Famous for his "chillaxin" brunches as head chef at the Pearl Restaurant, Aaron Lamot has jumped into the full-scale kitchen at Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas, an eight-screen theater complex that affords moviegoers house-made sushi, chicken skewers, flatbread pizzas, toothsome desserts and other fare that surpasses rubbery hot dogs and Red Vines.
California Cinema Investment opened the theaters this weekend in San Diego to crowds of nearly 1,000 customers each night, marking its first U.S. location before it encroaches on La Costa, Laguna and three sites in Los Angeles County. In addition to gourmet food served on white china, the theater offers wine and signature cocktails, with a chili-mango martini not excluded.
Customers order their food from "waiter buttons" found at every seat (leather reclinables, to be exact) and servers deliver the goods before the movies begin or during intermissions. Food prices range from $8 to $13.
"This is a completely different concept," says Lamot, admitting that he grew accustom to cooking for guest capacities of 100 at the Pearl, and now for 600-plus people at Cinepolis. "But I'll still be using local, sustainable fish (for the sushi) and adhering to seasonal menu changes, just like at a restaurant."
Beyond the sushi, pizza sauce and marinara served with mozzarella sticks, most of the staples originate from U.S. Foods and Sysco. But compared to the hackneyed pickings at other major movie theaters, noboby's complaining so far.
The cinemas are located at 12905 El Camino Real, Del Mar.
