Dean James Max

Chef
Woodside Restaurant
Brentwood, California

Woodside Restaurant is a cozy and comfortable bistro on a trendy boulevard in the affluent Brentwood area just outside of Los Angeles. Patrons sit at wooden tables under sizeable landscape paintings on the high surrounding walls that give the relatively small dining room a sense of spaciousness. A brick-walled, open kitchen bustles with activity under the passionate direction of Chef Dean James Max.

Early Years

Chef Max grew up on a farm in Virginia, and started his culinary odyssey with a jalapeno crop at the tender age of 8. After spending several years working in his father's produce brokerage business, he entered into the chef's realm by interning in various kitchens, learning what he could learn and moving up the kitchen ladder. Stints at Mumbo Jumbo in Atlanta and at the Ritz Carlton in San Francisco preceded Chef Max's arrival at Woodside in 1997.

Current Projects

So as not to venture far from his farming roots, Chef Max enthusiastically patronizes the nearby Vet's Garden, a 15-acre organic farm that operates as both a horticultural program for clients of the Veteran's Administration and a source for fresh, high quality ingredients for his creative cuisine. The garden provides fresh herbs, greens, tomatoes, peppers, baby carrots, red chard, and many more of the beautiful vegetables that Chef Max incorporates into each day's menu.

The restaurant specializes in stylish American cuisine, with international touches that reflect Chef Max's French techniques and his experience living in Florence, Italy. The slivered pear, endive, and gorgnozola cheese salad with spicy roasted pecans is one of the best salads of any kind that you'll find anywhere. Pastry Chef Wendy Jacobs will please your sweet tooth with such delectables as a chocolate trilogy or a sweet, tart rhubarb cake, if the Vet's Garden can provide the rhubarb. And hands-on owner Noel Ampel's personally chosen wine selections are standing by to accompany your choice of inventive and flavorful entrees.

Recently, Woodside experimented with Monday Night Vegetarian Prixe Fixe Dinners that proved to be quite successful. Baby Summer Squash Tempura, Sunflower Choke (Jerusalem Artichoke) Open-Faced Ravioli, Yukon Gold Potato and Portobello Mushroom Gratin, and Housemade Canelloni with Porcini and Swiss Chard Stuffing were just a few of the entree choices offered. Chef Max and management will be deciding soon whether to continue with this special program.

Whatever your food preferences might be, Woodside can provide you with fresh, creative cuisine with friendly service in a warm yet sophisticated setting.

• Woodside Restaurant is located at 11604 San Vicente Blvd., in Brentwood, California. Lunch is served weekdays from 11:30-2:30, and dinner is served daily from 5:30-10pm.
• For information and reservations, please call (310) 571-3800.