Chef Anastacia “AQ” Quiñones is new exec chef at José in Dallas

Quite the wiz with Mexican cuisine in general and tacos in particular (she infuses her tortilla masa with vegetable juices for flavor and color), former Cedars Social chef Anastacia Quiñones has joined contemporary Mexican restaurant José as its new executive chef. AQ brings with her a history of brief stints in the kitchens of Alma, Komali, and Kitchen LTO, but Jose seems like a really great fit. I love the space, I love the location, and I love that the owners (including Brady Wood and Hannah Wood, who sent us word of AQ’s new hire) are finally giving Jose’s food the attention it deserves.

José specializes in Guadalajaran cuisine. AQ is a grad of the Culinary Institute of American in New York, then worked at San Francisco’s Jardiniére restaurant with chef-owner Traci Des Jardins. 

The Woods have certainly been busy, too. They’re also developing Park House, the swanky private club under construction in Highland Park Village, under their WoodHouse corporate umbrella.