The San Diego culinary community is mourning the loss of beloved San Diego chef Anthony Sinsay, who passed away on Sunday following a years-long battle with cancer.
Chef Anthony Charles Sinsay was a San Diego native who was always donating his time and food at charity events during his near decade-long tenure at restaurants around America's Finest City. An esteemed and most talented chef, Sinsay was known for promoting Filipino cuisine and championing local causes, as well as passionately advocating for and supporting local farmers, fishermen and purveyors.Sinsay's resume included stints with the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group, The Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills and Nobu in Las Vegas. He honed his skills locally in San Diego as Executive Chef at Harney Sushi in Old Town, Enlightened Hospitality's Burlap in Del Mar, La Villa in Little Italy, Duke's La Jolla, and Jsix in the Gaslamp. He was invited to cook for the 2013 James Beard Awards in New York and was the San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival “Chef of the Fest” in 2009. In early 2019, Sinsay and his family departed San Diego so he could take a position as Executive Chef of the Hotel Monaco in downtown Seattle.
On Sunday, May 16, the 37-year-old Sinsay passed away following a two year long battle with a rare cancer called primitive neuroectodermal brain tumor. Sinsay leaves behind his wife Elyse and two young children.
Anthony Sinsay was known for his infectious smile, his playful approach to food, an amazing sense of humor, and his gentle and nurturing leadership in the kitchen. He was SanDiegoVille's one and only "Chef of the Year" honoree. We considered him a dear friend and will miss him immensely.
Sinsay's family is asking Anthony's friends and colleagues to leave an online tribute and are accepting donations to assist in covering funeral costs via a GoFundMe campaign. Please donate what you can to help his family during this devastating time.
"Communication, collaboration, and consistency are needed in the kitchen in order for it to run successfully." ~ Chef Anthony Charles Sinsay - July 18, 1983 - May 16, 2021
