Zeste Catering and Café Zeste are owned and operated by two seasoned professionals in the Bay Area restaurant scene.

Chef Rubén Ramírez is the master behind the food preparations and you will find him willing and able to work with you to develop the perfect menu for your event. Chef Rubén’s innovative creations use fresh, seasonal ingredients and superb presentation, always allowing the flavors and fine quality of the ingredients to shine through.

About the Chef

Rubén Ramírez’s first experience in a professional kitchen was with Ala Carte restaurant in Berkeley, well known for its consistently excellent cuisine. From there, Rubén joined the staff at the venerable Santa Fe Bar & Grill, a Bay Area dining tradition for many years. He had the good fortune to work with a series of highly-trained professional chefs – he learned fast and earned their respect. Michael Rech, a Certified Master Chef with Santa Fe Catering, referred to Rubén as “an innovative chef who has a wide array of his own recipes . . . skillfully blends different types of cuisine into wonderful dishes which all bear his own touch.”

Eventually taking over as Executive Chef and moving to Santa Fe Bistro, a sister restaurant, Rubén continued fine-tuning his skills under consulting Chef Jean Pierre Moulle, formerly, and currently, of Chez Panisse. While heading up the kitchen at Santa Fe Bar & Grill and the Bistro, Chef Ramírez received many accolades for his creative and flavorful dishes and his innovative use of the produce grown in the large organic garden on the Bar & Grill’s property. Reviews in the San Francisco Chronicle, the SF Weekly, and the Berkeley Voice carried comments such as:

“. . . creates a mélange of dishes where French technique meets California meat and produce.”

“ . . . offers one of the best honest Caesar salads in town . . . ”

“ . . . the spirit of a good French bistro mixes with top-drawer California ingredients at delightfully bargain prices . . . ”

Chef Ramírez now proudly uses his knowledge, skills and experience to provide a satisfying and extraordinary dining or event experience through his own Zeste Catering and Café Zeste. His excellent management skills in the kitchen ensure that any occasion will work within the client’s budget and even the most complicated events will run like clockwork. The simplest dishes will be flavorful and enticing – the more elegant will leave you in awe of his talent and ability – and coming back for more.

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About the Catering / Floor Manager

Bahman Shayesteh started his restaurant career with the Fono family at the Magic Pan Restaurant in Ghirardelli Square. After many years there, he worked for some other very successful fine restaurants – Gaylord’s of India, Maxwell’s Plum, Restaurant Metropole, and Sansome Street Brasserie. In 1988, he became a part of the Santa Fe Bar & Grill group, where he first joined forces with Chef Rubén Ramírez, and was eventually in charge of overseeing operations for the Bar & Grill, Via Centro and Santa Fe Bistro.

In addition to mastering general management in a restaurant setting, Bahman has also handled innumerable catering events – for Santa Fe Catering, Park Plaza Hotel in Oakland, Culinary Excellence, Blue Heron Catering, and Taste Catering.

Bahman grew up in a gracious, hospitable family environment and his natural hosting skills are as much a part of him as his love of great food and wine. He loves people and finds satisfaction in providing each and every guest with a positive experience. His years in the restaurant and catering industry make it possible for him to work with Chef Ramírez to plan the very best event for your budget and desires. His excellent people skills carry over to the more informal and friendly climate at Café Zeste, ensuring a pleasant dining experience.

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