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Jay’s hires exec chef with plenty of Dayton experience
DAYTON — Chris Cavender — chef, former restaurant owner and current owner of Cuvee wine shop in Bellbrook — has been hired as executive chef at Jay’s Restaurant.
Amy Haverstick, co-owner and general manager of the restaurant at 225 E. Sixth St. in Dayton’s Oregon District, confirmed the hiring late this afternoon, March 15, and said Cavender’s first official day in his new position will be Monday, April 5 — the day after Easter.
“I feel it’s going to be a partnership moreso than just hiring an employee,” Haverstick said. “I feel I’m going to learn a lot from him.”
Cavender, 49, served as executive chef at TomKatz restaurant in Springboro and was co-owner of TW’s Restaurant in Miamisburg. His other Dayton-area restaurant stints include The Florentine in Germantown, the Blue Dog Cafe, Legends, and NCR Country Club, as well as early experiences at Peasant Stock and l’Auberge.
“I think I’ll be a good fit at Jay’s, in part because of my experience in seafood,” said Cavender, who has a culinary degree from Johnson & Wales in Providence, R.I. Cavender was the guest chef for a German wine dinner earlier this month at Jay’s.
Cavender replaces Justin White, who left Jay’s in late 2009 to take a position at the Dayton Country Club. Cavender said his hiring will have no immediate impact on Cuvee, which will remain open, but he said the wine bar’s future is uncertain.
Both Haverstick and Cavender said they foresee resuming popular cooking classes and hosting more wine and beer dinners and luncheons.
Haverstick — whose oversight of the restaurant grew after her father Jay died while hiking and taking photographs in Death Valley last year — said she also foresees a “revamping” of Jay’s menu.
“There will be some menu changes, definitely, while keeping the staples that are most popular with our guests,” she said.
Permalink | Comments (11) | Post your comment | Categories: Local restaurant news
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By foodie
March 26, 2010 1:00 PM | Link to this
This is really great news! Chris Cavender is a gem,and I hope that this will be the right vehicle for him after TomKatz. Two local icons together at last… Finally there is something to be excited about in Dayton dining!
By CG
March 16, 2010 2:55 PM | Link to this
Perfect fit for a very talented chef! Looking forward to Chris’s cooking classes and wine events again. The German wine dinner was beautiful!
By larry j
March 16, 2010 1:15 PM | Link to this
great fit and hopefully a reason to come back downtown for dinner have fun chris.
By MrWinesnob
March 16, 2010 11:09 AM | Link to this
This is great news for both Jay’s and for Chef Chris, two Dayton icons. One of my great dining memories is the wild game month Chris used to do every November at TW’s. Ostrich quesadillas…bear stew…rattlesnake soup…and…my personal favorite…buffalo mountain oysters. Cutting edge for sure!
By mark Fisher
March 16, 2010 10:15 AM | Link to this
Chiefwino: No word yet beyond what is mentioned in the story.
By chiefwino
March 16, 2010 8:14 AM | Link to this
Any word on changes or impact to Cuvee as Chris moves downtown?
By DC
March 16, 2010 7:44 AM | Link to this
I too remember the great wine tasting dinners at TW’s. Great choice Jay’s!!! Hopefully, Chris has found “home”!
By grinch
March 15, 2010 10:54 PM | Link to this
great choice amy, chris is a talented chef and a better person, can’t wait to see the new menus!
By kay
March 15, 2010 10:03 PM | Link to this
Chris is a great chef and will definitely add to Jay’s. I look forward to dining there more and great wine dinners. Chris small plates with the fri/sat tastings would be great
By Brutus
March 15, 2010 9:17 PM | Link to this
Great hire, very talented Chef!
By CB
March 15, 2010 7:16 PM | Link to this
I remember the wine dinners at TWs. I look forward to what happens to the menu at Jay’s and to the wine events as Chris has the skills to match wine and food.