Chef Jan Kelly grew up in a culinary family in Southern California. Her parents opened their first restaurant in 1972 and their son, Michael took it over in 1977. After moving and working in restaurants in Northern California for several years she moved back to Orange County to take the chef position at her brother’s restaurant The Hobbit. In 1995 Jan moved to Milwaukee with her husband and worked at several restaurants in the Milwaukee area, The Knick, North Shore Bistro, Woman’s Club of Wisconsin and just before opening Meritage at Barossa. With a desire to open a casual fine dining restaurant with a emphasis on local ingredients, Chef Kelly opened Meritage in the heart of the Washington Heights neighborhood August of 2007.