Last year, downtown San Diego’s Resident Brewing thought it had found the long-sought answer to its limited production capabilities. The company, one of several owned and operated by businessman James Langley, entered into negotiations to take over the former home of Iron Fist Brewing in Vista. The deal was nearly done, when Resident hit a snag, allowing Miramar’s Pure Project Brewing to gain control of the space. It was a disheartening turn of events for Langley, but he got right back to business, not only resuming his years-long search for a large manufacturing facility, but also taking over a restaurant space in Sabre Springs that will provide Resident a significant inland North County presence. That venue goes by the name Crafted Culture. It will open next week and celebrate local beers going beyond Resident’s offerings.
Last fall, Langley acquired the 10,000-square-foot space the previously housed The Florence. A high-profile operation with noted names in food, wine and cocktails at its core, its ownership pumped $4 million into the design of the bar and restaurant, which includes two acres of outdoor space, figuring to cash in by providing an upscale venue for inhabitants of the office park it anchored. That business lasted less than a year. Langley hopes a more approachable concept including options for a wider array of visitors will provide a better draw, not only for employees of neighboring businesses but residents of Sabre Springs, Carmel Mountain, Poway and other nearby communities.
“Our emphasis will be on craft beers, craft cocktails and craft food. Crafted Culture is an open-format test kitchen, where we will not limit ourselves to one style of cuisine,” says Langley. “All food will be made from scratch with a heavy emphasis on plating and flavor combinations. Our goal is to bring the community together through food, and we will host special events with live music on Fridays and tap-takeovers from our favorite local breweries.”
The food menu is steeped in classic American fare presented with fun, epicurean twists. Examples from the starter menu include roasted bone marrow with garlic confit and Bordelaise sauce, corn and Machego cheese fritters, and deviled eggs with sausage and smoked jalapeños. A burger, bhan mi, chicken sandwich and trio of avant-garde flatbreads (charred eggplant, prosciutto and duck egg, smoked salmon and goat cheese) will be available along with entrees such as chili-crab bucatini, chimichurri seabass, and beef tenderloin with dulce gorgonzola. A Korean-style brisket and whole fried chicken can both be ordered for the table along with creative fixings, including mushroom marmalade and peach-and-watermelon kimchi, respectively.
Resident beer will share space with other local producers—Abnormal Beer Co., AleSmith Brewing, Burgeon Beer Co., Pizza Port—and a wine list made up of selections blending the western U.S. with Europe and New Zealand. The cocktail list is extensive, with classics and an octet of house numbers like Pretty Bird, Pretty Bird (pineapple rum, prickly pear, lime and tiki bitters), Can’t Just Have One (coconut-washed bourbon, Ethiopian coffee, cinnamon, orange and bitters) and Glitz N’ Glam (gin, lemon, blood orange liqueur, hibiscus butters and glitter).
“We want people to know Crafted Culture will have something for everyone,” says Langley. “We have a large emphasis on families and kids. We will have outdoor games, a kids’ craft-cocktail menu and fun craft-food items. We’ll also show every Padres game and our favorite Sunday football games. Along with live music on Fridays, that will provide plenty for the community to enjoy.”
Crafted Culture’s soft-open will begin tomorrow, Wednesday, August 25, followed by its grand opening on Saturday, August 28. The event will feature tray-passed appetizers, spirit vendors serving the venue’s signature cocktails, a handful of local breweries serving their beers and a live musical performance. Once open, Crafted Culture’s hours of operation will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays.
Crafted Culture is located at 13480 Evening Creek Drive North, #150 in Sabre Springs