Blake Mellgren
Tustin, CA
BIO
Chef Blake Mellgren was born and raised in South Orange County. Chef Blake advanced his career from host and busser at Mangia Bene in Laguna Niguel, to working in the kitchen at the famed Chez Melange in Redondo Beach in July 2010. Over the 2 years spent in the Chez Melange kitchen—and following graduation from Loyola Marymount University with a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing—he rapidly excelled in Kitchen Management.
With the valuable training he received under Chef Bell, Blake moved to New York where he accepted a position as a line cook at The Modern, a restaurant inside of the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan, and part of famed restauranteur Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group. Determined to make the most out of the experiences and knowledge gained in New York, he enrolled in the International Culinary Center and completed courses in Restaurant Management. These courses gave him deep insight into all aspects he would need to become a restauranteur.
In February 2014, Blake moved back to Orange County to pursue his dream of opening a place of his own. Craft House opened in March 2016 with a focus on local sourcing, sustainable seafood and a commitment to the craft of making delicious food and drinks.
With the valuable training he received under Chef Bell, Blake moved to New York where he accepted a position as a line cook at The Modern, a restaurant inside of the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan, and part of famed restauranteur Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group. Determined to make the most out of the experiences and knowledge gained in New York, he enrolled in the International Culinary Center and completed courses in Restaurant Management. These courses gave him deep insight into all aspects he would need to become a restauranteur.
In February 2014, Blake moved back to Orange County to pursue his dream of opening a place of his own. Craft House opened in March 2016 with a focus on local sourcing, sustainable seafood and a commitment to the craft of making delicious food and drinks.