Chef
Toni
- Discipline
- Chef
- Based in
- New York City, New York, United States
i. Biography
Coming Up
Two early work modes shaped Toni’s practice: the speed and clarity required by Buzzfeed's Tasty, and the floor discipline of M Cafe de Chaya in Los Angeles. As producer and Resident On-Camera Talent at Buzzfeed's Tasty, Toni worked in a format where food had to read quickly and clearly, turning technique and flavor into something legible on camera. At M Cafe de Chaya in Los Angeles, as General Manager, the work sat on the operational side of hospitality, where timing, leadership, and consistency carry the service. That pairing of production and restaurant management gave Toni a working view of food from both sides of the pass. One role demanded presence and precise communication; the other required structure, stamina, and an eye for pace. Taken together, they formed a practical base for later work in which presentation and operations remain equally present.
Where They Are Now
Toni’s current work as founder of Tonicooks and chef of Fairfax West Village carries forward that split fluency between making and managing. The line from early media production to restaurant leadership is direct: both ask for control over pace, message, and execution, just in different registers. The background here includes a culinary arts program, becoming vegan in the middle of it, time inside a major digital food platform, and the responsibility of running a Los Angeles restaurant. None of that reads as separate from the present title. In Toni’s case, those parts stack into a single working profile built from training, adaptation, and repeated service experience.
Profile updated August 2026
FAQ
Asked of Toni
Where did Toni work before?
Toni's earlier career included Buzzfeed's Tasty and M Cafe de Chaya.
