About Toro Boston

our team

Ken Oringer

Ken Oringer is the James Beard Award-winning chef and co-founder of JK Food Group. Oringer owns and operates highly acclaimed restaurants around Boston including Italian-style enoteca Coppa [a three-star reviewed restaurant from The Boston Globe and named a “Best New Restaurant” by Esquire], Spanish tapas restaurant Toro, and the global-inspired small plates restaurant and raw bar Little Donkey. In 2022, Oringer opened Faccia a Faccia, a coastal Italian restaurant and his first new concept in six years. Oringer is also partnering with JK Food Group Beverage Director Jodie Battles to open Bar Pallino, a natural wine bar located downstairs from Faccia a Faccia. Prior to starting JK Food Group, Oringer opened Clio in Boston (now called Uni), which was named one of “America’s Best New Restaurants” by Esquire, one of the “Top 50 Restaurants in America” by Gourmet magazine, and continues to be one of the most notable restaurants in Boston. Oringer has received numerous awards and recognition for his work, including garnering the StarChefs Rising Stars Mentor Award in 2010 for his dedication to teaching and inspiring the next generation of chefs. When not working, Oringer enjoys spending time at home with his wife Celine and children Verveine and Luca.

Darrell Boles | Executive Chef

Where are you from? King, North Carolina

How’d you start at JK Food Group? I started as a Line Cook at Toro in 2014

Favorite menu item? bone marrow

What do you like to do outside of work? Go to concerts, try new restaurants & go to the beach!

Dave Wilby | Sous Chef

Where are you from? Manchester, CT

How’d you start at JK Food Group? I started at Toro in 2018 as a lunch line cook.

Favorite menu item? Pan con tomate with anchovies or the bone marrow

What do you like to do outside of work? I like to walk around Boston and find new places to eat!

Carlen Dunham | Assistant General Manager

Where are you from? Wakefield, Massachusetts

How’d you start at JK Food Group? AGM of Toro in 2023

Favorite menu item? Gambas & a glass of zippy, dry Balea Txakoli Rosé

What do you like to do outside of work? Hang out with my niece & nephew, cook & go out to eat, see live music

Past industry jobs: Starlite Management Company

Bonnie Nag | General Manager

Where are you from? Born in India and raised in Southern California

How’d you start at JK Food Group? I started as a server at Toro in 2019

Favorite menu item? PORRONS BABY!

What do you like to do outside of work? Snuggle with my (roommate’s) dog, Chewbacca aka Chewy

Past industry jobs: Tremont 647, Island Creek Oyster Bar, Trina’s Starlite Lounge

Emanuel Rivera Santiago | Sous Chef

Where are you from? Bayamón, Puerto Rico

How’d you start at JK Food Group? I started at Toro as a line cook in 2022

Favorite menu item? Gambas & paella

What do you like to do outside of work? Spend time with my kids & fiancee, go out to eat, hike and go to the gym

Fun facts: I have worked in kitchens since I was fourteen years old.