Posted on Feb 22, 2009 under Archives, Chefs, Interviews |
Chef de Cuisine Victor Juarez
Morongo Casino Chef de Cuisine Victor Juarez developed a love of cooking as a child where he would help prepare meals for his family using ingredients his father would bring home from fishing trips and traveling. Upon his arrival in the US as a teenager he began working in the hotel restaurant industry and rose through the ranks at the Hilton Hotel and La Verne University. He served as Executive Chef at the Mission Inn in Riverside before becoming Chef de Cuisine at Morongo Casino in January 2009. I sat down and spoke with Chef Juarez about his love of cooking and the new menu at the Morongo’s Cielo restaurant during a press trip at Morongo a few weeks ago.
Posted on Jan 26, 2009 under Archives, Chefs, Interviews |
Chef Hubert Keller
A native Frenchman, Chef Hubert Keller trained with some of France’s most legendary chefs, including Paul Bocuse and Paul Haeberlin at the L’Auberge de LIll. His talents caught the eye of Roger Verge, the Grand Master of French Haute Cuisine, who first made him a chef at Moulin de Mougins on the French Riviera and then appointed him to a two-year stint as Executive Chef at Cuisine du Soleil in San Paulo, Brazil before bringing him to San Francisco to run Sutter 500.
In 1986, Chef Keller became Executive Chef and co-owner of Fleur De Lys, which for 20 years has been one of the cities top fine dining establishments. By the 1990’s, Chef Keller’s reputation reached the White House where he received an invitation to be the first guest chef, preparing a meal for Presdient Clinton and his family.
Chef Keller has opened restaurants in Las Vegas (Fleur de Lys and The Burger Bar at Mandalay Bay). A second Burger Bar has opened in St. Louis, as well as a steakhouse (Sleek), with a third Burger Bar scheduled to open soon in San Francisco. The first show of the reality tv series “Top Chef” was filmed at Fleur de Lys in San Francisco, and featured Chef Keller as a judge. Chef Keller also hosts the national PBS tv show “Secrets of a Chef.”
I was fortunate enough to be able to taste (and look at – all Chef Keller’s dishes are expertly plated) many dishes at Fleur de Lys in San Francisco and had the pleasure of sitting down with Chef Keller for a chat after sampling some of the best food I have ever tasted. Here is our discussion.
Posted on Jan 26, 2009 under Chefs, Interviews |
Chef Mark Passetti
I sat down with Chef de Cuisine Mark Passetti before dining at the Tonga Room at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, here is our conversation.
Posted on Jan 22, 2009 under Archives, Chefs, Interviews |
Executive Chef James Bailey
Executive Chef James Bailey was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. He received a Pro Chef degree at the esteemed Culinary Institute of America and quickly ascended to Executive Chef status for a number of prestigious venues, most recently at the Sheraton Delfina – a Kor Hotel Group property – where he developed a profound appreciation for the diverse food culture of the west coast. Prior to his work at the Delfina, he was Executive Chef for the Richmond Country Club in Richmond Virginia. He is currently the Executive Chef at Citron at the Viceroy in Palm Springs. I sat down with Chef Bailey to discuss his cooking philosphy and the new menu at Citron.
