Bistro at Sarasota Art Museum Introduces New Executive Chef

December 11, 2024 | Sarasota

Constellation Culinary Group  has announced the appointment of Chef Peyton Leffingwell, the new executive chef at Bistro at the Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art + Design.  Leffingwell, who has already assumed the position, is spearheading all food and beverage at the Sarasota Art Museum, including the curation of the Bistro’s day-to-day menu and special events catered by Constellation Culinary Group, taking place in the museum’s event spaces. 

Chef Leffingwell will also take on a larger role within the Constellation Culinary Group family, offering his services for group events across the Tampa Bay region. He will lead Constellation Culinary Group’s larger teams to provide catering services for weddings, social events, professional dining and more throughout the Tampa Bay region.

A native of Houma, Louisiana, Leffingwell honed his high standards for taste, presentation and service working with head chefs and kitchen staff in high-profile kitchens, including New Orleans’ Restaurant August, Sarasota’s Sage Restaurant and Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters Tournament. He holds an associate degree in culinary arts and related services from the Louisiana Culinary Institute and boasts a comprehensive culinary skill set and passion for creating deeply flavorful and innovative dishes with a flair for Italian, French and American cuisine. His specialty is combining classic cooking techniques with modern flavors and local ingredients to create seasonal, visually stunning recipes.

“I’m thrilled to join forces with the amazing team at Bistro and collaborate with the Constellation Culinary Group team, who have helmed the kitchen since opening the Sarasota Art Museum,” said Leffingwell. “I’m looking forward to infusing the menu at Bistro with a unique blend of new-American and French Creole flavors while continuing the restaurant’s tradition of serving fresh, seasonally-inspired dishes that are made from scratch.” 

Located in the mid-century modern Paul Rudolph building, McGuire Hall is vibrantly adorned with a stunning mural by Venezuelan artist Jose Alvarez, who is globally renowned and celebrated for his lush and vibrant works. The piece “Coming Together” (2020) was created in the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic and now fills McGuire Hall, an ideal location for groups to come together for any type of event. With the Artful Gatherings Luncheon Special, there is no additional facility fee associated with the space as the venue and lunch are all included with the $40 per person price. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow for amazing natural light and outdoor feel without having to step foot outside. McGuire Hall accommodates 40 – 100 guests during Artful Gatherings and offers built-in AV and sound capabilities including two screens, sound, microphone, a podium and free parking. 

Inspired by the Sarasota Art Museum’s 1926 M. Leo Elliott neo-Gothic building and Paul Rudolph’s 1951 Modernist building, Bistro’s design pays homage to both eras and calls upon the buildings’ origins as a high school and public space to create an environment for museum-curated art experiences coupled with artfully crafted fare. Bistro also offers outdoor seating within the Museum Plaza, the perfect spot to enjoy a meal surrounded by interactive sculptures such as “Staccato” (2017) by Molly Hatch and “Ernest and Ruth (Exuberant Pink)” (2018) by Hank Willis Thomas.

Bistro is open daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Menu items are also available for pickup. For more information, visit sarasotaartmuseum.org/bistro.