We met years ago as young adults in Santa Cruz — drawn together by good food, coastal sunsets, and a shared curiosity for what makes a meal truly memorable. What began as a simple connection over a glass of wine at Cabrillo and Soif(RIP) became a lifelong pursuit of hospitality — and the inspiration behind Date Night Duo.
Together, we bring over thirty years of experience from kitchens, tasting rooms, and dining floors across Santa Cruz, San Diego, and San Francisco. Our backgrounds stretch from boutique wineries, fine dining institutions, or the turn and burn of "tourist trap" restaurants — places where we learned that hospitality isn’t just service, it’s storytelling.
Our travels through Europe deepened that understanding. In each café, market, and vineyard, we discovered traditions that taught us to slow down, savor, and connect — lessons that shaped our taste and our philosophy.
When we’re not building this project, you’ll find us cooking at home, exploring new restaurants, or hosting friends around a table covered in shared plates and open bottles. We live for the moments that remind us why food and connection matter.
Date Night Duo grew out of frustration as much as passion — after years of searching for local guides that actually got it right. Too often, we found lists that felt detached from the real pulse of the place — the kind of spots you only find when you know the chef, the winemaker, or the bartender who’s been there since day one.
So we built what we couldn’t find: a space that captures the genuine flavor of our community — told through experience, not algorithms.