Chef Julian Martinez

I am a chef and entrepreneur with 15 years of professional cooking experience. When I was 25 years old, I opened Barbareño Restaurant in Santa Barbara, CA. I continue to own and operate the restaurant, but have taken a step back from the day-to-day cooking. I continue to operate our events, but have time to devote to other endeavors, including working as a private chef or event chef.

I believe food is one of the most important ways we can connect to each other, and cooking is a truly personal act. I always strive to cook with complete integrity, using most nutritious and flavorful ingredients I can find. My restaurant is founded upon the belief that food should be local in character--not only the ingredients themselves, but the style and personality of the dishes themselves. This is how I strive to cook everyday. To use food to ground ourselves in the here and now.