Minneapolis, MN, February 15, 2012 Gather by DAmico will feature Russell Klein, chef and co-owner of Meritage in Saint Paul as its guest chef on Thursday, March 1. Klein is the latest addition to the unique chef-driven sampler series at Gather featuring prominent local chefs. April features Justin Frederick of DAmico Kitchen and May brings Steven Brown of Tilia.

Guests can sample Kleins complimentary menu items on Thursday, March 1, with the two featured items being offered for sale on subsequent Thursday evenings throughout March. (Reservations highly recommended.) On the first Thursday of each month, a new featured guest chef serves complimentary samples and is on site to answer questions and meet guests. Gather features a happy hour and full bar with an innovative specialty cocktail menu every Thursday evening.

Created and operated by DAmico + Partners, Gather serves lunch six days a week (TuesdaySunday, 11:30 am2:30 pm) and a small plates menu on Thursday evenings (59 pm), in conjunction with the Walkers Target Free Thursday Nights. In addition to the events in Gather, Target Free Thursday Nights feature programs throughout the Walker, including performances, artist talks, and gallery exhibitions. For more information, visit http://calendar.walkerart.org/tftn/index.wac

March Chef-in-Residence: Russell Klein

Thursday, March 1, 59 pm

Gather by DAmico

Klein, a native New Yorker with over 25 years of experience in the restaurant industry, has worked in some of Manhattans most distinguished kitchens, including La Caravelle, David Bouleys Danube, and Picholine. Chef Klein moved to Minnesota in 2002 to become the executive chef at W.A. Frost and Company in St. Paul, where in 2005 he met his future wife and co-owner of Meritage, Desta. In addition to being nominated for Food & Wine magazines prestigious Best New Chefs in America in 2011, Klein was nominated for a James Beard Award the Oscars of the food world according to Time magazine. Russell & Desta opened Meritage, a French Brasserie, in the fall of 2007.

April Chef-in-Residence: Justin Frederick

Thursday, April 5, 59 pm

Gather by DAmico

At age 19 Justin Frederick, chef at DAmico Kitchen, started cooking after his first taste of confit and has been with DAmico and Partners since 1998. He spent several years cooking contemporary Mexican cuisine at MASA, Gathers sister restaurant on Nicollet Mall, and prior to that Giorgios, Café Lurcat, Trygs and Grand Café.

May Chef-in-Residence: Steven Brown

Thursday, May 3, 59 pm

Gather by DAmico

Steven Brown has received numerous rave reviews while serving as executive chef at Levain and Porter & Frye, and has cooked in New York City, Modena, Italy and the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. Hes been called one of the biggest cooking talents this town has ever produced by James Beard-award-winning food critic Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl while food scribe and Travel Channel host Andrew Zimmern has said Brown makes the best food in town, dish-for-dish, pound-forpound. With Tilia, Brown adds the title of restaurateur to his estimable resume.

Press Contacts:

John Peter Larson, Bright House for Gather, 612.309.2374, john@brighthouseinc.com

Rachel Lee Joyce, Walker Art Center, 612.375.7635 rachel.joyce@walkerart.org

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