Ryan Shelton, Chef | Owner

Though born in the Bay Area, Ryan began his career in Southern California, soaking up world culinary knowledge from stints at various bistros featuring everything from Vietnamese to French to Indian cuisine. He cut his teeth in fine dining and pastry at the Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel before joining a team that would go on to earn two Michelin Stars at Baumé Restaurant with Ryan as Chef de Cuisine. He enjoyed stints as Executive Chef of several restaurants throughout the greater Bay from Santa Cruz to San Francisco, where as Chef of Verbena in Russian Hill, he decided to finally “put down roots” in The City and open Merchant Roots. Ryan is a passionate chef with a proud Italian heritage, who has spent his career honing his skills. He is is devoted to handmade pasta, charcuterie, and all things sweet.

Christopher King, Chef de Cuisine 

Chris forged his path in the hospitality industry by trying on every possible role. His resume covers a broad swath, from an after school job at a local deli to finessing in fine dining restaurant kitchens (Maum, Madera, Kin Khao). He was proud to have been a part of the team to earn restaurant BRUT0 a Michelin star, as well as one Green Star, in the inaugural Denver guide. A Bay Area native who spent time in Santa Cruz and the South Bay before settling in San Francisco, Chris has worked with Merchant Roots chef/owner Ryan Shelton in various iterations for over a decade. He joined the restaurant team in early 2022, and quickly rose through the ranks to become chef de cuisine in just short months. What he loves most about working at Merchant Roots is the fact that everyone on the team has agency to actively create and shape every menu, as well as the intimate style of service that erases then barrier between guest and cook.

Christine Hirtzel, General Manager | Wine Director 

An early fascination with studying people in their historic, cultural, and social context led Christine to earn an anthropology degree from Vassar College. And while anthropology and cuisine are on seemingly different ends of the spectrum, Christine finds plenty of parallels between the two subjects: They engage rituals and processes, rely on a strong shared culture, depend on communication as a critical component of survival, and require curiosity to fuel evolution and innovation.

A native San Franciscan, Christine got her start at beloved neighborhood sister restaurants Pizzetta 211 and Pearl, then progressed on to cook at refined, chef-driven restaurants, working for Chef Melissa Perello at Octavia and Chef Alexander Hong at Sorrel before joining Chef Ryan Shelton and the Merchant Roots team.

Christine not only cooks but also manages the restaurant’s wine program, where she curates interesting and nuanced wine pairings for each course of the restaurant’s themed tasting menus. She celebrates being fully immersed in the truly collaborative, genuine nature of Merchant Roots.