At The Wine Bar With Cru Cellars

A true Power Restaurant couple, Hope and Jason have been hustling the Tampa Bay food scene almost all their lives. They’d been everywhere before starting their own successful business: In... The post Cru 16: Hope and Jason Ruhe, Owners of Brick & Mortar appeared first on Cru Cellars Tampa.

Ever wonder why you can’t find the same wines in every US state?  Curious about alcohol’s 3-tiered distribution system? (3 Tiers: Licensed Producer, Licensed Distributor, Licensed Retailer.)  Shaun takes us... The post Cru 15: Shaun C. Wright, Fine Wine Manager (North Florida) of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits appeared first on Cru Cellars Tampa.

Jen and Jackie talk to Joel about what makes him tick.  Of course he obsesses about the quality of the coffee he serves, but it’s his love for people that... The post Cru 14: Joel Davis, Owner of Commune + Co. hand crafted coffee, and Union coffee and tea bar in Armature Works appeared first on Cru Cellars Tampa.

Check out our surprise Exit Interview with Kendrick Lindsey! Kendrick is Wine Steward at Cru Cellars and an opinionated authority on the Tampa dining scene at large. Listen in as... The post Cru 13: Kendrick Lindsey, Wine Steward at Cru Cellars appeared first on Cru Cellars Tampa.

Chef David is the Owner and Executive Chef of IL Ritorno, a modern Italian restaurant in St. Petersburg. He’s cooked at the James Beard House, and he’s been recognized by... The post Food Fight Series 19: Chef David Benstock and General Manager Ronald Randall of IL Ritorno appeared first on Cru Cellars Tampa.

He’s been named “Best Chef of Tampa Bay” in three different years by Tampa Bay Magazine. Chef Tyson was also appointed as a Chef Ambassador to the Deputy Mayor’s “Healthy... The post Food Fight Series 18: Chef Tyson Grant of Parkshore Grill appeared first on Cru Cellars Tampa.

Chef Ted has quite a Tampa Bay pedigree. The Le Cordon Bleu graduate worked at Mise en Place before becoming Executive Sous Chef at Chez Bryce. He developed menus for... The post Food Fight Series 17: Chef Ted Dorsey of the Mill appeared first on Cru Cellars Tampa.

When he was a young man, Chef Chad struck out for New York from Kentucky. There he attended the French Culinary Institute before working at Montrachet and the Savoy. Now,... The post Food Fight Series 16: Chad Johnson, Executive Chef of Epicurean Hotel and Haven appeared first on Cru Cellars Tampa.

Chef de Cuisine Jonathan Atanacio grew up in NYC and went to culinary school at The Art Institute. He worked with Francois Payard, became Chef de Cuisine at Aquagrill in... The post Food Fight Series 15: Chef Jonathan Atanacio of Élevage appeared first on Cru Cellars Tampa.

Executive Chef Rachel Bennett just opened The Peabody in St. Petersburg. I mean, like, days ago. How she managed to scrape herself together enough to get to the Cru Studio... The post Food Fight Series 14: Chef Rachel Bennett of The Peabody appeared first on Cru Cellars Tampa.

When Executive Sous Chef Adam Beckett moved here from the Bay Area in California, he jumped at the chance to work at a Mina project. Locale Market and FarmTable Cucina... The post Food Fight Series 13: Chef Adam Beckett of Locale Market and FarmTable Cucina appeared first on Cru Cellars Tampa.

  Executive Chef Chris Fernandez worked in the best kitchens of Oaxaca, Mexico and learned to cook the nation’s regional dishes and flavors. When Chef Chris came to St. Petersburg,... The post Food Fight Series 12: Chef Chris Fernandez of Red Mesa appeared first on Cru Cellars Tampa.

The Grand Hyatt in Tampa boasts two outstanding restaurants: Oystercatchers and Armani’s. As Chef de Cuisine at Oystercatchers, Shane Clark knows his way around Gulf Seafood. Since his customers are... The post Food Fight Series 11: Chefs Shane Clark and Jonathon Wilson of Oystercatchers and Armani’s appeared first on Cru Cellars Tampa.

It’s a good thing that Executive Chef Rob Reinsmith worked at Bone Fish Grill while attending Le Cordon Bleu. At Bone Fish, he made such an impression on founders Tim... The post Food Fight Series 10: Chef Rob Reinsmith of Noble Crust appeared first on Cru Cellars Tampa.

Although he’s classically trained, Executive Chef James Maita has probably learned more from his 20 years of experience than any program could teach. Sacred Pepper is a bold restaurant, and... The post Food Fight Series 9: Chef James Maita of Sacred Pepper appeared first on Cru Cellars Tampa.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that Chef Felicia (“Phe”) Lacalle won 1st prize for Best Cuban Sandwich in the home of Cuban Sandwiches mere months after opening her new restaurant,... The post Food Fight Series 8: Chef Felicia Lacalle of Hemingway’s appeared first on Cru Cellars Tampa.

  The grandson of a spice merchant, Courtney Orwig moved to Florida from St. Louis and learned the art of pastry. After a few years he expanded to savory cooking,... The post Food Fight Series 7: Chef Courtney Orwig of Haven appeared first on Cru Cellars Tampa.

After a serving as Chef De Cuisine at Boca and SideBerns under Chef Jeannie Pierola, Chef Michael Buttacavoli helmed Council Oak at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Now, of... The post Food Fight Series 6: Chef Michael Buttacavoli of Cena appeared first on Cru Cellars Tampa.

If you’re into the Tampa Bay food scene, then you already know who Chef Alvarez is. The James Beard semi-finalist for Best Chef South is the co-owner of Rooster &... The post Food Fight Series 5: Chef Ferrell Alvarez, Co-Owner of Rooster & the Till, Nebraska Mini Mart, and Gallito appeared first on Cru Cellars Tampa.

Executive Chef, St. Louis transplant, and Hand Model. A graduate of the Florida Culinary Institute and formerly of Sidebern’s; the enigma that is Chef Brad has brought inspired cuisine to... The post Food Fight Series 4: Chef Brad Sobo of Cru Cellars appeared first on Cru Cellars Tampa.