Our People

A long-time fixture on the North Coast, Chef Stephen began his culinary career at the tender age of 15 washing dishes and prepping for local chefs where he learned the fundamentals of classical cooking. His career path took him to Sacramento and ultimately to the Bay area where he worked the line at Jeremiah Tower’s venerable Stars restaurant in San Francisco while attending the California Culinary Academy. Following his graduation from CCA in 1991, he apprenticed at the Sacramento branch of the acclaimed Chinois East/West before returning to Mendocino in 1992.

Travels throughout California, Mexico, Thailand, India and Nepal, along with a month-long trek through the Andes, served to broaden his knowledge of regional and international cuisines. Now Chef Stephen brings this lifetime of experience and creativity to the Brewery Gulch Inn where we are excited to welcome this James Beard-recognized talent to our kitchen.