year. Farmer’s market jaunts share space with 'behind the line' ramen shots and tastefully plated dishes on this up-and-coming Insta’ feed. Follow Stephen on Instagam: @stephenmgage
Chef de Cuisine Christopher Osborne: Cowboy Star
After spending over three years working with chef Trey Foshee at George's California Modern, Christopher Osborne joined the ranks at Cowboy Star in 2013. There, the highly regarded chef de cuisine’s commitment to sourcing and foraging for local and sustainable products, as well as his techniques and style of cooking, have shone. An impressive collection of magazine-worthy shots consistantly grace his feed, showcasing everything from roasted seasonal mushrooms and 'scenes from service', to exquisitely marbled A5 Miyazaki. Follow Christopher on Instagam: @chfosborneknife
Tommy Gomes: Catalina Offshore Products
One of the city’s most knowledgeable fishmongers, Tommy Gomes is more than "just some dude who sells seafood". The son of a commercial fisherman (he’s descended from a Portuguese fishing family that settled here in 1892), today Tommy is the go-to guy for all things seafood, sustainable, fishing, bait, and more in San Diego. His account captures a who’s who of famous visiting gourmet chefs like Rick Bayless and Sam The Cooking Guy, ocean-fresh Moon Fish and Box Crabs on ice, plus beautiful breaking dawn shots from the water. Follow Tommy on Instagram: @tommythefishmonger
Meghan Balser: Seven Grand
One of San Diego’s top female mixologists, Meghan Balser worked her way up from cocktail waitress to bartender in New York City before heading west. The self-titled "whiskey slinger" has been at Seven Grand since it’s San Diego debut, where she’s known for her variations on the classic Manhattan. A finalist in Bacardi’s hand-shaken Daiquiri contest in 2012, Balser took second place at the Woodford Reserve Manhattan Experience in 2014 and has been a Brand Ambassador for Suerte Tequila since January. Follow Meghan's adventures on Instagram: @meghanbalser
