COMPETITOR

True Cali Que

HEAD COOK: Darin Kizer

COMPETITION: World Rice and Noodle Championship

Founded in 2019, True Cali Que is committed to developing innovative dishes that encompass extensive culinary distinction, by combining imaginative techniques with elements of regional and ethnic cuisines. Darin aims to prepare inventive cuisine, utilizing a scientific approach that applies methods garnered from considerable investigation and study. True Cali Que is dedicated and focused on providing globally inspired dishes across all culinary disciplines including, but not limited to baking, pastry arts, and barbeque. Headquartered in Sonoma County, California, renowned for legendary vineyards, organic produce and sustainable farming, True Cali Que, profits from accessibility and proximity to a substantial food culture. Darin established True Cali Que’s outdoor food “laboratory” in 2019, a setting that provides an environment to sharpen and enhance the culinary skills necessary to compete at the highest level. A highlighted selection of culinary awards from True Cali Que’s palmarès: 2019 Gilroy Garlic Festival Backyard BBQ Throwdown (1st place Tri-Tip taste category, 5th place overall Tri-Tip and Ribs); Kern County Pitmasters 1st Annual Bakersfield Spring Steak Cookoff (4th place Tri-Tip for “Bulgogi Smoked Tri-Tip Tostadas”, perfect 50 score for appearance); Steel Days BBQ Pit Stop Steak Championship American Fork, UT (2nd place dessert for “Lemon Curd Shot Glasses”, perfect 50 score for appearance and creativity; 3rd place dessert for “Mirror Glazed Peanut Butter Mousse Coffee Cups”, perfect 50 score for creativity, and 5th place dessert for “German Chocolate Cake Flower Pots”). Shortly after generating True Cali Que’s proprietary steak seasoning in 2020, containing no preservatives, fillers, binders, or artificial ingredients, Darin placed 10th at the 2nd Annual California Steak Championship in Simi Valley, CA. Darin’s penchant for creating award winning desserts, emanates from his culinary pedigree in the pastry arts. His father was a professional pastry chef and certified master baker for over 40 years. Additionally, Darin’s step-mother was an accomplished professional pastry artist for 35 years. Two of True Cali Que’s signature dishes “Kashmiri Pulled Pork Tortas” and “Sichuan Beef Biryani” were featured on the menu at 428 Kitchen, one of Sonoma’s premier prepared food establishments. Darin has been a technical advisor, intellectual property analyst and synthetic organic chemist for 22 years. He is the proud Dad of two sons and enjoys spending time with them kayaking and camping.