EXECUTIVE CHEF MICHAEL SCELFO (Forkly: @mscelfo)
Leading Forkly’s Greater Boston area Forkly users is Michael Scelfo, Chef of Russell House Tavern in Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA. Just a look at Chef Scelfo’s photos and the Russell House Tavern’s website will make you want to hop on a plane to Boston– his food is incredibly gorgeous. Chef Scelfo’s culinary philosophy: serious food does not have to be pretentious.
A Western Culinary Institute grad, Michael spent quality time as a young cook in the James Beard award-winning Wildwood Kitchen in Portland, Oregon. Four years later, at the age of 25, he found himself receiving a 2 ½ star review in The New York Times while at the helm of Long Island’s sophisticated Blond. He has since overseen the kitchens of several Boston neighborhood joints with cult-like followings, including Dedo, North Street Grill, Good Life, and Tea-Tray in the Sky, at which he received a three star review from The Boston Globe.
In 2009, Michael took the helm at Russell House Tavern’s sister restaurant, Temple Bar, and in April 2010, Michael Scelfo opened Russell House Tavern as Executive Chef– named one of “Boston’s Best” by The Improper Bostonian since then. His ever evolving culinary style is heavily influenced by local, seasonal produce. Chef Scelfo favors using ingredients that tickle his fancy, show a creative respect for the classics, or have deep, personal meaning such as dovetailing off of his grandmother’s home-made recipes.
If you’re in the Boston-area, there are some great events coming up that Chef Scelfo and Russell House Tavern are participating in:
“Heading into the summer, we’re excited about a lot of things coming up at Russell House Tavern. We have our third annual nose-to-tail “pignic” where we prepare an eight-course dinner using every last bit of a pig from Brambly Farms, in partnership with the amazing folks at Island Creek Oysters and High & Mighty Brewery. We are also participating for the third year in the Taste of Cambridge fundraiser. And our famous Secret Burger is in Boston magazine’s Battle of the Burger competition.”
June 12, 5:30pm-8:30pm: Taste of Cambridge
Voting open until July 6: Boston Magazine’s Battle of the Burger
July 11, 6pm-9pm: 3rd Annual Nose-to-tail Pignic
Plus, the Russell House Tavern offers $1 Oysters after 11pm every night, what?! Mmmm oysters.
In the meantime, take a look at some of Chef Scelfo’s fantastic Forkly posts and follow him on Forkly for the months ahead, should be an exciting ride! You can also follow him on Twitter or the Russell House Tavern on Twitter.
