Exploring the best of San Diego restaurants with Matthew Pincus

Matthew smiling, about to eat a sushi plate at Go Go Japan, a local place in our neighborhood of Oceanside.

I’m Matthew Pincus, the creator and writer of the blog for Best San Diego Eats. Hello and welcome!

I live in Oceanside, California with my partner, Jennifer and our two cats, Bartlett and Ash. We enjoy eating at great places in our local neighborhood and across San Diego County. Best San Diego Eats is a way to share that with all of you.

I’m exploring the best restaurants in San Diego.

My story

I grew up here in San Diego, California.

My food story starts in Lafayette, Louisiana, where I lived for 5½ years while doing my English PhD. We enjoyed going to great local eateries like Old Tyme Grocery, Pop’s PoBoys, Bread & Circus Provisions (unfortunately closed), Scratch Farm Kitchen, Bon Temps Grill and Social Southern.

There was a richness, flavor and spice to Southern cooking that I had not experienced before.

Getting into cooking

Jennifer then got me into cooking shows. She’s a big fan of Gordon Ramsay. We watched Hell’s Kitchen, Masterchef and Kitchen Nightmares.

We went to YouTube and learned techniques for cooking artichokes, steaks, seasoning, how to organize your kitchen, and how to make dinner rolls. We discovered Food Network with shows like Chopped and Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, and Cooking with Julia.

I love learning about how chefs gather fresh ingredients and transform them through part science and part artistry into dishes that people share and enjoy with one another.

Watching tv and cooking through trial and error, I’ve learned a lot about food.

I understand how chefs build flavor, use different techniques to create unique textures, and find creativity in restraint to develop great taste in their dishes.

A plate of huli huli chicken, grilled zucchini and peppers. I'm in the far distance finishing up cooking in the kitchen.

About Best San Diego Eats

Eating and enjoying a meal with others is one of the easiest but best ways we connect with others and learn about their experiences.

With Best San Diego Eats, I’m here to profile local San Diego restaurants that make our city exciting and fresh. We’ll discuss all aspects of the eateries we visit, with insights on flavor, service, atmosphere, and mission.

I’m excited to start this blog and for you to read our upcoming posts!

For my grandmother

From left to right: My dad, Me, my grandfather, aunt, mom, and Florence Manly, upper: my uncle, and cousin

Last, I’d like to dedicate this blog to my grandmother, Florence Manly, who passed down her love of cooking.

She spent many hard hours cooking meals for her family in the kitchen. Pies were her specialty.

She wanted to open a pie shop in her hometown of Canton, OH, but never could. She didn’t have the money. But, she kept her 6 loving children and the Canton community fed with love.

My grandmother smiling in Akron, OH after dinner.

This blog won’t open any pie shops, but I hope it will share the love for hardworking staff and chefs at great restaurants in San Diego.

Subscribe to Best San Diego Eats

Thanks for reading!

Be sure to subscribe. There’s a new post every week.

Check out our first post, where I profile Black Plague Brewing and the resident food truck, Full Metal Burgers, right here in Oceanside on Tuesday.