Born and raised in Galveston, TX, Chef Jeff Balfour developed a love for his native cuisine and the freshest ingredients. Balfour realized his culinary passion over fifteen years ago while studying at the University of Texas at Austin. Balfour switched gears and transferred to Conrad Hilton School of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston. In 2002, Balfour moved to San Antonio to oversee Hotel Valencia’s culinary program. Under his direction, Citrus Restaurant became known as one of San Antonio's most innovative fine dining restaurants.

In 2015, Balfour opened a new concept in the historic Pearl’s brewhouse in San Antonio, Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery. The restaurant, which is Balfour’s modern take on Texas’ cross-cultural cuisine, is influenced by the coastal classics of Chef Balfour’s upbringing in Galveston married with the comfort of southern cuisine. Southerleigh also houses a custom manufactured brewery, brewing up to 21 different beers on tap. Since Southerleigh’s opening, Balfour’s cuisine has been praised in Food & Wine, Bon Appétit, Eater, and more. Chef Balfour was invited to the James Beard House in 2016 for a special dinner on National Beer Day, where Southerleigh’s food was paired with its custom beers for the occasion.

Photo by Josh Huskin