Chef Rich Sweeney Helming New Fashion Valley Restaurant | Eater San Diego

"At Fashion Valley Mall, well-loved chef Rich Sweeney has landed at a new North Italia currently under construction. Part of award-winning Fox Restaurant Concepts (the group behind True Food Kitchen and Flower Child), North Italia will serve an Italian menu that includes pizza and fresh pasta made daily. Sweeney — who has cooked in San Diego for over 12 years, is a former ‘Top Chef’ competitor, and left his post as executive chef of Waypoint Public last month — says he’s excited to be part of the Fox family and particularly looks forward to running a from-scratch kitchen that will push him outside of his “American gastropub style” comfort zone. North Italia is scheduled to debut this fall near True Food Kitchen’s location in the mall and is one of two eateries the hospitality group is bringing to San Diego." - Candice Woo