jason colabove crush italian cuisine and lounge| 201 Broadway St, Chico In a kitchen overlooking Broadway and West 2nd Street, Jason Colabove will often be found cooking or prepping for yet another busy night at Crush Italian Cuisine and Lounge. Colabove, being mostly self-trained, began cooking at a young age. Paying his dues through bussing tables and washing dishes, he eventually joined the navy, where he would get his first dose of official chef training while stationed in Hawaii. After his time in the navy he moved to Chico after getting a job as a chef at The Black Crow. He enjoyed his time there as he was given a great amount of freedom to experiment with food and create his own recipes. Eventually, however, it was time to move on to new opportunities, and he found these by opening Crush. He puts a lot into instilling the values of hard work into his team. As Chico is a college town, employees have a tendency to come and go. This creates a challenge for business owners to keep their staff motivated. Colabove looks for workers that, above all else, are enthusiastic and motivated, which in turn creates a better experience for the customer. Not only does Colabove create amazing food, but he has also created an atmosphere and mood perfect for a night out. Complete with a full bar, Crush offers both lounge and dining style seating coated with romantic lighting. If you’re looking to take someone new out on a date, this locale should be at the top of your list.
christian steinbach
saraH schlobohm
christian Michael’s | 192 E 3rd St, Chico
momona noodle & bao |230 W 3rd St, Chico
On the corner of East 3rd Street and Wall Street is Christian Michael’s, a restaurant that has become a staple in local cuisine. Chef Christian Steinbach is no stranger to fine Italian dining as he worked under multiple Bay Area chefs as well as owned and operated four restaurants throughout California. It wasn’t until starting a family that he decided to slow down a little and run only his two Chico locations, Christian Michael’s and California Pasta Production. At Christian Michael’s, his menu goes beyond Italian food, creating a menu full of fusionstyle dishes ranging from seafood ravioli to his popular bacon-wrapped meatloaf.
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Momona isn’t your traditional noodle house. Executive chef and co-owner, Sarah Schlobohm, not only specializes in ramen but multiple recipes of bao as well. Schlobohm, 26, runs the business with her husband, Michael Lee, and friend, Mahina Gannet, who introduced bao to the kitchen. Being a native to the Paradise/ Chico area, Schlobohm saw Chico as the perfect hub for her restaurant after completing her studies at The Art Institute and serving as executive chef at another downtown restaurant. Additionally, Schlobohm fosters an inclusive
kitchen that differentiates itself from others by promoting a healthier work-life balance for her staff.