07/31/2026
Some words from Tannis, Joël and Alain, for two of our own.
We couldn’t be prouder ‘restaurant parents’ to Justin and Cristian Isidro, who just opened their own spot, a charming little restaurant Maria Celeste | Comida Portuguesa , this week.
Over five years, we watched Justin grow into the most capable of GMs, helping our FOH become stronger versions of themselves and elevating our service to Michelin recognition. We knew from the day we hired him that he embodied an old school, get-it-done work ethic. There is no better proof of that than him pulling off the impossible duet of having a baby and opening a restaurant at the same time.
Cristian joined our kitchen as a stagier, brought on by his brother. After a month of picking herbs, his unwavering passion for cooking became impossible to ignore, and he was quickly promoted through the ranks to become an accomplished chef in his own right. The beautiful dishes we shared at Maria Celeste this week told the story of traditional Portuguese cooking through precise technique and complex layering of flavours.
Congratulations, Justin and Cristian. We will miss you, but we are so happy to see your dreams finally come to fruition. 💜🥂
