HOUSTON – Chef Jose Hernandez has worked in some of the most prestigious restaurant kitchens in New York City and Houston.
Now, as the owner of Brasserie du Parc downtown, Savoir and its speakeasy Patton’s Steakhouse, Chef Hernandez is opening up about his path to the culinary world.
Hernandez was born in Mexico City. At just 7 years old, he lost his mother. Then, along with his father and 4 siblings he moved to a small city, southwest of Mexico City, to work the fields where his family grew mostly pinto beans and corn. It was there where he learned to grind up corn for tortillas and grain for bread.
At age 14, Hernandez went back to Mexico City with plans to eventually attend college and study business. In the meantime, he got a job working for a cousin who was in charge of a bakery there, and after one thing led to another, Hernandez found himself working for Hotel Presidente, Club de Industriales Mexico, and Hotel Westin in Ixtapa Zihuatanejo.
In 2001, Chef Hernandez got a job offer to work as pastry chef for a popular restaurant in New York City before moving to Houston in 2004 to help open Bistro Moderne at Hotel Derek in the Galleria area. After the economic downturn in 2008, Hernandez returned to New York City and continued working alongside some of the best chefs in the city -- and famed establishments like the Four Seasons.
Then in 2010 Hernandez returned to Houston, a city where he says he plans to stay and raise his family. After working at popular Houston restaurants like Schmit, Triniti, and Lucienne, Hernandez became owner of Brasserie du Parc at Discovery Green. Hernandez modified what was previously a 100% French menu to make it more intercontinental.
Then in 2024, Hernandez added Yale Street’s Savoir to his portfolio, where he also updated the menu to round it out with European and Mediterranean dishes. Inside Savoir and accessible by going through the wine cellar, Patton’s steakhouse and speakeasy continues to be a buzzing hidden gem.
Watch the full interview with Houston Life to learn more about how Chef Hernandez is leaving his mark on Houston’s restaurant scene. Plus, Chef shares his simple techniques for making delicious pasta at home.