Excuse any typos as I am parked on the side of the highway, attempting to post from my phone. I just received a call from Andrew Chalk who was having lunch at Cafe on the Green. He learned that the Four Season’s Club chef, Jonathan Rivera, has been promoted to execuchef at Cafe on the Green. Katie Natale left last week to teach. Rivera has been assisting Natale for the last few months. Okay, carry on.
Edit: A few more juicy details from James Tidwell, the Master Sommelier and Beverage Manager at Four Seasons:
Jonathan trained at the Culinary Institute of America and has previous experience at Four Seasons Houston, The Stone House 1854 in Little Compton, RI, and The Bentley Hilton in South Beach, FL. He was the chef de cuisine during Katie’s maternity leave, and was spectacular in the role. I am very excited that he has accepted the position on a permanent basis. His menus have been superb for pairing with wines and other beverages, and I am excited to continue the collaboration on food, beverage, and service with he and Kyle Miller, our restaurant manager.
I was sad to see Katie depart, but know that she is enjoying motherhood. I am happy that she found a position that allows her to indulge her love of cooking while spending time with her family.
I anticipate that Jonathan’s cooking will be similar to Katie’s in many ways. They shared a common aesthetic where food is concerned.
