From the Editors
Posted by estiator at 9 March, at 14 : 35 PM Print
Τhis month’s issue of Estiator is in many ways an exercise in superlatives. For our cover, we visit Jimmy Kourgelis as he remodels of one of the northeast’s premiere estates, Shadowbrook at Shrewsbury, located in central New Jersey. Kourgelis has raised the standards of luxury catering in the northeast with Seasons Catering and The Venetian (located in New Jersey’s Washington Township and Garfield, respectively) through an uncompromising commitment to service, quality, and elegance.
Executive editor Constantine Kolitsas talks with Kourgelis midway through the project, and looks at what has made him a successful entrepreneur and the trendsetter in luxury catering.
Also in this issue, contributor Maria Benardis has lunch with Chef Maria Petridis at Maria’s Mediterranean in Bayside, NY. Petridis is a past winner on Chopped, the hit cooking competition on the Food Network. She discusses her experience on the show while demonstrating her cooking chops to our readers.
For our Restaurant Spotlight, Estiator visits Viron Rondo Osteria in Southington, CT. Named for its owner and host, VRO is a juggernaut, having more than doubled its seating with a new addition, while adding a mammoth outdoor bar and seating area that gives cause to diners in this northeast setting to believe they are looking over the Mediterranean.
As Kourgelis has done with catering, Rondo is redefining dining with superb food and incredible surroundings. But where Rondo (perhaps the best front-of-the-house man in the business) soars is in his intensely personal and welcoming hospitality.
We hope you find inspiration in these success stories as you strive for continued improvements and excellence in your own establishments. Happy reading!
The Editorial & Publishing Staf
