COCHINEAL
COCHINEAL is helmed by Executive Chef Alexandra Gates and her husband James Harkrider and it is an ode to casual refined dining in the classic European bistro tradition. At COCHINEAL, our philosophy is rooted in our belief that the essence of fine cuisine is exemplified by the creative use of the finest ingredients prepared and presented with thoughtfulness and attention to detail. We craft our dishes using traditional and innovative cooking techniques inspired by our European and West Texan roots, and re-imagined through the use of local and regional ingredients as a means of creating a unique dining experience for our guests. Our daily evolving seasonal menus spotlight our commitment to sustainability and we make every effort to source our ingredients from our on site garden as well as from farmers, ranchers and others throughout Texas and beyond that share in that commitment.
ABOUT
Executive Chef and Owner Alexandra Gates honed her craft while working with some of New York City’s most esteemed female chefs before serving for seven years as the Executive Chef at Austin’s storied Hotel Saint Celia. Chef Alexandra and her husband James opened COCHINEAL in 2017. In 2020, Chef Gates was named a Beard Award Semifinalist in the Best Chef Texas category and was also invited to be a featured chef and present a dish at the 2022 James Beard Awards Reception Ceremony in Chicago. Most recently, Chef Gates was named a 2024 James Beard Semi Finalist in the Best Chef Texas category.
GARDEN
