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Explore San Diego
Photograph of Chef Bear’s hands holding a beautifully plated dish in a white ceramic bowl.
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Photograph of Chef Bear salting a large Ribeye steak with kitchen items blurred out in the background including a cooling rack and filled Cambros.
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Photograph of Chef Bear holding a natural weaved bag full of leaves and herbs while outside in a tree-lined setting.
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Cow by Bear

San Diego, CA

  • The Firsts

Origin

The legend of Cow by Bear dates back to 2011, when an anonymous chef suited up in a bear costume began hosting dinner pop-ups out of a San Diego apartment. The rather unconventional concept quickly became one of the city’s most sought-after experiences, moving from one undisclosed location to the next. There was something electrifying about the mysterious chef, a roomful of strangers, and an ever-changing menu, which centered around a 50-day dry-aged ribeye, because what else would get a bear truly excited?

Originally the vision of Chef Bear, the project expanded over the years with several other anonymous chefs. While the pack did stints in Seattle and Savannah, Cow by Bear is now exclusively hosting their dinner parties out of San Diego. Branded as ‘experimental dining with strangers and friends,’ the concept remains an intimate destination for unique and heartfelt menus that are never replicated. Chef Bear hand-selects thoughtful wines, like a crisp Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley or a subtly smokey vintage Nebbiolo to complement each course.

For the mystique. Over the years, Chef Bear has remained committed, never breaking character or revealing his true identity. “I’m a bear that lives in a human world,” he says. “I love bringing people together, but even more, I love that I get to be part of it all.”

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