Before his passing of Cancer in 1996, Jean Leon sold the “Jean Leon” winery to the much respected Torres Family in Spain. Miguel Torres and Jean had been friends, neighbors and competitors through their many years in the wine business. With the mutual respect they shared, it seemed to be an obvious choice to carry on the Jean Leon name, prestige and tradition of excellence. My father had offered the Vineyard to me a few years before I knew of his illness, so I went to Spain to check it out, but wine is not my passion (If it was a Champagne vineyard maybe) and relocating was not in my plans. Anyway, I am just an American through and through I love living in the United States. I didn’t know he sold the Vineyard until after he died, but I’m happy with his decision.

In the years before my father passed away we became very close and I got to travel with him a lot. Traveling with my father was always an amazing adventure especially where food was concerned. Whether you were somewhere in the middle of the Ocean, at his house or in some little hole in the wall Restaurant, the food and the experience was going to be great. His sail boat was a floating Balducci’s,with every little nook and cranny filled with some unusual delicacy in a tin or jar. In fact that’s what we actually use to do was fly to New York, eat at Il Molino’s and go shopping at Balducci’s to stock the boat. One of my favorite times doing this included picking up an old acting and riding friend of mine named Julie Forman who was living there and whose dad John Forman knew my dad. It was one of those special days that seem enchanted. Ah, wonderful memories...

I basically grew up in Los Angeles...with some Newport Beach,a little Northern California, and a little Spain, but in the end mostly Malibu. I did the acting thing for a while, and I had a great time with some fun people, but I also liked knowing where my next pay check was coming from so I thought I should get out. Wise decision! I started working for my father again and, eventully bought La Scala Presto located in Brentwood in 1991.

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When My dad passed away he left me the honor and responsibility of owning L Scala
Beverly Hills. Since I grew up in the restaurant, I have done almost every job from
hosting, serving, prepping and cooking to washing the dishes

My father had to move the original restaurant in 1989 to the 410 N. Canon Drive location
that it’s at now. Moving the restaurant was not a great time in my life since I did not have
my father to help me. Now that it’s all said and done I am glad that I had to move, because
it gave me the chance to bring back some of the look and feel of the original La Scala
on Little Santa Monica Blvd. I loved and grew up there.

My passion growing up was riding horses. Thankfully, I am blessed to be able to pursue
my passion now, and on the weekends you will find me on a horse at the stable or at a
Horse Show.

Writing even this little bit about myself was hard because I am bascially a private person. In the restaurant I am very low key and you probably wouldn’t know I was there. Some of the nice things about being at La Scala is I do get to see people that I grew up with that I haven’t seen in years, as well as people who remember me when I first started as a cashier at the Boutique when I was sixteen. The best though, is different people sharing their stories about my dad or something special that happened at the restaurant that I haven’t heard before.

I really want to thank everyone who have made La Scala such a success ( past and present ). From the many guests who eat here daily and to the one's who make it their special occasion destination. I am especially thankful for the great staff that make it all possible, a special thank you to all of you!