Napa Valley Grille’s new Executive Chef Taylor Boudreax

Seasoned chef, Taylor Boudreax, with over 17 years of culinary experience takes the lead at Napa Valley Grille in Westwood, CA. He’s cooked at Mastros, was executive chef/partner Citizen Smith, and most recently was recruited to work as the corporate executive chef of Wolfgang Puck Worldwide. Taylor takes a straightforward approach with food that emphasizes on seasonal and locally sourced ingredients, “When you are fresh out of school, you might think putting 19 things on a plate is great, but, to me, the soul of a dish gets lost. I came to understand that if you take a great cut of meat and season and cook it correctly, it will be amazing. It might be called ‘simple’ or ‘rustic,’ but it’s also about letting the food be what it should be.”

New seasonally-inspired winter creations at Napa Valley Grille include his signature Blue Crab Cakes with classic Tartar Sauce, Fresh Herb Salad, and Lemon Vinaigrette ($16.25), and Lamb Ragù with housemade Tagliatelle Pasta, Red Wine, Tomatoes, and Parmesan ($13).

Photography provided by Napa Valley Grille