Wilson Costa
A native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wilson came to America in 1986. He began at Neuilly-Sur-Seine in Long Island, then the Manhattan Bistro in Soho. Attracted by the happening food scene upstate, Wilson came to the Hudson Valley in 2001. Since 2005, he has led the kitchens of Gigi Hudson Valley, sharing his refined style, knowledge of world cuisine and passion for Mediterranean cooking with our treasured guests and friends.
“Why do people like the food at Gigi’s? It’s fresh, fresh, fresh - plus, tasty and plain old good for you. At Gigi market, farmers come in all day long, bringing me great ingredients right from their fields. I think this is the best way to cook. It’s all so simple. You aren’t masking anything. If we have fresh tomatoes, I’ll just add a sprinkle of good salt, fresh pepper, good olive oil, and let the food stand out. No need to cover it up."
Michael Williams
Michael has been with Gigi HV for seven years and joined our team at the ripe old age of seventeen! He’s a native of Claremont, NY and has worked at Gigi Trattoria under Chef Wilson Costa, learning each area of the Trattoria kitchen. “Gigi is the kind of restaurant I would like someday. The food tastes so good and it’s a lot healthier than you find in most restaurants. I always think of it as the kind of food I’d want to feed my family or serve my mom. People come to Gigi for that reason. In the kitchen I’m part of a team with great camaraderie, and that reflects Wilson’s personality and leadership. In my opinion, he’s a wonderful chef and mentor - always trying new things and insisting on the best products.”
Selina LaVista
Selina has a bachelors degree from the CIA where she specialized in baking and restaurant management. Immediately following graduation, she was offered a job on campus as the café coordinator and she managed the café operations at the CIA for two years. She joined Gigi shortly afterward as the Gigi Trattoria manager. According to Selina “ My goal is to stay true to the spirit of a trattoria, which means that we should always strive to be a comfortable, welcoming place where guests feel cared for and can have a great meal with family and friends.”
Adrienne Chiaramonte
Adrienne grew up in the Hudson Valley on a ‘gentleman's’ farm in Staatsburg. Her mother and father were both interested in food and the family raised its own pork, beef, chicken and vegetables. In high school Adrienne helped her mother run a café in Kingston which cemented her affection for the food and hospitality industry. She brings enthusiasm and a clear love of the job to Gigi HV. We’re thrilled to have her!
“I’ve always liked the restaurant business and I love working with food. I’ve worked in kitchens as a cook, but mostly have done front of house management. It’s the people at Gigi who make it great. As a company, Gigi HV really supports the community, believes in local food and does it all with a casual, friendly vibe, not stiff or preachy."
Anne Farrell
Anne is a longtime resident of the Hudson Valley, having lived here for over 28 years. She is a new face at Gigi Market but has a long history in the hospitality industry, usually on the service side as a catering and conference manager. Prior to joining Gigi, Anne worked for large companies like Marriott, Sodexho, Barnes and Noble and Starbucks.
“I love living here in the Hudson Valley. It’s just a spectacular environment and I’m really glad I was invited to join Gigi HV. I wanted a break from my experience with large corporations and at Gigi HV, I get to work on a more personal level. By habit I’m fairly “organic” and try to be environmentally aware, so Gigi’s emphasis on local and sustainable was a part of my mindset anyhow. But beyond the labels, I’m impressed at how Gigi supports local agriculture and small businesses. We deal with lots of small, local vendors every day. This is very important to me. I like being a part of that and I’d like to see that grow.”
Tommy "TJ" Eades
Tommy went to culinary school in Washington DC, and did an externship at the Watergate Hotel, followed by stints in high-end restaurants in DC. He moved to Hudson Valley in 2000, and has been keeping the stoves warm at Gigi Hudson Valley since 2010.
"I think good food should nourish you and give you strength. That's something Laura and I agree on. Like her, I think about health and wellness a lot. Recently on a trip to Costa Rica, I visited a botanical garden that focused on plants and foods from those plants which can help heal you of illness. That stuck in my mind. Imagine herbal and natural remedies without side effects. Whole, natural foods eaten in the right amounts will help you stay healthy, happy, and add to your enjoyment of life."
Mark Fredette
Mark is a CIA graduate and a valued member of the Gigi team. He and his wife reside in Rhinebeck and have both grown to love the Hudson Valley. Mark originally hails from Boston where he worked as the Executive Chef of La Brace Restaurant and as a sous chef at Bricco/Umbria restaurant. With his deep experience and love for the region, Mark is a great addition to our company.
"For me, the key mission is to strengthen that line between the farm, the chef and the customer. Our customers know you don’t need to go the finest restaurant to eat local. You just need to find trusted suppliers like Gigi HV. We bring “farm fresh” products into people’s kitchen. You don't need to get all complicated with the recipes, but instead use really fresh food to expand the potential for flavor."
Chrissy Atkinson
Chrissy recently joined Gigi after having spent the last four years working with top chef, Michelle Bernstein in Miami as the catering coordinator for private and charity events, including overall event planning and staff development. Chrissy brings her deep appreciation of Gigi Hudson Valley’s farm to table ethos to the events she crafts with clients. In her own words, “It’s gratifying to make peoples important life events turn out beautifully and at the same time, work with a company whose food philosophy and mission is one I really can relate to. For me, it’s all about buying local, supporting the community and giving back, both to my clients and the company. That means a lot.”
Peggy Curik
Peggy is a native to Germantown. She is considered family here since she has been with Gigi since the very beginning. She is an active member of the NSA (National Society of Accountants) and is currently working on her ABA with NSA. Peggy has more than 25 years experience in bookkeeping and accounting for small to mid size businesses with a focus on sales and profit analysis, with special interest in auditing and forensic accounting.
