Ed Brown, former chef of The Sea Grill in New York, returned to Restaurant Associates this month to serve as senior vice president of food and beverage.
In the newly created position, Brown is overseeing all aspects of the menu and drinks of the on-site company’s portfolio, which includes more than 100 dining and catering accounts across the country.
Brown had been consulting with RA for the past two years while he was also a partner at Ed’s Chowder House, where he remains a chef collaborator. He left The Sea Grill about four years ago to open his own restaurant in New York, which he has since closed. When he left The Sea Grill it had been sold by Restaurant Associates to Patina Restaurant Group.
"Ed Brown is undisputedly one of America's leading chefs and we are thrilled to welcome him back to Restaurant Associates to lead our culinary charge," said Ed Sirhal, RA's president. "His unparalleled experience is synonymous with culinary innovation, quality food and entrepreneurial spirit - all which mirror Restaurant Associates' mission, vision and values."
Dick Cattani, the company's chief executive, added that during the time Brown consulted, he "worked closely with Restaurant Associates and our parent company, Compass Group, to bring innovative solutions to our clients."
Brown said that while he’ll be “involved systemwide” and around the country, but he’ll “focus on the public restaurants.” He’ll also work on developing new restaurant concepts like The Sea Grill, where he worked for 14 years.
“For me it’s going back to something I know and where I know I can deliver,” he said. “Cooking is cooking,” regardless of the type of operation.
"It is an honor for me to lead Restaurant Associates' talented culinary team in this newly created position," Brown said. "I look forward to building upon their impressive traditions while bringing a fresh and inventive approach to our food."
New York-based Restaurant Associates is a subsidiary of Compass Group, The Americas Division. Its accounts includes performing arts centers, to museums, corporate dining locations and off-premise events in New York City, Boston, Hartford, Atlanta, Washington, Philadelphia and Toronto. Venues include Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, National Gallery of Art, Woodruff Arts Center, Boston Museum of Fine Arts and American Museum of Natural History.
Contact Pamela Parseghian at [email protected].