Johnny Ortiz of Saison Is A 2014 Eater Young Gun

[Photo: Bonjwing Lee]

Eater National has revealed the final 2014 Eater Young Guns list, spotlighting the very best chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers, and culinary stars under the age of 30. Culled from entries across the country, this year's list crowns 16 upstarts, with one Bay Area notable in the form of Saison's Johnny Ortiz, the youngest member of the group (he was also the youngest of the 50 semifinalists).

At only 23, Ortiz has already cooked at some of the country's best restaurants, including Chicago's Alinea and Washington's Willows Inn. He joined Joshua Skenes' team at Saison two years ago, and quickly progressed from meat cook to sous chef at the two-Michelin-starred restaurant, which he describes as "one of the more down to earth, honest, fun restaurants" at which to work.

National has more on Ortiz, including what's could be next on his docket (hint: he's fine where he is for now, but New Mexico could be calling his name). With a crowded field of young talent in this year's competition, congratulations are definitely in order for Ortiz. He's also now Saison's second Eater Young Gun, as Mitch Lienhard, executive sous chef, won the award last year while cooking at Chicago's Grace.

For the full list of Eater's 16 newest Young Guns, which include seven women and nine men and spans everyone from chefs to food-truck operators, butchers to baristas, head on over to Eater National.

· The Eater Young Guns Class of 2014 REVEALED [~ EN ~]
· Meet Eater Young Guns Semi-Finalist Johnny Ortiz [~ EN ~]