ZACH LARUE

PASTRY/PREP COOK

THIS IS ZACH.  Born in Newberg hospital 24 years ago, Zach is a Yamhill County native, having lived in McMinnville or neighboring Sheridan his entire life.  Both his mother and sister have established their own respective businesses in McMinnville and his dad recently retired from the city Police Department, having served his entire career in McMinnville.  Now also settled in McMinnville with his girlfriend and roommate, Zach is about as rooted in this community as anyone.

The restaurant business is also in the family, as his grandmother owns local favorite dinner/drinks spot, La Rambla. Zach started washing dishes there at age 15 and worked his way up to line cook and eventually, sous chef.  He literally came of age in La Rambla and as a result, has become a mis en place specialist.  Award-winning chefs will tell you this principle of “everything in it’s place” is the foundation for greatness in the kitchen and this attention to detail is at the heart of Zach’s contribution at Community Plate. He describes himself as our 6th man - the utility player - a critical role on any winning team and he’s recently demonstrated this adaptability as the second “half” of our pastry department. Zach’s fine-tuned focus is of utmost importance as the science of baking allows very little room for error.  He notes that there has been a steep learning curve compared to cooking on the line but he’s relished the challenge.  And if you’ve been in to CP for a pastry lately, you know he’s KILLING IT.

 WHAT DOES HE THINK ABOUT WORKING AT COMMUNITY PLATE?
“This is the best crew I’ve worked with,” he says. “And I have a lot of respect for the leadership here. Chef Jenna is great and I love that the owners take the crew out for some time together and throw holiday parties for us.”

FIRST COOKING JOB La Rambla | McMinnville, OR
SPECIALTIES Precision pastry chef
FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT Pura Vida, The Oak
IF EATING AT COMMUNITY PLATE Breakfast Burrito
YOU CAN FIND HIM Rooftop Bar at McMenamins
SPECTACULAR TALENT Long board
HOBBIES Reading, writing short stories
LOVES Making dutch babies for his roomies on Wednesdays