Executive Christophe Jalbert joined Route 7 Grill on May 31.
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Executive Chef Christophe Jalbert joined the farm-to-table restaurant Route 7 Grill on May 31.
"Working in a locally focused restaurant in the Berkshire region is an exciting next step for me," Jalbert said. "I am inspired to work with owner Lester Blumenthal who is a true foodie as well as the rest of the Route 7 crew. We are going to change up the menu daily while rotating in Route 7 Grill standards to keep the food at its freshest."
Previously, Jalbert served as the executive chef and owner at Après Vous Bistro, in Wilmington, Vt. Immediately preceding his restaurant ownership, he was a private chef for more than eight years and saw cooked for the likes of the Rockefellers and in locations such as Paris, Newport, R.I., and Manhattan. His 20-plus years of experience as an executive chef has seen him manage a four-star restaurant, work under Chef Sam Hayward — who has won the James Beard award — at Fore Street in Portland, Maine, and open his own restaurants in Bar Harbor and Seal Harbor, Maine.
Early in his career, Jalbert embraced farm-to-table style cooking and learning to work with locally sourced ingredients in their most natural form. Jalbert's passion and understanding of the importance of natural cooking with local foods is on par with the mission at Route 7 Grill, which was listed as one of the best farm-to-table restaurants in the country by Gourmet Magazine.
"Christophe is passionate about ingredients, especially from local farmers and producers and he loves cooking with wood," Blumenthal said. "His demeanor, abilities and know-how mesh perfectly with our philosophies related to Slow Food-style cooking and using Berkshire Grown ingredients. I foresee a solid partnership with great growth and possible expansion into other endeavors together."
Route 7 Grill, located on 999 Main St., is open from Sunday through Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. On Friday and Saturday lunch is served from noon to 3 and dinner is served from 5 to 10.
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Executive Christophe Jalbert joined Route 7 Grill on May 31.
Stephanie Farrington of