Dustin Christofolo Executive Chef Quiessence, The Farm at South Mountain 602-276-0601 www.quiessencerestaurant.com
After years of running the show at The House at Secret Garden, chef Dustin Christofolo will take the reins at Quiessence when the restaurant reopens at the end of October. He'll replace chefs Greg LaPrad and Tony Andiario, who moved on from the restaurant in spring after eight years there. Today, we chat with Christofolo about how he ended up in the family business (his mom, Pat Christofolo, owns The Farm Kitchen at The Farm at South Mountain, Morning Glory Cafe, and Santa Barbara Catering, and the pair co-own The House at Secret Garden) and how he knows he's ready to take on the high-profile position of executive chef. Don't forget to come back Tuesday for the second part of the interview, where we find out more about his first passion: wine.
It's been only a few months since the Farm at South Mountain's Quiessence shut down for the season amid news that chef and owner Greg LaPrad wouldn't be returning in the fall. For many Valley residents, it meant the end of an era, during which LaPrad and his friend and executive chef Tony Andiario brought the farm-to-table movement from California to Arizona. They established the charming eatery as a destination for simple, fresh cuisine, making it arguably one of the best restaurants in the city.
But today we aren't telling the story of either of those chefs. Today is a chance to look forward to what we can expect when Quiessence re-opens for the season at the end of the month.
Dustin Christofolo (as you might have surmised from his name) is no stranger to the farm or its dining outlets. As the son of successful restaurateur Pat Christofolo, he can honestly say he grew up around it all.
"It kind of leads me to believe it's in my blood," Christofolo says.
Which isn't to say he intended to end up working at Quiessence. In fact, he aimed to be a professional wake boarder back in the day (hey, we all had dreams). But Christofolo began helping his mom with her Santa Barbara Catering Company -- running errands and making drops before he ever settled on and a got started on another career. And before he knew it, he was knee-deep in the family business.
Though Christofolo may not be the biggest name in town, it doesn't mean he's not qualified to step into the spotlight as Quiessence's executive chef.
For starters, he's got plenty of hands-on experience as the chef at sister restaurant The House at Secret Garden, where he'd been running the show since the family acquired the restaurant. He's also a graduate of Italian Culinary Academy in New York City and worked as general manager at Quiessence while the restaurant was under LaPrad's control.
Watching the restaurant grow was a formative experience for this chef, and he says he was inspired by the work LaPrad and Andiario did. He was young and so were the two chefs, and Christofolo fondly remembers the challenges they faced as such a fresh-faced crew with such big ambitions.
"They really kinda of set the standard for local and seasonal in Arizona," he says. "It was something that made me really proud to be a part of that."
Five words to describe Quiessence: Rustic, simple, authentic, unique, fresh
One dish to sum up your cooking style: Pork belly
A fact most people don't know about you: I was previously the general manager of Quiessence five and a half years ago and worked in the front of house.
Your favorite movie and why: Ratatouille. I love the philosophy in this movie: "Anyone can cook."
What are you reading right now: Setting the Table by Danny Meyer
Your personal mantra: Moving forward.
Your go-to cocktail and where you like to get it: Manhattan at Pig & Pickle
Your current obsession and why: Baking breads. We recently built a wood-burning brick oven at The Farm in our new Stone Grove area. Fresh breads for dinner service will be baked here.
Your favorite childhood food memory: Going to my Grandpa's bakery here in town, eating the fresh baked bread, and dipping it into a box of butter.
The thing you couldn't cook without: Oil.
Check out our past Chef and Tell interviews with: Blaise and DJ Aki - The Sushi Room Sacha Levine - Rancho Pinot and FnB Andrew Nienke - Cafe Monarch Kevin Lentz - French Grocery Aurore de Beauduy - Vogue Bistro Justin Olsen - Bink's Midtown Marco, Jinette, and Edmundo Meraz - Republica Empanada Brian Peterson - Cork Brian Webb - Hey Joe! Filipino Street Food Lester Gonzalez - Cowboy Ciao Renetto-Mario Etsitty - Tertio German Sega - Roka Akor Marco Bianco - Pizzeria Bianco Brad and Kat Moore - Short Leash Hot Dogs and Sit...Stay
