Jason Francisco

About Jason Francisco

My goal is to make people feel good. That is the pure essence of what I do, and I do that through food. I combine science and art, to turn raw ingredients into \"emotions on a plate\". I can\'t imagine a more honest and fulfilling career. I get paid \"to play with food\". That enthusiasm for what I do can be infectious at times, entertaining at the very least. I began this culinary journey after leaving a lucrative accounting career; exchanging paper cuts and air conditioning, for oven burns and a hot kitchen, but loving every minute of it. In that culinary journey, I\'ve learned that one of the most important things we can experience is being mentored, and being a mentor. Churchill once said \"we make a living by what we get, but make a life by what we give\". Those words ring true in my every day life. Chefs only succeed by building great teams. Building great teams require recognizing talent, and creating a culture where that talent thrives.

Experience

1. Executive Chef

   Hotel Nikko San Francisco

   Apr 2026 — Present · San Francisco, CA, US

Education

• California State University, Northridge

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Accounting

• Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Las Vegas

  Associate's degree, Culinary Arts/Chef Training

• California State University, Northridge

  Bachelor of Science - Accountancy, Accounting