Meet the Chef
Bruce Kalman was the Chef and Co-Owner of UNION in Pasadena, CA, and was Chef and Co-Owner of Knead & Co. Pasta Bar + Market in L.A.’s Grand Central Market. His commitment to indigenous ingredients goes beyond the farmers’ market to build strong connections with local providers, keeping the operations’ carbon footprint low, supporting the local economy, and connecting diners to high-quality vegetables, meats, and cheeses straight from the source. He is known for his passion for nose-to-tail animal butchery.
His next act, SoulBelly BBQ, combines Kalman’s love of butchery with a passion for chef-driven flavors and techniques. The restaurant is a love letter to regional barbeque flavors across the United States, with thoughtful sides, snacks, and artisanal pickles from Kalman’s side project, BK Brinery.
Throughout his career, Kalman has gained recognition from James Beard, with a nomination for “Rising Star Chef,” and has appeared on the Food Network to earn a “Chopped” championship title, Beat Bobby Flay in which he was victorious, as well as on Esquire Network to win “Knife Fight.” Kalman was also a cheftestant on Bravo’s Top Chef, Season 15 filmed in Colorado, finishing in the top five. He has made appearances on shows such as Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family, CBS’s The Talk, Viceland’s Untitled Action Bronson Show, and Last Call with Carson Daly, among many others. In his spare time, Chef Kalman is the frontman in the chef cover band, Foie Grock, with fellow chef Duff Goldman and enjoys spending time with his wife and son.
Follow Chef Kalman on Instagram @ChefBKalman and Twitter @ChefBKalman.
Keep up to date on SoulBelly happenings on Instagram @soulbellybbq