Matt Robinson’s Chef © profiles chefs who are making waves in the food industry.
Mark Sapienza
The Langham Hotel
250 Franklin Street, Boston
As Executive Chef of the Langham Hotel in Post Office Square, Mark Sapienza oversees one of Boston’s longest-running and still most popular dining traditions (the Chocolate Buffet in Café Fleuri) and also one of the city’s newest hotspots (BOND), both of which are part of the new Langham Supper Club. So whether you want a romantic brunch, an upscale afternoon tea, a snazzy drink or a cacao-infused coma, Mark has just what you need!
Jaime Suarez
Common Ground
85 Harvard Avenue, Allston
Combining locally-sourced food and drink with Chef Jaime Suarez’s international flair, Common Ground offers an un-common variety of tastes that fits in perfectly amidst the diversity of Allston Rock City. With everything made in-house, guests can be sure of freshness, creativity and quality from bar snacks to Sunday brunch. And when the lights come up on Harvard Street, so too does the energy at CG as they host live music, trivia and karaoke contests and other fun events that include Funk Wednesdays, Reggae nights featuring the Hub Dub, and the weekend wind-down known as Acoustic Night on Sundays. So no matter where you are from or what you may be in the mood for, the Common Ground can easily be your common spot to go for food, drinks and good times. Continue reading
Shingara “Peppino” Singh
Da Vinci Ristorante
162 Columbus Avenue, Boston
Recognized by restaurateur extraordinaire James Beard as a “notable” restaurant in Boston, Da Vinci Ristorante offers a warm and welcoming décor and amazing artistically-inspired food to Back Bay. Paying tribute to its titular Renaissance man with art and even drinks that reflect his genius, Da Vinci also reveals the culinary command of Executive Chef Shingara Singh, who brings a bit of his native India to the Italian eatery. As Chef Singh is known to be one to come out of the kitchen to visit his happy patrons, we figured you should know a little bit about him.
Jose Torres
El Pelón
2197 Commonwealth Avenue, Brighton
92 Peterborough Street, Boston
www.elpelon.com
Having not only risen from the ashes of a devastating fire but doubled in size in recent years to serve even more devoted fans, El Pelon brings authentic taqueria tastes to Boston and beyond. From light tostadas to big and beefy (or vegetarian) burritos and the locally-sourced fish tacos, El Pelon offers a wide array of flavors, all made to order in-house with the freshest ingredients from tested family recipes. Helmed by Mexican native Jose Torres, the couple of cozy casitas are great places to drop by for a bite or to call to cater your next fiesta. Continue reading
Joanne Chang
Flour
131 Clarendon Street, Boston MA 02116
12 Farnsworth Street, Boston
1595 Washington Street, Boston
190 Mass. Avenue, Cambridge
In addition to being half of the excellently eponymous eatery Myers and Chang (along with her husMMd, business partner and fellow master chef Christopher Myers), Joanne Chang is the baking brains behind the ever-expanding Flour empire. A Harvard match major, Joanne left management consulting to pursue her true passion in the kitchen and we are all luckier for it! Starting at the famous Biba, Chang moved on to Newton’s Bentonwood Bakery before being hired as the pastry chef at Rialto back near Harvard. After some time in New York, Chang came back home once more to whip up fabulous desserts at Mistral and then to open the first Flour in 2000. Since then, she has become one of the area’s best-known and most-beloved patisserie-ers and an acclaimed author and educator as well, with a raft of popular cookbooks and cooking classes. Continue reading
Rich Vellante
Legal Sea Foods
Having started out over 60 years ago as a sawdust-on-the-floor fish market in Inman Square, Cambridge, Legal Sea Foods has exploded into the nation’s most acclaimed seafood-based chain and one of the world’s premiere purveyors of slap-its-mouth fresh fish and fixins. Each of their 25 (and counting) restaurants offers the latest in flavors and the best in quality. From healthful Eastern and Indian ingredients and gluten-free menus to tableside check paying and enviro-friendly transport, Legals has always been at the forefront of food and service. With summer on the way, there will be no better place to be than their new flagship on Liberty Wharf where guests can enjoy three floors of varying menus and spectacular Harbor views, all made with Legal’s dedication to excellence and all overseen by Executive Chef Rich Vellante. Continue reading
David Nevins
The Neighborhood Restaurant Group
Local 149
149 P Street, Boston
The Biltmore Bar & Grille
1205 Chestnut Street, Newton
Eric Bogardus
Petit Robert Central Bistro
101 Arch Street, Boston
www.petitrobertbistro.com
From the legendary (and much missed0 Mason Robert to the ever-growing chain of Petit Roberts Bistros (now in Kenmore, Brighton, Needham, the South End and the “Central” location in Downtown Crossing) the name Jacky Robert is legend in Boston and far beyond. Therefore, to be picked as his right hand chef adds great cache to any career. As the former chef of the also beloved Pignoli and the also be-mourned Lucy’s in Coolidge Corner, White House Chef candidate Eric Bogardus already has a name of his own, but in his time as Executive Chef at Petit Robert, he has been able to build on his reputation and on the city’s claim to some of the world’s best by using his international training and flair to complement Robert’s famed creativity and kitchen command with his own. As Bogardus prepares to release his latest seasonal menu, Matt’s Meals caught up with him to see how he became the great chef he is and what he has in store.
Ananda (“Andy”) Pokhrel
Shanti – Taste of India
111 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester
417 Washington Street, Roslindale Village
www.shantiboston.com
Celebrating their 10th anniversary in Boston (with a NEW location in Roslindale Village), the award-winning Bangladesh-inspired Indian cuisine of Shanti is not to be missed and definitely not to be topped! With a well-stocked wine list and a seasonally-changing menu of hand-crafted dishes that are cooked to order, it is worth the trip from anywhere this side of Cox’s Bazar. Behind all the culinary creativity is chef Andy Pokhrei.
Mark Porcaro
Top of the Hub Restaurant & Lounge
800 Boylston Street, Boston
As home to some of the best food and most AMAZING views in Boston (and FAR beyond) Top of the Hub is a perfect place to unwind after a long day at the office or to bring that special someone for a VERY special evening. With live Jazz every night and great drinks and desserts, TotH is also a great place to just drop in (or “up”) for something special for yourself.
Helming the kitchen is the truly creative force Mark Porcaro. Before rising to the 52nd floor of the Prudential, Porcaro prepared perfect plates at such places as Boston’s Le Meridien Hotel, the Lodge at Koele in Hawaii, Chatham Bars Inn in Chatham, MA, the Regatta of Cotuit in Centerville, MA and the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge, MA. When not behind the TotH stove, Porcaro often comes down to support many culinary and other causes in his community. Continue reading