Born in San Diego: 5 Food Brands We Admire
While San Diego is mostly known for its sunny weather, pristine beaches, and laid back Cali vibe, the area has become an exciting hub for food innovation. Maybe it’s the sunshine that inspires us to pursue a healthier lifestyle, or perhaps it’s something in the water fueling creativity – but the local San Diego food scene has produced food and beverage brands that have changed the way we snack, eat, and drink. To celebrate our local roots, here’s a look at just a few of the innovative food brands we admire who were born in San Diego and captivate taste buds far and wide.
AN INNOVATIVE SAUCE (AND DIP!)
Bitchin Sauce is now a household name, but the family-run team famously started out sampling their original spread recipe at the local Farmer’s Market. Who would have thought that almonds could be blended into a smooth and creamy savory dip that pairs well with everything from burgers to fresh veggie sticks? THEY did! And now the Bitchin Sauce line includes so many more flavors to complement practically any mealtime. From zesty to spicy, smoky to savory, and even fruity, sweet or chocolatey flavors – their plant-based dips taste great and elevate meals with the addition of that little extra somethin’. We are fans!
A COLD-PRESSED ORGANIC JUICE
With their operations located in Oceanside, CA, Suja Juice revolutionized the cold-pressed juice industry. They transformed local farmer’s market fresh fruits and vegetables into delicious and nutrient-rich juice blends in thoughtful (and now functional) flavor combinations. We admire their Farm-to-Bottle approach and unique blends that help us improve specific aspects of our wellness. (Our favorite is the original Uber Greens, closely followed by the Citrus blend with orange, pineapple, mango, and coconut. So yummy.) Their delicious range now includes wellness juice shots and juice detox cleanses.
A REFRIGERATED NUTRITION BAR
A road-trip-inspired wonder! The family behind Perfect Bar reimagined traditional protein bars. Turning to their own adventurous experience as kids, the founders introduced their family’s recipe for a nutritious bar that kept the whole gang fed and happy while traveling cross-country on a bus! Their origin story is a fun one, and we’re thankful for it because it led to refrigerated protein bars made from peanuts and nut butter, with an awesome cookie-dough texture. Adding protein into your daily routine is known to curb hunger and keep you fueled, and these bars are perfect for that.
AVOCADO-FIRST CONDIMENTS
What’s more “Californian” than the avocado? Originating in San Diego, Chosen Foods celebrates pure avocado goodness with a line of salad dressings, mayo, and cooking oils starring pure avocado oil. Avocado oil contains the GOOD fats that our bodies need, not the saturated kind. Their range also offers vegan-friendly options, including vegan salad dressing and vegan mayo, to accommodate all kinds of dietary needs. We certainly agree with their motto, that all foods should be thoughtfully chosen.
A SAN DIEGO CRAFT BEER
For strictly grown-up tastes, give three cheers to Belching Beaver. The San Diego-produced craft beers have attracted a loyal following across the Western states (and growing). More than a catchy name with loads of personality, Belching Beaver creates distinct brews from Blondes, to IPAs, stouts, and now, hard seltzers.
We’ve spent many afternoons at their Oceanside, CA facility having our own “Dam Good Times” (ehem, we mean Business meetings), and came to our own happy snacking revelation: Belching Beaver and Lentil Telepathy crunchy toasted lentil snacks are a natural happy hour pairing.
A few disclaimers: We’re proud of our San Diego roots and thankful for the support and encouragement we received from our local community while launching Lentil Telepathy. We want to express our thanks by sharing the gems that were born here. The brands we mentioned did not pay us to write about them, these views are strictly the opinions of Lentil Telepathy J. We include links to their pages so you can discover on your own. We are not affiliate marketers and do not benefit from sales or website traffic to their sites as a result of this post, or any post.