Posts Tagged ‘Amy-Zupanci’

Edwardsville

Jan 6, 2008 Illinois, chefs, restaurants

Amy Zupanci, current employee of Niche but native of Edwardsville, IL, is planning to open a fine dining restaurant around Main Street in Edwardsville later this year.

With my frequent trips across the river I’d heard rumor of this previously, but the Edwardsville Intelligencer has now confirmed it with this article.

It’s safe to say I love Edwardsville, and while I think their community definitely has room for more fine dining, when I read this:

“I will do a lot of my own pickling and canning,” Zupanci said. “I don’t want a greenhouse tomato on a plate.”

The reason for this new restaurant is simply because Edwardsville is currently lacking in the fine dining department, according to Zupanci.

“We just don’t have a restaurant like this,” Zupanci said. “I would like to bring back Main Street because our standards have raised.”

it left me wondering: Just what the hell has Kevin Willmann been doing for the last year at Erato On Main?

  • Canning: he does it
  • Local sourcing: he’s extremely committed
  • Fine dining: definitely

Now, if by fine dining we’re talking suit and tie formal, then no, you won’t find it at Erato or anywhere else in Edwardsville that I’m aware of. However, although I could very easily be wrong, I also don’t think Edwardsville wants a restaurant like that.

So if, presumably, we’re talking about upscale food in a more relaxed environment with a Niche-like dress code, then someone owes Willman an apology because he’s already doing that, and very well.

Tags: , , ,