A Beacon of Inspiration: Craig Hartman mentee Jeff Lizotte shines at Present Company and The Foundry

by Charlottesville29

Craig Hartman, center; Jeff Lizotte, far right. 2003, James Beard House.

When I named Craig Hartman to Charlottesville’s Mt. Rushmore of Chefs in 2013, one reason was the restaurants he created – The Clifton Inn in 1992, Fossett’s in 2008, and The BBQ Exchange in 2010. But, another was other chefs’ restaurants bearing his influence. The Mt. Rushmore entry calls Hartman “The Teacher,” which he has been throughout his career, whether leading by example or mentoring young chefs who have worked at his restaurants over four decades. “At restaurants all over the Charlottesville area,” read the entry, “you can enjoy food prepared by chefs who Hartman trained.”

Hartman even spent four years formally teaching, as Executive Chef of the Cornell School of Hotel Administration. There, hundreds of chefs learned from Hartman, and went on to open their own places around the country. Not just in Charlottesville, then, but all across the nation, Hartman’s influence is felt. Case in point are two Connecticut restaurants, hundreds of miles from Charlottesville, owned by former Hartman student Jeff Lizotte. While different in style, both reflect lessons from Hartman.

“It’s all about having a service mentality,” Hartman said. “The guests have to be more important than ourselves.” This is true regardless of the type of restaurant, Hartman said. Hartman’s career has spanned fine dining, road food, and much in between. All the while, the same mission has guided him. “We are in the happiness business,” said Hartman. “Our goal every day is to exceed our guests’ expectations.” This translates to striving for constant improvement. “We need to be better today than yesterday,” said Hartman. “The quality of our service and the quality of our product must improve every day.”

Likewise, Lizotte’s two restaurants may feel worlds apart but are bound by a common goal. Present Company is an intimate riverside escape in a former mill in a village of 1,300 people. The Foundry is a slick leather-clad lounge atop a city skyscraper in the state’s capital. And yet at both, Lizotte says, there is a constant drive to put their best foot forward for guests and embrace every little progress made. “Chef Hartman has been a beacon of inspiration for me,” said Lizotte. “I am in debt for the support and encouragement he provided.”

After Hartman’s training, Lizotte worked at world-class kitchens like Le Benardin, Danube, and La Tupina. Now he has two restaurants of his own. Present Company and The Foundry are both excellent. Kudos to Lizotte and his teams. And Hartman.

Present Company
2 Tunxis Road, Tariffville, CT