The national drink of Brazil, the caipirinha (kye-pee-ree-nah) has had such a powerful attraction for Brazilians that it almost brought the Ford Motor Company to a screeching halt. After Henry Ford discovered that the low …
March 14, 2012
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Stories by Joseph O'Brien
Grant Grill’s Caipirihna
Las Flores Church of the Nazarene
Membership: 500 Pastor: Dwayne Edwards Age: 57 Born: Montgomery, Ala. Formation: Southern Nazarene University, Oklahoma City, Okla.; Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego Years Ordained: 25 San Diego Reader: What is your favorite subject on …
March 7, 2012
Congregation Dor Hadash
Denomination: Reconstructionist Membership: 125 families Pastor: Rabbi Yael Ridberg Age: 43 Born: Bridgeport, Conn. Formation: Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Philadelphia, Penn. Years Ordained: 15 San Diego Reader: How long do you spend writing your sermon? Rabbi …
February 22, 2012
Swampwater
If you’re looking for the perfect redneck response to blue-blooded cocktail culture, look no further than the Swampwater’s edge at Bub’s Dive Bar. The sort of place that serves silos of canned beer in paper …
February 15, 2012
Fletcher Hills Presbyterian Church
Membership: 310 Pastor: Kevin Womack Born: Melbourne, Florida Age: 40 Formation: Bethel Seminary, San Diego; Talbot School of Theology, La Mirada Ordained: 11 years San Diego Reader: What is your favorite subject on which to …
February 8, 2012
Cloudbreak Church
Membership: 110 Affiliation: Southern Baptist Pastor: Jeff Langley Age: 45 Born: San Diego Formation: Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Forth Worth, Texas; Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, San Francisco Years Ordained: 10 San Diego Reader: How …
January 25, 2012
Craft & Commerce’s British Firing Squad
According to bar manager Christian Siglin, the powers that be at Craft & Commerce have banished vodka. “A lot of people aren’t used to fresh ingredients and strong flavors,” he says. “That’s why we don’t …
January 11, 2012
San Diego Christian Reformed Church
Membership: 65 Affiliation: Christian Reformed Church Interim Pastor: Adam Stout Age: 32 Born: Davenport, Iowa Formation: One year of Yucatán, Mexico, mission work; Calvin College and Calvin Theology Seminary, Grand Rapids, Mich. (2010). San Diego …
January 11, 2012
Lighthouse Christian Church
Affiliation: Independent Christian Churches Membership: 920 Pastor: Michael Openshaw Age: 53 Born: Atlanta, Georgia Formation: Lincoln Christian College and Lincoln Christian Seminary, Lincoln, Illinois Years in Ministry: 33 San Diego Reader: What is your favorite …
December 28, 2011
The Merk Bistro’s Fresh Basil Gimlet
David Oliver, bar manager and resident mixologist at the Merk Bistro, was in a quandary: he loves gimlets, but hates the syrupy lime-juice flavoring most traditional recipes call for. His solution was to reinvent the …
December 21, 2011
Canyon View Church of Christ
Membership: 450 Pastor: John McKeel Age: 58 Born: Wichita, Kansas Formation: Columbia Christian College, Portland, Oregon; Pepperdine University, Malibu Years Ordained: 32 San Diego Reader: What is your favorite subject on which to preach? Pastor …
December 14, 2011
Bonita Orthodox Presbyterian Church
Membership: 90 Pastor: Stephen Parker Age: 63 Born: Buffalo, NY Formation: Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton, Mass.; U.S. Navy chaplain (1986–2004). Years Ordained: 33 San Diego Reader: What is your favorite subject on which …
November 30, 2011
333 Pacific’s Pier View Cocktail
One of the newest items on 333 Pacific’s drink menu is bar manager Kevin Kitchen’s Pier View cocktail. Named in honor of the third-of-a-mile-long Oceanside Pier that serves as the restaurant’s nighttime vista, Kitchen’s concoction …
November 22, 2011
International Christian Center
Membership: 250 Pastor: David Montajes Age: 55 Born: Manila, Philippines Formation: Bethel Bible College, Venezuela City, Philippines Years Ordained: 13 San Diego Reader: What is your favorite subject on which to preach? Pastor David Montajes: …
November 16, 2011
South Park Abbey’s Cause-Mo
The newest item on South Park Abbey’s menu, the Cause-Mo, is part of the Abbey’s effort to establish a cocktail presence at an establishment better known for its bonanza of Belgian potables. Since unveiling it …
November 9, 2011
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
Membership: 400 Pastor: David Weber Age: 56 Born: Hampton, Iowa Formation: University of Laverne, Laverne; Concordia Seminary, St. Louis Years Ordained: 9 years San Diego Reader: What is your favorite subject on which to preach? …
November 2, 2011
The Chico Club’s Buccaneer
According to the bartenders at the Chico, no one knows who developed the Buccaneer. Perhaps it was previous owners or the original owners, who opened the bar in 1940 and named it after the oldest …
October 26, 2011
King of Kings Lutheran Church
Membership: 325 Pastor: James Jerpseth Age: 51 Born: Graceville, Minnesota Formation: University of California-San Diego (Engineering); Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley Years Ordained: 14 years San Diego Reader: What is your main concern as a …
October 19, 2011
C-Level's Summer Solace
According to C-Level’s bar manager Jonathan Boyle, who developed the drink, the Summer Solace is both a backward look at the high season of sun and fun and a cool companion on that slow, leafy …
October 12, 2011
El Cajon Wesleyan Church
Membership: 300 (and 130 Chaldean) Pastor: Steve Forsythe Age: 51 Born: Cape May, NJ Formation: New Brunswick Theological Seminary, New Brunswick, NJ; Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena Years Ordained: 26 San Diego Reader: How long do …
October 5, 2011
Sweetwater River Church
Denomination: Assembly of God Membership: 125 Pastor: Frank Wooden Age: 53 Born: Berkeley Formation: Vanguard University, Costa Mesa; Bethany Bible College, Santa Cruz. Years Ordained: 24 San Diego Reader: How long do you spend writing …
September 28, 2011
Henry’s Pub’s Chachi’s Poncho
The main author of Henry’s cocktail menu, bar manager Kyle Barnett, claims that the name for “Chachi’s Poncho” came out of nowhere one day while he and his gang of bartenders were experimenting with tequila-based …
September 22, 2011
Tierrasanta Lutheran Church
Membership: 230 Pastor: Bohdan Vadis Age: 35 Born: Bemidji, Minn. Formation: Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn.; Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley Years Ordained: 8 San Diego Reader: How long do you spend writing your …
September 21, 2011
Vista La Mesa Christian Church
Membership: 135 Pastor (interim): Marianna Kirwan Age: 70 Born: Chicago, Illinois Formation: Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley; Claremont School of Theology, Claremont Years Ordained: 32 San Diego Reader: How long do you spend writing your …
September 7, 2011
Westminster Presbyterian Church
Membership: 210 Pastor: Tony Wolfe Age: 63 Born: Parkersburg, West Virginia Formation: Union Theological Seminary, New York; Claremont Graduate School, Claremont Years Ordained: 33 San Diego Reader: What is your favorite subject on which to …
August 31, 2011
Pete’s Place’s Lights Out
Jägermeister and root beer schnapps...two not-so-great tastes that shouldn’t taste great together. But on any given Sunday during football season… And according to Matt Lowery, bartender at Pete’s Place, that’s how it started — with …
August 31, 2011
Bayview Orthodox Presbyterian Church
Membership: 100 Pastor: Roger Wagner Age: 62 Born: Burbank Formation: Westmont College, Santa Barbara; Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia; Westminster Seminary, Escondido Years Ordained: 38 San Diego Reader: How long do you spend writing your sermon? …
August 17, 2011
El Dorado's Americano
Since the El Dorado Cocktail Lounge started offering what bartender Matthew Stanton calls “advanced cocktails” on its menu, he says they’ve been a hard sell to the status quo. In particular, Stanton says, he’d like …
August 17, 2011
Harvest Evangelical Church
San Diego Reader: How long do you spend writing your sermon? PL: I think, on average, more than 20 hours. I usually follow a book of the Bible, choose a passage and study the words …
August 10, 2011
Gloria Dei Lutheran
Membership: 125 Pastor: Matthew Richardt Age: 42 Born: Holt, Michigan Formation: Concordia College, Ann Arbor, Mich., Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind.; U.S. Navy Chaplaincy (2002–2005). Years Ordained: 16 San Diego Reader: How long do …
August 3, 2011
Hoctails at Stout Public House
“There are a lot of hockey fans in San Diego because there are a lot of people here from somewhere else,” Stout Public House bartender Daniel McCullough tells me. “Since they don’t have anywhere else …
July 27, 2011
Ridgeview Church
Membership: 600 Denomination: Independent Christian Pastor: Bill Trok Age: 49 Born: Chicago Formation: Talbot School of Theology-Biola University, La Mirada Years Ordained: 20 San Diego Reader: How long do you spend writing your sermon? Pastor …
July 27, 2011
Grace Lutheran Church
Membership: 1450 Pastor: Jim Young Age: 65 Born: Los Angeles Formation: Concordia University, Seward, Neb.; University of Lincoln, Neb.; Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind. Years Ordained: 35 San Diego Reader: How long do you …
July 20, 2011
The Fleetwood's Gentleman Smash
According to the Fleetwood’s bar manager and head bartender Mike Garcia, the stirrers and shakers at the eatery have revamped the menu to accommodate good times and higher temperatures. Bartending for 12 years, Garcia says …
July 13, 2011
El Cajon Boulevard Church of Christ
Contact: 2528 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego; 619-299-6812; ecbchurchofchrist.org Membership: 130 Pastor: John Manor Age: 43 Born: Monterey Formation: San Diego State University Years Ordained: 3 San Diego Reader: How long do you spend writing …
July 13, 2011
Palomar Heights Church
Denomination: Assembly of God Membership: 175 Pastor: Jon Allbaugh Age: 45 Born: Kansas City, Kansas Formation: Vanguard University, Orange County Years Ordained: 22 San Diego Reader: How long do you spend writing your sermon? Pastor …
July 6, 2011
La Jolla Strip Club's Moscow Mule
La Jolla Strip Club bartender Jim Sloan tells me that his formal education in vodka began two years ago, when he signed on as La Jolla Strip Club’s bar manager. “I never knew as much …
June 30, 2011
Are you ten-for-ten, Commandments-wise?
Membership: 90 Pastor: Richard Zuber Age: 62 Born: Meriden, Connecticut Formation: Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, Connecticut; Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Years Ordained: 25 San Diego Reader: How long do you spend writing …
June 29, 2011
Journey Community Church
Attendance: 2400 Pastor: Ed Noble Age: 52 Born: Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Formation: California State University, Long Beach; Biola College (University), La Mirada; Talbot School of Theology, La Mirada Years Ordained: 24 San Diego Reader: How …
June 15, 2011
Turf's Sidecar
In the late ’40s and early ’50s, the Turf Supper Club was a magnet for bookies and horse-racing enthusiasts, according to bartender Stacey Sloate. “They [had] a group here that would go to both Del …
June 8, 2011
The Gathering
Membership: 140 Pastor: Deron Higgins Age: 51 Born: San Diego Formation: Point Loma Nazarene University (Point Loma College), Point Loma; Bethel Seminary, Bethel University, San Diego Years Ordained: 25 years San Diego Reader: How long …
June 8, 2011
St. Mary Catholic Church
Membership: 15,000 Pastor: Richard Perozich Age: 60 Born: Clairton, Pennsylvania Formation: St. John Seminary, Camarillo, California Years ordained: 19 years San Diego Reader: How long do you spend writing your sermon? Father Richard Perozich: I …
June 1, 2011
The Art Snob at Riviera Supper Club
The Riviera Supper Club’s bartender is a multimedia artist. An accomplished painter (theartsnob.com) and Art Institute of Chicago graduate, Doug Thompson is equally at home with sable brushes and glass swizzle sticks. But it’s the …
May 30, 2011
Harbor Presbyterian — Mira Mesa
Contact: Mira Mesa High School, 10510 Reagan Road, San Diego, 619-699-5950; harborpc.org Membership: 57 (attendance 115) Pastor: Bob Klein Age: 58 Born: Baltimore, Maryland Formation: Hope College-Western Theological Seminary, Holland, Michigan; Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, …
May 25, 2011
Oceanside Community Church
Membership: 135 Pastor: Tim Poldrugo Age: 61 Born: Gary, Indiana (raised in Los Angeles) Formation: Hope International University (Pacific Christian College), Fullerton, CA Years Ordained: 26 San Diego Reader: How long do you spend writing …
May 18, 2011
The "H" at Quality Social
Quality Social bartender Noelle Phares is fast. The Chico native holds regional high school records in the 300- and 100-meter hurdles. That speed translates into something sweet to see and refreshing to taste whenever Phares …
May 11, 2011
Heart of God Church
Membership: 125 Pastor: Mark McElwee Age: 51 Born: Groton, Conn. Formation: Southwest Bible College, Gainesville, Ga.; Logos International Bible College, England; Vision International Education Network, Ramona. Years Ordained: 12 years San Diego Reader: How long …
May 11, 2011
Gateway Community Church
Membership: 400 Pastor: Craig Harrison Age: 61 Born: Beloit, Wis. Formation: Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Ill., Bethel Seminary, St. Paul, Minn. Ordained: 31 years San Diego Reader: How long do you spend writing your sermon? …
May 4, 2011
Jamul Community Church
Membership: 500 Pastor: Gary Musser Age: 60 Born: Riverside Formation: California Baptist College (University), Riverside; Biola University-Talbot Seminary, La Mirada; Bethel Seminary, San Diego Years Ordained: 35 years San Diego Reader: How long do you …
April 27, 2011
U-31's Paloma
¡Viva La Revolucion! ¡Viva La Paloma! That’s not exactly how U-31 bartender Chris Freeman sees it. Ask him, though, and this budding bartender will fill your glass with a cold decant of the paloma. As …
April 20, 2011