Chef Kent Rathbun
After rapidly rising through the ranks of some of the world's finest restaurants, chef Kent Rathbun has created two of the most talked about restaurant concepts in the nation - Abacus and Jasper's. In 1997, drawing on contemporary global cuisine, Rathbun established his own world-class restaurant, Abacus. His vision of an elegant culinary hotspot materialized in the heart of Dallas' uptown district and, within months of opening, Abacus received numerous accolades, including Mobil Four-Stars; AAA Four Diamonds; Five Stars from the Dallas Morning News; Bon Appetit's Best of the Year 2001 issue, which named Abacus' Chef's tasting menu a "Top Pick"; "Best Chef" by D Magazine; "One of the Top Meals Around the World" by USA Today and Abacus' induction into Nation's Restaurant News' Fine Dining Hall of Fame.
With Abacus' acclaim, Rathbun soon began research for his second concept, Jasper's. Adding a touch of "home cooking" flair to Abacus' level of ingredients and featuring a "modern outdoors" theme, Jasper's "Gourmet Backyard Cuisine" quickly became a location with distinction. With the opening of its first location in Plano, Texas, Jasper's recognition helped Rathbun expand to additional locations in The Woodlands and Austin, Texas. Jasper's has been named one of Esquire Magazine's Top-20 Best New Restaurants in America and has been touted by various publications throughout Texas.
Rathbun also has thrived on the national scene and was nominated as the James Beard Foundation's Best Chef: Southwest for four years. He has been featured in numerous national publications and has repeatedly appeared on a number of TV shows, including the Food Network's "Chef du Jour", CBS' "The Early Show" and NBC's "Today" show. Most recently, Rathbun appeared on Food Network's "Iron Chef America", defeating Bobby Flay. He was honored to be one of the featured chefs for the Bush 2001 Inaugural Ball and has participated in "Taste of the NFL", a pre-Super Bowl event, for five years.
Featured Recipes
Try these delicious recipes made with Fresh California Avocados. You'll be sure to please your guests.
