Orlando’s Funky Monkey Wine Company Introduces New Executive Chef
The award-winning Orlando restaurant and wine bar, Funky Monkey Wine Company, welcomes new Executive Chef Bryce Balluff.
Orlando, FL May 2009 – Having prepared delectable meals for parties of one to parties of 10,000 Chef Bryce Balluff comes to the Funky Monkey Wine Company with distinct culinary mastery.
This Florida native received his Grand Diploma in Culinary Arts from the esteemed French Culinary Institute in New York, NY. Chef Bryce has made a name for himself with stints at some of New York’s best restaurants including Per Se under the watchful eye of Thomas Keller before returning to Orlando, Florida where he was Chef de Cuisine for Puff-N-Stuff Catering; one of Florida’s oldest and largest of its kind.
Known for his unrelenting creativity in the kitchen, Chef Bryce will oversee the kitchen as well as the catering and special events for the Funky Monkey Wine Company. His first three tasks at Funky Monkey will be the Tasters Guild Orlando Wine Dinner Series, the Funky Monkey Wine Company Dinner Theatre Series and the 17th Annual Chef Gala at Epcot. For reservations or additional information visit the restaurant online at www.funkymonkeywine.com.
“Right off the bat we put Chef Bryce to the test with three high profile events for Funky Monkey Wine Company,” said Eddie Nickell, owner of Funky Monkey Wine Company, “but we know he is up for the challenge; I look forward to his creations.”
At a young age, Chef Bryce found his love for cooking and always knew deep inside that he would be a Chef; “When I was 16 I knew food was my life,” explained Chef Bryce. “My mother always told me to ‘do what you love’ and I have always gravitated to the kitchen.”
“I always had a passion for the arts and transferred over into food” said Chef Brice. “I have always wanted people to experience their meals and I strive for each dining experience to be just that… an experience.”
Throughout his eleven year career in the food service industry, Chef Bryce has worked in a variety of fine dining establishments including menus featuring French, Spanish, New World American and Asian and has cooked for intimate to very large groups – sometimes in the thousands.
The Funky Monkey Wine Company, 912 N. Mills Ave, Orlando, FL 32803, is known for its “stylish yet unconventional” atmosphere and fresh, seasonal menu; and now with a new chef at the helm, that reputation will become even stronger. According to Chef Bryce, he likes to use organic and local products and blends them together to enhance the natural flavors.
Funky Monkey Wine Company is a member of Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, National Restaurant Association, Tasters Guild Orlando and Mills-50. For more information or reservations visit them online at www.funkymonkeywine.com, call (407)427-1447 or email.