chef ray garcia
Award-winning Chef Ray Garcia is widely revered for his bold yet refined flavors. His cooking is known for demonstrating elements of long-established tradition, while also having modern appeal. He first came into the national spotlight when he opened critically acclaimed Broken Spanish and BS Taqueria in Los Angeles in 2015, creating a dialogue about authenticity, and coining “authentically inauthentic” to describe his food. Most recently, Garcia has taken over the reins at The Rose Venice, revamping the iconic all day cafe and destination worthy restaurant with his unmistakable dedication to seasonal, ingredient-driven menus and penchant for exploring diverse cultures and culinary traditions for inspiration.
In 2013, Jonathan Gold wrote in the Los Angeles Times, “If you could design a perfect chef for Los Angeles, he might seem a lot like Ray Garcia, an Eastside guy who seems to spend almost as much time proselytizing for healthful eating in local schools as he does in the kitchen. Garcia’s menu manages to be satisfying to both the transgressive big-meat guys and the Gaia-conscious vegans; the carb-lovers and the gluten-free.”
Garcia has consistently been recognized for his philosophies on environmental stewardship and commitment to responsible farming and food production—as seen with his honorary recognition with StarChefs’ “Rising Star” Award for Sustainability in 2010. In 2014, he took home the title of “King of Porc” at Cochon 555, an event celebrating the heritage breed pig. Garcia was recognized by Esquire Magazine as “Chef of the Year” in 2015.
BOLD CALIFORNIAN
In 2024, The Rose Venice welcomed acclaimed Chef Ray Garcia to lead the kitchen, marking a new chapter for the Venice staple. With Garcia at the helm, the menus tout bright, bold, and hyper-seasonal dishes all-day - for brunch & lunch, with a more refined and curated menu for dinner.
The Rose Venice has been an icon in Venice since it opened in 1979, when the space was transformed from an unused gas company dispatch office into a bustling neighborhood café. Located on Rose Ave. and Main. St, where Venice meets Santa Monica, it is a destination for locals and tourists alike. Over the years, it has continued to evolve and remains an active part of LA’s culinary scene at large.
The 8,000 square feet historical warehouse space, meticulously designed, it boasts a full-service espresso bar, a 200+ seat dining room, a farmer's market-driven quick-service market, a commercial production bakery, a full bar, an outdoor beer garden, and a private event space.
The sprawling space, designed by local company, Studio UNLTD, includes indoor and outdoor dining with a beer garden, a full market and bakery, coffee bar, and 40-foot cocktail bar. The design aesthetic took nods from the evolution of the Venice community over the past 30 years with artwork playing a major role. The Rose partnered with local Venice artist Craig Stecyk to cover one of its walls with a combination of bright 14-by-22-inch posters and historic imagery from the neighborhood.
