-Courtesy of Aversa PR & Events
photo by Eddy Marenco
Chef Jose Garces announces Chef Alex Yoon as the next Chef in Residency at Volvér on Kimmel Cultural Campus. Chef Yoon’s residency will run from May 4 to June 12, 2022 (now extended), to time with Asian and Pacific American Heritage Month. Funding raised during his residency will help provide start-up funds for a brand new restaurant concept Yoon has in the works. Yoon’s menu will include Savage Blonde Oysters, Scallop Toast, Chilled Shrimp Salad, Grilled Octopus, Steamed Local Black Bass, Korean Fried Chicken, Maitake Mushroom, Short Rib “Ssam” and Sticky Toffee Pudding.
For the Chefs in Residency Program, each Chef will showcase their top signature dishes on the Volvér menu for four to eight weeks, alongside Chef Garces’ signature French-inspired dishes. Through a special donation program in partnership with the Garces Foundation, each Chef in Residency will have the opportunity to raise money to support their work with their current restaurant, or to use for the start of their next culinary journey.
Volvér’s hours for the season will be from Wednesday to Sunday, from 4:00pm to 9:00pm, with a special pre-theatre menu served from 4:00pm to 6:30pm, and happy hour from 7:30pm to 9:00pm. Reservations are now available at www.volverrestaurant.com, via Open Table, or by calling 215-670-2302. Celebrate the art of fine dining by following Volvér on social media at @volverphl @chefjosegarces and @garcesgroup. All guests coming to Volvér must be vaccinated per Kimmel Cultural Campus policy. Volver is located at 300 S. Broad Street, in Center City, Philadelphia.
“I’m honored to be able to support Philadelphia’s hospitality community through Volver’s Chefs in Residency series,” said Chef Jose Garces. “Extending our resources to help more chefs in the region is a dream come true. I’m grateful to the support the community has provided thus far and hope it continues with each chef as they all bring new talents to the table.”
On working with Yoon, Garces said, “I’m so excited to be cooking with Alex as the next chef in our Chefs-in-Residence Program. I can’t wait to experience what he brings to our guests at Volver. I’ve been following his career for a number of years, and have always been impressed by the incredible quality of his dishes. His deft hand and respect for great ingredients will bring a lot to this menu iteration.”
“Philadelphia native Chef Yoon has already accomplished so much, working internationally and stateside to hone his skills, garnering acclaim along the way,” said President and CEO of The Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center, Inc. Matías Tarnopolsky. “We are delighted that he is part of Chef Garces’ residency experience, which provides a platform to help talented chefs like Yoon achieve their goals.”
For the continuing Chefs in Residency Program, Chef Yoon is the fifth chef for the inaugural line-up, following Chef Kiki Aranita from Poi Dog Philly, Chef Phila Lorn from Terrain, Jezabel Careaga from Jezabel’s and L’Atelier, and Chef Jennifer Zavala from Juana Tamale. Yoon’s residency runs from May 4 to June 12, 2022. The program will continue with Chef Dane DeMarco of Sonny’s Cocktail Bar, Burger Time and Wine Dive starting June 15th, just in time for Philly Gay Pride Month. Please stay tuned as we will announce a final chef added to the line-up in coming weeks.
INTRODUCING CHEF ALEX YOON
For Asian and Pacific Heritage Month:
Chef Alexander Yoon (he/him)
Chef and Owner of Little Fish BYO
May 4 to June 12, 2022
Funding will help build towards Yoon’s next project of opening a bigger restaurant.
Chef Alex Yoon, a Philadelphia native, first started at Le Bec-fin, in his hometown before traveling to work at other fine dining establishments across the world, including Mirazur and Benu. In 2016 an opportunity came calling when he heard Little Fish was for sale.
“This opportunity is a dream come true,” said Yoon. “I have always admired Jose Garces as a Chef and restauranteur, and now for him to host me and let me present a menu at his restaurant is a dream come true. I am looking forward to my residency at Volver.”
Guests wishing to support Yoon and his new dining destination can donate during their meal at Volver. Donations can be made, similar to tipping a server, when the dinner check is presented. The Garces Foundation will match up to the first $5,000, giving each resident chef the opportunity to raise at least $10,000. The matching grant will be donated by the Garces Foundation, which offers additional resources for the hospitality industry like medical and educational services that the resident chef can take advantage of for themselves or their staff, and to help them reach their goal/pivot.
The public can also support Yoon’s next restaurant by donating here as well:
https://form.jotform.com/221148599918167
“We are thrilled to support these talented chefs and to be a partner in the chefs in residency project,” said Garces Foundation Executive Director Robin Morris. “Philly’s food scene is the best in the country because of the dynamic energy and work ethic of our immigrant food workers and the diversity of chefs and cuisines.”
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