Javier Castro – Kelsey’s Chef

Javier Castro became a chef so he could spread joy with his gourmet creations. That is why the Chef of Kelsey’s makes it a point to personally visit with his guests as they dine. Almost like a sign from the heavens, the euphoric expressions that appear on their faces while indulging in Castro’s savory California cuisine tell him that he is doing extremely well.

Castro took great care designing Kelsey’s kitchen and menu back when he took the reigns in 2004. He still finds developing new menus to be a very important endeavor because guest satisfaction is always his top priority. And beyond managing Kelsey’s regular daily operations, Castro and his staff also provide banquet catering services for up to 100 in the restaurant’s dining and patio areas.

Self-taught through and through, the ambitious chef had to work his way up to top. In the past, he served as a line cook, kitchen manager and culinary training manager for a brewery chain. But most of his experience came from sharing recipes, ideas and advice with past culinary colleagues.

However, Castro gives the most credit to his grandfather, a baker from Mazatlan, Mexico, for teaching him about the core elements of the culinary arts. “His greatest lesson was that a well-prepared dish does not need to be complex,” says Castro. “Sometimes it’s the simple pleasures that make people smile the most.”