TASTE TRI-VALLEY RESTAURANT WEEK
CHEF SPOTLIGHT
Chef Francis X. Hogan
Executive Chef & Partner
Sabio Hospitality Group
Sabio on Main, Crush’d Wine Bar + Kitchen
Early Inspiration & Culinary Beginnings
With family members working in high-end restaurants, Chef Francis X. Hogan was drawn to the energy and glamour of the industry from a young age. His culinary journey began in South Jersey in 1996, when he took his first restaurant job as a teenager.
By 23 years old, he had already opened his first business, 1601 Gastropub in Philadelphia, pioneering a new wave of dining in the area. That experience proved invaluable, teaching him the grit and determination it takes to build a successful restaurant.
building a career on both coasts
After selling his stake in 1601, Hogan moved west, first to Seattle, then to San Francisco, where he refined his skills at some of the city’s most notable restaurants. He became Executive Chef at Bluestem Brasserie, where he earned the opportunity to cook at the James Beard House in New York City, a milestone in any chef’s career.
As his life shifted toward the East Bay, Hogan sought opportunities closer to home. In 2015, he co-founded Sabio on Main, bringing his ingredient-driven approach to fine dining in the Tri-Valley. Under his leadership, Sabio has earned recognition in the Michelin Guide, received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence annually since 2016, and was named one of the 50 Best Bay Area Restaurants by The Mercury News in 2021. Building on this success, he expanded his footprint in the region by opening Crush’d Wine Bar + Kitchen in Danville, a casual yet elevated concept that reflects his passion for high-quality, locally sourced ingredients in a more relaxed setting.
beyond the kitchen
At home, pizza with slow-fermentation dough is his go-to dish, and his must-have kitchen tool is an immersion blender. If he could cook for anyone, he’d choose John Lennon, and if he weren’t a chef, he imagines he’d be a record producer or football analyst.
Join CHEF HOGAN AT TASTE TRI-VALLEY
At this year’s Taste Tri-Valley Restaurant Week (Feb. 21 – Mar. 2, 2025), Chef Hogan will host the cocktail reception for the Taste Tri-Valley Kickoff Dinner at Crush’d Wine Bar + Kitchen. This exclusive event will then move next door to Tides, where guests will enjoy a four-course meal crafted by a collaboration of top local chefs, curated wine pairings, and a live auction benefiting CityServe of the Tri-Valley—all kicking off 10 days of food and wine celebrations.
