Chef David Padilla of On Rodeo Bistro & Lounge at the Luxe Hotel - Biography

Following in the family tradition, David Padilla’s first industry job was in Mexico at a seafood stand—when he was a fifth grader. Padilla’s mother worked as a private chef and shared her love of cooking with the whole family. When she died, Padilla inherited a veritable treasure trove of recipes and lifetime worth of cooking inspiration. After graduating college and taking a culinary class, Padilla decided that he wanted to make a life in cooking, just as his mother had.

Padilla worked his way up through the kitchen hierarchy in hotel restaurants throughout Los Angeles. Before landing the chef de cuisine position at The Luxe Rodeo Drive Hotel’s On Rodeo Bistro & Lounge, Padilla gained experience and developed his taste and talents at West Restaurant in Hotel Angeleno, London Hotel’s Gordon Ramsay, Brasserie at Palihouse Hotel, and Fig at the Fairmont Miramar. He counts Chef Michael Bryant of The Churchill—whom he worked with at Brasserie—among his mentors, as well as StarChefs.com Los Angeles-San Diego Rising Star Chef Ray Garcia.

At On Rodeo Bistro and Lounge, Padilla is in charge of the modern, Mediterranean-leaning menu. At home, he cooks as much as he can for his wife and two children, from whom he draws much of his inspiration for the professional kitchen.