Elijah Deleon’s education in seasonal cooking began as a teenager at the Torrance Farmers’ Market, where he wandered the aisles and learned about produce. Now executive chef at Rustic Canyon in Santa Monica, he visits the nearby farmers’ market twice a week, finding ingredients that shape a menu influenced by his Mexican heritage and Southern California upbringing.
Born in Harbor City to a Mexican mother and Filipino father, Deleon grew up in Los Angeles’ South Bay, primarily eating Mexican food. At 17, he began cooking for his two younger brothers while his mother was at work. His first professional kitchen job came at 22, as a line cook at a Nordstrom restaurant, where creating monthly specials gave him an early opportunity to develop dishes.
In October 2019, he joined David LeFevre’s Manhattan Beach Post, building confidence on the line in a busy dining room. After pandemic restrictions eased, he moved to Jeremy Fox’s Birdie G’s. Working with a chef he had long admired, Deleon deepened his understanding of seasonality, farm relationships, and kitchen organization. He advanced from line cook to junior sous chef after a year, then became sous chef the following year.
Fox brought Deleon to Rustic Canyon for temporary support in October 2023. The move became permanent when a sous chef position opened, and Deleon was promoted to chef de cuisine in August 2024, taking responsibility for the menu and daily kitchen operations. He became executive chef in January 2026, following Fox’s departure.
His approach remains direct: “source seasonally, locally, and keep it simple.” The cooking of his mother and grandmother informs his use of chile heat, acidity, and sauces, while market availability keeps dishes moving. Steak tartare with avocado, white cheddar, and tortilla chips and grilled oyster mushrooms al pastor express that connection between family influences and California ingredients. At Rustic Canyon, Deleon has room to develop that personal style while continuing the restaurant’s longstanding commitment to local farms.
