The way Bartlett Pear Inn Chef Jordan Lloyd tells it, that plan was always for him and his wife, Alice, to return to the Eastern Shore. While they had left their native Talbot County almost twenty years ago on a quest to work with some of the most creative and demanding culinary geniuses in North America, there was little doubt that they wanted to make their way back to Easton to start a family.
But given Jordan’s resume before coming home, it remains rather remarkable that he did, in fact, return given that he could have made a handsome living as a star chef in any major city in the United States.
Starting with Michel Richard at Citronelle, followed by his dream job of working with Thomas Keller in opening Per Se in NYC, and later with Christian Delouvrier at La Goulue, it is this kind of serious vita that would be the culinary equivalent of having gone to Princeton, Harvard Law, and a clerkship with a Supreme Court justice.
But as Jordan discusses in his Spy interview, his loyalty to the Shore, and his gratitude to his early mentors in town, like Tom and Tony Pinto at Cafe 25 and particularly Chad Scott at Mason’s, made their desire to come back and share what they had learned with the community they have always loved, was made all the more intense goal to achieve.
And come back they have. In less than seven years, Bartlett Pear has become the primary destination restaurant on the Eastern Shore for anniversaries, birthdays, and other special celebrations that take advantage of Jordan’s multi-course dinner. The Lloyds have also expanded across the street to add a bakery and breakfast venue, but, as Jordan notes, this is just the beginning.
This interview is eight minutes in length
Kathy Bosin says
what a great interview!
Jeff Staley says
We’re very fortunate to have Bartlett Pear turning out wonderful food and dining experiences in Easton. Jordan, Alice and the staff have always made us feel welcome. We wish them continued success and hope they never leave!
Jeff and Diane Staley