Haute Secrets: Executive Chef David Verdo of Outlook Kitchen + Bar

The new Envoy Hotel has recently opened in in the Seaport District along with the long awaited Outlook Kitchen + Bar. At the restaurant’s helm is Executive Chef David Verdo, one of the city’s top chefs. You might recognize his name from his most recent stint as Executive Chef at CHOPPS American Bar and Grill in Burlington where he worked with Boston’s Daniel Bruce.

Photo Credit: The Envoy Hotel

The graduate of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Cambridge has worked at some of the top restaurants in Boston, including the French brasserie Miel at the InterContinental Boston Hotel and Asana at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

At Outlook, some of Verdo’s signature dishes include Thai-spiced lamb belly served with pistachio, pearl onions, sesame and pickled coconut; Moulard duck breast with sweet potato, anise, golden raisins and parsnip and Northern Atlantic halibut served in a kaffir-lemongrass broth with baby bok choy, enoki mushrooms and smoked almonds.

Where were you born?  Burrillville, RI

How long in Boston? Worked in the city last 10 years

Where do you live now? North Attleboro

Occupation?  Executive Chef at The Envoy Hotel, where I oversee the day-to-day operations for the room service program, and dining operations at the hotel restaurant, Outlook Kitchen and Bar, and the rooftop lounge, Lookout Rooftop Bar.

Favorite restaurant: Townsman

Best sushi:  Café Sushi

Best Italian: Sportello

Best place for a romantic date: Dinner at Bondir then a walk down Commonwealth Avenue in the winter, before Christmas

Best Sunday brunch: Brunch Bourgeois at Society on High

If you have out of town guests, which hotel would you recommend? The Envoy Hotel

Favorite shopping venue / boutique? Newbury Street. If you’re looking outside the city, try Natick mall

Best spa: The spa at the Mandarin Oriental

Favorite charity event: Chefs in Shorts

Best steakhouse: Boston Chops

Best pizza: Pastoral

Best gym / athletic facility:  BSC

Best massage: The spa at the Mandarin Oriental

Best driving service: uberBoston

Favorite historic/legendary place to see or explore: I love the history of this city – I remember visiting tourist sites like the Boston Freedom Trail, Paul Revere House and Old North Church from grade school.

All-around favorite locale in Boston, whether a neighborhood, restaurant, venue or other: Some of my favorite aspects of the city of Boston are the thriving food scene, the local sport teams and their loyal fans, the high education and the change of seasons.

Other Notes: Boston is a great city and I think The Envoy Hotel is a perfect fit for the developing Seaport neighborhood. We are in the “Innovation District” so at Outlook Kitchen and Bar, we try to keep pushing ourselves to create progressive food that our guests are looking for.