Carté® Hotel Invites Guests To Explore Its Three Unique Dining Venues & Meet The Tastemakers

Carté Hotel San Diego Downtown, Curio Collection by Hilton,  announced its culinary team and dining concepts for Watercolors, Fonte di Vino and Above Ash Social, the property’s three elevated food and beverage options.

Curated by Director of Food and Beverage, Chans Rock, Executive Chef Cesar Oceguera and Executive Sous Chef Stephanie Armenta, each culinary venue at the new 246-room boutique Little Italy hotel offers a unique menu that highlights fresh, local ingredients and eclectic dishes.

Watercolor

Drawing elements from San Diego’s coastline, Watercolors is the hotel’s flagship full-service restaurant that spotlights unmistakable seafood flavors for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Prioritizing quality, the culinary team partners with local vendors such as the father-daughter fishing duo, the Kastlungers, and well-known fishmonger Paddy Glennon at Superior Seafood to offer guests and locals alike an authentic and immersive San Diego dining experience.

Menu highlights that showcase the fresh, local seafood paired with global flavors include adventurous dishes like the Hamachi Crudo, featuring mezcal-cured seafood, seasonal aguachile and kosho, and the Fish Banh Mi, with Mahi Mahi, pork asientos, pickled vegetables and a toasted baguette.

Watercolors also offers a weekly whole fish special, which is based on the catch of the day
and seasonal produce from the neighboring weekly Little Italy Farmer’s Mercato. Additional menu favorites include the Filet, served with a spicy chimichurri, a smoky cauliflower puree and sautéed local mushrooms, and the Chicken Tandoori, a spicy, kebab-style
dish served alongside tandoori yogurt, cucumbers, shallots, lime and mint.

Fonte di Vino

Paying homage to both San Diego and Little Italy’s cultural heritages, the property’s full-service wine bar and specialty spirit tasting room, Fonte di Vino, takes guests on a spirit-driven tour through Southern California, Northern Mexico and Italy.

The hand-picked menu showcases wines and spirits from the local region, Baja California and Italy. Guests can enrich their tasting experience with curated local cheese and charcuterie board pairings, tailored to Fonte di Vino’s offerings.

Above Ash Social

With views of the San Diego harbor and breathtaking skyline, Carté Hotel’s rooftop venue, Above Ash Social, features an extensive craft cocktail menu, lighter interpretations of traditional appetizer fare and a seasonal menu of inventive ceviches and crudos, such as the Peruano, a Peruvian-style ceviche served with leche de tigre, sweet potato, spicy corn nuts and charred corn. Above Ash’s talented mixologists also create customized craft cocktails to pair with the shareable dishes.

Spearheading Carté Hotel’s diverse culinary program is Executive Chef Cesar Oceguera, who brings over a decade of experience to Little Italy’s newest dining venues. Prior to joining Carté Hotel, Chef Cesar served as Executive Chef at Searsucker.

A native of San Diego with Mexican roots, Chef Cesar has invaluable knowledge of the rapidly growing culinary scene in San Diego, as well as an intimate understanding of authentic Mexican flavors and high-quality ingredients. Known for his ambitious
drive and commitment to reawakening the senses through reinvented cuisine, Chef Cesar is devoted to developing one-of-a-kind, inspiring flavors, creative presentation and sustainable culinary practices at Carté Hotel’s venues.

“All three culinary venues at Carté Hotel – Watercolors, Fonte di Vino and Above Ash Social – have unique storytelling elements that truly encompass the breadth of San Diego flavors,” said Executive Chef Cesar Oceguera. “The team decided to focus on shareable plates, as our mission is rooted in community and we want guests to taste the entire menu, sharing the experience and enriching flavors with one another. We are also working on a variety of eco-friendly initiatives, so guests can dine sustainably without sacrificing flavor or quality.”

Chef Cesar is supported by Executive Sous Chef Stephanie Armenta, who assists him in menu development and day-to-day operations at all the food and beverage venues. Prior to joining Carté Hotel, Chef Stephanie served as executive sous chef at notable San Diego hotspots like Searsucker and Herringbone La Jolla. Chef Stephanie brings a wealth of knowledge around culinary technique, sustainable cooking and diverse cultural flavors.

“We could not have found better experts to spearhead the extensive culinary program at Carté,” said Chans Rock, director of food and beverage at Carté Hotel. “Chef Cesar and Chef Stephanie are dedicated to telling authentic San Diego story, specifically the Little Italy neighborhood, through their use of innovative culinary techniques, fresh ingredients, global flavors and partnerships with local purveyors to source the best seasonal ingredients. We are confident guests are going to going to get an unmatched sense of community, coupled with a one-of-a-kind dining experience at Watercolors, Fonte di Vino and Above Ash Social.”

Carté Hotel also has grab-and-go options, as well as room service and catering menus.

Operated by Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Carté Hotel is located at 401 West Ash Street, San Diego, CA, 92101. For more information or to make a reservation, please visit Carté® Hotel
San Diego Downtown, Curio Collection by Hilton.