We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeff Kraus and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jeff, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
I have a tattoo of a fish jumping out of a fish bowl that’s inspired by a quote from my mom, “never be a big fish in a small pond.” Her quote reminds me to stay hungry, to stay humble, and to keep striving for more. It’s a mindset that motivates me to show up everyday willing and ready to be better, to give more, and that there’s more to do.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
At the core of everything I do revolves around the art of hospitality. I built my food concepts in an unconventional way. I didn’t have a business plan, never owned anything prior, and I was self funded – but I knew, without a doubt – that my intentions, heart, my actions, and determination would get me through anything. My food truck, truckin’ good food – opened in 2010 and earned national and local accolades as one of the most influential food trucks in the country. In 2012, I opened Crepe Bar, and currently expanding to a second location. Independently owning and operating businesses has it’s challenges, truly it’s hard and not for everyone – I get through it because I believe in and stay true to my vision of creating a great hospitality experience, I know I make a difference.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I love this! My shoutout goes out to every person who works day in and day out to create a great dining experience! To those who really gives a damn about hospitality. To the foh who keep the vibes good for every guests. To the boh who give their all to make the food look and taste good. To the chefs and managers who pays attention to every detail to ensure that everything is positively flowing for everyone in the restaurant, and a big shout out to the dishwashers/porters who works their a&& off to keep everything clean! So, this is a shoutout to everyone who works in food & beverage.

Website: https://www.chefjeffkraus.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefjeffkraus

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chefjeffkraus

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSoCal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.