Tim Kolanko is the overarching culinary director for Urban Kitchen Group (UKG) and the chef-partner for several of the collective’s restaurants including ARTIFACT at Mingei, Gold Finch, The Kitchen at MCASD, and more. He leverages 30+ years of professional industry experience working in dining institutions throughout the country to lead the impressive culinary programs for UKG’s nine restaurant locations in San Diego and Orange County, alongside a full-service catering division.
In 2002, Chef Kolanko made a pivotal move west from Aspen to San Diego to be a part of the opening team at La Jolla’s AAA Five Diamond resort, The Lodge at Torrey Pines, where he developed a level of culinary craftsmanship uniquely his own and was promoted to Chef de Cuisine of The Lodge’s venerable A.R. Valentien in 2005. After a decade at The Lodge, Kolanko joined one of San Diego’s powerhouse hospitality groups as culinary director to open several award-winning concepts including the city’s first food hall, Liberty Public Market, and the fine-dining Stake Chophouse + Bar in Coronado.
In partnering with outstanding restaurateur Tracy Borkum and Urban Kitchen Group in 2019, Chef Kolanko brings a particular reverence for sustainable sourcing and farmer-chef relationships, which have become the hallmark of his seasonally driven menus.
