Washington University Dining Services announced today that Wil Fernandez-Cruz has been hired as chef de cuisine of Ibby’s. Ibby’s is located on Wash U.’s Danforth campus and is operated by Bon Appétit Management Co.
Fernandez-Cruz, who worked for years in New York City under the acclaimed chef and restaurateur Marc Meyer and most recently at The Cheshire’s The Restaurant, is looking forward to his new position at Ibby’s. In regards to the campus bistro and the overall dining servicies at Wash U., he told The Scoop, “I found that it’s truly a beautiful program in terms of sustainable and local products.”
Fernandez-Cruz will be joining John Griffiths, former executive chef at Truffles, who is now the campus executive chef for the university’s dining services. As mentioned in a press release, Griffiths said, “We’re delighted to have Wil join our team. His culinary acumen, fine dining experience and signature style, showcasing the best ingredients he can find, is a wonderful match for us. Wil and I have long shared our philosophy of preparing fresh, made-from-scratch foods with a strong commitment to social responsibility.”
Last April, The Daily Meal awarded Wash U. the title of “Top University in America for Food Lovers.” With the talent the university keeps acquiring, it looks like the school has no plans to lose the title anytime soon.
This article appears in February 2013.