A Great First Date in San Diego’s East Village: Toast Enoteca Wine Bar and Cucina
Amazing Food? Check. Incredible Wine? Check. An upscale-yet-relaxed atmosphere? Check. The ability to sample wines from around the world without buying a whole bottle? Check. Toast Enoteca Wine Bar and Cucina invites its guests to enjoy its 400 wines and 65 wines-by-the-glass via tastings from state-of-the-art Enomatic machines.
Italian-trained Chef/Owner Martin Gonzalez is the creative force behind both Toast Enoteca and Cucina and the hugely-popular Aqua Al 2 in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. Chef Gonzalez, who trained at the prestigious Institu Culinari Apicius in Florence, Italy, founded Aqua Al 2 more than a decade ago. Toast Enoteca is like Aqua Al 2’s trendy, designer-jean clad younger brother … who drives a sports car.
Enomatic dispensers preserve wine for up to nine weeks, compared to the very short shelf-life – three days or so – of an uncorked wine bottle. This geek-chic technology allows wine lovers to try some of the world’s most prestigious wines and not have to foot the hefty bill of buying a whole bottle. Tastings can be sampled in a one-ounce pour or as a single glass. You simply load a card (yes, a card – I told you it was geek-chic) and you have carte blanche to drink your way around the world. It’s a clever way to go wine-tasting.
Chef Gonzalez had a vision that guests could sample, enjoy and perhaps fall in love with new wines. His venue allows guests to try high-end, exotic wines as well as the work of smaller, unknown vintners.
Although wines are a central part of the experience, the food also plays a key role. It has been thoughtfully created to perfectly complement the wine selections. Chef Gonzalez’s philosophy is that food and wine are meant to be enjoyed together, and he extends that passion into training his staff in the Italian art of proper combinations.
His servers will happily make suggestions on pairings, taking into account flavor profiles and wine preferences. This experience is an ideal “first date” ice breaker. Gentlemen, you won’t feel as if you need to be a part-time sommelier in order to impress your date. Toast Enoteca and Cucina does all the work for you.
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Toast Enoteca & Cucina
927 J St in the East Vllage
1-619-269-4207
