Culinary Graduate and Neighborwood Eats Head Chef Steven Becomes an All-Star in the Kitchen
Chef Steven Reynaga is a graduate of Bread & Roses Training Kitchen at St. Joseph Center. Today, he is Head Chef of Neighborwood Eats at the Intuit Dome Plaza, where a rotating lineup of local restaurants highlights Inglewood’s culinary talent. He also hosts pop-up events internationally, with events in Mexico, Canada, and soon England.
“St. Joseph Center gave me a career. Now, instead of going to work, I go to my kitchen.”
That shift may sound simple, but it says a lot about who Chef Reynaga is. Cooking is something he takes seriously and is proud of. It gives structure to his day and a sense of direction he did not always have.
Through the Bread & Roses Training Kitchen, Chef Reynaga gained practical experience, guidance, and a space to grow. He speaks about that time with clarity and gratitude.
“I like being able to contribute. Especially when it’s something that helped me before.”
A path built through opportunity
Chef Reynaga recognizes that opportunities like this do not come around often. Programs like Bread & Roses exist because people choose to support them, making it possible for others to learn new skills and work toward stable careers.
“A lot of people don’t get the chance to do what they love. It’s because of St. Joseph Center’s Training Kitchen and culinary program. The opportunity was presented to me.”
Leading in the community
Today, Chef Reynaga is building that life for himself.
At Neighborwood Eats, he leads a kitchen that reflects the local community. The concept brings together local restaurants and allows different voices and styles to be heard. It is work that connects to his own experience of being supported and given a chance. Previously, he was Lead Chef of the Clippers Café, an exclusive in-house restaurant serving management and team members. Chef Reynaga also catered the NBA All-Star Game, where his restaurant was the culinary “headliner” and featured on television for its menu items.
The people behind the journey
Chef Reynaga is quick to name the people who stood behind him along the way.
“I love St. Joseph Center. I love Instructor Chef Tomas. I love the Program Manager, Kimberly, and the Director, Sharon. Everybody. If you want a real family that supports you, that’s the place.”
That sense of community is part of what remains with him. It’s what keeps him going and continues to influence how he approaches his work.
What this opportunity makes possible
Chef Reynaga appears focused, grounded, and clear about what matters to him. He values the work, the people around him, and the path he is building.
His story shows what can happen when someone has access to the right support at the right time, and how they carry that forward.
