Whipper Snapper

Though technically a collection of dishes, the menu at Whipper Snapper is more like the story of chef Bill Higgins’s culinary career. His first job was on a farm in upstate New York, and it was there that he developed a devotion to using all-natural, organic ingredients in his meals. He and his wife Debra once lived in Florida, and they adopted the tropical flavors of the Cuban and Latin foods often served there. He eventually relocated to California, and spent years honing his skills in the kitchen at Le Petite Chaya in Los Angeles and as the executive chef at Cha Cha Cha in San Francisco. 

Now, in his first solo venture, Bill blends the experiences of his epicurean history to serve tapas dishes such as Cuban Cigars (spring rolls filled with organic beef) and fried sweet plantains. Full entrees include fish tacos made with Pacific rock cod or Bill’s zarzuela, a stew-like mixture of shrimp, calamari, mussels, fish, chilies, and jasmine rice. After dinner, guests can delight in Bill’s chocolaty version of bread pudding, which earned a spot on Marin magazine’s list of six favorite desserts in 2012.