Toribio Prado
Of Cava and Cha, Cha, Cha Restaurants
Los Angeles, California
Master Chef Toribio Prado, "The Patron Saint of Caribbean and Contemporary Latin Cuisine", is the man responsible for introducing Caribbean Cuisine to Southern California.
Born in Mexico, but raised in Los Angeles, Prado is the tenth of fourteen children, and has been involved in the L.A. restaurant scene since the age of 14 when he began working at Hugo's, a West Hollywood power lunch spot. At the age of 17 he became the head chef at the acclaimed Ivy Restaurant and later at Ivy at the Shore, where several of his brothers and sisters continue to work today.
Toribio has won numerous culinary awards and been featured in Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, Gourmet, L.A. Style, Los Angeles, Si, Details, Vogue, House and Garden, Angeles, and Esquire magazines. The name Toribio Prado has become synonymous with innovative cuisine and food styling.
CHA, CHA, CHA was born in 1986 in the Silverlake section of the city. Soon after the success of his first restaurant, Toribio opened Cafe Mambo, Prado Restaurant and Cha, Cha, Cha in the San Fernando Valley. Since then, he has added a Cha, Cha, Cha in both Long Beach and La Jolla, and his latest venture, Cha, Cha Chicken, Gourmet to Go, a gourmet Caribbean fast food restaurant in Santa Monica.
Always the innovator, a few years ago Toribio opened CAVA, a high concept Spanish Tapas Restaurant and Supper Club in Los Angeles, where WILLIAM OGDEN has recently been promoted to Executive Chef.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Ogden always knew his calling would be in the kitchen, since his early days of cooking country cuisine with his Russian grandmother. Enrolling in Florida's prestigious School of Culinary Arts, he sharpened his natural talents and excelled as chef de patisserie. After graduating in 1994, he moved back to Los Angeles where he was taken under the wings of Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger at Border Grill (see Guest Chef Archives).
During this time he was asked to assist Chef Donato De Santis at the Miami mansion of the late fashion designer Gianni Versace, where he cooked as sous chef for an A-list of guests from Madonna to Sylvester Stallone. During his time at the Versace estate he also became the Pastry Chef at the trendy Starfish Restaurant in South Beach where he created such desserts as Wild Bush Berry Crisp with Creme Fraiche Ice Cream and Pink Guava Velvet Cheesecake.
At Cava you can sip sherry, listen to flamenco music, and enjoy tapas as appetizers or entrees. Salads, grilled sandwiches, pastas, pizzas, and grilled meats and fish are also featured. Los Angeles Magazine described Cava as "what may be the best tapas bar this side of Barcelona". We hope you'll enjoy the following recipes from Chef Ogden, who used many items from Melissa's to create dishes that may be appearing on the restaurant's menu sometime in the future:
The original Cha, Cha, Cha Cafe is located at 656 N. Virgil in Los Angeles (213/664-7723).
Cha, Cha, Cha Restaurant and Caribbean Bar is at 762 Pacific Avenue in Long Beach (310/436-3900). Cava Restaurant and Tapas Bar is situated in the Beverly Plaza Hotel at 8384 West Third Street in Los Angeles (213 658-8898).
For information about Special Event Catering please call (213) 658-8898.
