Jonathan Calabrese

Owner / Executive Chef

Jonathan was a late comer to the culinary world.  He graduated from UNT in 1996 with a Philosophy degree and worked in Health Care Consulting before deciding to go culinary school in 1998.  Jonathan graduated from Art Institute of Dallas as the valedictorian of his class, then Jonathan had the pleasure of staging at The Grape Restaurant under Executive Chef Brian Luscher where he attributes much of his overall ‘how to’ process of running a kitchen.  Opportunity came quickly for Jonathan and his best friend business partner as he opened his own restaurant in Lakewood called Savory Bistro which was met with consistently positive reviews.  From this point he has grown the business over the last 15 years adding State&Allen Kitchen/Bar (2004) and the Nodding Donkey’s Sports Bar (2010), ever present though was his first love Savory Catering that he started while in culinary school and continues to rapidly grow today.  Jonathan works in a supporting role with regards to cooking pushing Chef Dukes to take food in many directions while both work on the overall vision of the food and menus together.  Jonathan spends most of his time running the whole operation while his business partner expands the company in many exciting directions.