Our People
Meet the La Toque Team
The people of La Toque are a creative, hardworking, and authentic team that truly feels like family. Led by acclaimed chef Ken Frank, we pursue the highest standards in everything we do.
OUR CHEF and OWNER
Ken Frank
An early pioneer of seasonally driven fine dining, Chef Ken Frank has been in relentless pursuit of deliciousness since his teenage years living in France. Ken first achieved national acclaim in 1977, as the 21-year-old Chef of La Guillotine Restaurant. A pioneer for the time, he insisted on using only the freshest and best seasonal ingredients. He went on to work as the original opening chef at Michael’s in Santa Monica, considered the Los Angeles birthplace of “California Cuisine.”
In 1979, at age 23, he left Michael’s to open the first La Toque on the Sunset Strip, aiming to create the kind of restaurant he wanted to work at – authentic, creative, welcoming, and delicious. From the outset, La Toque distinguished itself for Ken’s attention to seasonality, hospitality, and thoughtful wine pairing. In 1998, he finally heeded the call of wine country and moved to Napa Valley, where he opened a new La Toque in Rutherford. Ten successful years later, Ken moved La Toque to its current home in downtown Napa’s Oxbow District, at the Westin Verasa hotel.
OUR CHEF and OWNER
Ken Frank
An early pioneer of seasonally driven fine dining, Chef Ken Frank has been in relentless pursuit of deliciousness since his teenage years living in France. He founded La Toque in 1979 to be the kind of restaurant he wanted to work at – authentic, creative, welcoming, and delicious.
OUR DIRECTOR of OPERATIONS
Megan Menicucci
Megan’s rare gift for managing both the details and big picture make her an invaluable member of the La Toque team. If there is a way to make something happen, she will find it.
Megan began her restaurant career at an early age, and her passion for food, wine, and flawless hospitality has only grown with the years. For her, food is a universal language that transcends barriers and differences, and connects people from all walks of life. The sense of community that comes from sharing a meal brings special meaning and motivation to her work.
As Director of Operations, Megan has a hand in virtually every aspect of our restaurant short of cooking the food. From hiring, training, and mentoring the service team, to managing our website, social media, and IT, she does it all – often, all at the same time. Her problem-solving superpowers and unwavering commitment to excellence ensure that La Toque guests’ experience exceeds expectations, before you even set foot in our restaurant.
OUR DIRECTOR of OPERATIONS
Megan Menicucci
Megan’s rare gift for managing both the details and the big picture make her an invaluable member of the La Toque team. If there is a way to make something happen, she will find it.
OUR CHEF EXECUTIVE SOUS CHEF
Jason Rivas
J’s story is one we hear often. He needed a job at 16 so he started washing dishes at a small steakhouse after school in Southern California. Within a year, he had hustled his way onto the grill station. The kitchen proved to be a slippery slope, and after high school, he headed off to Culinary School in Scottsdale, Arizona. He moved to Napa Valley in 2020 to join the dynamic culinary culture we enjoy here. We rescued him from a dysfunctional kitchen, and he joined our team as Sous Chef in 2021. He now runs day-to-day operations in the kitchen as Executive Sous. His leadership, attention to detail, and relentless curiosity make him an invaluable member of our Brigade.
OUR EXECUTIVE SOUS CHEF
Jason Rivas
J’s story is one we hear often. He needed a job at 16 so he started washing dishes at a small steakhouse after school in Southern California. Within a year, he had hustled his way onto the grill station.
OUR PASTRY CHEF
Amanda Owens
Amanda’s massive talent, work ethic and infectious enthusiasm have earned her the top pastry position at La Toque. She is single-handedly responsible for putting a few extra pounds on all of us.
Amanda has always loved to eat – and to share her passion with others. She started in the La Toque kitchen in 2013, shortly after graduating from California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. In just a few years, she worked her way up through every station in the kitchen, becoming our most highly skilled cook in the process. When she needed a daytime shift to accommodate her son’s school schedule, we created a prep position to ensure we could keep her on our team. That role also allowed her to explore her love of baking, which quickly became an obsession.
When the Pastry Chef position became available in 2018, she asked to step up and take it on, even though she had no prior pastry experience. We knew better than to say no, and her delicious creativity has been delighting our guests ever since.
OUR PASTRY CHEF
Amanda Owens
Amanda’s massive talent, work ethic and infectious enthusiasm have earned her the top pastry position at La Toque. She is single-handedly responsible for putting a few extra pounds on all of us.
OUR WINE DIRECTOR
Mike Lee
Mike remembers his wine “light bulb” moment well: a glass of Cornas, at Harvest on Huron in Chicago. From that magical glass on, he knew he had found his calling.
Mike cut his teeth in fine wine working with long-time Michelin-starred chef Tony Mantuano at Mantuano Mediterranean Table in Chicago. Over his five years working in that beverage program, he developed deep knowledge and fondness for Italian wines. He then moved up to become the Beverage Manager for Mr. Chow in Miami, and began making annual visits to Napa Valley for the first time.
As Mike expanded his knowledge of California’s best wines and became friends with local winemakers, his visits became more frequent. Eventually, he just accepted the inevitable and moved here. He landed in Napa Valley in 2014, working with Mick Salyer at Zuzu and La Taberna, where he enjoyed exploring great Spanish wines more deeply. Mike brought his irresistible enthusiasm and well-rounded palate to La Toque, and we are delighted to have him leading our beverage team.
OUR WINE DIRECTOR
Mike Lee
Mike remembers his wine “light bulb” moment well: a glass of Cornas, at Harvest on Huron in Chicago. From that magical glass on, he knew he had found his calling.