Celebrity Chefs participating in Restaurant Week NH -- March 18-25, 2016

CONCORD, N.H., March 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Eight Celebrity chefs were selected from around the Granite State to represent New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association's statewide 5^th Annual New Hampshire Restaurant Week, which runs March 18-25, 2016.

Chefs are chosen for their creativity and passion in culinary arts and contributions to the culinary community in New Hampshire. Celebrity Chefs representing the 5^th Annual Restaurant Week New Hampshire are as listed below. Meet the chefs at RestaurantWeekNH.com.

Celebrity Chef Peter Agostinelli is executive chef at Bedford Village Inn and enjoys over 20 years of culinary experience. He discovered a love of food early on in his grandfather's New England kitchen. He further developed his craft at Newbury College and graduated with a Culinary Arts Degree in 1998. His approach centers on Italian style with a global infusion of technique and flavor.

Celebrity Chef Kevin Halligan is owner and executive chef of the exclusive farm-to-table restaurant, Local Eatery, located in the heart of the Lakes Region. A 2002 graduate of New England Culinary Institute, Chef Halligan believes life is better with fresh food. Local Eatery provides top quality meals made from local, organic produce and grass-fed, naturally raised meats and poultry. Halligan supports locally and regionally sourced items to sustain economic growth in the Lakes Region.

Celebrity Chef Malik Hammond is culinary director for The Common Man family of restaurants in New Hampshire. Chef Hammond grew up in Maine and New Hampshire before honing his culinary skills in New Mexico, where he worked for a variety of eateries holding numerous positions including baker, pastry assistant, sous chef, event chef, assistant manager, food and beverage manager, and executive chef. Chef Hammond participates in numerous community events and fundraisers.

Celebrity Chef Vito Marcello is owner and chef of Vito Marcello's Italian Bistro in North Conway. Over the past 84 years, Chef Vito and his family have earned a reputation of running some of the finest restaurants in New England. Chef Vito keeps his menu exciting and authentic by using his travels back to Italy where on one of his more recent trips to Tuscany, Vito cooked alongside some of Italy's most talented chefs. In May 2008, the Washington Post named Vito Marcello's tomato basil marinara sauce among the best sauces one can buy.

Celebrity Chef William Morin is chef de cuisine at Tuscan Kitchen in Salem. A New Hampshire native, he graduated from the country's most prestigious culinary school, the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. After trips to Italy's cheese makers, farmers, wineries, and restaurants, William returned home to work at Tuscan Kitchen, a New Hampshire favorite for its authentic Italian cuisine, freshly baked bread, pasta, pastry, and more, all of which is made daily in-house. At Tuscan Kitchen, William rose through the ranks and continues to expand his knowledge of artisan Italian cuisine to share with his guests.

Celebrity Chef Scott Ouellette is chef/owner of five New Hampshire restaurants: O Steaks & Seafood in Concord and Laconia, Canoe Restaurant & Tavern in Center Harbor and Bedford, and O Bistro in Wolfeboro. Born in New Hampshire, Ouellette has a background in commercial finance, but grew up watching his grandparents and parents at work in the kitchen. Chef Ouellette combined these two skill sets into a successful culinary career.

Celebrity Chef Adam Parker represents Fratello's and Homestead restaurants. He earned a bachelor's degree in culinary management and baking and pastry certification from the Culinary Institute of America. Chef Adam has worked at prestigious resorts around the country and won a national cooking competition that brought him on a month-long food and wine tour through Italy. Chef Parker contributes to food, health, and charitable organizations, is featured in many local newspapers, magazines, and WMUR Cook's Corner.

Celebrity Chef Matthew Provencher of the Foundry Restaurant is a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute. Chef Provencher trained under several award-winning chefs: Chef Jean Charles Berruet of Chanticleer in Nantucket, Mass., Chef Michael Schlow of Radius in Boston, Mass., and Chef Christopher Ward of The Mercury Grill in Plano, Texas. He continues to transform and elevate standards of dining experience by responsibly sourcing farm fresh foods and donates time to the local Chef's Collaborative, Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign and the New Hampshire Food Bank.

For eight days, participating restaurants offer special Restaurant Week New Hampshire menu items with various pricing options, some including a prix-fixe, three-course lunch and/or dinner menu.

Any restaurant or lodging facility can participate in Restaurant Week New Hampshire by visiting RestaurantWeekNH.com or calling NHLRA at 603-228-9585. For updates on Restaurant Week via social media, follow on Twitter at Twitter.com/RestaurantsNH or like the Facebook page at Facebook.com/RestaurantWeekNH.

Diners are encouraged to post photos of their culinary experience to the Restaurant Week New Hampshire Pinterest page, or use the #RestaurantWeekNH tag on Instagram.

Restaurant Week New Hampshire is presented by New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlets. Supporting Sponsor is Cola Bottling Company of Northern New England and Contributing Sponsors include Eversource Energy, Performance Foodservice – North Center, Robert Mondavi Winery, Sysco, Skyy Vodka, Woodford Reserve Bourbon and Woodstock Station Inn & Brewery. New Hampshire Restaurant Week is funded in part by the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development.

Media Contact: Margaret Joyce 
[email protected] 
603-228-9585

SOURCE New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association