Cross Border Chefs Pop Up at Longplay HiFi Record Bar in San Diego | Eater San Diego

"Inspired by Tokyo’s record bars, I started spinning records last fall in Sherman Heights on Imperial Avenue with Longplay HiFi, a vinyl listening bar dedicated to showcasing records from collectors and other audiophiles while increasingly pairing audio sessions with unique food and drink experiences. We’ve served coffee since day one and offer Tijuana-style burritos on weekends, and founder Gibrán Huerta has been hosting ticketed pop-ups and special events that always include a food component — from the Acquired Taste omakase series, now a fixture on the last Sunday of each month, to previews by acclaimed local chefs like Phillip Esteban. Upcoming sessions include a pairing of natural wine and quesadillas made with Oaxacan heirloom corn tortillas milled by Tijuana chef José “Joe” Figueroa; as Huerta said, “I thought it would be a cool idea for my Saturday p.m. experience to include things like natural wine and quesadillas made with amaiz criollo from Oaxaca that has a shelf life of three days. It’s very simple because it’s wine and cheese, but it’s also very complex because of its process and where (the corn) comes from.” With the Mexico–U.S. border returning to normal operations, I’m planning more cross-border collaborations and pop-ups from chefs like Ensenada-based Diego Hernández and Esteban Lluis of Damiana, and I’m even exploring an opportunity to expand Longplay to National City." - Mario A. Cortez