Orange County Restaurants

Open Gate is a mix of healthy and casual food with an international flair.  In addition to its handcrafted menu, it is a new concept that connects adults with vulnerable life situations with vocational training and life skills.

This is Albert and Deidre Pujols's new social venture.  Deidre and baseball All-Star husband Albert Pujol formed Open Gate International (OGI). A nonprofit dedicated to offering vocational and life skills training.

Amid COVID-19 pandemic-forced restaurant closures, Open Gate Kitchen successfully launched it's delivery and takeout business on May 26 with strict health and safety protocols in place. It is now open with limited indoor and outdoor seating, take-out service, and delivery through Postmates and Doordash. In addition to being a social venture that helps support the OGI Culinary Arts Program, Open Gate Kitchen was created to serve as an apprenticeship opportunity for OGI culinary program graduates to gain additional experience before pursuing employment in the food industry.

Proceeds from Open Gate Kitchen help fund the OGI Culinary Arts Program, which equips adults from vulnerable life situations with vocational training and life skills through the guidance of Executive Director, life skills mentor, and author Judy Lamborn and job placement assistance to provide them with a sustainable path to a life on their terms. In the free program, students train with top-tier professionals and receive job placement assistance to achieve sustainable life success.

OGI began its vocational training program in January 2017 with a Culinary Skills Program at The Hood Kitchen in Costa Mesa. More than 138 individuals have progressed through the 15-week program, which operates in four international countries and is accredited by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation.

The location is at the entrance of The Hood Kitchen Space in Costa Mesa