Highly-Regarded Element’s Kitchen Restaurant Closes

Elements Kitchen, a well-respected restaurant created by Chef Onil Chibás located in the courtyard of the Pasadena Playhouse at 37 S. El Molino Ave., has officially closed its doors.

In an email Sunday, Chibás thanked former patrons “for giving me the chance to share with you my culinary vision. Your patronage is a memory I will always cherish. There may be some exciting opportunities ahead that I will certainly keep you posted on.”

Elements Kitchen restaurant opened in December, 2009 after a painstaking buildout that created a vibrant, warm and open restaurant with a cozy bar. Beautiful cut glass separated the dining room and the bar offering views of the full restaurant with a chef’s table and an open exhibition kitchen.

Chibás grew up in New York City. While studying music at Boston University, he worked at several hotels and fine dining restaurants throughout Boston. The culmination of this work led to his selection on the opening team of Chef Lydia Shire’s highly successful restaurant, BIBA.

In 1991, Chibás moved to Los Angeles to follow another dream: being a filmmaker. He worked for more than a decade in animation with Disney Feature Animation, Sony Pictures and DreamWorks Feature Animation.

Chibás left the entertainment industry in 2003 to pursue his life-long passion of food. Graduating top of his class from the California School of Culinary Arts, Chibás accepted an externship at Joachim Splichal’s flagship restaurant, Patina (at the Walt Disney Concert Hall).  Upon completion, he went on to launch The Elements Food Group.