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.” As a fifth generation chef who has cooked professionally for 24 years, Chef Poinard puts it this way: “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.”

Since opening, Bistro de Leon has received an impressive number of awards: Triple A’s Three Diamond rating; “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 and 2010 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.”

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

Since opening their nouveau diner in February 2011, Lindy and Ben Loose have earned numerous accolades for taste—Best Burger and Dessert in the Best of St. Augustine Awards, a Taste of St. Augustine Award for their Reuben Rolls, and a first-place award in the recent Great Chowder Debate for their Coconut Curry Thai Chowder that had the judges buzzing. According to Ben, great taste is a function of the ingredients used and the couple is passionately commited to sourcing seasonal foods from local growers and producers such as Cartwheel Ranch Meats, whenever possible. Raising two young sons also gives them a “it takes a village” attitude; they regularly host fundraisers for their school and lend support to other community causes.

The Looses are also avid supporters of the Slow Food Movement, which is very strong in St. Johns County, notable for its agricultural heritage and output. Lunch and dinner menus highlight local food and flavors prepared with creative flair. Starters include Loaded Homemade Potato Chips (topped with blue cheese béchamel, bacon, and scallions), Fried Green Tomatoes, and award-winning Reuben Roll (just what you’d think—deep fried eggrolls filled with corned beef, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese served with Russian Sauce). Favorite entrees feature beef, fresh catch and local shrimp. Espresso Rubbed Ribeye, Not Your Momma’s Meatloaf, Chicken Marsala, Mojo-Marinated Slow-Roasted Pork, award-winning burgers, and their “ScratchMade” desserts will have you lining up at the pump for GAS’s comfort food with a conscious!

9C Anastasia Blvd. • (904) 217-0326
facebook.com/gasfullservice

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 Veal Osso Buco, braised veal shank in herbed tomato-white wine sauce topped with gremolata and served with porcini mushroom and poblano pepper risotto; Stuffed Chicken Breast, stuffed with prosciutto, apples, walnuts, spinach, and goat cheese; or his subtly spiced Seafood al Chipotle, a mèlange of shrimp, sea scallops, and New Zealand mussels in chipotle cream sauce over egg fettucini topped with goat cheese. Starters include delectable crab cakes, baked brie en croûte, sautéed shrimp with garlic, and a signature Carnitas Tostada with slow roasted pork over a crispy corn tortilla with marinated red cabbage and guacamole. Chef Talavera, and his talented wife, Susan, make all of the breads and delectable desserts—tiramisu, flan, crème brûlée, tres leches cake, and more—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-owner Joe Kelbert naturally gravitated to the Sinatsch family, who opened Le Pavillon in 1977. Like the Sinatsch children, Joe Kelbert began cooking at a young age with his grandmother’s guidance. When he met Patty Sinatsch at St. Augustine High School (yes, they’re high school sweethearts!), a culinary legacy was begun. In 1985, a few years after graduation, Chef Joe took a job at Le Pavillon and trained with legendary chef-owner and founder (and Patty’s dad), Claude Sinatsch. Chef Claude, the consummate culinary professional, who worked at the White House, Tavern on the Green, and the best resorts throughout Europe, found young Joe to be a quick study for the knife mastery, classic cooking techniques, and artful plating skills that he had honed throughout his career.

Patty and Joe married in October of 1987; in 1988 they embarked on a life adventure together—living and working in Europe for a year at the Romantik Hotel Stollen Gutach Bleibach in the Black Forest region of Germany. Under the tutelage of the chef there, Chef Joe mastered recipes for apple strudel, quiche, salmon with cream and champignon sauce, and many more that have become customer favorites on Le Pavillon’s menu. Upon return, Chef Joe and Patty continued their back-of-house/front-of-house roles and have continued to maintain the highest culinary standards as set by Gisele and Chef Claude, who passed away in November of 2009, from the restaurant’s inception. And so, the tradition continues (and the Key Lime Pie is Chef Joe’s grandmother’s recipe)!

45 San Marco Avenue • (904) 824-6202
www.lepav.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

Originally from the port city of Marseilles, Chef de Cuisine Matthieu Landillon has worked as part of the restaurant’s culinary team since its opening, helping earn Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence and Florida Trend’s coveted Golden Spoon Award consecutively for the past three years running.
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!

Owner Michael Lugo studied hotel and restaurant management at the University of North Texas, and gained experience in all areas of the industry working for the Pappas Restaurant Group in Dallas and Landry’s Restaurant Group. He then entered the fine dining category in a management role for Food Star Restaurant Group in Texas and Chamberlain’s Steak and Chop House in Dallas. There he cultivated an in-depth knowledge of wines as a wine steward, overseeing the restaurant’s 1,000-bottle wine list. He and his wife moved to St. Augustine looking for a slower pace of life, yet bringing with them a passion for fine dining and entertainment.

25 Cuna Street • (904) 810-2400 www.TasteTapas.com

Owners Ana and Armando Barreiro are carrying on a family tradition in their warm and inviting cafe located in the heart of the revitalized Vilano Beach Town Center. The Cuban food tradition is in Armando’s bloodline—grandfather Alfonso Barreiro Sr. built his fortune with a restaurant in Varadero during Cuba’s heyday in the 1930s. Today, with seabreezes and the glorious smells of Cuban specialties simmering on the stove, customers are transported to a romantic period of history that the Barreiros are preserving with their cuisine and setting. The Barreiros are passionate about the cuisine of their homeland and proudly present an array of Cuban-style appetizers—ham croquettes, pork tamales, maduros (fried sweet plantains), yuquitas fritas (yuca root “fries”), and soul-satisfying black bean soup and garbanzo bean soup. Entrees include melt-in-your-mouth slow oven-roasted pork, palomila steak, ropa vieja (marinated Angus flank steak), and a house specialty of Tropicana Cuban Surf and Turf—Angus beef steak and fresh grilled local shrimp—in addition to fish, chicken and even vegan variations of classic Cuban fare. You’ll want to save room for dessert as they are all made in house and include flan; guava and cheese pastel; and Cuban rum cake in addition to a signature Sicilian Italian Chocolate Mousse and key lime pie. Another passion and house specialty is thin Sicilian “Rustico” pizza, which Armando serves up with special Sicilian sauces, mild Italian sausage, and cracked fennel seed. Just a few blocks from beautiful Vilano Beach and Pier and minutes from downtown St. Augustine, this cafe will transport you a world away to nothing short of the divine!

165 Vilano Road • (904) 342-0595
www.tropicanacuban.com

As owners of one of the beaches’ most popular eateries, Brian and Dae Lynn Helm found the cafe of their dreams right in St. Augustine Beach in 2006. Deciding to take the plunge and transition from a successful career as a corporate chef to that of local chef-owner was a natural progression. As a graduate of Johnson & Wales University in Providence, R.I., and with more than 20 years working in the resort and country club industries, Chef Helm had fine-tuned his culinary and management skills and earned numerous prestigious awards. 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. Chef Helm was poised and ready for the challenge and risk of owning his own business.

For Chef Helm, the purchase of Wildflower Café was the fulfillment of his longtime dream. While completing his studies in Providence, recently hailed one of the top five cities in the country for food and dining by Travel + Leisure magazine, he developed a passion for international cuisines. That is evident throughout his menu—from morning to evening. From Crab Cake Eggs Benedict and German Oven Pancakes in the morning, to Market Steaks, Grouper Wildflower, Pasta Brian, or Pork Schnitzel for dinner, Chef Helm puts his own signature chef style—and passion—into every dish he creates. Join Chef Helm on Saturday nights for the best prime rib in St. Augustine.

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