Chef Josef Centeno started making a name for himself at top kitchens in New York and San Francisco including Vong, Daniel, Charles Nob Hill, and Manresa. Then he hit the big time in Los Angeles opening Bäco Mercat in 2011 and following up with, among others, Bar Amá and Orsa & Winston, which was awarded a coveted Michelin star last year.
He runs three restaurants. Bar Amá downtown and Amacita in Culver City channel the Tex-Mex heritage of Centeno’s native San Antonio, and Orsa & Winston, which opened next door to Bar Amá in September 2013.
Just recently last month, That latest blow to LA’s food scene landed on Instagram: Chef and restaurateur Josef Centeno announced that he had closed his celebrated downtown restaurant Bäco Mercat for good.
In a statement, Centeno thanked his staff, customers, and collaborators while also addressing the challenges restaurants are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic fallout.
“The world changed, and I have to make decisions about how to move forward and though the choices are difficult it is all part of the process,” Centeno wrote.
Opened in late 2011, Bäco Mercat emerged as one of the city’s best dining experiences over the last decade, standing out from the booming downtown food scene it had helped build.
As the COVID-19 pandemic forced much of L.A. to close down in March, Centeno and his staff prepared meals for healthcare workers in partnership with the nonprofit group Dine 11. Like many restaurants, Bäco Mercat had pivoted to takeout and delivery service over the last few months, and more recently, outdoor dining. The restaurant was also forced to closed briefly in late May after it was damaged during protests over the death of George Floyd in police custody.
Propelled by the success of Bäco, Centeno would go on to open a collection of successful restaurants near the intersection of 4th and Main streets: Bar Amá, the now-closed PYT and Ledlow, and Orsa & Winston, the intimate tasting menu restaurant named as The Times’ Restaurant of the Year last month.
A special, virtual dinner party will be held on September 26th to celebrate the winners of the prestigious Gold Award and Restaurant of the Year Award announced every year.
“For the grace, ingenuity, and resilience that chef Josef Centeno has displayed in the maelstrom that is 2020, Orsa & Winston is The Times’ Restaurant of the Year award recipient. The Gold Award celebrates culinary excellence and challenges what Southern California cooking might be. This year’s recipient is the team behind Post & Beam, which has become a vital part of L.A. and the national dining scene.”
Check out the link below for a special dinner and virtual Food Bowl event with Restaurant of the Year winner Orsa & Winston.