The Red Door Wecomes New Executive Chef Daniel Manrique

You’ve read it on your fortune cookie thousands of times: Good things come with change. While some of us have a less easy time transitioning into new stages, others embrace with open arms. The Red Door and The Wellington, both owned by Tom and Trish Watlington, are encouraging San Diego’s restaurant fans to focus on the latter as they introduce new Executive Chef Daniel Manrique.

In staying current with the times, Daniel Manrique’s cooking styles focus on an earth to entrée style that implements fresh produce, herbs, and citrus into the plates you already know and love. The forward-thinking approach brings the garden to life on patron’s plates, reminding us of the rich agriculture that does exist beyond the Gaslamp grid. Both of The Mission Hills’ restaurants have long been staples in the San Diego community, offering menus that pull directly from their own garden—yes, you read that right. The Red Door Family Garden that opened on June 1st supplies much of the ingredients on the menus throughout the day.

Prior to this start, Daniel Manrique was known for his role as the Executive Chef at San Diego’s Jayne’s Gastropub and sous chef at Parallel 33 under the renowned Chef Amiko Gubbins. Most recently, Daniel cooked up a storm as sous chef at The Red Door and The Wellington, playing a vital part in the restaurant’s evolution to include a more seasonally fresh menu. This experience all leads him to be fit as the new chef in charge.

What’s to come?  New Executive Chef Daniel will revamp both menus to force a spotlight on the farm-to-table growth, elevating the experience of dining at each of these establishments. The fresh flavors and light summer fare that Chef Daniel will bring fits the produce-infused direction of the Red Door menu and the growth of the Family Garden. Your dishes will be brought to you by produce harvested in the same day you came in to eat. For a total fresh-overload, Chef Daniel will also incorporate fresh herbs, produce, and edible flowers into the cocktail program, with plans to present a new bar menu in the near future.

“We hand-picked Daniel to take on the role of Executive Chef because we are confident that he is a uniquely talented and dedicated Chef - a rising star of the local food scene. Daniel embraces the farm-to-fork direction in which we are moving by creating bright and flavorful dishes where the ingredients truly stand out,” said owner Trish Watlington.

Fresh basil, tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, cilantro flowers, rosemary and a few peppers can all be spotted in the Red Door Family Garden, and you can expect to see them on your plate at both locations. The Red Door is located at 741 W. Washington St., and The Wellington is at 729 W. Washington St. in Mission Hills.

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