Jesse Gomez, co-owner of Cocinas y Calaveras, has quite literally grown up in the restaurant business. His journey began at his grandparents’ restaurant, El Arco Iris in Highland Park, opened in 1964 by Gustavo and Irene Montes. He later spent several years managing and operating some of Los Angeles’ well-known restaurants with Hillstone Restaurant Group and Innovative Dining Group.

In 2006, Gomez reimagined El Arco Iris, updating the space while honoring the classic family recipes that made it a neighborhood institution for home-style Mexican cuisine. The experience helped shape his approach to hospitality and culinary storytelling.

In 2009, Gomez opened Yxta Cocina Mexicana in Downtown Los Angeles, earning critical acclaim for its inventive menu, craft cocktails, and vibrant design. The restaurant was recognized by the Michelin Guide California for several years and became known for its thoughtful, artful approach to modern Mexican cuisine.

In 2012, Gomez co-created the Mercado brand with longtime friend and chef Jose Acevedo. What began as a single location quickly grew into a beloved Southern California concept known for its bold flavors, polished atmosphere, and contemporary take on traditional dishes. Today, Mercado continues to thrive with locations in Pasadena, Hollywood, and Manhattan Beach.

Gomez is a graduate of Princeton University, where he majored in Psychology. Outside of the restaurant world, he enjoys dining out, riding motorcycles, and spending time with his daughter, Vera. You can follow him on Instagram @jesseangelgomez.

Cocinas y Calaveras co-owner and Executive Chef, Jose Acevedo, began his extensive career training in the kitchens of Wolfgang Puck and the Hillstone Restaurant Group, before taking the helm at Irvine’s Taleo Grill in 2004. Hailing from Guanajuato, Mexico, Chef Jose’s early years were spent learning and perfecting the art of his native culture’s cuisine, which over the years, he has transformed into culinary creations that are as much artisan and contemporary as they are a classic homage to his roots.

In 2010, Chef Acevedo began working with longtime friend, Jesse Gomez, at Yxta Cocina Mexicana, where he oversaw the creation of signature dishes and specials that would become the inspiration for Mercado’s menu, a concept he and Gomez created together.

The OC Weekly’s Gustavo Arellano named Chef Acevedo’s signature dessert the “Best Flan in the Universe” in 2007, echoing the starry praise of Yelpers who have called his carnitas “the single best [they’ve tasted at a] commercial restaurant” and “as good as the best homemade [they’ve ever had].” Westways revered Chef Jose’s work, noting that “Taleo Grill might just be the best upscale Mexican restaurant in the region.”

With a culinary style that is grounded in the finest Mexican tradition, fused with current sensibility, Chef Acevedo’s signature creations apply uniquely flavorful techniques to create incredibly inventive dishes time and time again.

In his off-time, he enjoys dining out, golfing, and spending time with his beautiful children. You can follow him on instagram @chefelmexicano.