South and Pine
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A Little History
CHEF BIO – LEIA GACCIONE
Leia Gaccione is the chef and owner of south+pine american eatery. She grew up in Passaic, New Jersey, with her brother and mother. As a child, while her friends were playing outside, she stayed behind to watch cooking shows like “The Frugal Gourmet” and “Julia Child”. Because her mother worked two jobs to support her family, Leia began cooking at home at a young age.
When Montclair State University lost her college application, Leia was in a position where she had to make a decision. She decided to attend New York Restaurant School, from 2001 to 2003, and obtained her Associates Degree in Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management. She graduated on the Dean’s List and moved on to work in many restaurants over the past fourteen years. Most recently she was the Chef de Cuisine for Bobby Flay at five of his fine dining restaurants, including Mesa Grill, Bar Americain and Gato in New York, Mesa Grill in Las Vegas, and Bar Americain in Connecticut.
Leia is continuing to pursue her dreams with opening her own restaurant, south+pine american eatery. south+pine is an American restaurant, focusing on using seasonal ingredients to create dishes that will keep her guests coming in for more. She aims to make south+pine a neighborhood staple, where her guests are treated as if they are coming over her house for dinner. The environment will be casual and inviting, and she hopes to give New Jersey diners a very special experience that they can enjoy over and over again.