Our Story

About Kau Kau & Amanda • Chef/Owner

Kau Kau came into our imaginations a few months into the COVID-19 pandemic. Amanda was laid off from her waitressing job in San Francisco, so she turned to cooking to pass the time. Her focus soon turned organically toward the Hawaiian flavors she grew up eating and loved so much, and after tinkering with a few recipes, the idea to have a pop-up was born. Amanda asked around and was able to secure a pop-up over one weekend in the summer of 2020 at the Golden Bear in Sacramento. This led to an invitation for a residency of sorts at Cider House, just around the corner from the Golden Bear. After ten successful months at Cider House with great feedback from our guests, Amanda and Chris began looking for their own brick and mortar spot. The current East Sacramento location presented itself, and Amanda and Chris rolled up their sleeves and rehabbed the space, bringing Kau Kau to the diners of Sacramento.  

Amanda grew up in Nevada City, California, not far from most of her extended family. Her maternal grandmother grew up in Honolulu, herself the great-granddaughter of Thomas and Helen Alice Campbell. The Campbells immigrated to the United States in the 1850s. Thomas worked as a marine engineer for the Union side during the Civil War, and he and his family became naturalized United States citizens due to his service. After the war, the Campbell family made their way to San Francisco, where they were counted in the 1870 census, and Thomas worked on passenger steam ships. Some of those ships went to Honolulu, and he became acquainted with other Scotsmen who lived on the Hawaiian Islands, so the Campbell family moved west for the final time in the early 1870s, settling on the Big Island and working in the sugar business. The food and culture of the islands have been passed down through generations, and many items on the Kau Kau menu are adaptations of the food that would be found on Amanda’s family table. So much of what Amanda cooks is from her home and heart, and is a nod to the simple but flavorful food that her grandmother cooked for her growing up, and she is so pleased to be able to share it with all of you.

Chris • Partner/General Manager

Chris was born and raised in San Francisco, California. He has worked as a bartender and manager at several venerable San Francisco institutions over the years, such as Alioto’s, Firenze by Night, and Original Joe’s. He brings 25 years of hospitality experience to the dining room at Kau Kau, and is excited to serve the community in Sacramento.

Rocco • Head Chef

Rocco is from PG County, Maryland, where he spent the first 5 years of his hospitality career working at a minor league ballpark. He then moved to Baltimore, spending the next 5 years at a variety of restaurants, cooking food such as homestyle Italian and Spanish tapas. After Baltimore, Rocco moved to the Philadelphia area and shifted his focus to fine dining, running White Dog Café and working directly with farmers such as Green Meadow Farms and Fifth Month Farm. He also developed the pasta and butchering programs at Lucca restaurant in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In 2108, Rocco moved to Sacramento and kept right on cooking, working at both the Waterboy and Brasserie du Monde. He is excited to bring his skill and technique to the Kau Kau menu, along with his philosophies about sustainability, the use of local and seasonal ingredients, and whole animal cooking.

Melissa • Pastry Chef

Melissa has been cooking and baking since she was a young child, and has been drawn to baking because of the coziness and joy of desserts. She likes taking common ideas and presenting them in an uncommon way, making desserts that surprise and delight. Melissa is very excited to bring all the tropical flavors to the Kau Kau dessert menu, and to apply her talents to more savory pastry applications for our diners.