Brian Malarkey, who counts the La Jolla area among the locales for the 15 restaurants he’s created across the country, has been named to the lineup of chefs at this year’s KAABOO Del Mar, a comedy, music and culinary program set for Friday through Sunday, Sept. 14 through 16, at the Del Mar Racetrack and Fairgrounds.
Malarkey, 45, was the founding executive chef of La Jolla’s Herringbone and Del Mar’s Searsucker restaurants, whose brands expanded nationally and internationally to 10 locations. He resigned from those eateries this year to focus on his Puffer Malarkey Restaurants, which include La Jolla’s Alexandria at Torrey Pines and Farmer & the Seahorse.
Malarkey has also held positions at several marquee restaurants in Los Angeles, including chef Michel Richard’s Citrus.
He’s served as a judge on Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games, makes regular appearances on the Today show and Good Morning America and was a top chef finalist on The Taste, which he co-hosted alongside Anthony Bourdain. He has judged a variety of television cooking programs and can be seen headlining food and wine festivals around the country.
His accolades include those from restaurant guide Zagat, USA Today and Eater San Diego.
San Diego chef Richard Blais, of Top Chef fame, is also among the collection of 11 chefs.
Music acts at the three-day festival include The Foo Fighters, Katy Perry, Blondie, Billy Idol, Robert Plant and former San DIego resident, Jewel. Comedy entries feature Craig Ferguson, Louis Anderson, Nikki Glaser and Pauly Shore.
KAABOO, founded in 2015, is patterned after nationally prominent events such as California’s Coachella Valley and Tennessee’s Bonnaroo music and arts festivals. For further information, visit kaaboodelmar.com.