St. Louis is losing Winslow’s Home married chefs Wilfrin and Lisa Fernandez-Cruz at the end of February. The couple said they and their two children are returning to New York City to be closer to their extended families.
“I will miss this place a lot. It’s going to be a heartbreak for me,” said Wil Fernandez-Cruz, executive chef at Winslow’s Home. Fernandez-Cruz took the position in October 2013, after stints at The Restaurant at The Cheshire and Washington University’s Ibby’s. Lisa Fernandez-Cruz later spearheaded the expanded baking and pastry program at Winslow’s in February 2014 after transitioning to the University City restaurant and store from Gamlin Whiskey House and The Restaurant at the Cheshire.
“I want to say thank you to Winslows, to the St. Louis food scene, the farmers markets, the chefs. It’s been a wonderful two years,” he said. “It’s sad to have to leave, but family is the main thing.”
Both praised a robust and rapidly growing St. Louis food scene. “It’s growing like crazy. It’s growing like a weed,” Wil Fernandez-Cruz said. “That’s exciting because people are talking about food more and more, and are trying new things … It’s a great city.”
Lisa Fernandez-Cruz was excited for the future of Winslow’s expanded pastry program. “I built a pretty awesome bakery,” she said. “The (two) bakers I have there are amazing. Joe Stein and Anna Long are absolutely amazing. They are by far some of the best bakers.”
Winslow’s Home owner Ann Sheehan Lipton was not immediately available for comment or details on who would replace the two chefs.
The Fernandez-Cruzes did not offer specifics about their professional plans for New York. Wil said he had “a couple projects lined up” in the industry, while Lisa expressed a desire to help the children transition to their new schools and surroundings before rejoining the industry.
“I realized I love baking more than I love being a pastry chef,” she said while discussing possibility of opening her own bakery in the future. “I don’t know how soon that will happen. (But) that’s my end goal for New York.”
This article appears in February 2015.