Shawn Wamsley Has a Passion for Food
chatting with the executive chef from Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse
Evelyn Nelson, photos by Andrea Paulseth |
FOOD MEANS SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO EVERYONE. For Shawn Wamsley, executive chef at Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse, food means the opportunity to bring people, family, and culture together around a plate of food. “My first profound memory that has continued to inspire me was when I was five or six years old,” Wamsley said. “My mom was home sick so I attempted to make her a grilled cheese with soup. Though I burnt the grilled cheese, the joy it brought my mom that I’d cooked something for her encapsulates the emotion I strive for in pursuing my passion for food.”
Now, working in the Eau Claire restaurant, Wamsley has acquired recognition for his fan-favorite culinary style, and emphasis on the community he serves. Wamsley filled the number one spot for “Best Chef” in Volume One’s “Best of the Chippewa Valley Reader Poll” of 2020.
“My personal style is a blend of Midwestern, French, and Southern,” Chef Shawn Wamsley said. “My most popular style of food is essentially anything red meat, which lines up perfectly for Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse. Perfection is almost impossible, but that’s what we strive for, and, in my opinion, that’s what we deliver.”
“My personal style is a blend of Midwestern, French, and Southern,” Wamsley said. “My most popular style of food is essentially anything red meat, which lines up perfectly for Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse. Perfection is almost impossible, but that’s what we strive for, and, in my opinion, that’s what we deliver.”
Since the pandemic, Wamsley has experienced a number of obstacles that affect his own culinary passion and the engagement with customers.
“We have learned to adapt and endure,” Wamsley said. “There are so many difficulties with the virus, some of the most important factors we focus on; The safety of our team and guests, delivering exceptional products, and the ability to adapt and be creative in finding solutions. Our nature as a team is to rise to the challenge and exceed expectations.”
To find more information on upcoming events at Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse and Shawn Wasmley’s select menu, visit johnnysitaliansteakhouse.com/eau-claire.
