An Aspinwall eatery has a new chef.
Cornerstone Restaurant & Bar hired executive chef Peter Henry this spring.
He replaces Jason Mooney, who’d been chef for eight years but had to leave due to health reasons.
“We’re excited to have Peter join our Cornerstone family. We know that his passion and talent will continue to bring up-to-date, seasonal food that our guests will love and expect when visit us.” said Cornerstone owner Erin Connolly.
Cornerstone, located at the corner of Freeport Road and Eastern Avenue, opened in 2009. It occupies a 1910 historic building that once served as the Aspinwall National Bank and later, a post office.
“I’m excited to grow within my community here in Aspinwall,” Henry said.
Henry, 36, hails from Santa Cruz, Calif., where he studied food chemistry at UCLA and culinary arts at the California Culinary Academy, Le Cordon Bleu in San Francisco.
The covid epidemic had him looking for a new opportunity and upon visiting Pittsburgh “fell in love with the town.”
Henry is classically trained in French cooking techniques, but brings a global reach to his dishes.
“I ran restaurants ranging in cuisine from beach fish houses to Japanese Izakyas to regional Italian trattorias,” Henry said.
His culinary pursuits even crossed paths with the Dalai Lama during his time operating the catering and wedding program for Pema Osel Ling Buddhist retreat center.
A new menu is in the works but certain Cornerstone menu staples will stay put.
“I recall their chicken and Brussels sprouts are mainstays. We will be developing new spins on our cornerstone classics,” Henry said.
“We are tweaking our current menu by focusing on the quality ingredients we receive, working to elevate our platings with all those ingredients and letting the quality ingredient shine and speak for itself.”
In Santa Cruz, Henry operated the first 100 percent certified organic restaurant, The Cremer House. He contributed to two programs — the Second Harvest Food Bank and the Homeless Gardens Project, providing free, organic produce to homeless and children’s shelters throughout California.
Henry and his wife live in Verona.
