Espresso and Neapolitan pizza coming to La Jolla
Bird Rock Coffee Roasters is opening its 10th cafe in late spring or early summer at La Jolla Village Drive and Villa La Jolla Drive.
There’s one key difference: along with coffee and espresso, it will serve wood-fired Neapolitan style pizza. That menu is still being developed, said Bird Rock’s owner, Jeff Taylor.
“We are ready to start. Everything’s in place. We’re just waiting on the building permits to land from UCSD and then we’ll be able to start,” Taylor said.
The cafe-restaurant will have four reserved parking spaces, a 1,000-square-foot terrace with seating and roughly 1,500 square feet indoors. It’s part of a public-private development on University of California land, to be shared by UC San Diego Health, the medical school, UC San Diego Extension and the cafe, according to UCSD.
Bird Rock, a distinguished local roaster that won a lifetime achievement award called Coffee Roaster of the Year in 2012, opened two cafes in 2022 in Encinitas and on the UC San Diego campus. Others are in Little Italy, Bressi Ranch, Bay Park and the mothership: Bird Rock.
Pizza is one frontier the roaster is pushing. It also recently introduced an espresso catering truck and Espresso Medic of San Diego, an espresso and coffee machine service.
Holey moley: Bagels are back
McDonald’s is reintroducing an old favorite: breakfast bagel sandwiches. And in a coup for San Diego, they went on sale Wednesday at certain local McDonald’s — ahead of a broader roll out next week.
There are three options: Bacon, Egg and Cheese, Sausage, Egg and Cheese, and Steak, Egg and Cheese.
A sample of each reveals that all feature warm, melted American cheese, creamy breakfast sauce and egg layered between lightly toasted bagel slices. The steak bagel has grilled onions.
Protein is one more way they diverge: there’s less — crispy Applewood bacon (25 grams) — or more: steak patty (34 grams). Sausage falls in between, at 27 grams. They range from 590 to 710 calories. The bacon version costs, on average, $4.76, according to mc-menu.com.
“Though bagel sandwiches were originally introduced in 2000, they were phased out around 2019 … , much to the disappointment of loyal fans,” wrote The Daily Meal, a trade website.
North Park boutiques in party mode
A clothing shop is celebrating its grand opening with food, drinks and a ribbon cutting. Our Story, at 2939 Lincoln Ave., is welcoming customers on Feb. 10 starting at 10 a.m.
Around the corner and about a block away, at 3827 30th St., Overload — a shop that sells action fashion (skateboards, wheels, backpacks, athletic shoes and more) — is marking 24 years in business and its remodel with a ribbon cutting on Friday at 5 p.m.
Bracelets and charms land in San Ysidro
Pandora, purveyor of charms and customizable jewelry, is opening in late February at Las Americas Outlets. This will be San Diego’s first Pandora outlet. The company has close to 10 stores and authorized retailers in San Diego County.
“With Pandora’s arrival in February, customers can create their own one-of-a-kind accessory, adding a touch of elegance and sentiment to their ensemble. The brand will give a special free gift with purchases of $120+ before taxes at its grand opening, while supplies last,” a brand representative wrote in an email.
Another relative newcomer to the mall is Ariat, which sells western, work and equestrian footwear and clothes. It opened in November and is the company’s first brick-and-mortar shop in San Diego.
ICYMI: discounted local fun
February is a good month to get out and try new museums or relish old favorites at half price. New this year: “LEGOLAND California Resort and its SEA LIFE Aquarium, the California Wolf Center, the Deer Park Winery & Auto Museum and WNDR Museum San Diego,” according to the San Diego Museum Council.
WNDR describes itself as “a collective of thinkers, artists, poets and designers working at the intersection of art and technology.”
Do you know any stores or eateries that are opening or closing? Do you have a tip about San Diego shopping deals or news? Send me the scoop: [email protected]
