Patch Picks: Exceptional Culver City Chefs

In the last decade, Culver City has become synonymous with fine dining and happy tummies. However, a great restaurant is only as good as the mastermind in the kitchen. Keep on reading for our favorite big names in town.

Akasha Richmond  

Akasha Richmond, executive chef of in Downtown Culver City, has made organic très chic. The self-trained chef offers organic foods in an upscale and yet sustainable setting, satisfying both vegetarians and carnivores; the restaurant itself is built with recycled materials.  She has more than 20 years of culinary experience as she has worked in restaurants in Los Angeles and across the country, including working as Michael Jackson’s personal and concert tour chef. Her book, "Hollywood Dish," details her experiences in working with Hollywood celebrities and organic foods.

Akasha, 9543 Culver Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232, (310) 845-1700

Tanya Petrovna

Tanya Petrovna, ' chef, has not only written two books and is working on her third one but she has also appeared on the Food Network. Native Foods is the combination of two of Petrovna’s fascinations: food and animals. Her culinary roots began as a child, as she helped her father in catering events and her love for animals sparked her idea and interest in vegetarian food. In 1994, Petrovna opened the first Native Foods in Palm Springs.

The restaurant has now expanded to seven locations in California and Chicago openings in Lakeview, Wicker Park, and The Loop scheduled for this summer. Her culinary business and food creations have been featured on USA Today, Zagat, and Veg News Magazine among many other publications. Native Foods not only offers fresh food but also affordable dining as all of her dishes are under $10. Petrovna offers monthly cooking demos with free samples at different locations. Be sure to check out her YouTube channel for more information.

Native Foods, 9343 Culver Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232, (310) 559-3601

Keizo Ishiba 

Keizo Ishiba, chef, is the man behind the award-winning sushi in Downtown Culver City. Ishiba is known to cut fish like a surgeon and for giving his dishes a modern flavor. Ishiba began his culinary career in Osaka, Japan. He now has more than 30 years of experience including working in Hawaii and Los Angeles. His mixture of European cuisine with traditional Japanese dishes has made K-ZO not only a local dining favorite but also the winner of Opentable.com’s 2009 Diner’s Choice award. 

K-ZO, 9240 Culver Blvd. Culver City, CA 90232, (310) 202-8890

Randall Rosa

As chef of the , Randall Rosa not only brings boutique wines and classic cocktails but also season-inspired food that is also innovative.  His resume include The Kitchen Academy, the New York French Culinary Institute and the Los Angeles' Le Cordon Bleu. Rosa’s creations earned Sublime Food Lounge the “Dinner’s Choice: ‘Neighborhood Gem' and ‘Fir for Foodies' award from opentable.com. Rosa receives props for bringing fine dining into the arts district. 

Sublime Food Lounge, 8631 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, (310) 287-2093    

Ben Bailly 

Ben Bailly, one of the newest chefs to Culver City, is responsible for putting a modern spin to traditional French dishes. Bailly has been chef at for less than a year but has a long list of culinary prestige. His dishes are inspired by his French roots and besides opening restaurants across the United States, Europe, and Asia, Bailly was nominated for the 2010 James Beard Awards as “Rising Chef of the Year.” Fraiche also has a location in Santa Monica, so you can enjoy his culinary creations no matter what side of town you are on.    

Fraiche, 9411 Culver Blvd. Culver City, CA, (310) 839-6800