Meet the New Kitchen Crew Behind The Lion’s Share’s Fall Menu
The Lion’s Share has handed more of its kitchen to two cooks who have been working alongside the Romero brothers for years. Xavier Verdugo is the new chef de cuisine, Kass DeLeon is the new sous chef, and the fall menu is the first place you’ll taste what they’re doing.
From Ensenada to Calexico, by Way of French Technique
Verdugo grew up in Ensenada, which puts him on familiar ground with Calexico-born brothers Danny and Dante Romero. The shared language is Mexican ingredients run through classic French technique.
He came up on the line at Panama 66, Tiger! Tiger!, and Wormwood, where he first crossed paths with Danny and Dante. Now he is steering daily kitchen operations and menu development.
DeLeon pulls from her own Mexican heritage. She met Danny while he was executive chef at the flagship Stone Brewing World Bistro & Garden, a job she went on to hold herself, and the two reconnected when she joined the Two Ducks team.
The Romeros Are Out Hunting a Home for Two Ducks
Dante came aboard as executive chef, then he and Danny bought the restaurant with operating partner Darius Yasiejko. Both brothers are still in the mix here.
Their attention is split because Two Ducks, their fine dining project, is looking for a permanent address. That is the room Verdugo and DeLeon are stepping into, and the menu of exotic fare still runs on the Romeros’ French-meets-Cali-Baja wiring.
Duck Polpettes, Served Two Ways
Verdugo led the fall additions. Duck polpettes come in vodka sauce with charred rapini, squid ink breadcrumbs, shaved pecorino, and fresh basil, running as a daily special.
The same polpettes turn up in sandwich form with vodka sauce, sautéed mushrooms and onions, and havarti. That one is a happy hour special.
Then there is the Iberico ham and melon: Cinco Jotas Iberico ham, market-fresh honeydew, house potato chips, mint, ajo blanco, queso fresco, Espelette, guajillo oil, and chili threads. It is on the menu for good.
Dessert is the sticky gateau, stacking maple toffee icing, fresh green apples, a pumpkin spice buñuelo, and mascarpone gelato. Another daily special, so ask.
Half-Off Bottles to Open the Week
Mondays are now part of the schedule, and every bottle of wine is half price all day. That is the kind of math we like. Happy hour also runs daily now, which is when the polpette sandwich shows up.
See you there!
New names on the line, duck polpettes on the specials board, and half-price bottles on Mondays. Go for the sandwich, stay for whatever Verdugo is running that night.
📆 Happy hour daily | 4 PM – 6 PM
📍 629 Kettner Boulevard, San Diego
🎟️ Reserve your spot here
ℹ️ See the full menu here
See you there, San Diego!
