Shingara “Peppino” Singh

Da Vinci Ristorante

162 Columbus Avenue, Boston

http://www.davinciboston.com/

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.

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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

www.flourbakery.com

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

(www.legalseafoods.com)

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

www.local149.com

The Biltmore Bar & Grille

1205 Chestnut Street, Newton

www.thebiltmoregrill.com

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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.

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Ananda (“Andy”) Pokhrel

Shanti – Taste of India

111 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester

417 Washington Street, Roslindale Village

www.shantiboston.com

Celebrating their 10^th 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.

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Mark Porcaro

Top of the Hub Restaurant & Lounge

800 Boylston Street, Boston

www.topofthehub.net

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 →

Louis Hubbell

Polcaris

92 Broadway, Saugus

309 Montvale Ave., Woburn

www.polcaris.com

Regina Pizzeria’s

11 1/2 Thacher Street, Boston,

Other locations also available at www.reginapizza.com,

Having grown up and learn to cook in the Deep South, Chef Phillip Louis Hubbell III went west to LA before coming east and north to become the Corporate Executive Chef of Boston Restaurant Associates in 1993. Along the way, he also served as the chef for Steven Spielberg’s bachelor party and for the MTV Music Awards! He also sits on the Program Advisory Board for Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. Even so, nothing can compare with bringing his southern flair and charm to the historic recipes of Regina Pizzeria and Polcari’s and making thousands of hungry tourists and local smile!

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Karen Akunowicz

Myers & Chang

1145 Washington Street, Boston

www.myersandchang.com

Having risen from “the swamps of Jersey,” Karen Akunowicz is now “The Boss” at one of Boston’s longest-running dining duets- Myers & Chang. Having started in hospitality as a bartender and manager, the UMass grad was eventually drawn to the flame and enrolled at the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts. After serving at such venerable venues as Ten Tables and Via Matta (where she met half of the dynamic duo for whom she now happily works, Christopher Myers), Akunowicz snuck off to Italy, where she eventually became chef at L’Avion blu Enoteca. When she returned, the service-minded Akunowicz again engaged in chef-ery while also working to engage troubled youth in Lowell by teaching them to cook and inspiring them as she had been (and continues to be) inspired herself. She has also started a successful series of cooking classes at M&C so everyone can learn to have the fun with food that she enjoys every day.

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