Jeffrey Inahara

Jeffrey Tetsuo Inahara Died on September 27, 2010 at his home in San Francisco. Jeff was born May 17, 1960 on his family owned farm in Ontario, Oregon, where he simultaneously loathed the farm labor and loved the bounty of the freshest of ingredients, wonderful home canned jams, fruits, and sauces. While an avid hunter, fisherman and participant in butchering meat to last the long winters, Jeff ducked out of as many of the planting/harvesting farm activities as possible. He took careful note of his community with its large population of relocated Japanese and joined in their celebrations of their cultural heritage as well as gatherings that revolved around church picnics with special traditional preparations and ethnic dishes. His surviving sisters Jill and Peg, father Pete and large family continue these customs. Jeff's interest in science propelled him to pursue a degree in biology at Eastern Oregon State and later to post graduate studies at Arizona State University in molecular genetics. His passion for food however lay dormant only so long whereupon he sought and took employ at various spots throughout Tempe and Phoenix. Roommate Phil Schwartz remembers him as good in the lab - meticulous, demanding of himself and others, but great in the kitchen. After careful consideration and the realization that life was short, Jeff decided to pursue the career that would bring him the most joy. He brought the skills, organization and intensity from his academic background to his training as a chef at CCA, and excelled. One of Jeff's first positions in the industry was at a teppanyaki spot where his primary duties there included the sharpening of knives for the table chefs perhaps leading to his future zealous protectiveness of his own personal tools and implements of the trade. A brilliant career underway, he secured positions at some of the most celebrated eateries in California. At Joachim Splichal's Patina he met his future wife, Andrea Freda, and worked alongside Scott Newman and Traci des Jardins, They relocated to San Francisco helping to open the critically acclaimed restaurant Elka. Jeff's talents and flawless sense of innovation were quickly lauded and he was appointed Executive Chef at prominent establishments including Vertigo, Coconut Grove, and Loongbar. For those workers able to withstand his withering chef-perfectionist admonitions he was regarded as an invaluable teacher and mentor. He is often recalled in that laser-locked focus to detail in execution on his face with lips pursed as he keenly scrutinized the slicing of a fish or the mirepoix of vegetable. With his contributions to the SF culinary scene fully appreciated he was invited to guest chef at spots around the globe including his favorite stint at Le Kliff in Puerto Vallarta and the Myriad Restaurant Group helping to open the famous Nobu at its Las Vegas location. Opting for a greater flexibility in schedule he left restaurant work to the delight of party goers around the bay opening catering companies that focused on cutting edge cuisine, the latest of which he co-founded with Calvin Hui, his longtime cohort in kitchen magic and mischief. Jeff's final restaurant stint behind the range proved to be as demanding as any in his life reworking the menu at the internationally renowned Restaurant Bobby Chinn in Hanoi. In a gratifying symmetry to an illustrious career he worked with mentee Bobby Chinn who obviously learned well at the apron strings of the master for he too is every bit the maniacally driven perfectionist his teacher was. Jeff liked following the Giants (even through their travails), watching bad TV on enormous plasma screens, and schmaltzy music. Jeff adored the fried quails at Kim Thanh, world travels that invariably included gustatory diversions, (street food being his favorite), and his stubborn bulldog Veronica. Jeff loved his late wife Andrea, his family, and his devoted friends. His spirit, talent, and grace are deeply missed. For information on his memorial, please contact trish@renabranstengallery.com