Award Winning Chef Sets The Bar For Key West Restaurants
On an island most famous for margaritas and night life, award winning chef Brendan Orr stands out among a surprisingly crowded field of culinary excellence and passion by presenting his island cuisine and elevating Key West dining expectations.
Online, November 13, 2013 (Newswire.com) - There are certain destinations that carry with them high expectations for travelers. More and more often vacationers are adding Key West, Florida and the many high-end restaurants on the island to that exclusive list. Among the Key West restaurants found to exceed the expectations of the seasoned traveler is the Roof Top Cafe. Executive Chef Brendan Orr is a driving force behind the Key West restaurant's stellar reputation among visitors and locals, alike.
"When we started the Roof Top Cafe, I would not finalize the deal until I had Chef Brendan on board," restaurant owner Norman Vogel recently said during a celebration of the restaurant's eighth year. "His reputation for professionalism, quality and creativity was already so well established on the island, I knew I wanted no one else running the kitchen."
The opportunity to work with Vogel has allowed Chef Orr to expand his repertoire, while introducing new concepts and flavors to otherwise unsuspecting - yet typically delighted - guests.
"Many visitors to the island are happy enough to find pristine outdoor dining, that their expectations of food sometimes become secondary to ambience," said Chef Orr, "but there should be no sacrifice of one to enjoy the other. I want to be sure that every dining experience, whether it is a romantic dinner for two or a destination wedding reception for two hundred, is the type of experience that brings people back. We're dedicated to making a lasting impression through culinary creativity."
Not only does the accomplished Key West Chef's cuisine bring people back, it also brings Chef Orr some well-deserved notoriety. For the last several years, the culinary master has been the chef of choice at the largest private wine auction in the United States. To fully understand the implications of that honor, one must consider that all of the previous chefs who have been invited to the auction were recipients of the highly sought after James Beard award, known in the restaurant world as the "Oscar of Food." When asked if he ever thinks he'll win that award, the extraordinarily humble chef demurred.
"It would certainly be a great honor, but that's not why I do what I do. I cook and create because it is my passion," said Orr. "A passion that is fueled by living and working here in the Florida Keys. I will gladly forgo some potential fame and notoriety in order to keep living and creating in paradise."
ABOUT ROOF TOP CAFE KEY WEST:
Roof Top Cafe is a Key West, FL restaurant located at 308 Front Street, upper level. ADA access is available. For reservations and information about Chef Orr's innovative and inspired island-style menu, call (305) 294-2042.
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