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St. Augustine
is home to many of the finest restaurants in
the state and the region. Much
of the credit goes to the chefs,
who take painstaking care not
only in preparing and presenting
food but also in creating the
perfect ambiance for its full
enjoyment.
Sometimes a thankless
job, the chef’s role is steeped
in history and tradition. And,
while in the past, they rarely
left the confines of the back of
the house, today, as restaurants
play a key role in our society,
chefs are enjoying newfound prestige.
With the rise of celebrity chefs,
the Food Network, and open kitchen
designs, chefs are receiving recognition
for the hard work they do and the
artistry they often achieve.
So, the next time
you have an excellent dinner, remember
the hard-working, dedicated professional
behind the scenes such as the following
chefs and restaurateurs who make
dining one of St. Augustine’s
most enticing attractions.
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Avilés
Restaurant & Lounge |
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at
Hilton St. Augustine Historic Bayfront
Managing food
and beverage for one of St. Augustine’s
premier hotels is no small task.
In addition to overseeing the resort’s
signature restaurant, Avilés—open
for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
daily—the job also entails
managing all banquets and meetings.
With the Hilton’s elegant,
bayfront facilities, perfect for
weddings, private parties, and
corporate functions, all this keeps
Executive Chef Brad Smith very
busy year round.
But
Chef Smith
has been working
toward this
end. At 30,
he is young
to have achieved
an executive
chef appointment,
but his experience
positioned
him well for
this accomplishment.
A graduate
of the Southeast
Culinary Academy
in Orlando,
Fla., his career
path had him
criss-crossing
the globe to:
Las Vegas (Race
Rock); St.
Augustine (A1A
Ale Works);
the U.S. Virgin
Islands (Hard
Rock Café);
Naples, Fla.
(Hilton Naples
Towers, where
he served as
head chef for
Don Shula’s
American Steak
House); and
finally back
to St. Augustine
to accept his
first executive
chef position,
working for
Hilton’s
most unique
boutique hotel
property. He
and his culinary
team continue
to win accolades
from customers
and restaurant
reviewers alike
for the hotel’s
award-winning
cuisine. Signature
items such
as the Hunan
Whole Crispy
Fish served
with Lobster
Oil Potato
Purée,
Swiss Chard,
and Sweet-Sour
Chili Glaze;
Avilés
Bouillabaise
with Saffron
Fumet and Dried
Orange Zest;
and the Hot
Pepper and
Sweet-Soy Calamari
(which won
first prize
in the Taste
of St. Augustine)
led a Florida
Times-Union
reviewer to
exclaim: “Love
is in the air!”.
32
Avenida Menendez • (904)
829-2277
www.hiltonhistoricsstaugustine.com |
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Bistro
de Leon |
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Classic
and Contemporary French Comfort Food
Chef Jean-Stephane Poinard and his
wife, Valerie, both hail from culinary-focused
families. Jean-Stephane is a fifth
generation chef (he and his family
owned and operated Lyon’s Hotel
Restaurant de Paris since 1962) and
member of the elite Les Toques Blanches
Lyonnaises, founded by one of France’s
most esteemed chefs, Paul Bocuse.
Valerie Poinard is a winemaker from the the Domaine de la Fond-Moiroux, an estate
owned by her parents and noted for its Beaujolais, Gamay and Brouilly wines.
Their move to Florida was the fulfillment of a longtime dream of Chef Poinard,
inspired by a childhood trip to the States. When they discovered St. Augustine,
like so many Europeans before them, the Poinard family knew they were home.
The true definition of a bistro is a reasonably priced, quaint neighborhood restaurant
where one might eat several times a week. And in Chef Poinard’s world,
one eats well every day—it is his singular passion. True to his French
culinary training, menus change daily based on what is seasonal and available.
Entrées are complemented with items from the patisserie—fresh baguettes,
artful tartes and pastries, and fruit sorbets and ice creams, which are freshly
prepared each day.
Special holiday menus, such as for Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other
feast days, offer multiple courses. No matter what the occasion, The Poinard
family brings you a true “taste of France” made with love. If you
hear singing from the kitchen, you’ll know you have made the chef happy!
12 Cathedral Place • (904)
810-2100
www.bistrodeleon.com |
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DECO |
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the
art of dining
Though DECO is one
of the area’s newest fine dining
restaurants, chef-owner Sandy Krebs
has already made a grand impression—DECO
was voted Best Upscale Dining in the
2008 Best of St. Augustine awards. “DECO
is a culimination of all my experiences—my
travels, the places I’ve lived,
my culinary education—along with
my love for simple yet stylish design
and passion for uncompromising quality
in a dining experience,” Chef
Krebs explains. A native of Southern
California, her résumé includes
stints in Los Angeles, Vail, and Mackinac
Island, Michigan, as well as Europe
and the Caribbean. While chef of Grapetree
Bay Hotel in St. Croix, she visited
friends stateside and discovered St.
Augustine. She fell in love with its
old world charm and made the move.
DECO is a reflection of Chef Krebs’ favorite architectural style. “I’ve
always gravitated toward Art Deco design for its style and functionality,” she
explains. “Its restrained aesthetic allows the food and the artwork to
be the focus.” Chef Krebs draws inspiration from her travels, reflected
in her menu featuring Asian, Caribbean, Middle Eastern, Southwestern, and South
African influences. Fresh seafood, Angus beef, homemade desserts, and innovative
chef’s specials are complemented by a dazzling wine list. DECO offers sophisticated
yet unpretentious cuisine and a hip atmosphere Monday through Saturday for lunch
and dinner. New “Depression Buster” $12.99 Early Dinner Specials
feature two courses and are offered from 5:00-6:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday. A lush
garden area is available for weddings and other catered outdoor events.
980 Santa Maria Ave. • (904)
797-5505 www.decodining.org
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La
Pentola |
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Creative
Cuisine in Historic Downtown
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 |
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La
Strada |
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Old
World Italian • Chef’s Specials
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 |
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95
Cordova at the Casa
Monica |
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Classic
Cuisine with International Flair
Overseeing
95 Cordova, the flagship restaurant
of the historic Casa Monica
Hotel, Executive Chef DeJuan
Roy leads a team of outstanding
service and culinary staff.
Chef Roy previously served
as executive chef of The Plantation
Room at the Celebration Hotel
in Celebration, Florida. A
graduate of the Cooking and
Hospitality Institute of Chicago,
Chef Roy also trained in Europe.
With nearly 20 years of culinary
experience, Chef Roy uses only
the freshest local and finest
imported ingredients and dazzling
plate presentations to create
95 Cordova’s signature
New World Eclectic Cuisine,
a masterful blend of American,
Asian, Mediterranean, Caribbean,
and Moroccan influences.
As culinary director of the AAA four-diamond Casa Monica Hotel, Chef René Nyfeler
oversees all foodservice venues within the hotel as well as catering and banquets.
He also caters to the many celebrities who frequent the Casa Monica, and has
become a celebrity himself in the process with appearances on Food Network’s “The
Best Of”, Burt Wolf’s “Local Flavors of St. Augustine”,
the Travel Channel’s “Great Hotels”, and two cooking engagements
at the James Beard House in New York City on behalf of the Casa Monica Hotel.
Chef Nyfeler, who hails from Biel, Switzerland, was instrumental in helping 95
Cordova win prestigious national and regional awards including the DiRoNA (Distinguished
Restaurants of North America) and Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence.
95 Cordova St. •
(904) 810-6810 • www.95Cordova.com |
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Old
City House Inn &
Restaurant |
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St.
Augustine's Best Upscale Dining
Like
so many of the world's greatest
chefs, Christopher Petruzzelli
had a humble start as a dishwasher,
then cook in a pizza restaurant.
But the pace and excitement ignited
a passion for cooking in this
New York native that had been
instilled early on by his Italian-Irish
parents. After attending a culinary
program in Yorktown, he completed
his culinary training in Pittsburgh
at the Pennsylvania Culinary
Institute Le Cordon Bleu Program.
This training prepared Chef Petruzzelli
well for the next phase of his career--working
in several top resorts around the country. First he landed an internship with
renowned chef Jesse Llapitan at the four-diamond Vail Cascade Resort and Spa
in Colorado. Next stop was one of the great food cities of the world—New
Orleans—where he worked as sous chef at the Wyndham Hotel until displaced
by hurricane Katrina, He relocated to North Carolina, where he managed kitchen
operations and catering services for two upscale hotels—a perfect transition
to his current post as executive chef of the renowned Old City House Inn and
Restaurant.
Chef Petruzzelli's culinary philosophy of using a global approach with a Southeast
Regional focus jives well with owners James and Ilsé Philcox, who hail
from England and South Africa, respectively. The hallmark of their award-winning
restaurant is a celebration of regional cuisines—a sampling of the "best
of the best" from great cities around the world. In addition to breakfast,
lunch, and dinner served at this cozy inn, located in the heart of St. Augustine's
historic district, Old City House offers the perfect setting and outstanding
menus and service for private parties, showers, intimate weddings, and other
special occasions.
115
Cordova St. •
(904) 826-0184 • www.OldCityHouse.com
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Opus
39/The Tasting Room |
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Excellence
Paired in St. Augustine
An
opus, by definition, is "a
creative work that defines
the artist," and Opus
39 is just that. For owners
Christine and Chef Michael
McMillan, the quality of ingredients
is the driving force behind
Opus 39, as well as their newest
restaurant venture, The Tasting
Room, Contemporary Spanish
Restaurant. Chef McMillan allows
only the freshest ingredients
to stimulate the creation of
the daily seven-course tasting
menu. Whether it is crisp baby
lettuces from local organic
farms or mushrooms flown in
from Europe, all culinary creations
at Opus 39 allow the ingredients
to speak for themselves. Both
restaurants feature extensive
wine lists of unique, boutique,
and international wines and
have been awarded the nationally
acclaimed Wine Spectator Award
of Excellence. Both restaurants
also recently received Florida
Trend’s coveted Golden
Spoon Award.
A graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, Chef McMillan’s
experience includes having worked at Trois Jean in New York City under Master
Chef of France, Jean Louis Dumonnet; and in Dallas with nationally acclaimed
chef Dean Fearing at the Mobil 5 Star/AAA 5 Diamond restaurant and hotel, The
Mansion on Turtle Creek.
The Tasting Room follows suit with its unique menu of smaller portioned, boldly
flavored dishes, which are meant to be an adventure and shared. Tasting Room
partner Michael Lugo, a native of Puerto Rico and accomplished restaurateur,
is always happy to share his insights on food and wine pairings.
Opus 39 • 39 Cordova St.
(904) 824-0402 • www.OPUS39.com
Tasting Room • 25 Cuna St.
(904) 810-2400 • www.TheTastingRoomFL.com |
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Wildflower
Café |
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A
Casual American Restaurant
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 |
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