DALLAS, Jan. 16, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Urban Bistro's latest two hires should only assure diners of one thing -- Chef Avner Samuel is serious about providing only the most excellent in customer service, and in cuisine.
When the restaurant hired both new corporate chef Tim Blevins and new Director of Operations Jeff Armand, Samuel knew he was bring in two industry veterans that would meld as well with the Urban Bistro concept as his dill yogurt sauce melds with the Moroccan beef cigars that have become a favorite at the restaurant.
Blevins, who was most recently Chef de Cuisine at George, comes with a long list of accomplishments behind him. He was assistant to the executive chef for Restaurant Life Group, was Chef de Cuisine at Mercury Willow Bend in Plano and at the Mercury Grill, as well.
During his tenures at various restaurants, he's been a big part in winning such awards as: Best New Restaurant (Dallas Morning News, 1998), Best New Restaurant -- Dallas (Food and Wine Magazine), Top 50 Best Restaurants in the United States (Gourmet Magazine), and Destination Dining (Travel and Leisure Magazine, 2000-2003). He was also at the stove when George was named a James Beard House in 2006, and when Mercury Grill was tapped for the same honor in 2001.
"He is an excellent chef and will be a tremendous asset to the Urban Bistros," Samuel enthused. Currently, Blevins has been cooking at the Urban Bistro Park Cities location, but ultimately, he will act as corporate chef for all the Urban Bistro locations.
"He'll be responsible for hiring, terminating, training and managing the chefs for each location and all other back of the house -- kitchen -- staff. He will continue to cook but not be tied strictly to one restaurant," Samuel explained.
Blevins said the move was a good one for his career -- and his personal life, saying that joining the Urban Bistro family would help him build a foundation for his future, and would help map out his career as well.
"I also just turned 36," he said, "and life is going by too fast. I need to stabilize my career so I can spend more time with my wife and four children -- including a new three-month-old baby."
In his new job, Blevins said he saw his role as one of a conductor who "orchestrates a successful operation." He added that he liked to act more like a father or mentor to his chefs, as opposed to spending all his time cooking behind the line.
He plans on fortifying the kitchens at both the Urban Bistro Park Cities location and the Urban Bistro Addison location by ensuring the appropriate chefs and kitchen staff are in place; revitalizing the menu to reflect food that is clean, healthy, and simple; and implementing the highest of standards and making sure they are strictly followed.
New Director of Operations Jeff Armand comes from the trenches of restaurant work as well -- from his education at The Restaurant School in Philadelphia to his tenure as general manager at Michael Anthony's Fine Dining and other leadership positions at Rick Stein's Steak House, Moro Restaurant, Restaurant 821 and the Inn at Montchanin Village.
"Jeff joined us because he wants to provide the best service with the best food," Samuel said. "We're excited about having someone of his caliber here to make sure that my vision of affordable -- yet fine dining -- for families is carried out."
To learn more about Urban Bistro, visit www.urbanbistrodallas.com. For reservations, call 214-358-1100 for the Park Cities location, or 972-931-7800 for Addison.
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