Our Chef
Chef Cristian's passion for cooking began by accident in his early years it was a way to make a living but after meeting the right people that mentor him, he fell in love and now doesn't see himself doing anything else
Cristian is a Guatemala native with his main focus being Latin cuisine, but along he has worked at restaurant with different cuisines and has fallen in love with other cultures and often incorporates flavors from around the world to his dishes.
La Familia
Familia DeLeon son inmigrante de Mexico y Guatemala que residen en la ciudades gemelas por mas de 20 años. They are a blended family with different cultures and a lot of it is reflected on the menu.
Cristian and his wife Karen met working together in a restaurant 17 years ago and have now a family of 5.
When the world took a pause in 2020 they realize that with the family’s busy schedule family meals were not happening as often as they should so “thanks to quarantine” they were able to reconnect and make it a habit, porque en familia todo sabe mejor!
Team
El Sazon is a small team based on family with the goal to help the young minds develop a passion for cooking and that anything you set your mind to is possible.
Raiz: Four Chefs. One Table. A Collaborate Dinner
One night. Four chefs. One unforgettable table.
For one evening, Xelas by El Sazón in Stillwater becomes a gathering place for some of Minnesota’s most respected culinary voices — chefs whose work has helped shape and elevate the Twin Cities dining scene for decades.Chef Cristian De Leon alongside Chef Tim McKee, Chef Tyge Nelson And Chef Matt Bickford.
🍷 8-course pairing experience $110.00 +fees
📍 Xelas by El Sazón — Stillwater, Minnesota