Originally published at https://www.escondido.org on August 17, 2021.
Escondido continues to bring residents and guests plenty of choices when it comes to dining. Two new locations prove that our post-pandemic appetites for new flavors and foods can be found in our own backyard.
“The great selection of eateries and breweries in Escondido continues to grow,” said Teresa Collins, Deputy Director of Communications for the City of Escondido. “The City’s support for our expanding food industry makes this a perfect place to open a new restaurant or brewery.”
Brewing a Community Spirit
The Oasis is highlighted on a City map t-shirt.
In November 2020, Burgeon Brewery opened its outdoor Escondido brewery, The Oasis located next to Escondido Feed and Pet Supply in the former Escondido Brewing Company location, and has had a steady flow of support ever since.
“We have seen tremendous support from the Escondido community,” said Mackenzie Graham, marketing director for Burgeon. “I think there is a real thirst for craft beer here and we’ve had such a warm welcome from our Escondido community.”
Graham added when the Escondido location opened, owners, Anthony Tallman, Derek van Leeuwen, and Matthew Zirpolo — who are North County locals and were classmates at La Costa Canyon in Carlsbad —jumped at the opportunity to open here. Burgeon’s main location is in Carlsbad and a new location just opened in Little Italy.
“It just seemed like a perfect fit,” she said.
Team members and guests pose in front of The Oasis brewery.
Not only is the location perfect, the outdoor setting made it ideal during the unpredictable COVID-19 pandemic .
“I think being outside has been a huge positive,” Graham said. “We have been fortunate to be able to serve on site since we opened because of that.”
What they serve is a 12-tap variety of craft brews from IPAs to pale ales to pilsners and loggers, which are on permanent rotation.
“We are most known for our West Coast IPAs and our hazy IPAs but we are really putting an emphasis on pale ales,” Graham said. “They have a lower ABV and are more of a seasonable beer, particularly in the heat of summer.”
Starting August 20, they will be releasing a new, fruited hazel IPA called Tropical Transport, a POG flavored drink with passion fruit, orange and guava flavors.
Along with the various craft beers, food truck vendors provide savory menu items on a rotating basis that compliment the drinks nicely. The food truck schedule can be found on the online calendar.
Being part of the community is important to the Burgeon team and now that some health restrictions have been lifted, The Oasis will be hosting their Branching Out community events. The first one on August 21 is in partnership with the Escondido Creek Conservancy.
“We will be heading out on a project with them to help preserve local wildlife habitats,” Graham said. “This includes fence building and trail clean-up.”
All volunteers who sign up to participate will be rewarded with a free beer or non-alcoholic drink and pizza back at The Oasis after the event. The event is open to individuals ages 8 and over.
For craft beer fans who like to drink at home, The Oasis offers all the fresh releases for take-out as well. “It's a really great spot to just quickly drop by and pick up your favorite craft beer too,” Graham said.
Burgeon Beer Company’s The Oasis is at 649 Rock Springs Road. Contact the restaurant at 760-814-2548 or email taproom@burgeonbeer.com.
In the fall of 2019, Marie Alderbert and her partner Gennaro Rodriguez were putting plans in place to open Elote Restaurant on Valley Parkway. It would be the restaurant to compliment their brand, Elote, which already had a successful to-go corn stand in Valley Center.
Elote Restaurant owners Genarro Rodrigues and Marie Alderbert.
They signed the lease on March 1, 2020 only to see the country shut down on March 15. Still, they persisted and a year later, Elote Restaurant opened and has had a growing customer base ever since.
Elote literally means corn in Spanish, but to many it is the word for roasted Mexican street corn. Elote is one of the signature dishes here, but it is really their fresh, quality Mexican dishes — many made from homemade family recipes — that makes Elote Restaurant a new Escondido favorite.
“Everything is made fresh,” Alderbert said. “We created the recipes and Gennaro’s mother, Carmella, helped us with the recipes.”
The salsas, meat marinades, rice and beans are all created from family recipes Carmella helped create.
Elote Restaurant serves fast casual, customizable entrees giving the customer options to create their meal.
Elote Restaurant has ample outdoor seating.
“Everything is build-your-own,” Alderbert said. “You choose your dish, pick your protein and add all the toppings you want.”
In addition to the traditional burrito, taco or bowl-style meals, customers can also choose potato or corn as their meal base option. The potato, which is roasted in the corn oven, has quickly become a customer favorite. Like the potato, fries have recently been added to the menu and they too have been ordered often. Proteins such as beef, chicken, pork, or tofu are added next, then the meal can be completed with a variety of cheeses, fresh and roasted vegetables, seasonings, salsas, beans, rice and of course, corn.
Delicious taco plate with homemade salsas and fresh toppings.
Along with delicious foods, tasty Mexican sodas and homemade Agua Fresca drinks are available.
As Escondido locals, Aldebert and Rodriguez felt Escondido was the perfect place to open their new venture. Not only were they closer to family, who have been instrumental in helping open their business, but they also felt the Escondido community would embrace their fresh take on Mexican food.
“We feel very supported here in Escondido, that’s another good thing about Escondido,” Alderbert said. “The community is really open to supporting local businesses.”
Alderbert is also beginning to expand their services into catering. Catering orders, which includes roasting corn, can be made for take-out or onsite.
Elote is located at 1760 E. Valley Parkway. Orders can be placed by calling 760-533-0974 or online here.