Featured Chefs

Executive Chef, Jacqueline Keller grew up in an Eastern European family, and her early memories of fish are rooted in holiday traditions. “We were of modest means, so fish was a special treat enjoyed only on rare occasions.”  She learned to fish from her mother-in-law, who grew up fishing with her family. Chef Jackie said that the best way to …

Restaurateur & Chef Rainer Schwarz combines a rich cultural past with the finest culinary training to present menus unlike any other found in the region. His style of cooking focuses on simplicity by using only the best possible high-quality, seasonal ingredients. One of his passions is to pair each dish on his menu with the best possible wine selection. The …

Growing up, Chef Richard E. Pelz learned a great appreciation of French cooking from his mother, and less than desirable wines from his stepfathers’ hobby of making Zinfandel and Cabernet wine in the mountains of Santa Cruz. Some would say, food and wine have been coursing through Chef Pelz’s blood most of his life. After graduating from the Culinary Institute …

Executive Chef, Quinnton Austin, is a celebrity status restaurant and hospitality professional. Making the trip from New Orleans, Louisiana to San Diego, California, Chef Quinnton, also known as “Chef Q”, brings a Southern flair to the local dining scene. With roots in Louisiana and early experience delving into the Bayou’s culinary culture, San Diego is in for a real treat. …

Chef Christopher Badilla was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Tustin, Orange County. His earliest culinary memories consist of his dad showing him how to properly clean the starch from rice before cooking it, baking box cakes with his mom, and helping set the table at his grandpa’s house in Washington. His grandpa “always had a huge holiday …

Raised in Barcelona, Chef Oscar Amador Edo fell in love with Catalonia’s rich culinary traditions at an early age. He grew up “10 minutes away from the Mediterranean where the quality of the seafood is unbelievable.” After graduating from the prestigious Hofmann BCN Chef School, he had the opportunity to stage at El Racó de Can Fabes, a three Michelin …

Brian Smith began cooking as a young child alongside his mother and grandmother. His grandparents had a house in Kino Bay, Mexico where they would often go fishing. Brian remembers catching crabs and digging up clams. He says, “the first time I had clam chowder was when I fell in love with seafood.” By the age of sixteen, Chef Brian …

Chef Christophe Breat grew up on a vineyard in Burgundy, France, where he watched his grandmother prepare dishes using fresh ingredients from her farm. Chef Breat’s fond memories of his grandmother’s cooking inspired him to become a chef. Chef Breat earned his Brevet Professional Diploma from CFA Pierre Dufour Culinary Art Institute in Roanne, France. Upon graduation, he honed his …

Time spent at Philadelphia’s most famous restaurant; Le Bec-Fin proved instrumental for Chef Ron Fougeray. Considered an institution in Philadelphia, the restaurant was rated America’s finest French restaurant, and the Mobil Travel Guide consistently awarded it five stars for 40 years. During his tenure, Chef Ron was mentored by renowned owner and French chef, Georges Perrier. Georges left an indelible …

Born in Los Angeles, Chef Ben Diaz has always been fascinated with cooking. He remembers walking on the beach to dig up clams and enjoying the aromas and sounds at the Long Beach fish market. His father, an accomplished chef, would prepare breakfast while Ben watched carefully. “Seeing the passion my dad had for his craft really inspired me” says …