by Chris Bruno
After graduating from Johnson and Wales University with a culinary arts degree in 1987, I worked briefly in Massachusetts and Connecticut before becoming Sous Chef at Restaurant L’Europe in Vista, New York. L’Europe, as the restaurant was known, had the distinction of pioneering Continental European cuisine in the area, and my time there deeply influenced my career as a chef. At L’Europe, I apprenticed with a chef from Austria who had worked in kitchens all over the world and taught me about ingredients that had not yet become popular in the United States. Moreover, I took advantage of the truly incredible opportunity to learn classic French techniques from a French saucier. Eventually, I rose to become the Executive Chef at L’Europe. As one of the leading European restaurants in the region, L’Europe consistently received critical acclaim from some of the most influential publications in the industry, including Zagat Survey and the New York Times. Particularly well known for the impeccable quality of both the food and the service, L’Europe benefited greatly from the skill and hospitality of its owners, Ruhi and Aris Toska. Born in Albania and raised in Paris, the Toskas worked in French restaurants before immigrating to the United States in the late 1960s, continuing their careers at well-regarded restaurants in Manhattan, Connecticut, and Westchester County. In 1988, the Toska brothers renovated the old Hearth restaurant to create a truly European experience in South Salem, New York. At L’Europe, I gained the experience that allowed me to embark on a career as the successful proprietor of Fiddler’s Restaurant, which reopened as Chris’s American Restaurant in 2003 before becoming 189 Sports Cafe. L’Europe has evolved as well; after becoming the Tosca Café in 2007, the restaurant reopened as One Twenty Three Restaurant & Bar in 2010. Although the family-run restaurant’s new menu incorporates excellent contemporary touches, many in the area still have fond memories of L’Europe’s dedication to Old World cuisine.
