Fresco Cocina Brings Modern Latin Cuisine to Carlsbad Village | Eater San Diego

"As Linda DiNitto's second project in coastal Carlsbad Village, Fresco Cocina explores her upbringing in Venezuela through a menu that includes Venezuelan dishes along with plates from Peru, Brazil, and Uruguay. I was struck that executive Chef Idso (Pacifica Del Mar, Water Grill, Estancia) was tasked with bringing Latin American flavors to the modern Carlsbad restaurant; the dinner menu features the pabellón criollo interpreted as braised short ribs paired with black beans, rice, and fried sweet plantains, the Peruvian classic lomo saltado, prime skirt steak grilled in the style of Brazilian churrasco, and an Uruguayan chivito, a multi-meat and cheese sandwich often topped with a fried egg. Fresco Cocina also does a weekend brunch with daytime options including plantain pancakes, mole-spiced salmon hash, and a breakfast burrito with carne asada, eggs, and yuca fries, while cocktails center mostly around rum drinks like the Sol y Arena (spiced rum, sweet vermouth, strawberry, lemon, and soda) and also include pisco sours and caipirinhas infused with cucumber and black pepper." - Candice Woo