Chef Jonathon Sawyer: Cleveland Business Connects: June 2008

Chef Sawyer Bio

Chef Jonathon Sawyer, a Cleveland native, first learned to cook at the age of 13 from his brother. “My parents believed in a solid work ethic,” says Sawyer, “I was lucky that I learned that I wanted to be a chef at such a young age.”

Under the careful tutelage of many gifted chefs including Michael Symon, the chef and owner of Lola and Lolita restaurants in Cleveland, Chef Charlie Palmer at Kitchen 22 in New York City, and Chef Philippe Ruiz at The Biltmore, Sawyer has developed into a truly talented chef.

After attending the University of Dayton and graduating from the Pennsylvania Institute of Culinary Arts, Sawyer went on to work at The Biltmore Hotel in Miami. One year later, he worked alongside renowned Chef Charlie Palmer in New York at Kitchen 22, Aureole, Astra and Kitchen 82.

Following his work with Charlie Palmer, Sawyer moved back to his hometown of Cleveland and immediately began working with Michael Symon. Symon was in the process of opening a New Greek concept restaurant, Lolita and Sawyer joined on as Chef de Cuisine. This relationship opened many doors for Sawyer, and eventually led him back to New York City to open Parea, another venture of Michael Symon. At Parea Sawyer built upon his culinary repertoire. Helming the kitchen featuring the fine culinary fare, Executive Chef Sawyer presented savory mezethes (small plates) of house-cured meats and fish spinialo's . Signature dishes include roasted littlenecks clams with brown garlic loukanika and burnt lemon and Greek Sausage Kalamaki with orange, lemon yogurt, and chilies.

After receiving a two star review from the New York Times & a four star review from Time Out New York for his work at Parea, Sawyer decided to move back to his hometown of Cleveland to pursue his dream of opening his own restaurant.

Chef Sawyer opened Bar Cento, a modern Roman enoteca in Ohio City in October 2007. He acted as Chef/Partner until 2009 when he left to focus on his new project, The Greenhouse Tavern. The Greenhouse Tavern will open in Downtown Cleveland in February 2009 and will be the first all green restaurant in Ohio.

When outside the kitchen, Sawyer enjoys walking his two dogs, a pit bull named Potato and a pug named Vito in the Cleveland Metroparks, as well as spending time with his wife, 3 year old son & 1 year old daughter. He also enjoys helping his wife update an internet weblog,
The Adventures of Catcher Crazy Face & La La Louisiana, that they’ve created for their 2 year old boy, Catcher, named after JD Salinger’s “Catcher in the Rye” and their newborn daughter, Louisiana.

He is also involved in many local organizations including Slow Foods, The Countryside Conservancy, & The Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association. Chef Sawyer is an avid activist for the green movement as well as a major supporter of local agriculture and farmers.

Chef Jonathon Sawyer

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Cleveland Business Connects: June 2008

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