Flavor profiles make sense to him.
It’s about what goes with what. This protein with that risotto; that vegetable with this kind of potato; and oh, and Chef Adam Luiso never forgets the fine wines.
“For some people, math and science come easy,” he said. “For me, it’s food.”
Luiso, a native of Pittsburgh who has served as the executive chef at Mike Ditka Restaurant and Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, is now in the same position with Roxby Development in Wheeling. When hired, he was charged with the food service at the Mount Carmel Monastery, but since he has witnessed Roxby expand with the purchases of the Scottish Rite Cathedral in East Wheeling and Cliff House West along Grandview Street.
The first floor of the Scottish Rite soon will feature a new restaurant, and Cliff House West will transform into an event venue.
“I believe as a company we need to be in the forefront of the culinary world in Wheeling. One thing I have noticed about this area is that most people leave here for a nice dinner,” Luiso said. “I’d like to be one of the reasons why they stay here in Wheeling and spend their money here instead.
“For those special dinners, it seems most people travel to Pittsburgh because there’s a big variety there, but we have seen some new places open in this area, and we’re excited to become a part of that growth,” he said. “Since people have been getting vaccinated, they have been anxious to go out for a meal, and we’re looking forward to what we create being one of their options.”
Pandemic Change
Furloughs. Closings.
The food service industry across the country was hit very hard once the spread of Covid-9 seemed to be without boundaries, and in the state of Pennsylvania, the former governor was more cautious than most. That fact, however, completely changed Chef Luiso’s culinary path.
But then his phone rang.
“I was working at PF Chang’s as an hourly employee, and I received a call from a recruiter from a chef agency,” Luiso explained. “From there, I had an interview with Roxby, and then I was asked to come to Wheeling to cook dinner for about 14 people. It was an audition, and in the culinary world, we know it as a ‘stage.’ And, well, I got the job.
“One thing about Roxby Development is that we are very family oriented, and that’s why (Roxby President) Jeffery (Morris) would not allow me to accept the position until my wife and kids came to Wheeling,” he explained. “He wanted everyone to be comfortable with what I would be doing here, and I have a lot of respect for that because there is no other company that I know of that does that.”
Luiso noticed a few other differences, as well.
“Jeffrey’s employees are always at the forefront, and that’s because Jeffrey places us there. Jeffrey is a unique individual because he doesn’t use words like ‘I’ or ‘me’ or ‘my company.’ Instead, he uses words like ‘we’ and ‘us’ and ‘our,’ and that’s empowering for us,” Luiso said. “It makes a huge difference.
“I have worked for Darden Restaurants on two occasions, and when you work for them, you’re a number,” he said. “But here, when I come to work, people ask me about my family and about how I am feeling,” he said. “Those things make a difference when it comes to day-in, day-out parts of the job.”
While several events have taken place at the Mount Carmel Monastery since Roxby acquired it more than a year ago, extensive renovations continue at Cliff House West and to the five floors of the Scottish Rite Cathedral.
“My intention is to help grow this business so we can become a culinary leader in the Wheeling area,” Luiso said. “Plus, we want to be very involved with our community so we can help build alliances because that really would be the most beneficial way so we can all bounce back from Covid-19.
“Everyone at Roxby just wants to help build up this area from an economic standpoint,” he added. “If I can do that by preparing really great food, I’ll be a very happy man.”
