Amphitheatre Restaurant opened July 6

Vina Robles announced today the appointment of Thomas Drahos as winery chef. Drahos will oversee all menu creation and culinary execution as executive chef for the winery’s Amphitheatre Restaurant as well as the Hospitality Center in Paso Robles, California.

Chef Drahos has an extensive background in the hospitality industry and culinary arts. Growing up on a 55-acre ranch just outside of Bradley, California, Drahos learned early on not only how to farm but also how to butcher. These experiences at a young age led to the nearly pre-destined decision to become a chef.

His first taste of the restaurant industry came about as a dishwasher at a small local restaurant in Paso Robles. He was able to quickly move his way up to head chef and discover Avant-Garde, the art of combining science and food to create new, exciting taste experiences.

After graduating from the culinary arts program at Johnson & Wales University in Denver, Colorado, Drahos decided to return to California’s Central Coast and worked as the pastry chef at Windows on the Water in Morro Bay.

Most recently, Drahos was the executive chef at Fenomenal restaurant in Paso Robles, where he was able to apply his culinary creativeness and introduce Molecular Gastronomy to his menu items.

“We’re thrilled to have Chef Drahos as our new executive chef at Vina Robles,” says Terri McKeown, the Director of Food and Beverage at the new Vina Robles Amphitheatre. “We look forward to inviting our guests to taste Chef Drahos’ seasonal dishes and enjoy a true wine country experience.”

Chef Drahos will create the prix fixe multi-course menus featuring local seasonal ingredients for the Vina Robles Amphitheatre Restaurant, which officially opened with the inaugural concert season launch on Saturday, July 6. The Vina Robles Restaurant will be open for dinner on show nights to concertgoers.

Dinner packages can be purchased online at vinaroblesamphitheatre.com. In addition, Drahos will assist in the development of new wine and food experiences offered at the tasting room as well as create menus for all events at the winery’s Hospitality Center.

Vina Robles Winery is located at 3800 Mill Rd., Paso Robles, CA 93446, vinarobles.com, (805) 227-4812.