Award-winning Breakfast, Brunch, and Lunch restaurant First Watch today announced the hiring of Shane Schaibly as director of culinary/corporate chef.
Schaibly joins First Watch with more than 10 years of experience in the food service industry. As director of culinary/corporate chef, Schaibly will be responsible for the implementation of all culinary initiatives and Limited Time Only projects for First Watch. Additionally, he will focus on First Watch’s on menu strategy, recipe development, ingredient sourcing, product forecasting, and procurement.
“Shane’s experience and love for creating unique seasonal food will be a fantastic addition to our team.” said Chris Tomasso, chief marketing officer for First Watch. “We are excited to see the new flavors he will bring to our restaurants across the country as he looks to implement the latest in consumer culinary trends on our menus.”
Schaibly, a former corporate chef for Front Burner Brands (The Melting Pot. Burger 21, GrillSmith), has managed the culinary direction of multi-unit, multi-concept experiences including restaurants in the upscale dining, casual dining, and fast casual segments. He has extensive menu item ideation, research and development, and execution experience.
Schaibly received his Associate in Science degree in Culinary Arts from Johnson & Wales University in 2005. Schaibly was a sponsored participant at the 2013 Burger Bash during the SOBE Food and Wine Festival in Miami Beach, Fla. Schaibly also holds the current Guinness Book of World Records record for the World’s Largest Cheese Fondue Set.
