HELLO. I AM ROSIE O’CONNOR.
Award-winning Chef and Owner of
Provecho Grill in Southern California.
Story behind my passion
Hola Amigos! I’m Chef Rosie O’Connor– restaurateur, free spirit, and avid storyteller who loves to share my passion for travel, food, and cocktails. I’m a born and raised California girl, but my heart will always have a place in Mexico.
In my cooking, I blend the food cultures I’ve come to love…California cuisine and Mexican gastronomy. The fusion of these two unique flavor profiles has become a cuisine all its own, which many chefs and I lovingly refer to as Cali-Mex cuisine.
My family has owned restaurants for close to 40 years, so cooking is in my DNA. It’s something I’ve always loved to do. I’ve had the restaurant bug for a long time. When I was sixteen, I had my son, and we used to dream about starting up a little place to call our own one day. Opening Provecho Grill with him was a dream come true for both of us. So, I guess you can say that Mexican food has made a big impact on our lives.
It’s connected me to my family, allowed me to do many great things in my community, and helped pave the way to achieving my dreams. I owned Provecho Grill for over a decade, and as of 2024, I now own Lady M Bistro. I can’t wait to see where my culinary journey takes me next.
Here on the blog, I’m sharing the recipes that my father passed down to me, as well as my own creations developed over the years as a chef. Some of these recipes are staples on the menu at my newest restaurant, Lady M Bistro and Provecho Grill. You’ll also read about my travels across the world, which continue to inspire me. I travel in search of food inspiration and to connect with the amazing cultures and people I encounter.
I often visit other chefs’ restaurants to get into their heads and see things through their eyes. Sometimes, I share their stories and recipes here on the blog because I believe we all have something to learn from each other. The mind of a chef is an amazing thing. What makes us tick? What inspires us? In the end, for many chefs, we just want you to love our food.
SoCal Chef Open 2015
My crazy competitive edge landed me in the SoCal Chef Open in 2015. This spectacular event features chefs from the most prominent local wineries, casinos, and restaurants who come together to compete in creating their most delicious masterpieces. For the first time in SoCal Chef Open history, one chef was decorated with both awards. The judging chefs and over 600 in attendance honored me with the Pinnacle Award and People’s Choice Award.
Farmer’s Market Flip
In 2017, I appeared in the first season of Farmer’s Market Flip as The Spicy Latinas along with Xiomara Hall on the Cooking Channel. The pilot didn’t quite make it to the next season but left me hungry to continue my adventures on television.
In 2018, the Harris Casino in Funner, California held a cooking competition with Hell’s Kitchen contestants. I was asked to compete and support the event. The competition challenged me, feeding over 400 VIP members in attendance. My reasoning for wanting to compete was to use all the equipment offered in the hotel and to my surprise, I won with a Sous Vide Pork Cheek Peruvian-Inspired Taco on a handmade tortilla. I am extremely proud to announce that I’ve competed in Food Network’s new competitive cooking series, Supermarket Stakeout, alongside the show’s talented host, Iron Chef, and Chopped judge Alex Guarnaschelli. My episode aired on Tuesday, September 17, 2019. I invite you to watch and support the series!
Culinary Adventures and New Beginnings
Chef Rosie O’Connor is a native Californian who carries the spirit of Mexico in her heart. As a chef and TV personality, she has appeared and competed in national television shows and local competitions, judged multiple competitions, and hosted private events for local foodies. Chef Rosie loves to share her food stories and journeys that she has learned and taken to heart from traveling to multiple countries.
After closing Provecho Grill in 2023, she embarked on a mission to travel the world in hopes of learning new cultures and new foods. Her journey led her to Europe, where she not only discovered fascinating cultures and foods but also found healing and a renewed passion for the culinary arts.
Upon returning to her hometown, she opened a new restaurant, marking the end of an era for Provecho Grill and the beginning of a new chapter. In March 2024, she opened Kitchen Studio in Menifee, CA. The studio became an instant success, prompting Chef Rosie to embrace this exciting turn of events. She transformed the studio into Lady M Bistro, reaching yet another milestone. Lady M Bistro launched with great success, offering a lively atmosphere with music, karaoke, food, and wine. It has become a golden light in the community, providing a fun and safe place for people to enjoy a great time and delightful dishes.
Additional Achievements
- Call to Service Award from President Barack Obama.
- Cooked for former President of Mexico Vicente Fox in 2019.
- Lead Celebrity Chef Judge from 2019-2021.
- Featured Chef for the 2021 San Diego Bay Food and Wine Festival.
- Guest Judge at Taco Smackdown Contest in 2021 at the San Diego Bay Food and Wine Festival.
- Guest at the 2022 San Diego Latino Film Festival/Sabor Latino
- Featured Celebrity Chef for the Temecula Taco Festival in 2021.
- Ambassador Chef for Goya Foods.
- Featured Celebrity Chef for Viva Mescal, Oaxaca, Mexico.
- Member of Chef Latinos.
Competing on Food Network
I am extremely proud to announce that I recently competed in Food Network’s NEW competitive cooking series, Supermarket Stakeout alongside the show’s talented host, Iron Chef, and Chopped judge Alex Guarnaschelli.
My episode aired on Tuesday, September 17, 2019. I invite you to watch and support the series! You can watch on Food Network or purchase the series and watch online.
Where to watch: Amazon | YouTube | Hulu | Vudu
Chef Latinos Guanajuato Festival Gastronomico
Chef Rosie O’Connor is a native Californian, carries the spirit of Mexico in her heart. The culinary expert was recently part of an expedition to Mexico, hosted by Chef Latinos, an organization directed by Antonio Alcarez.
The Chef Latinos Guanajuato Festival Gastronomico was held in the home of the former president, Vicente Fox’s hometown, Hacienda San Cristóbal de León in Guanajuato, Mexico. The event featured 18 chefs from across Latin America and California and included Chef Rosie O’Connor, the executive chef, and operator of Sun City’s Provecho Grill.
Chef Rosie had always dreamed of cooking for a president and finally realized that achievement at the November 9th event hosted by Chefs Latinos.
After being asked to prepare a special dish for former President Vincente Fox, Chef Rosie decided on a shrimp soup prepared in the regional style of Tuxpan, Veracruz.
After tasting the dish, Former President Fox complimented Chef Rosie on her dedication to her craft, stating, “Your father would be proud,” and “Though you live in California, your heart is from Mexico.”
When asked about her choice of which dish she prepared for the president, Chef Rosie is quoted as saying:
I wanted to make a dish that represented a region in Mexico and put my spin on it. I am an American born chef who specializes in Mexican cuisine. I wanted to honor him by making something different than a mole or something general. I made a typical shrimp soup from Tuxpan, Veracruz. I made the base with honda shi & guajillo chile and topped it with Tobiko (flying fish eggs) tortilla chips, & pozole. I poured my heart into that dish. I made it a few times at my restaurant before making it for him.
Chef Rosie O’Connor
Chef Rosie O’Connor Joins Chefs Latinos in Mexico
Chef Rosie’s commitment to quality and perfection is an inspiration for anyone that might choose to pick up a knife or skillet. Chefs Latinos Director, Antonio Alcaraz, also chimed in on the importance of Chef Rosie’s participation:
We will achieve many great things with Chef Latinos. Chef Rosie’s story will travel the world and inspire many women, as she already does. Thank you for being part of this beautiful project.
Antonio Alcaraz, CHEFS LATINOS DIRECTOR
Frequently Asked Questions
Chef Rosie O’Connor is based in Southern California.
Chef Rosie offers private dinners, catering and more. You can view her services by viewing the Work with Chef Rosie page here.
You can book Chef Rosie O’Connor for one of her many services by completing the contact form at the bottom of the Work with Chef Rosie page. Click here.
Have more questions for me? Send me an email!