About the Chef
Meet our Executive Chef, Jimmy Reale
Born in New York, Executive Chef Jimmy Reale spent his childhood in Fayetteville, NC as part of a large Italian family. Surrounded by the food and wine business growing up, Chef Reale spent time working at his uncle's winery, days which later significantly influenced his culinary personality. Entertaining and cooking have been long-standing traditions of the Reale family history.
Strong Mediterranean and Italian influences show through today in Chef Reale's cooking. He received his formal culinary education from Johnson & Wales University in Charleston, South Carolina. His careful, artful pairing of personal influences with traditional southern elements produces a very unique fine dining experience. He feels very strongly about the use of local organic and sustainable products and works very hard to strengthen the Carolina Inn's relationship with local Chapel Hill farmers. Chef Reale participated as a guest chef for the "Farm to Fork" event featuring Carlo Petrini - the founder of Slow Food International.
Chef Reale was part of The Carolina Inn restaurant team that was twice invited to the prestigious James Beard House in New York City. As Executive Chef of this award-winning Chapel Hill restaurant, Reale has also participated and led numerous cooking classes and demonstrations. Chef Reale and wife Leigh have two children - five year old son Conner and two year old daughter Caroline. When not cooking, he enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, bass fishing and, of course, Carolina basketball.
Want to prepare a Crossroads dish? Chef Reale has shared recipes for two spring menu items, Grilled Rare Tuna and Coconut Pie. This summer, enjoy dishes perfect for the warm weather: Farmer's Market Tomato Soup, a wonderful Barbeque Sauce, and for dessert, Key Lime Pie.
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