John Park is a prominent (and well-credentialed) Orange County-based restauranteur, chef, baker and dessert artisan. He is fondly remembered for creating the menus at Toast Kitchen + Bakery in Costa Mesa and Tableau Kitchen and Bar in South Coast Plaza. While perfecting a recipe for pizza dough Chef John became intrigued with creating an assortment of redefined fusion bagels along with premium bagel sandwiches. The result is Rise Bagels (opened with business partner, John I. Park) in Irvine at Centerview at Irvine Concourse.

“Rise Bagels features a lighter, airier bagel with the chew of a traditional New York bagel, reimagined as a canvas for Southern California's fresh produce and seafood.”

Think Pokeman with ahi tuna, sesame shoyu, seaweed salad, imitation crab, soy pickled onion, cucumber, tobiko with a Tokyo negi schmear.

Current bagel options are Salted, Everything, Furikake, Cheddar Jalapeno, Sesame and Cinnamon Raisin.

Chef John takes a break from his busy kitchen, and proofing bagels, to join us.