Jeff Bonilla: Pastry Chef and Free Agent

Executive Pastry Chef Jeff Bonilla has parted ways with Del Mar's L'Auberge & Kitchen 1540 and is now on the market. Originally brought on by former Executive Chef Paul McCabe (who's now overseeing culinary ops at La Valencia and cooking at the hotel's Mediterranean Room), Bonilla had been working at Cups La Jolla and appeared on the Food Network's 'Cupcake Wars' while he was with the bakery.

He's also one of the founders of the Evolve Cuisine pop-up dining events, which he put together with Chef Daniel Baron and superstar mixologist Mike Yen (Nine-Ten, Lodge at Torrey Pines), who's currently behind the bar at Kitchen 1540.

As for what's next, Bonilla says that he's got some irons in the fire and may stay in the hotel restaurant sector, boutique or otherwise (he used to work for Marriott) — just as long as it's a place that supports creativity.
· Jeff Bonilla [Twitter]
· Evolve Cuisine [Official Site]