Restaurant news: Critically acclaimed DeLand restaurant announces new chef de cuisine

One of DeLand’s most highly regarded downtown eateries is embracing new and innovative flavors with the recent hiring of chef Amanda Czekaj.

Former executive chef Phil Pierce has passed the culinary torch to Czekaj, who has recently taken over as chef de cuisine at the acclaimed restaurant. Pierce will continue to work in collaboration with Czekaj as the restaurant’s executive sous chef.

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“This has really been a win-win as Phil has looked to increase time spent with his young family and Amanda brings so much to the table,” Cress owner Tom Brandt said in a press release.

Bringing over 10 years of experience to the table

Czekaj is certainly no stranger to the culinary world, bringing a wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise to her new West Volusia role.

After graduating with a culinary degree from Pittsburgh’s Le Cordon Bleu Institute of Culinary Arts, a prestigious leader in culinary and hospitality education before closing in 2012, and interning at Orlando’s Walt Disney World, Czekaj went on to pursue her passions here in Florida through a position at what was formerly The Rusty Spoon — an Orlando-based, eclectic American eatery where the chef said she discovered her true potential.

Since then, Czekaj has held several positions within central Florida’s restaurant scene.

“After taking a little time off to have my first daughter, I was hired at K Restaurant serving as pastry and sous chef. I followed up that experience with a short time as sous chef at Elize, until the COVID shutdown,” Czekaj said in a release.

“Once restaurants started opening again, I was brought on as sous chef and pastry chef at The Old Jailhouse in Sanford where I assisted in revamping their menu. But then came time for a little family time as my husband, Barry, and I had our second daughter.”

Most recently, Czekaj held the role of executive chef at Orlando’s Farm and Haus restaurant and assisted in the opening of the eatery’s Winter Park location, as well as being featured on season three of the Emmy Award-winning Very Local series “Blind Kitchen.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to have Chef Amanda join the team here at Cress,” Brandt said in the release. “She brings a wealth of culinary knowledge and experience from working in Orlando area restaurants for more than 10 years.”

A look into Cress

Cress Restaurant opened its doors in 2008 in historic downtown DeLand and has since whisked customers new and returning into an elegant escape of innovative cuisine, bold, seasonal flavors and creative culinary creations. The farm-to-table style local gem focuses on a menu of globally inspired dishes and locally sourced, sustainable ingredients, and has been named a “Smart Catch Leader” by the James Beard Foundation.

The Smart Catch program, created to promote sustainability of seafood served at local restaurants, transferred program ownership to Where Food Comes From, an “independent, third-party food verification company” in 2023.

The beloved downtown eatery serves elevated cuisine in a timeless setting, with brick wall detailing, hushed music, and warm, earthy tones decorating the interior. The eatery’s upscale menu changes seasonally with new and fresh flavors, the owner noted during my visit, and has recently introduced a variety of new dishes following Czekaj's arrival.

Whether treating yourself to the restaurant’s “Smart Catch” of the day, enjoying a slice of seasonal cheesecake or indulging in an herb-rubbed prime ribeye, Cress Restaurant follows through with its promise of quality, freshness and flavor.

Cress Restaurant is located 103 W. Indiana Ave. in DeLand and is open from 5 – 9 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday. Reservations are recommended. For information, call 386-734-3740 or visit cressrestaurant.com.

Helena Perray is the restaurant and dining writer for The Daytona Beach News-Journal. A New Jersey native and passionate storyteller, she can be contacted at hperray@gannett.com. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook. Support local journalism by subscribing

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Cress Restaurant in DeLand welcomes new chef de cuisine Amanda Czekaj