Hot 'cue news - John Brown's John Zervoulakos is now executive chef at Strand Smokehouse
Image source: Village Voice Our friend Yvo, AKA the Feisty Foodie, passed on this news from the western Queens barbecue scene – “Former John Brown Smokehouse chef de cuisine John Zervoulakos has been named the executive chef of The Strand Smokehouse in Astoria.” This staff change sound exciting! Hometown Hero! Astoria native and John Brown alum…
Image source: Village Voice
Our friend Yvo, AKA the Feisty Foodie, passed on this news from the western Queens barbecue scene – “Former John Brown Smokehouse chef de cuisine John Zervoulakos has been named the executive chef of The Strand Smokehouse in Astoria.” This staff change sound exciting!
Hometown Hero! Astoria native and John Brown alum named Executive Chef/Pitmaster of The Strand Smokehouse
The Strand Smokehouse has a new executive chef manning its barbecue pit – and he’s a neighborhood guy with major ‘cue credentials!
Former John Brown Smokehouse chef de cuisine John Zervoulakos has been named the executive chef of The Strand Smokehouse in Astoria, the neighborhood where he’s always lived and worked. At his previous gig, the 26-year-old former high school football star worked his way up from cook to assistant pitmaster to chef de cuisine, mastering the art Kansas City-style ‘cue and racking up numerous awards for the restaurant. At The Strand Smokehouse, John plans to develop a uniquely Astoria style of barbecue.
He has already crafted new menu items, including salmon smoked over hickory and maple wood that’s then cooled in the fridge to make barbecue lox! He’s also experimenting with slow smoking lamb leg that has been rubbed in fresh Rosemary (John’s Greek family’s influence), making tri-tip sandwiches, and rubbing pork belly with an “in your face” spice mix of cumin, paprika, mustard powder and chili powder. And before long, expect everything from wood-fired beef shoulder to whole hog.
John is a pitmaster who respects barbecue tradition, but isn’t bound by it. And under his direction, The Strand Smokehouse’s barbecue promises to be executed with textbook perfection, while exhibiting new-school flair.
The Strand Smokehouse, 25-27 Broadway, Astoria, NY 11106 (GMAP), 718-440-3231
The Strand Smokehouse in Astoria – ‘cue, cocktails, and consternation [QNYC]
Gee, strand is barely 4 months old and already a new chef. This can’t be saying good things about what was going on there. I guess all those bad yelp reviews didn’t come from angry neighbors upset by the backyard. Or maybe the former chef found some ethics and decided to move on and not be part of this place being a bad neighbor to the community.