Flavor Del Mar to be Featured in New Travel Channel Show

Flavor Del Mar has been a favorite for years among Del Mar residents, who delight in the locally sourced cuisine, modern décor and stellar views, but  the restaurant's popularity is about to go off the charts. Flavor Del Mar and sister wine bar, Sip, will be featured on The Travel Channel’s latest endeavor, All Forked Up, debuting in Spring 2013.

The new series follows the travels of two Las Vegas food critics, Al Mancini and John Curtas, who can’t seem to agree on anything. Every week, the polar opposites explore a new city by choosing two distinctly different restaurants that they believe best reflect the area. The food critic who finds the winning dish wins bragging rights, and has to pay up on an adventurous side bet. In San Diego, Curtas chose Flavor Del Mar, while Mancini chose Carnitas Snack Shack in Hillcrest.

“I think one of the reasons that they selected us is that our food is contemporary California cuisine, and we try to utilize as much seasonal and local produce and proteins as we can,” assistant general manager Gabrielle Clift said.

Crews from The Travel Channel contacted the restaurant to be featured on the show just days before filming, and spent more than 12 hours at Flavor Del Mar and Sip on Dec. 11. Mancini and Curtas were able to interact with the restaurants employees, including Executive Chef Brian Redzikowski who is a former Iron Chef competitor, and patrons.

Although film crews shot tastings of more than five dishes, it was Chef Redzikowski’s local bouillabaisse that stole the show and will be featured as the competing dish when the episode airs this spring. It is a signature dish made of local spiny lobster, grouper and sea urchin from Catalina.

“They wanted really seasonal dishes and local dishes, so the bouillabaisse was right up that alley,” Redzikowski said.

If all goes as planned, Redzikowski may be turning out more bouillabaisse than he ever imagined come springtime, as the restaurant expects to see a surge in business after the show airs. According to show producers, any airtime on The Travel Channel can bring a line out the door for months.

“It was good to be chosen for the television show,” Redzikowski said. “With all of the work that we do and the hours we put in, it’s nice to be recognized for contributing something to the area.”

Keep an eye out for the premiere of All Forked Up in 2013, to see if Flavor Del Mar is the episode winner.