Award-winning chef Christopher Lee has joined Barcelona Wine Bars & Restaurants as culinary director, a newly created position.
Lee, formerly executive chef of high-end restaurants including Gilt and Aureole in New York City and Striped Bass in Philadelphia, won the James Beard Foundation Award for Rising Star Chef of the Year in 2005. He was named one of the 10 Best New Chefs by Food & Wine magazine in 2006. Most recently, he was executive chef of The Forge in Miami Beach, Fla.
According to Barcelona’s parent company, Barteca Holdings LLC, based in South Norwalk, Conn., Lee “will serve as a mentor and teacher, providing continuity, insight and inspiration” to the individual chefs at Barcelona’s 12 restaurants, with the goal of elevating the core menu. He will also teach them about budgeting, managing food costs, sourcing ingredients and other management skills, while additionally searching for new talent.
“By building on each chef’s talents, strengths and personal styles, Lee will guide every Barcelona chef toward being a stronger presence in the kitchen, as well as their community,” the company said in a press release.
Each chef will continue to create location-specific dishes, according to the release.
“The next step of my career is mentoring all of these great chefs, being their teacher,” Lee said in a statement. “I’ve been mentored over the years by so many great chefs, and I’m excited to give back.”
Barcelona’s menu focuses on Spanish charcuterie and tapas, as well as shared plates such as paella and grilled meats.
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