In taking over the helm of any fine-dining kitchen, Danika Meheux would be unique in the culinary industry: She is female, she is Black and she is young.
That the restaurant is Collage one of St. Augustine s most well-established, lauded dining destinations makes the feat that much more remarkable considering the male-dominated field she is in, which also tends to award top leadership positions to those with longer resumes.
Meheux, though humbled by the achievement, also tends to downplay it a bit. I think some people, when they meet me, are pretty surprised that I m the face of the restaurant, Meheux said in a recent sit-down interview with The Record.
Valentine s Day is one of the biggest nights to eat out, and with a multitude of restaurants in the St. Augustine area, diners certainly have their pick from high-end favorites like Collage to the romantic Raintree Restaurant, as well as newcomers to the culinary landscape including Bistro 206 and PK s Roosevelt Room.
Husband-and-wife team David and Janet Cassirer, owners of Bistro 206, will spend their Valentine s Day entertaining other couples in the cozy, chic eatery they opened in south St. Augustine two years ago.
The Cassirers, who are originally from New Jersey, serve elevated, homestyle Italian dishes like lasagna and zuppa di pesce alongside fresh seafood specials. The restaurant is not usually open Sundays, but is making an exception this weekend for Valentine s Day (though they will see how Sundays go from here on out with a comedy night starting Feb. 21).