Friday, December 5, 7:00 pm
Members $90, guests $115

A country inn in Aurora, Ohio, may not be the most likely place to find a woman who has been recognized as one of “Cleveland’s Hip Young Chefs” by Bon Appétit magazine. But then, Donna Chriszt was never one to do the expected. Her decision to take a job at Walden Country Inn and Stables is just the latest move by this self-taught chef, who has blazed a career trail all her own.

Like her own rebellious style, Chriszt’s food defies labels. Though if her innovative creations must be categorized, perhaps she wouldn’t mind the description from Ronald Ahrens in the pages of Bon Appétit: “delicious ‘world’ cuisine, presented beautifully.” Chriszt, who believes that cooking is an art form, is known for creating dishes that are as pleasing to the eye as they are to the palate.

A Cleveland native, she became interested in cooking at an early age when, as one of six children, she realized that she could get one-on-one time with her mom by helping to prepare the family’s meals. She was hooked. As a teenager, she worked in family-style and casual restaurants. She advanced to fine dining, became executive chef at Burgess Grand Café, and went on to organize events for Bradley Catering. Later hired as executive chef at two Cleveland hot spots, Marlin and Pig Heaven, she received national recognition for her work at Jeso, J Café, and Oz Bar and Bistro.

Along the way, Chriszt has created an innovative signature style, marked by her thoughtful experimentation with exotic flavors and textures, and by her respect for the seasonality and sources of the ingredients she uses. She is passionate about bringing new culinary experiences to the table, and has said, “I like to give diners an education and try different foods that everyone isn’t using.”

Come meet the chef that Cleveland Magazine called “one of the most interesting people of 2000,” and experience what wonderful things can happen when a talented chef takes artistic license with country inn cuisine.