Palo Alto, CA
Executive Chef Robert Gilbertson
Chef Robert “Bob” Gilbertson began his tenure in the kitchen as a night
line manager for a Colorado based pasta restaurant and credits this experience
as his foundation in kitchen management. From that point, the sky was
the limit for Chef Bob. He skillfully worked his way through positions
such as Line Cook, Saucier, Assistant Kitchen Manager, Sous Chef and ultimately
Executive Chef. The road has been long for Chef, and required a hiatus
in order to hone his skills at the Culinary Institute of America (C.I.A.)
in Hyde Park, NY. After completing his culinary degree at the C.I.A.,
Chef Bob moved back to California with an eye on not only nurturing his
budding career, but also developing and refining his personal flair.
Chef Bob has a passion for food that is present in all
aspects of his life. He relentlessly searches for the freshest ingredients.
Whether looking in farmers markets or at other restaurants, Chef is always
trying to “be a sponge” and learn as much as he can from the world around
him. Even though his interests are always evolving, Chef Bob holds on
to the foods that he loves such as foie gras and assorted tapas. It is
this mix of traditional, coupled with avant garde approaches to presentation
that has made Chef Bob an integral part of the California Cafe.
When Chef is not in the kitchen, he enjoys spending his
time in nature fly fishing and Golfing. This relaxation allows Chef to
spend countless hours at his restaurant conceiving and refining his passion
for food into a culinary experience for each of his guests.
Chef has no plans to leave the California Cafe, stating
“I am happy where I am”. We too, are happy that Chef Bob is here with
us. Chef hopes you will join him to try his ever changing menu of enticing
creations.