Chez
Philippe's Craven named chef at Madidi BY Robin Rushing, Contributing
Writer
the clarksdale press register - APR 23th 2003
The event occurred Friday when Memphis'
Lee Craven inked his commitment to take the helm at Madidi,
the fine-dining establishment co-owned by actor Morgan Freeman
and Clarksdale attorney Bill Luckett.
The 25-year-old graduate of the Hyde Park, N.Y., campus of
the Culinary Institute of America will first don his chef's
coat in Clarksdale on May 20. He replaces Dave Krog, who resigned
from his position as chef de cuisine on April 9. Madidi sous-chef
Carl Jackson is smoothing the transition leading to Craven's
arrival.
Craven comes to Madidi after a three-year stint at Chez Philippe,
Memphis' four-star contemporary French restaurant located
in the historic Peabody Hotel. He began tutelage at the nationally
known restaurant as an intern under French Master Chef Jose
Gutierrez.
One of only 52 chefs in the United States certified as a Maitres
Cuisiniers de France, Gutierrez saw such promise in his student
that he created a position in his kitchen for Craven upon
graduation. The young chef then advanced to sous-chef at Chez
Philippe, a position he held until signing with Madidi.
"Under my direct supervision, his quality of work, leadership
and friendship has exceeded everyone's expectations,"
said Gutierrez in recommending Craven to the Madidi position.
While he lamented the loss, the master chef agreed it is time
for his understudy to take a leading role.
In addition to Chez Philippe, Craven has held positions at
McEwen's on Monroe and Me`lange in Memphis, and the Escoffier
Room and Caterina de Medici in Hyde Park.
"I am very impressed with the degree of sophistication
and classical training in French technique that Lee brings
to our restaurant," said Freeman. "That, and his
true love for Southern cuisine."
Blending the best of the South with classical training comes
naturally for Craven, who was raised in Florence, Ala., and
studied management at the University of North Alabama before
heeding the call of the kitchen. His wife, Jacqueline, is
from Collinwood, Tenn., a small town in the south central
part of the state. Having already scoped out houses, the couple
will be moving to Clarksdale in May after Jacqueline receives
her bachelor's degree in child and family studies from the
University of Memphis.
"Jacqueline and I are thrilled at the prospect of experiencing
living in the Delta," he said. "I am so eager to
delve into the cooking styles perfected by our mothers and
grandmothers. At Madidi, we'll be serving food prepared by
weaving the ingredients, history and soul of the South with
slight refinements in elegance."
Craven faced stiff competition for the chef's position at
Madidi. The search brought in some of the region's top culinary
talents. According to both Freeman and Luckett, the decision
was a tough one.
"All the chefs we interviewed were just incredible,"
said Luckett. "Morgan and I were extremely pleased at
the caliber of all the applicants. But to have now employed
a chef who has trained for three years under Jose Gutierrez,
at a restaurant that has earned four-star ratings from Mobile
and AAA and been named one of the Top 50 restaurants in the
United States by Food and Wine, that's just great.
"Lee and Jacqueline will prove to be true assets to our
business and our community."
