We had the good fortune of connecting with Chelsea Jordan Enright and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chelsea, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
That most specialty, flavored vinegar isn’t that special.

In 2016, we went to Modena, Italy and toured a traditional balsamic production facility. We learned the bulk of balsamic imported is a cheap imitation of the “real thing.” True balsamic, Balsamic Tradizional, is barrel-aged a minimum of 12 years. Its incredible taste blew our minds. We came home to CA, a region known for its wine and produce and wondered why more balsamic isn’t produced from local grapes. From there, we broadened our questioning to why flavored vinegar is often just fruit infused with industrially produced apple cider or wine vinegar.

As we pondered, we began researching and learning about vinegar fermentation processes which eventually grew from a side-hustle in 2018 to our full-time family business! In keeping with our original inspiration of Modena’s Balsamic Tradizionale, we initiated a barrel-aging program, and in another ten years, we will have Balsamic Tradizional of San Diego!

So, we’re not your average flavored vinegar or gourmet products. Our products aren’t infused, industrially-produced vinegars and mixers put in fancy packaging and marked up as premium goods. We ‘refine’ fresh produce using traditional fermentation methods along with modern technology to create sophisticated products for everyday cooking and cocktail-making!

Kismet Refining is family-owned & operated, making completely natural, small-batch fermented products with a zero-waste ethos. Everything we make is crafted entirely from scratch using local ingredients in San Diego, CA.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
What sets us apart from other brands and products in the gourmet space is our commitment to zero-waste and the quality of our products. “Our Black Garlic Balsamic goes through a multi-step, nearly six-month production timeline before a minimum year of barrel-aging, and it was highly satisfying for it to receive Best-In-Show and Best in Class at our first-ever competition last year and Best-In-Show for a second time this year!

This year we entered our non-alcoholic Amaro Hibiscus, which is our Hibiscus vinegar layered with additional bittering herbs and flavors in the alcoholic Amaro category at the SIP Awards, and it won Double Gold! In addition, we are excited to say our Black Garlic Michelada and Bloody Mary Mixer, which we make every ingredient that goes into the bottle, also won Double Gold!

Creating and formulating our delicious products is the aspect of the business that comes most naturally to us both. The more challenging side has been learning and honing the necessary online and social media marketing skills. Pre-pandemic, we thought wholesale to local restaurants and bars would have been the majority of our business. Unfortunately, the increased cost of goods and staffing shortages created a more significant barrier to getting on menus than we initially expected.

Ultimately, I am excited that we have focused primarily on direct-to-consumer. Finding unique pantry goods that are high-quality and not just mediocre ingredients put into upscale packaging can be difficult. I am very conscious about the products I buy for my family. It’s incredibly satisfying to make products I can stand behind 100% and know the taste and quality are exceptional. We are excited to share that with as many people as we can!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We’re based in Escondido so I have to highlight a few of our favorites close to home! Our go-to restaurant is Plan 9 Alehouse, where Chef Stone creates deliciousness in their from-scratch kitchen and good beer is always on tap! Cruising Grand is the Fri night extravaganza that takes over downtown Escondido and is a must-do for any car-lover. After traffic on the 78 calmed down, I would take them to Misadventure Co in Vista for some genuinely excellent cocktails at a one-of-a-kind sustainable vodka distillery!

The next day, we would go to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. I love seeing the animals in their larger, more natural habitats and taking the Tram Safari Tour. For dinner, I would make a reservation for dinner and wine at Cordiano Winery at sunset. Their views are unbeatable!

Last day we would have to go to La Jolla. One of my favorite breakfast/pastry places in San Diego is Sugar and Scribe. I usually just get a few delicious pastries and coffees to-go and head to the coast to find a nice bench or spread out a beach blanket and take in the views. Lunch, if feeling Mexican vibes, I would grab my ultimate favorite taco in SD from The Taco Stand– the Camaron with a Mar Y Tierra Fries. Or would share one of the gems of San Diego’s fresh seafood scene, El Pescador Fish Market. Everything there is terrific and incredibly fresh! For the afternoon/evening you have to go brewery hopping in San Diego! A couple of my favorites along Miramar Rd are Duck Foot Brewing, Pure Project, and White Labs! White Labs is unique in that they are an international brewer’s yeast manufacturer and do flights of the same beer brewed with different yeast strains. A truly unique experience. I would wrap things up by heading back inland slightly to Mira Mesa for a delicious bowl of ramen at Menya Ultra.

That would wrap up a weekend of delicious food, drinks, and sights of San Diego!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
We wouldn’t be able to do what we are doing without the support and assistance of both our families. We are so thankful for them!

Website: kismetrefining.com

Instagram: @kismetrefining

Facebook: Kismet Refining

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjNXpiPAQaobCeeXoSGZsyw/featured

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.