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Meet Dustin Christofolo of Quiessence at The Farm at South Mountain

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Dustin Christofolo.

Chef Dustin Christofolo – Co-Owner of Quiessence and Morning Glory Cafe is a graduate of The Italian Culinary Academy, Manhattan, New York, and the culinary program at La Scuola Internazionale di Cucina Italiana in Parma, Italy. He is a graduate of the Wine Immersion Program at the Culinary Institute of America, Napa Valley, California.

He started his culinary path as the front of house manager at Quiessence Restaurant. He left Phoenix to attend culinary school. When the opportunity arose, he found his way back to the enchanting restaurant where his devotion to fresh and seasonal cuisine began.

Chef Dustin brought his passion for handcrafted pasta, his unique layering of fla¬vors and his dedication to delivering the finest experience for his guests as the Executive Chef of Quiessence. He works weekly with neighborhood growers and farmers to inspire his next garden to farm creations. He has also produced a world-class wine program recognized by Wine Spectator, to compliment his refined rustic menu at Quiessence. His passion for local and seasonal food landed him an invitation to cook at The James Beard House in Spring of 2016. He has also been awarded a 4.5-star review from Arizona Republic Dining Critic and Quiessence has been named as one of the “Most Romantic” restaurants in the U.S.

Has it been a smooth road?
The culinary industry is never a smooth road. Finding quality ingredients created through sustainable practices is something that is important to our restaurant. We are always on the lookout for the best when it comes to local, seasonal and quality.

Recently, our team took over the acre garden on the property. This is a challenge because while I cook food, I have not been the one to grow this quantity of produce. The first challenge was planning out what would be grown in the garden and the team that would be collaborating with the kitchen to make this happen. After months of hard work and passion, the restaurant is now cooking with hyper-local ingredients straight from our own garden named Soil & Seed at The Farm at South Mountain.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Since 1998, Quiessence at The Farm has delivered a truly “Farm to Table” experience. Named by Travel + Leisure as “Most Romantic”, Quiessence features seasonal tasting menus and private dining spaces. Redefining authentic Arizona ingredients into farm focused dining, Quiessence creates a delight of house-made bread, fromage and house-cured meats, handcrafted pasta and produce from the on-site garden. The flavors shine through the Quiessence menu—a contemporary spin on both traditional and classic culinary techniques.

The flavors of Arizona terroir shine through our dishes, all prepared with a contemporary spin on traditional and classic culinary techniques. Sourcing from the surrounding fields and local farms, Quiessence utilizes ingredients from the neighborhood. The chef only has to walk down the street to admire Vineyard Road lambs which will be prepared in a variety of ways. The Farm’s culinary gardens provide flowers and herbs that you will find in your cocktails and dishes. The chef and his team create a truly unique “garden to table” experience. The local ingredients allow us to enhance the natural flavors without complicating the dishes. Don’t be surprised if your server asks you to take a walk through the garden to cut herbs or edible flowers for one of your upcoming courses.

Quiessence offers an A la Cart Menu, a Seasonal Tasting Menu, and our signature Brick Oven experience. The refined rustic menu includes house-made bread, fromage, handcrafted pasta and local produce from The Farm at South Mountain and other Valley farms. The American and Arizonan wine lists are accompanied by an international reserve list designed to pair with the balance of the cuisine. With this in mind, the team still prioritizes all Arizona Regional Products which includes our Arizona Wine Country.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Phoenix is a city that is not yet being recognized for all that we are doing in the culinary world. I would definitely recommend Phoenix as a place to start their career.

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Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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