Season XI: Ricky Odbert + Matt Corella, chef + hospitality director, Six Test Kitchen, Paso Robles, California

The story of Chef Ricky Odbert and his restaurant, Six Test Kitchen, is one of remarkable extremes. After graduating from culinary school, he moved back to his hometown, Arroyo Grande, California, and started his own restaurant, serving multi-course, inventive, fine dining menus — in his parents’ garage. With just one other person working with him, Ricky steadily built a following until the health department showed up to shut it all down. Six Test Kitchen would reopen under a creative workaround and then move to Paso Robles to become the only restaurant of its kind on the Central Coast. Six Test Kitchen recently earned the county’s first and only Michelin star — a huge distinction for Ricky and his partner at the restaurant, Matt Corella, who is also a chef and now manages the wine program and front of house.

Website: sixtestkitchen.com

Instagram: @sixtestkitchen