Jason Maitland on his new cooking gig

Years after being a hot chef comet streaking through Arterra, just a few months after his flame was extinguished as Flavor Del Mar’s chef, Jason Maitland will finally cook outside North County.

Maitland’s the new exec chef at the upcoming Red Light District (409 F St. Gaslamp. rldsd.com).

Expect a late January arrival and the chef to reignite interest in that mouthwatering melting pot tagged “New American cuisine.”

“There aren’t as many New American, new-style restaurants downtown. There’s Searsucker, Grant Grill...other than that...a lot of Italian restaurants, sushi places and a lot of great bars,” he said. “Definitely there’s a niche for hodgepodge with old school American, Chinese, Japanese.”

Get ready for tablecloth-free, tableside food preparations (but no bananas foster performances!?) and a menu with rabbit casserole, 48-hour sous-vide short rib, foie gras as long as the luxury ingredient is legal, and entrees from $17-$26.

Billing itself as a combination dining room and social house, Red Light’s look will be antique - a throwback to seedier San Diego environs. Note the sexy corset logo.

Maitland joins forces with restaurateur Sean Shoja of Cafe Lulu, Toscana Cafe & Wine Bar, and Bite M.e.

About Red Light’s level of seediness, Maitland said, “Red Light will pay homage to old San Diego...sailors, ladies of the night...nobody will actually wear a corset, though.”

Stay tuned for more opening info and soon after, the First Bite review of Red Light District.

Read more of Keli Dailey’s dining reviews on signonsandiego.com

Photo by Eduardo Contreras

Source: DiscoverSD