Chef Nestor Milian

Chef + Culinary Instructor

Los Angeles, CA 

Chef Nestor Milian is a Los Angeles based chef whose career bridges Michelin-starred kitchens, high-volume hospitality, and culinary education. Nestor was born in Los Angeles but spent much of his childhood living with his family in Guatemala, even working at his family’s restaurant where he developed a passion for food and cooking.

A natural leader who started humbly at Chipotle before rising to two-star restaurant Melisse in Santa Monica, Nestor has spent over a decade mastering every side of the restaurant business: from fine dining to events to culinary instruction. He ran Curtis Stone’s celebrated butcher shop and event operations, served as Executive Chef for DCB Hospitality, and currently teaches as a culinary instructor while consulting for restaurants and private clients. His deep industry experience gives him an almost surgical understanding of what separates a thriving kitchen from a failing one: discipline, standards, and a culture of care. Nestor has personally stepped in to revive struggling restaurants, improving operations, retraining staff, and transforming health grades from B to A in a matter of weeks.

For an undercover kitchen format, Nestor is a natural fit. On the outside, his simple, unassuming and humble look, doesn't make him stand out–which in this instance will be a significant advantage. His consulting background already demands that he enter unfamiliar kitchens, blend in, and discreetly evaluate performance and culture from the inside out. Humble yet commanding, he knows how to shift between personas: chef or line cook, leader or teammate, all in an effort to earn trust and gather insight without revealing his expertise. Whether putting out figurative or literal fires, he keeps calm, focused, and in control. As he puts it, “Every criminal leaves a pattern.” That mindset: discipline, observation, and integrity, makes him the perfect operative to uncover the truth inside any kitchen.