Fabian Gallardo

Fabian Gallardo was born the son of a shoemaker, in the town of Leon, Mexico. His creative aspirations kicked in at an early age. While studying business administration at Instituto Tecnologico y de EstudiosSuperiores de Monterrey, he realized he had bigger dreams to pursue. He made a bold move to New York City, where he hoped to combine his passion for food culture with his love of photography. He was accepted at the prestigious French Culinary Institute in Manhattan and eventually graduated with their Grand Diplóme and a degree in Restaurant Management. Gallardo served his apprenticeship at L'Ecole and then at Daniel Boulud's classic restaurant, Café Boulud. Afast learner, Gallardo then began his own catering business with Chef Christian Page. This in turn led to an opportunity to work as the Chef de Cuisine at Vice Versa under the guidance of Executive Chef Stefano Terzi. He spent 14 years at Vice Versa, and then moved to California with his family, and was appointed Chef de Cuisine at Petty Cash Taqueria in West Hollywood, where Gallardo brought his native talent to the most bustling taco scene in the country. He worked alongside famed Chef Walter Manzke, and their combined creative ingenuity quickly produced one of the best known taco destinations in the city, reaping many honors and awards, including "Best Guacamole" from Time Out Magazine and a listing in Los Angeles Magazine's ' Top 25 Tacos'. Gallardo and Manzke soon became the acknowledged 'higher authority' on all-things-taco. So much so that after four highly successful years with Petty Cash, Gallardo was sought out by Derek Sanders at New York's famed La Esquina, who asked him to return to New York and supervise four [and counting] very busy kitchens in Esquina's expanding East Coast empire. Gallardo embraced the challenge of this new experience and the many innovative ways he could share his love of tacos with the world. After La Esquina he decided to open LALA Taqueria in Westchester County and Larchmont was the ideal location since his daughters attend school steps away from the Taqueria. He brought a team that helped opening the business, and now LALA Taqueria Larchmont is on the right path to start expanding. Show less «