James Beard Foundation Awards semifinalist, Jonathan Bautista, has joined the team at celebrity chef Richard Blais' Ember & Rye restaurant in San Diego's North County.
Chef Jonathan Bautista graduated from The Art Institute of California with an Associates of Science in Culinary Arts in 2005, and began his career as a line cook at now-defunct Roy’s in La Jolla. He eventually moved on to become a sous chef at Kitchen 1540 in Del Mar before leaving to join the opening team of Michael Voltaggio’s INK in Los Angeles. Bautista returned to San Diego as chef de cuisine of Kitchen 1540 in late 2011, and in late 2013, he became head chef of Georges at the Cove under Chef/Owner Trey Foshee.
In 2019, Bautista left Georges and joined Common Theory in Kearny Mesa. Then in early 2021, he was hired as Executive Chef at Kingfisher modern Vietnamese restaurant in San Diego's Golden Hill, a position that earned him a James Beard Foundation Awards semifinalist nomination for the Best Chef, California category. Last year, it was announced Chef Bautista was leaving Kingfisher only one day after it was released he was not a finalist for the James Beard Awards. It is believed he maintained his position until the James Beard announcement, as it is required by the awards process that a chef be associated with a restaurant to win a Best Chef category. In spring 2023, Bautista took over as Executive Chef of acclaimed San Diego seafood restaurant The Fishery due to Chef Mike Reidy's departure to join Callie restaurant in San Diego's East Village. Bautista left The Fishery less than a year later.
Chef Jon Bautista has now signed on as Executive Chef of Ember & Rye, the Park Hyatt Aviara's signature restaurant. Ember & Rye will reopen on June 22 following a nine month closure due to a kitchen fire that occurred on August 30, 2023. In addition to signature menu items, Chef Bautista will add his own touches to the menu with the introduction of many new dishes made with locally sourced meats and produce.
Ember & Rye is located at 7100 Aviara Resort Drive within the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa in San Diego's North County community of Carlsbad. For more information, visit hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/california/park-hyatt-aviara-resort/sanpa.
