POR VIDA 2146 Logan Ave San Diego, CA 92113 619.564.8568 www.porvidacollective.com
MANUEL MEDINA CREDENTIALS: LEAD BARISTA, POR VIDA
YOUNG HICKORY 4096 30th St San Diego, CA 92104 619.795.6574 www.younghickory.com
C L AY S U M M E R S CREDENTIALS: OWNER, YOUNG HICKORY Q: Tell me about the history of Young Hickory. Clay Summers: I used to be a graphic designer, and I would often work out of coffee shops in the North Park area. One of the cafés I would frequent was a little place called Filter. Just when I began to feel burned out and started seeking a career change, I found out that the owner of Filter wanted to sell the place. I negotiated with him and he helped me make the transition from design to business. I wanted to establish something long-lasting, something that would fit the North Park neighborhood, and out of those goals came Young Hickory. Q: What sets Young Hickory apart from
other cafes in the San Diego area? CS: Lots of local coffee shops have menus that are limited to sweet stuff like pastries. I try to offer breakfast sandwiches, avocado bowls, acai, and other nutritious options so that my customers don’t feel like they’re eating junk all the time. And unlike some craft coffee and beer shops that can come across as snobby or judgmental, Young Hickory has a more relaxed, open environment where you can feel comfortable opening your laptop and getting to work without feeling like people are looking down on you. Q: What drink(s) would you recommend to a newcomer to Young Hickory? CS: I strongly recommend our house blend: black
gold coffee, served either hot or iced. And if you’re in the mood for something stronger, try one of our craft beers straight from the can. The streamlined design functions almost like a keg, keeping the beer cold and fresh. Q: If you had to eat or drink one item on the menu for the rest of your life, what would it be? CS: In terms of food, I’d have to go with the breakfast sandwiches because there are so many different combinations you can make and you won’t get tired of eating the same meats and toppings over and over again. As for drinks, I’ll stick with our house blend with a shot of beer on the side. It’s one of our best specials on the menu.
*SIPS TEA* • Young Hickory has seven types of tea available for customers. Summers recommends the Sicilian Lemon Love green tea. GET SOME GRUB • According to Summers, some of the other popular items on the breakfast and lunch menus include wheat toast, granola, romaine salads and acai bowls during warmer months. NATIVE KNOWLEDGE • Come enjoy happy hour every day 5-7 p.m.!
Q: Tell me about the history of Por Vida. What drew founders Carolina and Milo to the Barrio Logan community? Manuel Medina: Milo was originally drawn to the community of Barrio Logan through a grassroots movement of creating art spaces for friends and community to come together as a meeting space to unleash creativity. Carolina and Milo figured to bring business into the collective bringing Por Vida to life. Q: How has the local Hispanic culture and the diversity of the neighborhood influenced Por Vida’s aesthetic and beverages? MM: The community has definitely been an important aspect to allowing Por Vida to become the space it is today. Aside from the ownership being brown and wanting to offer a product other brown and diverse people could understand, it was important to match
our surroundings. We aimed to bring back our abuelitas’ sabores and create a menu that we could relate to and understand. Q: What drink(s) would you recommend to a newcomer to Por Vida? MM: Definitely try one of our mazapan lattes. They’re derived from Mexican candy and they’re super nutty, which balances out the taste of coffee. Q: What is the most unusual or unique beverage that customers can find at Por Vida? MM: If you’re looking for something unusual, then go for one of our spicy fruit juices mixed with lemonade and chamoy. Q: What types of snacks or appetizers do you recommend eating with some of Por Vida’s most popular drinks? MM: My favorites from Por Vida are Mexican chocolate brownies and Mexican hot chocolate. Customers also enjoy our vegan banana nut bread and pan dulce. LOCALE MAGAZINE 83