If having dinner at River Tavern reminds you of having dinner at the home of an inspired friend, one who has carefully and thoughtfully prepared an excellent meal, that is no coincidence. Good home cooking was the inspiration for Jonathan's career as a cook and restaurateur - first as a fourteen-year-old prep cook at Restaurant du Village in Chester and later in New York at Etats-Unis, the acclaimed restaurant he opened with his father Tom at the age of 23. He remains passionate about cooking food that is simple and honest, using the freshest ingredients sourced from local farmers and fishermen. He and his excellent staff thrive on the challenge of creating a menu that changes daily.

At Etats-Unis, Jonathan and Tom earned a coveted Michelin star and have enjoyed many glowing reviews over the years from such publications as the New York Times, Gourmet, New York Magazine, the Village Voice, Interview, House Beautiful, Food & Wine and Food Arts.

In 2001, Jonathan opened the River Tavern in Chester, Connecticut to rave reviews for both the simple, careful and always changing menu and for the uniquely stylish interior designed by Jonathan and his father. Six years later River Tavern has become a hub of neighborhood activity and continues to enjoy an ever-widening appeal.

In addition to his work at the restaurant and on Dinners at the Farm, Jonathan has been helping to spearhead several community initiatives that support his belief of eating fresh and local food. In the spring of this year, Jonathan and Drew McLachlan partnered with the area school district Wellness Committee to prepare a series of freshly cooked lunches at the local elementary schools. The initiative introduced children to the delicious and wholesome possibilities of freshly cooked local food. He is also working on a proposal to create a public square with a community garden and farmers market space in the Chester village center.

Jonathan lives in next door Deep River, Connecticut with his wife Jeanie and two children, Tommy and Teddy. For more information about the restaurant visit www.rivertavernchester.net.

Drew and Claudine McLachlan are the owners of Feast Gourmet Market in Deep River, Connecticut. They share a passion for great food and a life dedicated to purveying the finest ingredients from local producers and around the world to showcase in their shop. Feast is a specialty food market offering homemade and freshly cut pasta, delicious and inventive sandwiches and panini, carefully prepared dishes to go and a wide selection of local and imported cheeses, salami, olives and pantry items. Drew and Claudine host occasional, word of mouth suppers, or feasts, where guests sit at a large communal farm table in the shop, after hours, for a delicious, themed, seasonal dinner. Feast also provides the area's most personal and inspired catering.

Both are self taught restaurant professionals, with Drew running the kitchen and Claudine managing the store. Their professional experience took shape in the food forward city of Portland, Oregon where Drew worked as a chef for the highly acclaimed Pastaworks owned by Peter deGarmo, one of the founders of Slow Food USA. Claudine worked the front of the house for one of the best Italian restaurants in Oregon, Three Doors Down Café.

Through his connection with Slow Food USA and under the direction of Peter deGarmo, Drew took part as a chef in Salone Northwest, a huge multi-day food festival modeled after the original Italian food festival, the Salone de Gusto in Turin. Drew has also apprenticed as a cook in Piedmont, Italy.

Drew and Claudine live in Deep River, Connecticut with their two children Ava and William. They are happy to live in a community which is increasingly aware of the value of our local food traditions and a culture built around good, healthy and local food. For more information about Feast visit www.feastgourmetmarket.com.