Daniel Garbarino, an innovative chef straight out of the frying pan of Johnson & Wales University, has been given the opportunity to breathe life into a name that might otherwise be forgotten at the new establishment. Nellie Green's Restaurant is located at Branford Landing's Marina in Branford, CT.

Nellie Green was a hotel and restaurant owner who secretly ran a high-end speakeasy bar during America's Prohibition Era, and her spunky, no nonsense personality is still remembered in the region. "It wasn't uncommon to see celebrities at the old restaurant. People would travel from Chicago and New York just to dine here. Nellie was known for the chic, high-end atmosphere of her restaurant and hotel," noted Garbarino. During the Prohibition Era, Green would transport alcohol from Long Island Sound into Branford by use of a river that currently supports the Branford Landing Marina. Although Green passed away in 1952, her establishment stayed in business until 1980, proving the endurance and tenacity of Green's highly renowned name and personality. It wasn't until April of this year that owner Mike Savinelli decided to bring Green's legacy back to life with the help of a young, executive chef headlining a menu of fine cuisine with the hope of venerating a local icon. Savinelli was aware of Chef Garbarino's skill through his acclaimed work at New York City's Angus McIndoe Restaurant. Although he was taking a risk by hiring such a young, fresh-faced chef newly out of culinary school, it was clear from the beginning that they both shared the same vision.

"I met with Mike, and from the first time I walked into the restaurant, I fell in love with it. We started talking about my menu ideas and he was really impressed with what I had done in the past. He had a good feeling about me, and he wanted to give me a shot even though I'm young. He wanted young ideas and someone to think outside the box," said the 24-year old Garbarino.

In the peak of Green's era, her restaurant was known for its elegant and cutting edge cuisine. Chef Garbarino hopes to maintain that same tradition, but he plans on giving high-end food a feel-good twist. "Our idea was to give people the opportunity to come into a very relaxed atmosphere, and still be able to get delicious, high-end food at any time of day. Our lunch and dinner menus are available all day long, so if you feel like filet mignon at lunch, you can have it," he said. In the spirit of the Prohibition Era, Nellie Green's Restaurant is also featuring a Rum Runner's bar menu, featuring special drinks in the name of the icon herself.

After much deliberation, Chef Garbarino developed a diverse menu of great tasting, unique recipes such as beef wrapped cinnamon sticks in a curry cream sauce, lemon and chipotle glazed popcorn, and Asian sesame chicken salad with wontons served in a to-go Chinese food container, among others. But don't expect every item on the menu to be intended for the most daring of tastebuds. Also included are traditional feel-good foods such as filet mignon with mashed potatoes, mini cheeseburgers with homemade balsamic ketchup, and fried calamari to make any seafood lover's mouth water.

"When we tell people that we opened Nellie Green's Restaurant, it's great to see people's faces when they say, ‘My grandparents used to go there!' or, ‘I went there when I was a child,' and in general, it has lots of great memories surrounding it," Garbarino remarked. The interior of the restaurant itself is traditional as well, with beamed, vaulted ceilings, and a gorgeous open floor plan that allows patrons to dine comfortably while gazing out at Branford Landing's waterfront.

Although the new Nellie Green's Restaurant is at a different location from the original, it is nonetheless located only a few miles away, along the riverside of the same route Nellie Green used to take while importing booze from Long Island Sound. The riverside location is an ideal stopping point for any water traveler looking for a tasty treat or an out of town visitor hoping to learn more about the area's rich history.

Originally from Bayport, Long Island, Chef Garbarino specializes in American Bistro cooking and hopes to do justice to the legacy of Nellie Green with his young, fresh approach to food. By consistently proving that age comes second to skill, he is surely a new chef to look out for in the upcoming surge of talented New England chefs.