Mark Stark, Owner and Executive Chef, Stark Reality Restaurants
Mark Stark's passion for cooking began in college, when he wasn't sure what he wanted to do. Knowing he enjoyed people and parties, he decided to find a job in the front of the house of a restaurant. A famous Washington, D.C. restaurateur advised him, however, to learn about the back of the house first. “So I took a job in the back of the house and I never left,” says Stark. Stark graduated as co-valedictorian from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y.

Deciding to move to Sonoma County, Stark and his wife Terri opened Willi's Wine Bar in Santa Rosa in 2002. Stark says his culinary style has been influenced by mastery of the basics and an immense appreciation and respect for classic cuisine and techniques coupled with the ethnic flavors that he finds ever-exciting. He believes that great food, great fun and a great location are all that are needed to have a successful restaurant. A year later, the couple opened Willi's Seafood & Raw Bar in 2003 and Monti's Rotisserie in 2004. In January 2008, Stark's Steakhouse opened -- a classic American steakhouse in historic Old Railroad Square in Santa Rosa.