Chef Bruce Kalman

Born and raised in northern New Jersey, Bruce has spent almost his entire life working in kitchens. His culinary career began at a local pizzeria owned by a family friend, where he fell in love with fresh ingredients and the beat of the kitchen. He attended a small hands-on culinary program at Hudson County Community College in Jersey City, NJ, where he began to hone his skills and perfect his simple approach to great food. Bruce has since traveled the United States, working in New York City with David Burke at Park Ave Cafe, and in Chicago with Paul Bartalotta at Spiaggia. His executive chef stints span the nation from Chicago (Okno, Green Dolphin Street and Coco Pazzo) to Santa Fe, NM (Il Piatto) and Phoenix, AZ (Chelsea’s Kitchen).

Bruce made the final move to Los Angeles, CA to open The Misfit in Santa Monica, serving farmers' market driven fare, with a strong emphasis on Northern Italian and Mediterranean flavors and preparations. He continued this tradition as Executive Chef of The Churchill in West Hollywood, CA, where he continued to perfect the art of hand crafted cuisine, homemade charcuterie and pickles, and fresh pasta and desserts. Accolades include a James Beard nomination for “Rising Star Chef”, dozens of gushing reviews from food critics like Jonathan Gold and he has made several appearances on many local and national TV programs, including the Food Network, Esquire Network, and Bravo.

Bruce now stars at Union in Pasadena, where his homemade pastas and artistic hand crafted plates have garnered him national attention.