The Blue Wing Saloon and Café welcomes Mark Linback as the new executive chef and Andréa Martino as front-of-house supervisor. Courtesy photo.

UPPER LAKE – Experienced Executive Chef Mark Linback has recently taken charge of the kitchen at the Blue Wing Saloon and Café in Upper Lake. At the same time, Andréa Martino joined the staff as front-of-house supervisor.

Both are targeting Mothers’ Day, May 11, as the “time to shine” for the Blue Wing under their leadership. They promise a great day of fine food and attentive service.

Opened in June 2005, the Blue Wing Saloon and Café has become a popular Lake County venue for good food and drink in a garden setting and for hosting a wide variety musical events.

Owners Bernie and Lynne Butcher say that the kitchen and server staff at the Blue Wing is “about the best in Lake County.” However, Bernie commented that “recently it’s been like a great orchestra without a conductor. Now we have the leadership to take the Blue Wing to the next level.”

Linback lives in Cobb, where he worked for a while at Rob Roy. He loves the area and seems to have found a home at the Blue Wing.

“We have a wonderful place here and great people,” he says. “My job is to introduce innovative food ideas that will make every dining experience a memorable one.”

Linback studied food service at Mesa Junior College in San Diego and attended the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. He has held positions at the Waterfront, Restaurant 101 and Pan-Pacific Hotel in San Francisco and, more recently, executive chef positions at the Union Hotel in Benicia and the Mayacamas Ranch in Calistoga.

Martino has similar things to say about the Blue Wing service staff. “Here, everyone seems to love their job and they really know and enjoy our customers,” she says. “We’re pretty good now but I have some ideas on how to make our service the best in Lake County.”

For the last five years, Martino has been a lead server, certified staff trainer and office manager at Cattleman’s Restaurant in Petaluma. She and her husband Tyler have just set up housekeeping in Lakeport.

The Blue Wing Saloon and Café is located at 9520 Main St., Upper Lake, telephone 275-2233 or visit www.bluewingsaloon.com.

Executive Chef Mark Linback and Supervisor Andréa Martino with (left to right) chefs Robert Bowers, Tony Chicarilli, Tone Loeding and Raul Gonzalez. Courtesy photo.

Discuss this article on the forums. (0 posts)