Jose’s Story
Jose Chesa is a chef. Cooking is not just his job, it is his life. You will be hard pressed to find someone more enthusiastic about their occupation. The son of an Aragonian chef, Jose was exposed to quality food from day one. He grew up cooking alongside his father and grandmother, and he began to display his own talent and acute palate at a very early age. He cherished the local products: the olives, the ham, the seafood, and was amazed at how these things could be combined to create pleasure. It soon became clear that he had inherited his family’s passion for gastronomic excellence, and with it, Jose began traveling the globe, honing his craft at prestigious venues including Arpege, Can Fabes, and Fleur-de-Sel. When he is not delighting his guests with his authentic Spanish tapas, you can find him cheering on FCBarcelona, reading about cars, or spending time with the family and Mason (his dog).
Cristina’s Story
Cristina grew up in Puerto Rico and like Jose, restaurants run in her family. As a teenager, she worked frequently with her restaurateur grandmother in New York City. There she learned quite a bit about food, but even more about hospitality. She brings her grandmother’s old-world mentality of humility and grace everywhere she works, setting the bar for what it means to be ‘hospitable’. This willingness to always put guests first helped place her among the ranks at the esteemed Compostela in San Juan, where her boss and mentor refined her culinary foundation until she left to attend the Culinary Institute of America at age 17. There she received her Bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts Management. Following her graduation she has worked in Alaska, Barcelona (where she met chef and future husband Jose!) and California, as well as returning to her home island to become one of the youngest culinary instructors at the University of Puerto Rico. When she is not stopping by the table to ensure that you have enjoyed every moment of your stay, you can find her at the movies, behind the lens of her digital SLR or arguing recipes with her husband Jose.
Emily’s Story
In the fertile soils of upstate Vermont, Emily was raised in a land where growing and sharing food together was of the utmost importance. A summer job at the favorite locally and seasonally operated snack bar during high school opened her eyes to what she would do with her life; bringing joy to those around her through food opened her eyes to what she would do with her life; bringing joy to those around her through food. She too received her Bachelor’s degree from the CIA, meeting Cristina in the process. After graduating, she joined the team at TRU Restaurant in Chicago to refine her service skills. Upon leaving TRU, she was hired as the general manager for family owned West Town Tavern, also in Chicago. Where is Emily? when she is not overseeing every last administrative detail, you can find her hiking the many trails in the Pacific Northwest, reading, or enjoying libations on a patio somewhere.
Angel’s Story
Our Florida native, Angel Teta always had fun as a bartender yet, driven by her strong work ethic and dedication she longed for knowledge in her craft – the cocktail world – After a visit to Portland, she was hooked and deeply fell in love with the city of roses. PDX embraced her and quickly filled her life with new colleagues, friends and amazing opportunities in the mixology world. With great excitement Angel is helm the bar program at Ataula, here she has truly found her niche! Inspired by the rich flavors and modernist techniques of Chef Chesa, her focus on the cocktail menu is using refreshing, simple ingredients, with a nod to Spain and their contributions to the culinary world. From using a sous vide for the brandy in her La Familia Sangria to deconstructing the classic gin and tonic and really showcasing the quinine commonly found in cinchona bark, Angel is bringing an innovative twist to the tapas bar scene, and we cannot wait to see whats next!