Frederick, MD – Award-winning chef, Bryan Voltaggio recently left his duties as executive chef of Charlie Palmer Steak in Washington, DC to prepare for the opening of  VOLT, a restaurant and lounge located in downtown Frederick, MD. Voltaggio, with business partner, Hilda Staples will oversee the renovation and restoration of a Victorian brownstone mansion at 228 N. Market Street where the restaurant is set to open in June.

 

Voltaggio, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY, plans to offer a menu of modern American cuisine, which focuses on classic flavor combinations, creating sophisticated dishes that emphasize purity and seasonal flavors that are based on fundamental techniques.  “The philosophy behind our cuisine is reconnecting the farm and table,” said Voltaggio. “Through our choices in ingredients we become engaged in more than creating a great dining experience, but in supporting our local agriculture.”

 

Voltaggio anticipates the VOLT  kitchen as doubling as an advanced classroom for his chefs. “I want my cooks to dedicate time to exploring and learning more about food and sharing their ideas,” he says. “Ultimately the goal is to create the best possible product and give back to the industry by preparing the next generations of chefs.”

 

“Developing the menu will be driven by the changing seasons,” said Voltaggio. “Produce will be featured at the peak of its harvest. Fish, game, and aged cuts of beef and lamb will be procured from only top-notch purveyors.  Wine selections will highlight both pedigreed and emerging wine makers from both old and new world vineyards.” Voltaggio says the restaurant’s wine program will be supported by a highly experienced sommelier who is dedicated “to creating a memorable dining experience.” VOLT has also enlisted Serena Roy, a local artisan coffee roaster, to develop the restaurant’s signature blends of coffee.

 

Voltaggio and Staples will renovate the first floor of the 10,000 s.f., circa 1890s landmark. “The Houck mansion is an architectural icon located within a nationally renowned historic district,” said Staples. “More than just great dining, the mansion will provide a truly memorable setting for local and visiting patrons.” Staples noted that some 800,000 visitors travel to Frederick’s downtown historic district annually to enjoy the shopping and dining experiences offered there.

 

The restaurant will offer five unique dining areas. The main dining room will overlook Frederick’s commercial main street and offer elegant design finishes that reflect the era of the mansion’s original construction. Private dining will be hosted in the conservatory, which offers views of  the mansion’s expansive courtyard garden. One of the mansion’s large public rooms will be dedicated to the lounge where guests can enjoy a casual dining menu. Contemporary in design, the lounge will feature a half-moon shaped staircase will provide access to the restaurant’s walled courtyard.

 

The restaurant will also feature an open kitchen dining room for 16 guests allowing patrons to watch the chefs at work. “I love to interact with my guests and am excited that I will finally have a kitchen that will really allow me to do so,” says Voltaggio. “It’s entertaining for patrons to see and interact with the kitchen. It results in a greater appreciation for our craft.”

 

 

Voltaggio and Staples have engaged DMS / Perla, a Washington, DC-based architect specializing in restaurant design. Voltaggio worked with Perla extensively while overseeing the construction and opening of Charlie Palmer Steak in 2003.

 

VOLT will serve lunch and dinner on a Tuesday - Sunday schedule. For more information and to receive updates please visit the restaurant website at www.voltrestaurant.com.