Meet chef de cuisine Jon Stearns at the newly remodeled 22 & Vine! Jon got his first taste of cooking while baking cookies with his mom and grandmother as a child. Sprinkle in some Jacques Pépin and Julia Child and he was completely hooked! When he turned 14, he wasted no time applying to work at his first restaurant. He didn't have to wash dishes for long before he was asked to work at the salad station and his career swiftly grew from there.

Jon easily moved through the various stages of food prep, learning new cuisines along the way. His on-the-job training in restaurant operations has served him well. While at the Marriott in Coralville, he had the pleasure of feeding the Iowa football team during training camps plus Iowa's rival basketball teams.

Taking on his new role at 22 & Vine was exciting because Jon was promoted to sous chef within two years and chef de cuisine two years after that. This promotion came at a fun time because it was when the remodel had begun, which meant a new menu was needed. Jon loves to create new dishes that encourage smiling faces and guest feedback. We encourage you to stop by to experience our casual and hip new space!

Fun Facts:

• Cooking inspiration: Mom and Grandma
• Favorite cuisine: American (But wants to learn and master Japanese)
• Least favorite food: Horseradish
• Years cooking: 15
• Previous experience: Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Ox Yolk Inn