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Is staying in really the new going out? Leave it to Sam the Cooking Guy to get people out of their nooks by throwing a dinner party night in and night out at his newest restaurant Graze.
Offering a laid-back living room setting that makes every guest feel like old friends, he’s taking care of his crew just the same by keeping everything efficient in the kitchen. Lucky for Cali BBQ Media, we got to go behind the scenes at Graze to see just how Sam came up with his latest concept on this episode of Digital Hospitality.
Sam the Cooking Guy — the man of 1.5 Million YouTube followers and only one knife — is on his second restaurant in San Diego’s lively Little Italy Food Hall. Located directly across from his first restaurant, Not Not Tacos – yes, yes you read that right – Graze offers at home ambience with fine food that’s just as cozy and comfortable. Trying to unwind on the regular? Graze’s Wine Club offers monthly wines and member perks, complimented by cool beach breezes best enjoyed with the piazza’s outdoor drinking layout.
“Because we didn’t have room for anything else!”
Trying to do more with less – and succeeding at it – the food comes out faster than the drinks go down with the vibe proving chiller than the beach’s breeze.
“It’s very relaxed. Grab a bottle of wine, have a nice cocktail, it’s meant to be a really comfortable environment just like you’re in Sam’s living room. There’s little knick-knacks from his own house, it’s very personalized. It’s on brand and it’s all about Sam.”
Ready to enter Sam’s world? Family photos and couches in the living room make guests and local regulars feel like fast friends with The Cooking Guy. Well-known and also well-traveled, Sam’s use of an indoor/outdoor layout brings a casual combo of bar/restaurant to San Diego that’s usually only seen in Europe. Essentially, modern West Coast cool meets the classic components of the Eastern Hemisphere’s rich food scene. Who’s mad at that? Not us.
So, did the perfect night in just combine with the perfect night out? We think so. To recap, just how do you have a good time at Graze? Here’s a step by step process.
- Start a group chat with three of your besties to plan dinner and drinks
- Arrive at Little Italy Food Hall with said besties on Friday night
- Start out at Graze with The Max charcuterie board and Tre Amici flatbread while sinking into the sofa chairs
- Pay homage to the owner by ordering Sam’s Favorite cocktail – or two or three of them
- Join the member’s only wine club on your way to the outdoor bar as you stroll around the piazza
- Repeat Saturday night
Check out our YouTube video for a behind-the-scenes look at Sam the Cooking Guy’s Graze located in San Diego’s lively Little Italy Food Hall. From comparing himself to Billie Eilish to going to work in his own kitchen on a meatball in a puff pastry and tomato sauce – mozzarella? Fuhgeddaboudit! – enjoy this great glimpse at Sam the Cooking Guy in his element.
Get in touch with the Digital Hospitality podcast team by emailing podcast@calibbq.media and visiting https://www.calibbq.media.
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