JD is a passionate home cook with a knack for combining creativity in the kitchen with a technical edge. With a background in software engineering and software development, he always loved solving problems and cooking is another way to create solutions that taste amazing!

JD is here to share recipes, tips, and a touch of kitchen science to help our students understand the “why’ behind the “how”. From techniques to creative hacks, his goal is to make cooking approachable, fun, and delicious.

When not experimenting with flavors, he is most likely writing code, geeking out over food tech or sharing meals with family and friends.

(ServSafe Certified)

Hannah was born and raised in the Bay Area and is currently simmering through her final year of nursing school. Since the age of 16, she’s been stirring things up in the restaurant industry, where her passion for cooking has only heated up! After just a short time at Junior Chef Stars, Hannah quickly rose to the top as one of our newest leads.

When she’s not whisking through her work at Junior Chef Stars, you’ll find her mixing studies with fun, hanging out with friends, or cruising to car meets with her dad. She’s always ready to cook up something exciting!

(ServSafe, CPR & First Aid Certified)

Brian Casimiro grew up in Berkeley, California, where he developed a deep appreciation for a wide variety of cultural foods. His food palate expanded over the years as he tried dishes from all around the world, sparking a passion for cooking. Brian learned to cook by watching his mother in the kitchen, helping her prepare meals and perfecting his skills. Outside of the kitchen, he enjoys hiking, often finding peace and inspiration in nature. Spending time with his family and friends is a priority, as he values the connections and memories made.

(ServSafe, CPR & First Aid Certified)

Damien is a culinary enthusiast originally from Dallas, Texas, but raised in the Bay Area. Growing up with his grandparents, who came from Mexico, was constantly surrounded by the irresistible aroma of home-cooked meals. It wasn’t long before he developed a recipe for success, helping his grandparents whip up delicious dishes and learning the ingredients for a lifelong love of cooking.

Before joining Junior Chef Stars, Damien’s career was fully seasoned with experience in the food industry. Now, he’s eager to expand his culinary skills, continue stirring the pot of knowledge, and make a lasting impact on the students he works with. The future is looking delicious as Damien prepares to serve up inspiration in the kitchen and beyond.

(ServSafe Certified)

Sophia joined the Junior Chef Stars family in the summer of 2024, and she’s been cooking up success ever since! As an Assistant Chef and a student at the College of San Mateo, she’s mastering both the kitchen and the classroom. When she’s not whipping up delicious dishes, you’ll find her mixing it up at home, trying out new recipes with her family. Outside of the kitchen, Sophia’s always got something on the burner—whether it’s styling hair or spending quality time with her loved ones. She’s serving up creativity in and out of the kitchen!

(ServSafe, CPR & First Aid Certified)

Marissa is a passionate cook and educator, inspiring the next generation to get creative in the kitchen. Her love for cooking runs deep, having been influenced by her grandmother, who owned a catering truck in her youth, and father, who ran a restaurant and bar throughout her childhood. Their dedication to great food and community sparked her culinary journey. Now, she teaches kids how to cook & share the joy and creativity that comes with preparing delicious meals. It’s her main mission to help young chefs build confidence, explore flavors, and develop skills that will last a lifetime. (LOA)

(ServSafe Certified)

(ServSafe, CPR & First Aid Certified)

Krystal has been with Junior Chef Stars for two years, where she serves as a chef instructor and program coordinator. Her passion for cooking and baking was sparked by helping her mom in the kitchen, with taste testing being her favorite part. Outside of work, Krystal enjoys playing and coaching volleyball, spending time with loved ones, and exploring new places around the world.

(ServSafe, CPR & First Aid Certified)

Sophia has been stirring up success with Junior Chef Star since 2018, where she started in our aspiring “sous chef” program—her first taste of the culinary world! Now serving as a Lead Instructor, she’s cooking up knowledge while balancing her studies at the University of San Diego, working toward a double Bachelor’s in Business Administration and Communication.

Born and raised in San Francisco, Sophia began her journey as a student with Junior Chef Stars and rose through the ranks to become one of our top instructors. She’s always had a whisk in hand, thanks to her mom, who first ignited her passion for the kitchen. From being the ultimate taste tester to whipping up dishes from every corner of the globe, Sophia’s love for food is baked into everything she does!

(ServSafe Certified) – (LOA)

(ServSafe Certified)

Chef Kyle is a whisk-taker extraordinaire, having graduated from the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu with an Associate’s Degree in Culinary Arts. With a passion for food that’s always on simmer, he decided to turn up the heat by teaching others who share his zest for cooking. His mission? To help aspiring chefs find their flavor and cook up some magic in the kitchen!
When Chef Kyle isn’t stirring up excitement in class, he’s at home cooking up egg-citing projects with his two adorable sous-chefs—his nieces. His love for baking has risen to new heights, leading him to start his very own sweet business. And when he’s not busy with that, he’s hosting sizzling dinner parties for his friends that are always the toast of the town!
(ServSafe, CPR & First Aid Certified)

Noah is a real “wrap star” on our packing team, making sure every instructor and student gets exactly the ingredients they need for a successful class. Behind-the-scenes magic keeps everything cooking smoothly!

When Noah’s not on the clock, he is serving up creativity at San Mateo Community College, where he is sautéing his way through an arts degree. In his downtime, you’ll catch him vibing to the smooth grooves of Grant Perez or devouring anime like it’s an all-you-can-watch buffet. Noah’s also a level-up master in video games, always ready to “slice” through the competition!
A certified pizza and ramen connoisseur, Noah knows how to whip up a loco moco that’s so good, it’ll have you saying, “Oh my yolk!”—a family recipe passed down from their dad.

Rylan is one of our new chefs and is also part of the Product Team, that helps to create, develop, and test the recipes we teach our students. He grew up in the Bay Area and cultivated his passion for cooking through years of observation, practice, and working in restaurants. Rylan’s love for cooking developed at a young age by observing his mom and grandmothers in the kitchen and always finding a way to involve himself.

He graduated from City College of San Francisco with an Associates in Culinary Arts Management and completed the culinary program there. Working in customer service for 3 years, Rylan built communication skills that would help provide him with the confidence to teach students what he has learned throughout his time as a cook. He previously worked in restaurants in San Francisco and Pacifica, bringing the skills, techniques, and knowledge he learned to Junior Chef Stars.

(ServSafe Certified)

(Fetch Expert & Quality Control Certified)

As our Paw-sitive Relations Specialist, Frankie is here to ensure that everyone feels like part of the pack. With a keen sense of empathy, a tail that never stops wagging, and a nose for resolving conflicts, Frankie plays an essential role in keeping the workplace harmonious and full of good vibes.

Known for her bark-tacular listening skills, she’s always ready to lend an ear to anyone in need of advice or a quick cuddle. Whether it’s welcoming new team members with a tail-wagging handshake or helping resolve any ruff situations, Frankie is dedicated to maintaining a pawsitive workplace culture.

When she’s not assisting with employee relations or drafting the paw-licies (like no stealing snacks from the breakroom), Frankie enjoys long naps, chasing after her favorite toy, and of course, making sure every team member gets the appropriate number of belly rubs.

(Cuddle Specialist & Snuggly Certified)

Abbi officially joined Junior Chef Stars three years ago, but her culinary journey with us started seven years ago when she first donned the apron as one of our very first sous chefs in the Leaders in Training program. Since then, she’s traded in her chef’s hat for a teacher’s cap, becoming both a chef instructor and a key member of our product team. Currently, she’s sharpening her skills at Chapman University, pursuing a degree in Education.

Abbi’s passion for cooking was sparked in the kitchen on weekend mornings with her dad. Now, through Junior Chef Stars, she gets to share that passion with the next generation of young chefs while also stirring up a love for teaching.

(ServSafe Certified)