Personalities

Jason Berthold

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Executive Chef - RN74

JASON BERTHOLD Executive Chef

Executive Chef Jason Berthold was a part of the team to open San Francisco’s renowned urban wine bar and restaurant, RN74, in April of 2009.

Given the creative freedom to develop his own menu for RN74, Berthold’s cuisine aims to be a perfect complement to the wines – creative, modern, but simple interpretations of California- influenced French cuisine punctuated with seasonal, fresh ingredients and bold flavors. The menu reflects his philosophy that the dishes should be clean, fresh and pure, allowing a wide range of wines to complement the dishes; there is never just one perfect wine pairing at RN74.

Berthold jumpstarted his career in New York City at Thomas Keller’s Per Se. After 18 months, he headed west to Keller’s renowned Napa Valley institution -- French Laundry, where he served as Sous Chef. In tandem with his entrée into culinary fortitude at French Laundry, Berthold was inspired by Napa Valley and the rhythms of winemaking. The physical, hands-on nature of kitchen and cellar were similar. Berthold observed that in both worlds, decisions are based on the senses – taste, sight, smell – and that the memory of those senses is what fuels winemakers and chefs alike. Berthold found his winemaking chops working hands-on with iconoclast Abe Schoener, producer of the Scholium Project Wines and now produces wine under is his own label, Courier.

Berthold’s ingenuity, coupled with his awareness of wine eventually led him to RN74 – where he serves as the perfect complement to RN74 partner, vintner and Wine Director Rajat Parr. The two create a synergy that reflects their deep knowledge of one another’s roles. Berthold thrives on delivering pure, vibrant flavors that showcase each ingredient with equal enthusiasm. He revels in the transformation of raw ingredient to its final destination – akin to the journey of grape to glass in winemaking. Groomed by masters in their own fields, Berthold emerged with a uniquely balanced perspective – one that he uses as a lens for creating an unforgettable experience for San Francisco diners at RN74.