Meet Cam & Dom Ryan / Larocca

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cam & Dom Ryan / Larocca and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cam & Dom, what role has risk played in your life or career?
We both used to work at dumb tech companies, but left to risk it all on the dream of becoming a private chef. The safe option is to keep the cushy 9-5 with the salary and benefits and ride middle management to the grave. And most people I know do that and they make a ton of money and it’s totally fine. But personally that life led me to a dark pit of existential dread. You probably only live once so you might as well go face first into your dream job. No one else is gonna do it for you. It’s pretty scary leaving that safety net but if the talent is there, the risk is worth the reward. You’re not gonna be on your death bed wishing you had spent more time in the office.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Dom – I’ve always been an artist and in my late twenties, I decided to pursue cooking full time in lieu of working a mundane office job. The simple answer is that my passion for creativity and love of food guided me to where I am today. Having an artistic mindset has always come naturally, so once I started cooking as a career, it just felt right.

Right off the bat, our name alone sets us apart from other private chef companies as it’s quite unique. That was one aspect of the branding I wanted to make sure was original to us as I see so many other companies with generic, forgettable names. We like to ensure that every meal Tarrare’s serves is unforgettable and I believe our name matches that core value.

While Tarrare’s focuses on a mix of European cuisines as our speciality, we’re always happy to accommodate our clients specific tastes. That’s another aspect of the business that’s unique to Tarrare’s, while we do offer a myriad of signature dishes, we also have the facility to create custom, one of a kind menus based on our clients specific needs and preferences.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Dom – I’d have to take them to one of my all time favorite Mexican restaurants in Los Angeles, El Abjaeno. It’s nothing fancy just excellent homestyle Mexican food that never disappoints. Then we’d change gears and visit Piccallili in downtown Culver which I think has some of the most underrated craft cocktails in the city. Their “Tree Star” gin based cocktail is truly a must try for any fans of the spirit.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My wife and occasional in home sous chef. She knew how depressed I was in the office life and encouraged me to leave that pile of money for this humbling journey. She has zero regrets!

Website: https://www.tarrares.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarrares.losangeles/?hl=en