User:Nugget2000/John P. Greco III

John P. Greco III is an Executive Chef and Owner of Philip Marie Restaurant, Bamboo 52 Sushi bar and lounge, 123 Burger Shot Beer Sports restaurant and the original Hells Kitchen Gay Bar Posh, all located in various parts of Manhattan New York, as well as a reality show contestant on the Food Network's Chopped

Well known throughout the restaurant communities of New York, Rome, Milan, Frankfurt and Brazil, Executive Chef and Owner of Philip Marie, John P. Greco III is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. Before opening Philip Marie, he worked at such venerable establishments as San Domenico (NYC & Imola, Italy), Cipriani/Harry's Bar (NYC & Venice), Le Cirque and Torre di Pisa (NYC), gaining both classical training and broad experience. This, combined with his love of American Heartland preparations, inspired his brilliant interpretation of New American Cuisine. However, the story of John Philip Greco III does not just begin with Philip Marie and it certainly doesn't end there. Chef Greco, a New Jersey native, fell in love with food and cooking at an early age the moment he hosted his first BBQ at home. Always looking for a creative outlet for his unstoppable energy, cooking was the perfect medium, working with people's palettes as his canvas. Always striving for excellence, Greco attended The Culinary Institute of America confident this venerable institution would give him the best possible education and a step up in a very competitive industry. Upon graduation, Greco headed for Europe and worked as a chef's apprentice in London, France, Italy & Germany honing his skills the old fashion way, learning Old World European techniques and rounding out his education. His hard work and dedication overseas quickly paid off and JPG returned to New York City as one of the chefs tapped to open San Domenico, an Italian institution on Central Park South touted as one of the 25 top restaurants in America. From there, he continued to make his way up the ranks, working under the best chefs in New York City including Master Chef Alain Sailhac, one of the best known culinary teachers in the world who's earned a place in the James Beard Foundation's Cookbook Hall of Fame, Executive Chef John Doherty of Waldorf-Astoria Fame and Manhattan Top Chef and Food Network's Chopped Judge Geoffrey Zakarian who's two restaurants have received three stars (excellent) from The New York Times. (Incidentally, Greco was a contestant on Chopped.) Through the natural progression of working as an Executive Chef all over the Manhattan, Greco was inevitably inspired to open his own restaurant, Philip Marie with wife and partner Suzanne Greco, who herself comes from a long line of restaurateurs. With over a decade of success at this West Village local favorite, Greco created a menu characterized as New American cuisine, featuring New England inspired seafood, wild game from the American heartland, ragouts from the Bayou and elevated southern classics like his overstuffed chicken pot pie with delicate puff pastry crust. Always one to capitalize on a great business opportunity, Greco's next venture, Posh Bar in Hell's Kitchen stemmed from his Philip Marie clientele who expressed to him the need for a friendly local bar catering to the gay community. Greco has since become a long-time friend and supporter of the LGBT community donating to important causes like the Ali Forney Center, GLAAD and GOAL: Gay Officers Alliance League. Once established in Hell's Kitchen, Greco set out to open yet another venue, Bamboo 52 Restaurant & Lounge. This time Chef John saw another opportunity to let his creative edge soar by combining New World American culinary concepts with traditional Japanese cuisine. Bamboo 52's menu boasts such original rolls as the Spicy Sushi Sandwich featuring Spicy Tuna, Avocado, Spicy Sauce, Roasted Sesame, Eel and White American Cheese. His latest inspiration and new brainchild, 123 BurgerShotBeer, is a sleek new sports bar for the next generation. With an emphasis on quality food paired with an energetic wait staff and the latest technology that includes a multitude LED TV's and a top of the line sound system.Yet, it's 123's deal that can't be beat: $1 shots, $2 beers and $3 dollar sliders. A formula Greco plans to replicate and dominate with all over New York City and the US with dreams of a future franchise in the works.