Karl Strauss Brewing Company has a new executive chef, and he’s quite familiar with the brewery.
Corey Rapp has been elevated from Karl Strauss regional chef. He replaces the retiring Gunther Emathinger, who served as executive chef for 26 years.
“I had worked with Gunther for my entire tenure at Karl Strauss, and I could not have asked for a better mentor, friend, and culinary inspiration than him,” Rapp said. “Without his tutelage and the incredible team surrounding me, I wouldn’t have had any of the success here.”
Rapp has a long connection to San Diego. He is a San Diego State University alum, attended Grossmont College’s Culinary Arts Program and started his career with Karl Strauss in 2002 as a sous chef at the Sorrento Mesa brewpub. He became Menu Research & Development Coordinator in 2007, working closely in collaboration with Emathinger. He was then promoted to Regional Chef in 2012 to oversee all menu development and kitchen operations.
Prior to Karl Strauss, Rapp served as Executive Sous Chef at Croce’s Restaurant and Jazz Bar – a concept by folk singer Jim Croce and his wife, although Jim tragically died in a plane crash just before it opened – for two years. It was during that time that Rapp became a fan of craft beer and ultimately applied for the sous chef opening at Karl Strauss.
His Karl Strauss menu highlights include Duck Fat Pretzel Bites, “Nachos for Grown-Ups” Ahi Poke Nachos, Mac on Tap Mac and Cheese, and Beeramisu featuring Wreck Alley Imperial Stout-soaked lady fingers, mascarpone, and cocoa powder.
“I have enjoyed evolving the menu into what it is today – a consistently executed food ‘pubground’ where there is something for everyone,” Rapp said. “I am excited to continue developing our seasonal pairings like our current Lemongrass Chicken Lettuce Wraps paired with Windansea Wheat.”
Karl Strauss Brewing Company has nine Southern California brewpubs, including four in San Diego in 4S Ranch, Carlsbad, downtown and Sorrento Mesa. The others are in Anaheim, Corona Dos Lagos, Costa Mesa, Downtown Los Angeles and Temecula.
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