Chef Kiko

Chef Jose Rodriguez, known as "Chef Kiko", draws his inspiration for cooking from his hometown Veracruz, Mexico. Rodriguez's career began on 2004 at the Anasazi hotel under Chefs Martin Rios and Oliver Ridgeway. He then spent 8 years at La Boca ( Spanish tapas restaurant  ) where he ran two kitchens with two different menus. Today, Chef Kiko is the Executive Chef at Ten Thousand Waves' izanami, serving up Japanese Izakaya (an informal Japanese gastropub) . The menu consists of small plates made with authentic Japanese products combined with locally raised meat and vegetables. He spends his free time with his partner of 14 years, Nora, and their three children. If he is not at izanami, you can usually find him grilling in his back yard with family and friends;  sharing his love for cooking and taking care of others.