'River and Post' hires executive chef Elizabeth Arana for newest JAX restaurant

Having trained under Wolfgang Puck, Eric Ripert, David Burke and Alain Ducasse and educated at the Culinary Institute of America and University of Florida, Elizabeth Arana’s resume impressed the owners of River & Post.  Once they tasted her cooking they were convinced she was the right fit.  Arana will start in July 2017 as the Executive Chef of the soon-to-open Riverside restaurant, which will open in the Fall.

Arana will lead the culinary process for River & Post, initially managing the kitchen design and service processes.  In addition to being responsible for the menu and its preparation, Arana will oversee the entire kitchen staff.  No stranger to executive culinary management, Arana has lead teams at the Alexandria, Provence and Alphabet Kitchen restaurants in New York City as well as working directly under Executive Chef Alain Ducasse at Louis XV in Monaco, France.  Arana has extensive experience in various cooking styles cuisines.  She was featured on the Food Network’s Door Knock Dinners with Gordon Elliot as well as Latina Magazine, The New York Daily News, New York Magazine, Time Out New York and listed in Zagats.

Said General Manager and owner Jeff McCusker of Arana, “Her qualifications spoke for themselves, but what sold us was simply her ability to cook.”  To make a final decision on their Executive Chef selection, McCusker and co-owner Robert Fleckenstein, along with their advisory board, hosted several candidates for a menu tasting.  McCusker stated, “The words that kept repeating themselves among our panel of tasters were ‘captivating,’ ‘thoughtful’ and “inspiring,’ not words typically assigned to food.  When we think of the brand we are trying to create at River & Post, with an incredible rooftop view and a modern vibe, there wasn’t even a second pick.  Elizabeth wowed us all.”

Hiring an Executive Chef was the next big step for River & Post, which began construction in April and plans to open in the fall of 2017. “The vision for River & Post is incredible,” said Arana.  “I cannot wait to come to work and have the view of Jacksonville’s colorful skyline as my office.  We will create something special in Riverside, a true destination restaurant that I am confident will draw from other parts of town as well as other parts of the southeast.  Jacksonville is a growing culinary city, and I want to be on that must-visit list for foodies and people just looking to relax and enjoy a great meal with a great view.”

River & Post will soon be hosting interviews for servers, managers, kitchen and bar staff and interested parties can contact the restaurant HERE.

About River & Post: River & Post is a restaurant and rooftop lounge opening in the fall of 2017.  This upscale casual restaurant will bring a trendy environment, great food and breathtaking river city views to Riverside.  It will be located in the newly renovated Summit building, located at 1000 Riverside, on the corner of Post St.  Jeff McCusker is the managing partner and Bob Fleckenstein is the investing partner.  The menu will be seafood- and steak-focused Southern American cuisine.  The floor plan calls for pet-friendly patio dining space downstairs, as well as being a premier location for meetings and private events.  River and Post will also feature ample parking, a rare commodity in Riverside.

'River and Post' restaurant coming to JAX in summer of 2017

After receiving zoning approval from Jacksonville’s City Council last week to be designated a Planned Unit Development, the way is cleared for River & Post Restaurant and rooftop bar to join Jacksonville’s thriving culinary scene.  River & Post will be located in the newly renovated Summit Building at 1000 Riverside Avenue, on the corner of Post Street.  The focal point of the restaurant will be the sweeping views of Jacksonville’s skyline.

River & Post will actually be two distinct spaces, a full-service restaurant with high-end amenities, a chef’s table and banquet space on the first floor, and a rooftop concept that will include both indoor and outdoor seating.  The total square footage will amount to approximately 10,300, with about 3,000 of that footage being the ninth-floor rooftop space.  River & Post will have about 450 seats total, including a pet friendly outdoor patio with 48 seats on the first floor.  The Summit Building has nearly 200 parking spaces, a significant commodity in the Riverside area.  Plans call for more than 50 employees, and the hiring process will begin this summer.  The first-floor restaurant will be open for both lunch and dinner, with the rooftop opening for happy hour and dinner.

Managing Partner Jeff McCusker and investing partner Bob Fleckenstein have been working closely with city officials to navigate the zoning process, and signed the official construction contract March 27, 2017.  Though he’s a restaurant industry veteran in operations and management, River & Post will be the first restaurant in which McCusker has an ownership stake.  McCusker attended UNF where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management.  Bob Fleckenstein, his investing partner, opened Summit Contractors in 1989 and retired in 2014.

McCusker and Fleckenstein are wasting no time on their goal of opening in summer of 2017.  Construction has already begun, with new floor to ceiling glass windows installed on the first floor.  The current menu concept features seafood- and steak-focused Southern American cuisine.  The bar will feature craft cocktails as well as wine selections.  They will soon be hosting interviews for servers, managers, kitchen and bar staff.  River & Post already has its social media presence and website running.  Stay tuned for future progress.