Julia is one of the newest employees of the JCS team. Although she is relatively new to the culinary field, her love and knowledge for cooking has grown tremendously. When Julia is not working hard in the kitchen as one of Junior Chef Stars assistants, you can find her guarding the goal on the soccer field.

Angelina was born and raised in the SF Peninsula. Despite her young age, her passion for cooking is very old school. Staying true to her Nicaraguan roots, Angelina enjoys using fresh fruits and vegetables in her creations and cooking meals from scratch. Making good honest food is something she keeps very close to her heart. If you don’t catch Angelina cooking in the kitchen, you can more than likely find her at school, dancing, working out, and of course, eating. She’s excited to share her love for food with anyone who’s willing to try something new.

Claudio was born in Nicaragua, while growing up in the epicenter of food (the City), San Francisco. He embodies a fiery passion for food and soccer. While truly learning his love of food from his beloved mother’s kitchen, he has years of experience working in the food industry. Additionally, he created and developed a successful mobile food operation in San Francisco. He loves creating new dishes, experimenting and fusing his love for worldly culture and spices- thru simplicity and love.

Sandra serves as our Private Events Coordinator here at Junior Chef Stars. She has always loved delicious food and a great party. Having been raised in such a big family, parties and cooking have always played an important role in her life. She was exposed to working in the kitchen alongside her mother at a very tender age, and has found a passion in teaching children and teens this important life skill: Cooking, and how to have a party while doing it! She truly believes that food brings people together, so when you combine those two things: cooking and parties, that is a recipe for a really good time!

Mikey was born in the Philippines, while raised in the Bay Area. From a very young age he developed his love for cooking from his mother and sister. He grew up cooking and eating traditional Filipino food. He has years of experience working in the food industry and worked at Boudin Bakery for 4 years prior to joining Junior Chef Stars. He loves to cook different types of traditional Filipino food and he loves creating brand new flavorful dishes. .

Yazmin is one of our newest employees at Junior Chef Stars, she found her love of cooking from a very young age. Her favorite memories are helping her mother out in the kitchen and making tortillas by hand with her grandmother. She further advanced her culinary skills by taking cooking classes in school which gave her the confidence and creativity in the kitchen. She loves trying new recipes and experimenting with different flavors.

Linda is one of Junior Chef Stars amazing instructor assistants, she has been part of our team since 2017. Linda has always had a passion for working with kids and has three adult children of her own. Linda loves spending time with her two grandkids in her free time and loves to share her love of cooking & baking with them.

Chef Kyle graduated from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in San Francisco with an Associate’s Degree in Occupational Culinary Arts. While living in the Philippines, he started cooking at the age of 8 with the primary reason to help take care of his younger brother while his parents were at work, until he developed a passion in food and cooking. He believes that Julia Childs once said that “People who love to eat, are ALWAYS the best people.” In his spare time he enjoys watching the cooking for family, experimenting with recipes and making cupcakes with his nieces at home.”

Dina joined Junior Chef Stars in 2017. She has worked in the finance industry over 10 years and now serves as our Program Director. She grew up learning how to cook from her mother. After becoming a mother herself she developed a passion for cooking, making wholesome meals for her family is priority. When Dina is not at the office you will find her driving her kids to soccer practice or a gymnastics recital. Her hobbies include cooking, running and volunteering around the community.

Simmone is one of our fantastic Chefs & she leads our Product Team at Junior Chefs Stars. Born and raised in San Francisco, Chef Simmone’s fondest memories where growing up in the kitchen with her grandmother and mother cooking and baking using food to bring the family together. A tradition that she continues with her own son. When Chef Simmone is not cooking in the kitchen you can find her on the soccer field referring youth soccer and coaching baseball.

Chef Jeff joined Junior Chef Stars while in pursuit of a lifelong dream: having a job title that rhymes with his first name. He comes with a background in summer camp coordinating, a marketing degree from the University of Kansas, and experience in the software industry. He’s excited to serve as the Senior Program Coordinator, while simultaneously serving up delicious 5 star-level cuisine with all his awesome students.

Here’s the real runner of the show, our CEO, Chief of Chewing & Executive Shedder. Marley LOVES food, ALL kinds. He practically begs to take a bite of anything that gets in his rural area. But with his love for food comes his love for people, he is a social ninja who somehow gets everyone to love him upon first impression! Greeting them at the door being nothing but a ball of positive energy. In tough times, we look to Marley for solutions.

Mary, joined the Junior Chef Stars Team in 2017. Shes is a certified baking fanatic and loves to bring in delicious treats to share with our team! Mary grew up in Utah and moved to the Bay Area as a teenager. She grew up loving to cook and bake with her mother Dorothy, another amazing baker (we can verify this). When Mary isn’t working she loves all things gardening and never turning down a belly rub from her adorable cat Rex, whom we all think looks like the cat from Puss in Boots.

Cooking and baking has always been a fun activity in Ivy’s family, especially baking sweet treats that can be shared with others. Comfort food is a staple in her home, and she loves to share all different recipes with family and friends. Ivy has experience in Early Childhood Education and has previously worked as a teacher aide with kindergarteners at local schools in Pacifica, where she currently lives and grew up.
(ServSafe, First Aid & CPR Certified)

Chef Russell is one of our most experienced instructors and has a key role within the product development team at Junior Chef Stars. Growing up in the Bay Area he was exposed to all sorts of different cuisine, and was taught by his father (a former chef), the proper culinary skills in the kitchen from a young age. Along with the formal education and etiquette of the food industry he learned from school he’s always been inspired to cultivate his own dishes at home. Russell loves experimenting with flavors and sharing his creations and knowledge of food with others. Constantly coming up with new ways to blend and fuse certain dishes or enhance their flavors. He loves taking his time cooking, and does so among friends who join in for one of his delicious dishes.

(ServSafe, CPR & First Aid Certified)

Tabitha is one of our fantastic Chefs & Program Coordinators here at Junior Chef Stars. Tabitha has been with us since 2012. She teaches many of our summer camps, classes and parties. Tabitha was born and raised in Pacifica, CA. She graduated in 2011 from San Francisco State with a BS in Sociology. She has enjoyed learning how to cook authentic Latin cuisine from her mother and Grandmother since she was a little girl. She brings with her a passion for cooking and years of experience working with children. –  (Leave of Absence)
(ServSafe, CPR & First Aid Certified)

Joel serves as the Business Manager for Junior Chef Stars. He has an extensive knowledge of all things business. Joel graduated from California State University, Bakersfield with a Bachelors of Science in Business Management. Joel has worked in the banking and finance industry for over 11 years and has now found his place at Junior Chef Stars. He has grown up learning to cook all things from his Mother. Joel enjoys spending time with his family learning how to create exciting new dishes and sharing his heritage through the medium of cooking with all of the staff and students here at Junior Chef Stars.
(ServSafe, CPR & First Aid Certified)

Chef Brian is Junior Chef Stars Owner. He attended the California Culinary Academy of San Francisco in 2001 for its famed Le Cordon Bleu’s Hospitality Management program. Brian brings with him many years of sales, business management, marketing experience and of course his culinary expertise.
Brian gained a passion for cooking from being in the kitchen with his Father and Grandfather as a small child. His favorite cooking memory is baking chocolate chip cookies with his mom as a child. Brian currently lives in Pacifica with his partner and his dog. He enjoys sharing his knowledge and passion for cooking with others and spending as much free time as he has in the kitchen with his friends and family.
(ServSafe, CPR & First Aid Certified)