Opened in 2008, Bistro de Leon is located within steps of St. Augustine’s famous Bridge of Lions. “This restaurant is a bistro de quartier,” says Chef Jean-Stephane Poinard. “It is a small, cozy café in a treasured town, like at home in Lyon.” French home cuisine—la cuisine de meres—is what propelled Poinard to the top of France’s gastronomic scene. Proud of being a fifth generation chef, Chef Poinard built his reputation by delighting international patrons with his passion for cooking.

Richard Villadoniga, leader of Slow Food First Coast, had this to say: Recently, I sat down with Chef Jean-Stephane Poinard, owner and creative mastermind behind Bistro de Leon, located in downtown St Augustine. His restaurant ... added sophistication and authenticity to a dining scene that often caters to tourists. Poinard, an energetic, charismatic chef originally from Lyon, and his wife, a former wine maker, aspire to make French food accessible to locals with their Old World hospitality and impeccable culinary talents. Poinard has been cooking for 23 years professionally and is a fifth generation chef, learning his skills from his father, who studied under Poinard’s grandfather ... As Chef Poinard puts it: “Cooking is more than just preparing food, it is a lifestyle. I want people to come to my restaurant and take their time, enjoy good food ... and realize that time is the ultimate luxury.”

In the two years since opening, Bistro de Leon has received numerous awards: “Best Restaurant Worth a Drive” by Orlando Home and Leisure magazine; “Snail Approval” from Slow Food USA; Top 25 Best Restaurants by Jacksonville Magazine; and Best French Restaurant in the 2009 Best of St. Augustine awards. Chef Poinard invites his guests to “Enjoy my little Bistro as if it were a sip of Beaujolais Nouveau every day of the year and come celebrate the moment with us.”

12 Cathedral Place • (904) 810-2100
www.bistrodeleon.com

Chef Jorge Talavera brings a world of global experience to create lively continental dishes that are as delicious as they are beautiful. This talented culinarian hails from Guadalajara, Mexico and specializes in Mediterranean and Latin cuisines, so popular now in American restaurants. And that is what Chef Talavera showcases on his menu at La Pentola, using only the freshest local seafood and meats, fresh herbs and organic produce from local suppliers, housemade pastas, and premium quality spices and oils.

You could define Chef Talavera’s cooking as a “cuisine of the sun” since all preparations derive their inspiration from regions with sunny climes. Case in point are his Grilled Lamb Chops, twin lamb chops grilled and topped with spinach, garlic, tomatoes, and feta cheese; his Veal Osso Buco, braised veal shank in herbed tomato-white wine sauce topped with gremolata and served with porcini mushroom and poblano pepper risotto; Chicken Saltimbocca, sautéed chicken breast, topped with prosciutto di Parma, fresh mozzarella cheese, and veal demiglaze; or his magnificent Seafood Pasta, a mèlange of shrimp, scallops, New Zealand mussels, and calamari, sautéed with spinach, sundried tomatoes, and artichokes in a sherry cream sauce over egg fettuccini. Chef Talavera, and his talented wife, Susan, make all of the breads and delectables desserts served at the restaurant, making the entire meal a feast of authentic and inspired flavors!

58 Charlotte St. • (904) 824-3282 www.lapentolarestaurant.com

Chef Mark DeRusso has built a career on his passion for the culinary arts. And, true to his birthright, he specializes in the Italian cuisine of his heritage. Chef DeRusso, a graduate of the Hudson County Culinary Institute in Jersey City, N.J., developed his skills working for several restaurants including Aruanno’s here in St. Augustine and took the plunge to open his own restaurant in July 2000. La Strada embodies all of Chef DeRusso’s philosophies of what makes Italian cuisine a worldwide favorite—a comfortable setting, gracious service, and soul-satisfying food crafted from the freshest seasonal ingredients.

Along with traditional Italian favorites such as chicken Marsala, homemade lasagna, succulent lamb dishes, and shrimp scampi, Chef DeRusso has developed a number of dishes that are distinctively his own. Chicken DeRusso features chicken breast rolled with prosciutto ham, mozzarella cheese, and herbs, finished with a Madeira-mushroom sauce, and his Duck a’ La Strada features crispy roasted duckling served in a sauce of cranberries and port wine, finished with fresh mushrooms. His potato-crusted salmon served on a lemon-horseradish cream sauce is always a favorite with customers. Chef DeRusso flexes his creative muscle on a weekly basis, developing a list of innovative specials for lunch and dinner, or making food to order upon request, proof of his improvisational culinary skill.

4075 A1A South • (904) 471-0081

The story of the Raintree Restaurant reads a little bit like a romantic novel. On March 30, 1979, the MacDonald family, consisting of father and mother, Tristan and Alex, and son Gaere, and daughter Lorna, left England in their 45-foot yacht, Intsholo III, bound for the United States, just as their countrymen had done in the 17th century, and for just about the same reason. After selling everything—business, house, cars, and most of their furniture—they said goodbye to Europe and friends. At 5 p.m. on Nov. 7, 1979, they left the safety of the Canaries for the open Atlantic. The crossing took nearly 18 days before Intsholo III anchored at Bridgetown, Barbados. The next step was across to Florida and then north to St. Augustine, where the MacDonalds found the old house at 102 San Marco Avenue that became The Raintree after 10 months of restorations and refurbishment. This century-old building is one of the last survivors of the city’s Victorian heyday.

Since opening in 1981, The Raintree continues to be recognized nationally and internationally as one of Florida’s top destination restaurants. The warm, inviting ambience of the restored 1879 home, brick courtyard, and lush gardens surrounding it provide the perfect setting for memorable dining and special events such as weddings and private parties. The menu features hand-cut prime steaks, fresh local seafood, chef’s specials, and handcrafted desserts, notably made-to-order French crepes. Specialties such as the Brandy Peppersteak, Veal San Marco, and Raintree Bouillabaisse have put the restaurant on the map of gourmands the world over. Come see why the Raintree is a St. Augustine tradition not to be missed!

102 San Marco Avenue • (904) 824-7211 www.RaintreeRestaurant.com

What’s the best way to assure you have the best pub fare in town? Find a chef from the heart of Ireland who has been cooking for the dining public since the age of 10! Hailing from County Kilkenny, Chef Danny Heffernan grew up with a love for the hospitality industry and the freshest seasonal ingredients. With a mother who ran a bed and breakfast and as a farmer’s son, he grew up cooking and serving food and even cooked breakfast for guests when he was only 10 years old. At age 16, he entered Ireland’s state-sponsored culinary training program, one of the most rigorous in Europe at the time. It turned out a generation of exceptional chefs and transformed the Irish culinary scene. Chef Danny trained in the finest hotels in Ireland, including Dromoland Castle Hotel, a world-class, five-star hotel and country estate, and Malahide Castle Hotel, a former grand country estate built in 1185.

A vacation to the U.S. turned into a job and he never looked back. While serving as executive chef of The Country Inn on Long Island, and later the Locust Valley Inn, his work was featured in The New York Times, Newsday, and Great Chefs of Long Island annual. In 2001, he and his family opted for the Florida lifestyle and now call St. Augustine home. As executive chef of Shenanigan’s, St. Augustine’s newest neighborhood pub, his attention to quality ingrained from his earliest experiences is what makes Chef Danny’s menu stand out. While the menu focuses on fresh local seafood, steaks, delicious burgers, and the best signature sandwiches in St. Augustine, authentic Irish fare is always a highlight. With a comfortable, friendly atmosphere featuring a full bar and live music several nights of the week, Shenanigans is a great place to bring friends or make new friends. And you won’t leave hungry!

4010 U.S. 1 South • (904) 217-3051 www.ShenanigansUSA.com

Originally from the port city of Marseilles, Chef de Cuisine Matthieu Landillon leads the culinary team at The Tasting Room, along with Sous Chef Kyle Forson, a native of another old port city—St. Augustine! The duo have worked as part of the team for years, helping earn Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence and Florida Trend’s coveted Golden Spoon Award consecutively for the past three years running, making The Tasting Room one of Florida’s top restaurants.

With his diplome gastronomique in hand from Le Cordon Bleu in Toulouse, Chef Landillon moved to the United States in 1998 to work in the ultimate restaurant city—New York. He worked with several top chefs in Manhattan, including world-renowned Jean-Georges. In nearby Greenwich, Conn., he worked in top Spanish-themed restaurants such as Bamba, a popular Neuvo Latino style restaurant, and Barcelona Tapas. These culinary experiences, along with his young life growing up in Provence and traveling to Madrid, Barcelona, and Malaga on holiday, shaped Chef Landillon’s culinary philosophy. In France, food is not an afterthought; it is what makes life worth living! His daily specials at The Tasting Room are based on what is fresh from local markets and vendors and artisanal cheeses, salume, olives, spices, and condiments imported from Spain. The Tasting Room’s smaller portioned, boldly flavored contemporary Spanish dishes are a sensation—meant to be savored and shared.

Sous Chef Kyle Forson was inspired to enter the culinary profession by a great Southern cook and mentor, his maternal grandmother. He began working at The Tasting Room in 2008, first as a pastry chef under Schyler Cook, and now serves as the restaurant’s sous chef. .


25 Cuna St. • (904) 810-2400 www.TheTastingRoomFL.com

After looking for a restaurant to buy for several years, when Chef Brian Helm discovered Wildflower Café, “all the stars aligned.” One of the beaches’ most popular eateries, Wildflower Café was the right size, in a great location, and had a good feel, according to Helm’s wife and partner, Dae Lynn. A graduate of Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I., Chef Helm has more than 20 years working in the resort and country club industry. While serving as executive chef of the Sandestin Resort and Club in Destin, Fla., the resort’s signature restaurant, Elephant Walk, was named one of the top 200 restaurants in the state by Florida Trend magazine and several of Chef Helm’s signature menu items were singled out for special mention by the magazine’s renowned restaurant reviewer, Robert Tolf.

For Chef Helm, the purchase of Wildflower Café is the fulfillment of his longtime dream. International cuisines are a passion of this award-winning chef and that is evident throughout his menu—from morning to evening. Popular breakfast items include Crab Cake Eggs Benedict and German Oven Pancakes. For lunch, his award-winning Wildflower Chowder, the Tuscany Panini (grilled chicken breast, peppers, fresh spinach, garlic mayo on panini bread) and Classic Cuban are local favorites. And dinner at Wildflower Café is a highlight. Signature items include: Crab Cakes with Mustard-Chive Sauce and Seared Ahi Tuna served on Asian Slaw to start, followed by Steak au Poivre, Seafood Fettuccini, and Pork Schnitzel. Bon appetit!

4320 A1A South • (904) 471-2691 www.wildflowercafefl.com