Emilio’s Executive Chef Dino Jagtiani, budding Chef Leomar Vanterpool and Emilio’s Sous Chef Renata de Weever.
CUL DE SAC--A formal education is as important as the heart and innate skills of those draw to the culinary arts. That formal part is taken very seriously by budding St. Maarten Chef Leomar Vanterpool, who is earning his credits at Johnson and Wales University in Miami, Florida.
Vanterpool has also been gathering practical experience with two of St. Maarten’s Master Chefs, Dino Jagtiani and Renata de Weever, at Emilio’s, the country’s top-rated fine-dining restaurant. De Weever is an alumna of Vanterpool’s university.
The budding chef has contributed to many dishes Emilio’s diners have experienced in the past six months, but today, Tuesday, the kitchen will be his to present and share his talent.
Vanterpool will be the third guest chef at the restaurant. This US $45-per-person three-course dinner is one with a valuable cause. Proceeds from the dinner will go to Vanterpool’s university tuition.
The dinner will feature Chicken Marsala with gnocchi, salmon with mango chutney and flan with apple chips for dessert. Wine pairing is available. Emilio’s Sommelier and gold medal mixologist Paul Peterson will personally select and pair the wines.
“It is such an honour to be a guest chef at Emilio’s, a place I have called home for the past six months. Learning from one of the Caribbean’s best, Chef Dino, is absolutely incredible. It will be sad to leave, but now I am going back to school with more skill and experience thanks to Chef Dino,” said Vanterpool.
Jagtiani said, “As a chef, I noticed Leomar’s habits and skills in the kitchen. I took him under my wings to make sure he goes back to Johnson and Wales as a better chef than when he came. I’m sorry to see him go, but I know he will move onto bigger and better things.”
Emilio’s co-owner Su Wathey said of the young budding chef, ““Having Leomar with us is a continuation of our commitment to support the young people who want to excel in the culinary field. We did it at Kangaroo Court, Taloula Mango’s and are continuing it now at Emilio’s. Leomar is nice young man and with his attitude and skills he will go far.”
Emilio’s co-owner Norman Wathey recalled how Vanterpool came to the notice of him and his wife Su. “Leomar came to us the old-school St. Maarten way. His grandmother, June Peters, brought him to Dino and was very adamant that Leomar works with Dino. She was not leaving with ‘no’ for an answer. Obviously, she didn’t need to persuade Chef Dino too much. As the island’s most famous chef, Dino knows he has a commitment and responsibility to our culinary youth.”
To support Vanterpool’s fundraiser, call 522-1848 to reserve a spot for today’s dinner.
