Chef Jesse Cruz is a celebrated chef, restaurateur, and author based in San Jose, California. As the co-owner of Kumako Den, one of Silicon Valley’s most beloved ramen destinations, Chef Jesse has built a name for crafting soulful Japanese dishes that honor both tradition and innovation.
He is the author of two acclaimed cookbooks, Washoku: A Culinary Journey Through Japan and Kumako Den: Timeless Ramen Recipes for Modern Cooks, where he blends authentic Japanese techniques with modern creativity. Through his cooking and writing, Chef Jesse Cruz shares stories of mindfulness, cultural respect, and the emotional connection food brings to people’s lives.
Beyond the kitchen, Chef Jesse co-founded the Jesse Cruz & Samuel Moran Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students pursue their educational goals and supporting community development programs that create opportunities for growth and empowerment.
Chef Jesse’s journey is fueled by passion, family heritage, and the belief that food is more than nourishment, it’s a language of love that connects generations.
HELLO CHEF JESSE CRUZ, WELCOME TO WORLDAUTHORS.ORG! TELL US ABOUT YOUR CULINARY JOURNEY.
My culinary journey began long before I ever wore a chef’s coat — it started at home, surrounded by family and food. Growing up, I was fascinated by the way a single meal could bring everyone together. That passion led me to explore Japanese cuisine, where I found a deep respect for simplicity, balance, and tradition.
Opening Kumako Den in San Jose became my way of honoring that journey — a space where culture, craft, and community come together in every bowl of ramen. Over the years, I’ve learned that being a chef isn’t just about mastering recipes; it’s about storytelling through flavor, memory, and connection. Writing my cookbooks, Washoku and Kumako Den, allowed me to take that story beyond the kitchen — to preserve traditions and inspire others to cook with heart.
WAS THERE SOMEONE IN YOUR LIFE WHO INFLUENCED YOUR LOVE FOR COOKING?
Absolutely — my love for cooking began with two remarkable women: my Grandma Flora and my Aunt Prudencia. They both taught me that food is more than sustenance; it’s an expression of love and care.
Grandma Flora showed me the beauty of patience — how every ingredient has its own rhythm and story. Aunt Prudencia, on the other hand, taught me creativity in the kitchen, how to cook from the heart, and how to make every dish feel like home. Their lessons still guide me every day, both as a chef and as a storyteller. Every bowl of ramen I make, every page I write, carries a piece of their spirit.
CHEF JESSE, YOUR BOOK KUMAKO DEN BEAUTIFULLY CAPTURES CULTURE, MEMORY, AND MINDFULNESS. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO STEP FROM THE KITCHEN INTO THE WORLD OF WRITING?
Cooking has always been my first language — but writing allowed me to translate that passion into something lasting. I wanted to preserve the flavors, traditions, and small stories that shaped me as a chef. Kumako Den was born from a desire to honor the people and memories behind every bowl of ramen, especially those moments that happen quietly — before the restaurant opens, when you taste the broth and remember why you started. Writing became a way to share that mindfulness and emotion beyond the kitchen.
AS A CHEF AND NOW AN AUTHOR, HOW DO YOU SEE STORYTELLING CONNECTING BOTH WORLDS — FOOD AND WORDS?
Food and words both tell stories that touch the soul. In the kitchen, every ingredient has a story — where it came from, who grew it, and how it’s transformed through care and time. In writing, those stories find voice. Whether I’m describing the aroma of tonkotsu broth or the rhythm of a busy kitchen, I’m telling a story of people, culture, and connection. Both cooking and writing are acts of storytelling — one feeds the body, the other nourishes the spirit.
WRITING A COOKBOOK GOES BEYOND SHARING RECIPES — IT’S ALSO ABOUT SHARING A PIECE OF YOUR HEART. WHAT MESSAGE OR FEELING DO YOU HOPE READERS TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR BOOK?
I hope readers feel the same warmth and comfort that ramen brings to me. Kumako Den isn’t just about cooking; it’s about mindfulness, connection, and love through food. I want people to see that every bowl of ramen tells a story — of patience, family, and care. My message is simple: cook with intention, and you’ll create something meaningful every time.
MANY WRITERS SPEAK ABOUT A DEEPER PURPOSE BEHIND THEIR WORK. WHAT DOES PURPOSE MEAN TO YOU — BOTH AS A CREATOR AND AS A PERSON?
Purpose, to me, means using your craft to serve others. Whether it’s cooking at Kumako Den, writing about ramen, or mentoring through the JCSM Foundation, my purpose is to connect and uplift. Food and writing are both vehicles for that — they allow me to share gratitude, culture, and inspiration with others. Purpose keeps creativity grounded in service.
THE CREATIVE JOURNEY CAN BE DEMANDING. WHAT WERE SOME OF THE MOST MEANINGFUL LESSONS YOU LEARNED WHILE WRITING KUMAKO DEN?
Writing Kumako Den taught me patience, vulnerability, and the beauty of imperfection. In the kitchen, you adjust flavors instantly — but in writing, you have to trust the process. I learned that storytelling, just like ramen, takes time and heart. The biggest lesson was that authenticity resonates far more than perfection. Readers connect when they feel your sincerity.
YOU’VE BUILT A RESPECTED NAME IN YOUR FIELD. HOW DO YOU STAY GROUNDED AND INSPIRED AMID SUCCESS AND RECOGNITION?
Gratitude keeps me grounded. I think about where I started — one restaurant, one dream, one bowl at a time. Success only means something if you stay connected to your roots and the people who believed in you. My team, my family, and my community inspire me daily. They remind me that food, at its core, is about giving — not gaining.