Trust’s inaugural chef Justin Werner, who made a name for himself inside the 18-seat “culinary theater” prix-fixe eatery, will bid adieu to the Santa Ana restaurant in November. Tricia Chambers, Trust’s sommelier who also runs back-of-house operations, will also depart with Werner.
Werner’s final seating will take place Nov. 2.
“After assessing our lives and current situation, we decided it was time for a major life change. While we are excited about our future, we feel nostalgic about the wonderful chapter we are closing,” said Werner and Chambers in a joint written statement announcing their departure.
In a refreshing twist, Werner’s departure is due to neither animosity nor poaching; instead, he plans to relocate back to his native New York City to be closer to family, leaving on amicable terms.
“He dedicated himself to his job and to the people who came in,” said Jason Quinn, (owner of Trust and chef-owner of Detention 2.0.). “Such loyalty and dedication, especially to our guests, was more than anyone could have ever hope for.”
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Werner, a Long Island native who cut his teeth inside some of the world’s most prestigious restaurants, including Per Se and Norma, spent time as executive chef at the now-shuttered Porch & Swing in Irvine before joining Quinn at Playground 2.0 and Trust. Werner said he wants to return to his home state to be closer to family. Chambers, who met and fell in love with Werner at Trust, will join him as the couple begin the next chapter of their lives on the East Coast.
Werner started as sous-chef at Playground, which later transitioned into Playground 2.0, which evolved into Trust, an omakase-esque dining experience, if you will, minus the sushi. Guests buy tickets well in advance to grab a seat at the counter overlooking the kitchen where Werner hosts a 12-course prix-fixe dinner party, preparing dishes while he interacts with his guests.
Justin Werner and Tricia Chambers of Trust. (Photo courtesy of Tricia Chambers)
“I have a lot of love for the people here,” said Werner. “I think that Trust has had the elite of Orange County diners. I feel like we have had some of the best people of this state, and maybe even of the country, come and dine with us.”
Over the last three years, both Werner and Chambers, who, in addition to her role as sommelier, took on host, events coordinator, and human resources duties, worked in unison to turn Trust into one of Orange County’s best restaurants. In 2022, food critic Brad A. Johnson ranked Trust #52 in the Orange County Register’s annual “75 best restaurants in Orange County,” giving high praise for Werner’s gouda with roasted beets and poached rhubarb, steamed crab with caviar and housemade pasta with butter-sauteed ramps.
Not only did Werner and Chambers’ hospitality result in garnering diners who turned into regular customers, but also won them close friends in the process.
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“We formed some close and wild friendships with people who came into Trust, something I never saw coming,” said Werner. “Keep in mind that when I worked in Manhattan, I had worked in these restaurants where you work in a basement that’s basically like a dungeon, and you cook the food and you put it on a plate and then you rarely see who eats it.” But at Trust, Werner got the chance to form meaningful connections with the people who stepped foot inside his arena, who sat and watched him cook a few feet away.
“I take a lot of pride in the fact that I’m not a socially inept chef, which, you know, a lot of them are, and really enjoy talking to people, and when they really enjoy talking back, that’s where it starts,” he said. Chambers noted that she too also formed equally strong bonds with diners turned regulars turned close friends. “I literally took my kids to Japan this June and invited a couple, who I had met at the restaurant, who had always been interested in going. I said, ‘I’m going to be out there if you guys want to come and hang out.’ And they did. We spent four days together in Japan.”
Near the end of his tenure at Trust, Werner will create dishes that meld new ideas with some of his old favorites. “It will be a blend of some new projects that I’m working on, a couple of things that I wanted to do for a while … plus we’re peppering in what I’m going to call a greatest hit CD — some of my absolute favorites and bangers from over the years.”
The next chef to step into Werner’s role will be announced later this month, according to Quinn. Until then, fans and newbies of Trust can grab a ticket to one of Werner’s final meals at the venerable Santa Ana restaurant.
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