Who is: Executive Chef Jose Mejia

Executive Chef Jose Mejia

Executive Chef Jose Mejia at District American Kitchen and Wine Bar knows the value of diversity in the kitchen.

From his extensive experience across borders, Mejia has infused cultures to bring a new twist to American cuisine. Working in Europe, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, Mejia has taken with him skills and flavors of different regions while catering to clients.

“What you cook, create and serve really depends on the place you are at; this will influence the creations you are making,” Mejia said.

With 20 years of experience in the industry, Mejia has gotten used to traveling and making himself a true expert in cuisine. “I like the corporate world. I enjoy working with a lot of people within different groups.”

Street Pork Machaca on Churros

Mejia uses cultural differences in some of the iconic dishes he prepares for the District American Kitchen and Wine Bar, “It is very important to make different styles of food; to take ideas from everywhere.” One of Mejia’s favorite dishes served in District American Kitchen and Wine Bar that incorporates culture is the Street Pork Machaca on Churros, which has Arizona date and fig jam, chipotle crema, smoked garlic and piquillo pepper puree, and mole dust. The dish “goes well because you have something crispy with bold flavors, while keeping an original recipe,” he explained. It is this creative spin on traditional dishes that distinguishes some of the dishes available in the restaurant.” “The only way you can be successful is to listen, see what the request is, and then take it from there to come up with ideas.”

Mejia doesn’t take it personally if he gets a dish sent back from a customer, “You need to find out what the people are looking for, and correct any errors.”

Happy clients are the fuel behind any restaurant. As a Latino, Mejia knows there are differences between an American and a Latino’s preference in taste. “We are not going to make 100% Mexican menus because essentially, District American Kitchen and Wine Bar serves all American comfort food with a twist. The cuisine incorporates many flavors with inspirations from cultures everywhere – the Latino community included. We serve up simple dishes like a taco, but with a twist. It seems the palate is different when looking at the cultures, so we try to accommodate that.”

He prefers to incorporate some of the more exotic Latino flavors through condiments and side dishes to showcase the flavor. “You have to know what flavors to mix up with the different American flavors.”

Mejia’s knowledge derives from his experiences, but credits his mother when it comes to his passion for food. “She likes food. She is really into it, [and] so I started learning from her.”

It is such passion that has not detoured Mejia from working at a job he loves, and encourages entrepreneurs as well as food lovers to embrace these passions; to travel, and to pursue a career you truly love.