Chef Andy Kozak began his culinary career as a home cook about 20 years ago when he overtook the family cooking once he discovered that a little bit more thought (and salt) could go a long way to making good food (sorry Mom!).

While continuing his daily cooking, his professional career went another route: Andy obtained his Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Arizona and embarked on a career in finance. This afforded him the luxury to travel the world, enjoy fine dining restaurants, and—more importantly—develop a deeper understanding of the seasonality & preparation of fresh ingredients. The culmination of these experiences allowed him to explore, understand, & savor many different flavors & techniques that he would later incorporate into his own cooking.

Chef Andy decided early in 2025 to walk away from a successful 10-year Wall Street career to pursue his lifelong passion for food, and thus Kozak Cooks was born. Offering private, curated, and refined dining experiences, Chef Andy and Kozak Cooks is built on the belief that every dish—from the everyday to the extravagant—deserves to be elevated, thoughtfully prepared, and joyfully shared.

His cuisine, while adaptable, can best be described as “refined-rustic,” with a heavy Southwestern-Latin & Mediterranean influence stemming from his upbringing in San Diego, and time living in France and Spain.