The OC's hottest chefs have cooked all over the world and choose to call the sprawling Southern California culinary mecca - Orange County - their permanent home. With cuisine ranging from California to French to Middle Eastern, there is certainly no lack of diversity among this list of foodie favorites.
Here’s the list of OC’s hottest and greatest chefs:
Chef Spencer Kim | Spencer's Bistro
Chef Spencer Kim delivers a tasteful fusion of Pan-European influences from scratch which is highlighted by his slow braised Oxtail Ragout with house made pasta, blueberry marinara pork ribs and his Beef Burgundy that rivals any fine dining offering. Rotating menus seasonally and personally running the show, Kim's menu drives home the concept of gourmet with zero pretense.
6084 Orangethorpe AvenueBuena Park, CA 90620 (714)736-0557
Chef Noah Von Blom | Arc Restaurant
In 2013, Chef Noah von Blöm and his wife Marin began opening restaurants at SOCO and The OC Mix, developing the center as a true OC culinary hotspot. After opening Arc in Costa Mesa, where every dish is cooked over an open flame, Chef Noah was heralded for creating "one of the most important restaurants to open this decade" by food critic Brad A. Johnson of The OC Register.
Following the success of Arc, Restaurant Marin opened right next door. With a bright, coastal feel, the menu features all-day breakfast, along with the comfort of traditional dinner items and handcrafted cocktails. A graduate of the California Culinary Academy, Chef Noah also worked in New York at Restaurant Daniel and The Ritz in Newport Beach.
Chef Amar Santana | Broadway by Amar Santana & Vaca
Chef Amar Santana was runner-up for Bravo TV's "Top Chef" in Season 13, and is passionate about the gastronomical experience. He progressed from the Careers Through Culinary Arts Program for disadvantaged youth in Queens to earning a scholarship to study at Le Cordon Bleu in London. In 2011, he opened his first OC restaurant, Broadway By Amar Santana, in Laguna Beach, and in 2015 opened Vaca in Costa Mesa, well known as the hottest new restaurant in OC. Chef Santana utilizes his Dominican roots and New York upbringing to create unique combinations of flavors and textures using seasonal ingredients, international flavors and French techniques.
Broadway by Amar Santana - 328 Glenneyre Street, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 | (949) 715-8234
Vaca - 695 Town Center Dr. Ste. 170, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 | (714) 463-6060
Executive Chef Andrew Sutton | Napa Rose
For over 10 years, Chef Andrew Sutton has been telling the story of the Napa Valley through his food. His fresh, innovative California cuisine is served right inside Disney's California Adventure park. Chef encourages guests to interact with him at the Chef's counter where "The Vintner's Table" prix-fixe menu is a foodie favorite. Since it's opening in 2002, Napa Rose Restaurant has received high accolades from Orange County food and wine community.
1600 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802 | (714) 300-7170
Chef Carlos Salgado | Taco Maria
The two-time James Beard Award-nominated executive chef and owner of Taco María in Costa Mesa is drawing accolades for his Alta California menu items, a fusion of Mexican and American cuisine. Prior to opening Taco María, Chef Carlos spent a decade in San Francisco and Oakland, learning in kitchens including Vernon Morales' Winterland, Daniel Patterson's Coi, and James Syhabout's Commis. He was named a Food & Wine Best New Chef in 2015, as well as Chef of the Year in The Orange County Register.
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