Julian Serrano, 43, is the executive chef of Masa's, the top-ranked 65-seat, nationally and internationally acclaimed French restaurant, located to the Hotel Vintage Court.
A native of Madrid, Spain, Serrano is a graduate of Escuela Gastronomie P.P.O. hotel management school in Marbella on Spain's Costa del Sol. He worked in some of Europe's most celebrated kitchens, including Lucas-Carton in Paris, Hotel de France in Auch, southwest France, Chez Max in Zurich, L'Aubergine in Munich and spent time with Alain Ducase.
He moved to Miami, where he worked on various Caribbean cruise lines, before landing a job at a Spanish restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee. Serrano's next move was to San Francisco where he was a chef at the fine German restaurant, Beethoven.
Serrano began his working relationship with Masa's in May of 1983 when he was hired and personally trained by the restaurant's founding executive chef, Masa Kobayashi.
Serrano became executive chef in 1984 taking French cuisine to a new level, using the freshest ingredients, classic sauces, and work-of -art presentation. Under the direction of Serrano, Masa's has won the San Francisco Focus Gold Medal award for best restaurant the last 12 consecutive years. He won the San Francisco Focus Chef of the Year award in 1994 and has bee nominated by the James Beard Foundation for Best Chef in California in 1994 and 1995. Chef Serrano has collaborated with Julia Child on both her show, Great Chefs with Julia, and cookbook. He has also appeared on the Discovery channel on GreatChefs in Great Cities. Both shows are airing this year.
Serrano lives with his wife Susan and daughter Stephania in the Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco.
For more information and reservations, please contact Masa's at 648 Bush Street, San Francisco, California 94108 or call 415-989-7154.
Our Maitre D' James Soule
James Soule, 34, is the Maitre d' and General Manager for Masa's Restaurant, consistently rated one of the finest French restaurants in the United States, located adjacent to the Hotel Vintage Court.
A native of Ohio, Soule began his restaurant career in Sonoma County and worked at several of the area's well-known restaurants including the Sonoma Mission Inn and the Mark West Lodge. He continued to develop his expertise in food and wine at Domaine Chandon for one and a half years as restaurant captain.
Soule left to join the original opening staff of Masa's in July of 1983. Over the next two years he gained invaluable experience under the direction of Masa Kobayashi.
In 1985, Soule accepted the position of opening general manager of the Courtyard in Menlo Park. One year later, Soule returned to Masa's, bringing with him experience gained while managing this popular Peninsula restaurant.
Together with Executive Chef Julian Serrano, Soule a nine-year veteran employee of the venerable Masa's, built a restaurant that is recognized by the likes of Gourmet magazine, Nation's Restaurant News, Zagat Survey, American Express, and the San Francisco Chronicle, just to name a few, for exceptional service, an extraordinary wine list and truly outstanding cuisine enhanced by work-of-art presentation.
Soule currently lives in Sonoma County with his fiance Kathleen.
For more information and reservations please contact Masa's at 648 Bush Street, San Francisco, California 94108 or call 415-989-7154.
