Owner and Executive Chef Patrick Ryan is kicking off his busy Cinco de Mayo weekend in Westport with a giant street party and a new head chef in the kitchen.
He announced that Chef Julio Juarez has been promoted to head chef at Port Fonda in Westport, stepping into the role that Chef David Ford had served at this popular modern Mexican restaurant for many years.
Ford left Port Fonda last month to join Café Sebastienne inside the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, as their new Executive chef.
Juarez started his career in Kansas City in 2008 as a line cook at Starkers on the Country Club Plaza working for Executive Chef John McClure. “I was promoted to sous chef in 2010, and then after John passed away, I continued working as the head chef at Starkers, until the family decided to close the restaurant,” he told Feast.
Ryan recalls that he first met Juarez was when McClure brought his entire staff from Starkers to Port Fonda’s Airstream trailer to eat. Juarez helped open the Port Fonda in Westport when Ryan made the move from food truck to brick and mortar, but soon moved to the Power & Light District to work as the Executive Chef for Tengo Sed Cantina when Ryan took on the task of rebranding that restaurant. His last position was as the Executive Chef for the Gallery Event Space in the Power & Light.
“It's really important for me to implement some more authentic regional Mexican dishes back into the menu, and having someone like Juarez that understands the cuisine, culture and history is a must,” says Ryan.
Juarez will be responsible for maintaining the food quality of the Port Fonda favorites like chilaquiles, esquite asado and queso fundido, while developing some new and unique dishes of his own and he will help to train the staff on the cuisine and culture of Mexico.
Although Juarez will officially step into the head chef role on Monday, May 8th, he has already been working in the Port Fonda kitchen, especially with a busy, high holiday weekend, like Cinco de Mayo, in front of them.
Port Fonda’s annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta will kick off on Friday, May 5, from 11 am – 1 am with a giant block party featuring resident DJ Keenan Nichols playing vintage Mexican Party Music from 5 pm – 10:30 pm on Friday Night. Saturday night will feature the high energy Mariachi Girasol from Topeka playing from 5 pm – 8 pm. There is no cover to get in.
Ryan also promises plenty of food and drink specials this weekend, including the cult favorite, tacos de chapulines or fried grasshopper tacos with salsa verde.
Port Fonda, 4141 Pennsylvania Ave, Kansas City, Missouri, 816.216.6462, www.portfonda.com
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