Pig and Tiger
Pig and Tiger is the embodiment of its co-chefs/co-owners Darren Chang and Travis Masar. The name comes from their Chinese zodiac signs. Darren who was born in the year of the Pig and Travis in the year of the Tiger. The restaurant is a marriage of Chef Travis’ and Chef Darren’s experiences: Travis’ passion for various Asian cuisines, Darren’s food memories being raised by Taiwanese parents, and their twenty-five plus years of combined culinary experience.
Pig and Tiger showcases the cuisine of Taiwan through traditional classics, modern favorites, and new interpretations combining flavors and techniques, all while using local Colorado products.
About the Chefs
Travis Masar - Co-Chef/Co-Owner
Chef Travis Masar was born and raised in southeast Colorado. Wanting to pursue his passion for food, he moved north to Denver and received a Bachelors in Culinary Arts from Johnson & Wales. After traveling and working in Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, Travis discovered his love for the different cuisines and cultures in Asia.
Travis served as the head chef of Uncle Restaurant in Denver prior to competing in Bravo’s Top Chef. Travis finished as one of the top 6 contestants on Top Chef season 11, New Orleans, where he gained the nickname “Captain Vietnam”.
Following Top Chef, Travis relocated to Philadelphia and served as the Executive Chef for Michael Schulson’s restaurants Sampan and Independence Beer Garden. It was in Philadelphia that Travis really fell in love with traditional dumplings, baos, and Asian breads while serving as Head Chef of Bing Bing Dim Sum.
In 2018, Shirley Chung, a friend and fellow contestant on Top Chef season 11, recruited Travis to help establish Ms Chi restaurant concepts in Los Angeles. After two years on the west coast he has moved back to Colorado for family, opportunity and to realize his dream of opening his own restaurant, Pig and Tiger.
Darren Chang - Co-Chef/Co-Owner
Chef Darren Chang is the youngest child of immigrant parents from Taiwan. Growing up in Los Angeles he experienced a plethora of cultures and cuisines, but it was home cooked meals that comforted his soul. Some of those soul warming recipes developed by his lǎo lao (grandmother) were passed down to his mother and are now featured on the Pig and Tiger menu.
Darren’s parents David and May immigrated to the US and worked tirelessly to support their family. David established his own business which operated for 30 years, providing job opportunities to immigrants like himself. Darren’s mother, May, worked a full time as a bookkeeper, but always made sure to provide a home cooked meal for her children. May understood the importance of keeping her children connected with their Taiwanese heritage through food.
Darren began his culinary career in Denver, having worked for Top Chef Colorado finalist Carrie Baird and 2019 James Beard Colorado Five representative, Kevin Grossi, chef/owner of The Regional. He met Travis in Los Angeles while serving as sous chef at Ms. Chi for Top Chef season 11 & 14 finalist Chef Shirley Chung.