April 17, 2018 – Chef Philip Wojtowicz—co-founder of the iconic Big Sur Bakery and co-author of the Big Sur Bakery cookbook with Michelle Rizzolo—is opening his own restaurant called Poppy Hall in Pacific Grove early next month.
“It’s a life-long dream and in my mind will be the ultimate restaurant,” Wojtowicz says. He is partnering on the project with Brendan Esons, former sous chef at BSB, and Anna Wilson, who will be general manager.
Located at 589 Lighthouse Ave. in the space that was formerly Mauricio’s restaurant, Poppy Hall will aim for a new style of cuisine.
“We’re going in a new direction I call California soul food,” the chef explained. “Rustic Californian and farm-to-table (cuisine) are in the past, we will be more from the heart.” Wojtowicz said there will be a small seasonal menu augmented by “a huge amount of nightly specials and lots of oysters and seafood.” The food will be good value and reflect the area, he says.
“I like to go fishing and crabbing and wake up everyday with a smile on my face. We are super technique-driven, but I want the food to be personal and transmit that California feeling of well-being,” he says.
Wojtowicz and crew have been working for about a month on the building, which the chef says he has had his eye on for years. “I met the owner of the building a long time ago and just really connected with the space and always wanted to have a restaurant here,” he says.
It was the 20-foot redwood slab bar that dominates the small small dining room that especially attracted him. The bar will stay the same, but new paint, upholstery and furniture have been installed. Poppy Hall will seat 40 diners, including at the bar, and has some outdoor seating along Lighthouse Avenue.
“It will be sort of like Big Sur Bakery—I felt like we were pioneers in California cuisine there—but without the wood oven,” Wojtowicz says. “I’ve had 18 years of cooking over wood fires at Big Sur Bakery and in LA and would be very happy if I never have to light another fire or smell like a campfire again.”
Poppy Hall is aiming for a soft-opening in about two weeks, we’ll keep you posted.
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At Edible Monterey Bay, our mission is to celebrate the local food culture of Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey Counties, season by season. We believe in sustainability, and we believe everyone has a right to healthful, clean and affordable food. We think knowing where our food comes from is powerful, and we hope our magazine, website and newsletters inspire readers to get to know and support our local growers, fishers, chefs, vintners and food artisans.
