Following the highly anticipated opening of The Chanler’s new restaurants, Cara and The Café, last summer, New England native Jacob Jasinski has joined The Chanler at Cliff Walk as Executive Chef, where he will oversee all culinary operations on property, including both restaurants, catering and in-room dining.
Translating to “dear one” in Italian and “friend” in Gaelic, Cara, The Chanler’s intimate fine-dining experience, is named in honor of Proprietress Lani Shufelt’s sister, and conveys a simple, yet beautiful juxtaposition to the restaurant’s stylish tasting menus. The Café is a sociable, casual restaurant with a Mediterranean-inspired menu and outdoor seating. At both restaurants, Chef Jacob aims to utilize the freshest local and sustainable produce to accentuate the natural qualities of each ingredient in every dish.
“Chef Jacob is incredibly talented, and we feel honored to welcome him to The Chanler family,” says proprietress Lani Shufelt of The Chanler at Cliff Walk. “Much like myself, Chef Jacob spent a few years in France learning about the country’s deep history with food and respect for ingredients. Not only do we share a culinary vision but also a passion for the destination of Newport, and we’re excited to see how this shines through in his renditions of our most sought-after dishes.”
Blending international experience with New England roots, Chef Jacob brings world-class culinary skills and a unique sense of place to Cara and The Café. While pursuing a career in the culinary arts, Chef Jacob staged at acclaimed restaurants in the U.S. and Europe including Eleven Madison Park and Le Bernardin where he trained under Michelin-starred chefs Daniel Humm and Eric Ripert, respectively. Since then, he has held high-level positions at prominent hotels and restaurants throughout the country, including Joel Robuchon in Las Vegas; White Barn Inn in Kennebunkport, Maine; Castle Hill Inn in Newport, Rhode Island; and Ocean House in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. Under Chef Jacob’s leadership as Executive Chef of Seasons at Ocean House, the restaurant became the first dining room in Rhode Island to receive a Forbes Five-Star award.
“I grew up exploring small produce shops and farmers’ markets in Rhode Island; and while my culinary experiences have taken me all over the world, New England has always been home.” says Executive Chef Jacob Jasinski of The Chanler at Cliff Walk. “The Chanler is an icon in the region and Cara, though much newer, has already started to follow suit. I’m looking forward to becoming a part of its continued success.”
As a young child, Chef Jacob’s curiosity about food was ignited by his father’s focus on the freshest ingredients and his own passion for tasting new flavors. His love for kitchen and restaurant culture started with a dish-washing job in high school and led him to attend the International Institute of Culinary Arts in Massachusetts where he graduated as Valedictorian of his class. Outside of the kitchen, Chef Jacob is a family man who enjoys traveling with his wife and kids, biking and playing guitar.
