Hans Rockenwagner Joachim Splichal Michael Haimowitz Rick Tramonto Joachim Splichal Portrait: Joachim Splichal is acknowledged as one of the country's premier restaurateurs and master chefs and the founder of the Patina Group (1989) Splichal opened a series of bistro-style restaurants, Nick & Stef's Steakhouses, museum cafes, an Italian take-away cafe, and two restaurants in the DOWNTOWN DISNEY® District in Anaheim, California, Catal Restaurant and Uva Bar, Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria, and has developed a world-class catering division Splichal is a consultant for the corporate hospitality industry Splichal's cooking style combines classic French and Californian cuisine Culinary Training: Solid basic culinary skills in Switzerland, later perfected those skills in France at La Bonne Auberge, a Michelin three-star restaurant in Antibes, and at the legendary L'Oasis in La Napoule At age 23, he worked alongside the master chef Jacques Maximin at the Chantecler restaurant in the Hotel Negresco in Nice for four years 1981 Splichal assumed Executive Chef duties at the newly established Regency Club in Los Angeles Opened wildly popular Seventh Street Bistro in Los Angeles 1984 opened Max Au Triangle 1989 Splichal and his wife founded the Patina Group in Los Angeles Awards (Selection): 1997 voted Restaurateur of the Year by the California Restaurant Writers Association 1995 named in James Beard Foundation's Who's Who of Food & Beverage in America 1991 James Beard Foundation's "Best California Chef" Nominated for James Beard Foundation "Best Chef of the Year" in 1991 and 1994