Friday, September 5, The Hickories, Ridgefield, CT
The Redding Roadhouse is thrilled to announce Chef Wirt Cook’s participation in this Year’s Farm-to-Table Dining Series presented by Outstanding in the Field, a traveling culinary program that sets its sights on promoting the country’s sustainable food culture, its farmers and the talented chefs who continue to create amazing dishes with locally grown and produced ingredients.
Dina Brewster from The Hickories in Ridgefield is once again partnering with Outstanding in the Field and will be holding two events this year, one on September 4 with returning Chef Bill Taibe from Le Farm and The Whelk in Westport, and an added event on September 5 with Redding Roadhouse’s Chef Wirt Cook. Upon taking over this historical building and gathering space in July of 2012, Wirt has made quite an impact on the local dining scene with his fresh new outlook and menu for Fairfield County’s popular Redding Roadhouse restaurant, tap room and event venue.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Fenske
Wirt began his culinary training at the Institute of Culinary Education where he studied culinary arts and restaurant management. It was there that he met Chef Alex Guarnaschelli of the Manhattan hotspot Butter, where Wirt worked his way up from intern to Chef de Cuisine before eventually making the decision to leave New York City and follow his love of regional New England cooking to Camden, Maine. Working under Chef Brian Hill at Francine Bistro, the restaurant focused on the best fresh, seasonal, and local ingredients coastal Maine had to offer. After a season in Camden, Wirt returned to NYC to team back up with Chef Guarnaschelli as the Chef de Cuisine at her newest venture, The Darby. Wirt gets much of his culinary inspiration from his travels throughout the South, especially New Orleans, continuing his love affair with regional American cuisine. His dedication to seasonality, sustainability, and his characteristic laid back style of food is the basis for the Roadhouse’s comforting menu. Most recently, Wirt was the sous-chef for 2013 Iron Chef champ Chef Alex Guarnaschelli, where he helped his mentor walk away with the prize.
Outstanding in the Field is a roving culinary adventure that travels around the country setting their long table at the source of the ingredients. Their mission is to promote local food and agriculture and get people out to the farm to meet the producers and see where their food is coming from. Tickets go on sale March 20th on the Outstanding in the Field website. http://outstandinginthefield.com/events/north-american-
The Redding Roadhouse
406 Redding Road
West Redding, CT 06896
www.reddingroadhouse.com
