Meet Bill

Bill

In the ’60s, Bill dove into the culinary scene at 14, rocking the pot-washing game at Andres in Laguna Beach. His ’50s Ford, bought for $50 (a steal!), carried him Newport to Laguna without a license. Under a chef’s wing, he mastered the art of cooking, and yes, there’s a big difference between pot washer and dishwasher! Bob’s Big Box in Costa Mesa saw three years of Bill’s charm, but the owner of The Wooden Shoe in Tustin wanted him as head chef, offering the princely sum of $3.12/hr. The 5 Crowns in Corona del Mar became his learning ground, and then the draft and a June ’66 wedding followed. Post-army, Bill became a culinary maestro managing three locations. He wore the manager hat, training managers all over SoCal. A stint in Laguna Beach restaurant ownership was sandwiched between gigs with Reubens Chain and spots like The Village Inn in Balboa Island and The Jolly Roger in Laguna. Burnout led to a construction detour for a decade. Then, a twist of fate – Big Bear, The Mountain, Oakside, and finally, The Cookshak! Retirement? Nah, not yet for this culinary maestro, always dishing out flavors and laughs.