It was announced today that Arc Cardinal, a leading manufacturer and marketer of premium drinkware, dinnerware, and flatware to the U.S. hospitality industry, has partnered with New York City based ceramic designer, Jono Pandolfi, to develop a new stoneware collection under the Chef & Sommelier® brand.
Ceramic designer Jono Pandolfi
Jono Pandolfi started his ceramic dinnerware business 10 years ago from a small studio in Union City, New Jersey overlooking the stunning views of the New York City skyline. Pandolfi is well-recognized in the design and culinary communities for his high profile collections with notable chefs; especially in the trendsetting capital of New York City.
“My strength is that I listen to chefs and find out what they think is cool and awesome” states Pandolfi. “I like to think about a design like it is a recipe. I use the best materials available, practice it over and over, and eventually you get it right. That is what we have done with this new Geode collection for Chef & Sommelier®.”
Chef & Sommelier® is launching the Geode collection at the 2016 National Restaurant Association show in Chicago. Geode is a stoneware collection that features seven pieces including two bowls, three plates, a ramekin, and a mug.
“My overall guiding principle was to design a collection with clean shapes, but include slight handmade touches” comments Pandolfi. “I find much of my inspiration from the world of geology. Geode, in the Greek language, means shape of the earth. I believe we captured that artisanal, hand-made look to complement what chefs are doing in the kitchen.”
“We wanted to bring something new to the U.S. market in the stoneware category and we began a relationship with Jono —who is a local neighbor to our corporate office in Pine Brook, New Jersey,” states Alexandre Bollengier, VP of Sales & Marketing for Arc Cardinal. “For the past several years, we have been following Jono and his growing presence and popularity. It’s evident in his social media following and customer base the collaboration and passion he has for developing dinnerware exclusively for chefs. Jono expertly listens to chefs and their new ideas on ingredients, cooking, and presentation. He has found a niche for designing custom ceramic dinnerware that has been showcased in restaurants all over the country, including 11 Madison and NOMAD in New York City.”
“Our initial conversation led to a bigger discussion on design and function” comments Bryan O’Rourke, CEO/President of Arc Cardinal. “Our final direction for Jono was simple; capture an earthy, hand-crafted aesthetic to complement the handcrafted artistry of chefs. While working with him, we knew he would bring a completely new dinnerware perspective to our Chef & Sommelier® offerings that match the brands purpose of helping chefs express their creativity. We are very pleased with the results.”
The Geode collaboration is the first between Arc Cardinal and Jono Pandolfi with the intention to expand the Geode collection to include more shapes and sizes as well as develop new designs.
To experience the new Chef & Sommelier® Geode collection, visit Arc Cardinal booth #2201 at the 2016 NRA show or online at www.cardinalfoodservice.com
