Executive Chef James Montejano is certainly in high spirits. He barely utters a sentence without a smile bursting across his face. He's happy for good reason. His restaurant, Jade Theater, is one of downtown's new hotspots, bringing a mix of sophistication and playfulness to a developing area of downtown.
Montejano joined Jade in 2007, before the restaurant’s opening, to develop a menu of Asian-inspired cuisine. The result is a modern and inspired collection of small plates and entrée-sized dishes that pull from Asia’s many culinary traditions. Montejano calls it a "play on courses"—with the menu divided into Tease, Taste, Eat, and Treat sections. While each section can relate to a traditional meal—Teases are amuse-bouche-style small pates, Tastes are appetizers, Eats are entrees, and Treats desserts—there are no rules guiding what to order or when.
As for the cuisine, "we're calling it progressive Asian,” Montejano explains. “Lots of people are doing Asian Fusion. This isn't ‘East meets West.’ It's ‘East meets East.’" That’s East meets East, as in: China meets India, Thailand meets Korea, Japan meets Vietnam, etc. Montejano explains that Asia alone has so many cuisines and rich culinary histories, that he feels no need to seek influences in the rest of the world.
When asked what draws him to Asia, he cites tradition. "There are traditions of Asian cuisine. It is seasonal. There are certain things you eat for different reasons." He cites ingredients such as ginger, which is added to many dishes because it aids digestion. “It is flavor based on purpose. It is also very unique, very artistic. That's not saying that French cuisine isn't artistic," he hastily adds, "but it's not that diverse. Asia has so many meshes of countries, so much variety."
Of all the variety, Montejano loves playing with seafood most. "It's so delicate. The time frame is so small." He likes the fact that there is “such a little window” between when it is taken from the ocean and when it is put on the plate. This comes as no surprise—Montejano seems to thrive under pressure. He cites his previous job, working as Executive Chef for Black & Blue Steakhouse at Valley View casino. "You are at the guest's beck and call. If they want eggs, you make them eggs. If they've just lost two grand and want steak and lobster, you're making them a $2,000 steak and lobster dinner."
As for his expertise with seafood, he has had much experience to perfect his technique. Prior to Black & Blue he served as Executive Chef at Café Japengo, an award-winning sushi and Asian-fusion restaurant in the UTC area of La Jolla. He also worked at the Pamplemousse Grille in Solana Beach, and prior to working in San Diego, Trader Vic’s and Aqua in San Francisco.
He carries his experience of catering to his customers’ every need over to Jade, where guests come for a variety of reasons and a variety of situations—not always just to dine. The restaurant is actually a three-floor space comprised not only of a restaurant, but of a bar, lounge, and “ultralounge” nightclub.
"We offer the full menu everywhere," Montejano explains. Rather than having to order dinner in the dining room and then moving to the ultralounge for the rest of the evening, you can order your meal in any of the venue’s myriad of settings, at any point in the evening. You can eat in an intimate corner of the lounge, in one of many private rooms or the main dining room upstairs, or even at a VIP table in the nightclub. Plus, you can move around from location to location—drinks and a Tease at the bar, a full meal in the dining room, and a Taste or two in the nightclub as the night goes on. Not unlike a casino, Jade Theater offers guests "a complete night without out leaving the venue."
Offering guests their choice of ambiance is only half of Montejano’s flexibility. He’s specifically designed the menu to maximize variety. "There's literally something for everyone," he claims. "You want fish, we have fish, you want chicken we have chicken, you want beef, or lamb, we have that too."
While guests may come to Jade Theater for the scene—the design is truly transporting and the vibe is one of the hippest in downtown—they will surely find themselves enamored with Montejano’s cuisine. With its playful presentation and lighthearted style, Montejano’s offerings do more than just make him happy—they put a smile on every one of his guests’ faces as well. Next time you’re sitting back in a chair or a couch at Jade, look around. It’s no coincidence that everyone in the entire venue looks happy, relaxed, and satisfied.