Chef in Los Angeles, California

I've been a Professional Chef at some fantastic, James Beard Award-nominated restaurants for the last 15 years before moving to San Pedro 3 years ago. I left a Head Chef position in L.A. to go back to school this year and have been looking for a way to continue to share my love and my craft of cooking and making people happy through food and came across this website. Since I was raised in the South (North Carolina) by Mexican-American parents from Texas, my personal favorite dishes are those fusing Tex-Mex with a Southern twist and fresh local ingredients at markets and butcher shops in your area. Although this might initially seem "heavy" on paper, many of the dishes are quite light but can also pair well and complement a more substantial entree. An example would be an appetizer salad of shaved fruits and veggies (jicama, cucumber, mango, radish, blood orange) with a "Chamuy" vinaigrette, toasted and seasoned pumpkin seeds, and a little crumbled queso fresco. This would be followed by sweet potatoes that have been baked in foil and then sliced into round discs and then grilled with EVOO and fresh herbs. Once off the grill, the sweet potato rounds get drizzled with a chipotle-piloncillo sauce, goat cheese, and a little cilantro. The main attraction is an "Al Pastor" spice-rubbed pork loin that gets marinated and finished on the grill with a side salad of grilled peaches. If you're looking for something a little less "fancy", I am also incredibly skilled at grocery shopping on a budget and maximizing the most out of every purchase. One of the most frustrating things for people these days is finding time and energy to grocery shop, cook an entire meal, clean up the kitchen and do it all over again, 3 times a day, 7 days a week. You hire someone like me and I'll shop for your groceries, cook the meals you request or choose out of a catalogue of dishes and then clean up! Rates are negotiable based on the job/needs of the client at hand as well as a catering menu for special events. I'm also Serv-Save manager Certified through 2025 and am fully bilingual in English and Spanish. Thanks again for your time and look forward to hearing from you!