Our Story

3rd Cousin was created in late 2015 with the support of the loyal community and built through Kinfolk pop-up series. Lutes presents a globally inspired and elegant take on California cuisine from the open kitchen of his  40-seat debut restaurant, creating a cozy atmosphere that will make you feel like a treasured guest at a dinner party. 

At a young age, Lutes fell in love with cooking in his  350-person farm community of  Malden, Illinois, where farm-to-table was a normal daily way of life. He graduated from Kendall College and was quickly on a fast track to take him to the kitchens of some of the country's top restaurants, including Daniel in NYC and Everest in Chicago. The Chef's vision is to fuse familiar favorites with unexpected, innovative dishes utilizing but not limited to  French, Asian, and Italian influences Lutes is one of the chefs quietly turning Bernal Heights into a culinary hotspot.