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Former Chief Operating Officer At Manhattan's Café Des Artistes Starts His Own American
Bistro in River Vale, New Jersey

Former Chief Operating Officer At Manhattan's Café Des Artistes Starts His Own American Bistro in River
Vale, New Jersey

River Vale New Jersey, August 1st, 2010- Meritage-American Bistro and Wine Bar (Meritage Bistro for
short!) was created and founded by Orlando Santana. In the past few years, Mr. Santana was the Chief
Operating Officer of both Café Des Artistes in Manhattan and Antipasti Ristorante in Westchester and
helped to catapult these
restaurants to the forefront of culinary national recognition.

As the owner of Meritage American Bistro , Orlando has created a dining experience centered on gracious
hospitality, comfortable surroundings, and outstanding value. The former space of the Mexican restaurant,
Blue Moon, in the Old Tappan Mall has been transformed into a quaint and comfortable bistro. the
architecture is hip, contemporary and casual. In this suburban Bergen County, northern NJ setting diners
will enjoy sophisticated cosmopolitan cuisine and at value oriented prices.

"People in New Jersey have a myriad of choices when dinning out." remarked Mr. Santana, when asked
about his new venture. "We pride ourselves on style, service and attention to detail and truly want our
guests to feel welcome and appreciated." "It's all about the food and the customer" Orlando's love of the
hospitably industry is the basis for the restaurant's motto -"You're not a customer, you're our guest," "we
want our outstanding cuisine and our valued guests to take center stage".

Orlando believes diner's experience should be memorable, so he hired Kelvin Fernandez to be the
executive chef at Miratage Bistro. Chef Kelvin merges the subtle flavors of Italy, Spain and France with an
American flair. Kelvin, a he Culinary Institute of America graduate has worked under the Michelin Star
chef Georges Masraff of the celebrated Tavern on the Green, Marcus Samulesson of Aquivit, Alfred
Portale of the Gotham Bar and Grill and most recently the executive chef of Antipasti under the famed
chef of Rick Laakkonen (Budda Bar-Tao). When Laakkonen left Kelvin assumed his post as the executive
chef.

Orlando born in Hoboken, NJ, has a business degree from University of Colorado in Bolder. Originally
Orlando followed a career path toward accounting like his father chose but his passion for great food and
love of people steered him to the hospitality industry. At an early age Orlando could be found in some of
Manhattan's most prestigious restaurant kitchens and then progressed to front of the house management.
At age twenty-four he was general manager of Ciao Baby; followed by careers at of the four star
restaurant of Weehawken, New Jersey's Arthur's Landing. In 2001, Orlando was the corporate food chief
of operations for Operation Sail. Orlando has opened and managers such great restaurants as Savannah
Steak and Café Des Artes in Manhattan. In 2008, Orlando became the Chief Operating Officer of Antipasti
in White Plains, NY. When Antipasti closed he saw an opportunity to bring the embodiment of his
knowledge he had gained in thirty years of working in the industry to open his own place, back in his
home state of New Jersey. Culling all his know-how and expertise and his desire to put his own special
mark on a warm and friendly place with great food he has opened Meritage Bistro and Wine Bar.

Orlando selected the name Meritage because it is Meritage is a blend of the words "merit" and "heritage"
which is how Orlando views the cuisine the restaurant prepares. Only the highest qualities meritorious of
ingredients are fused with the heritage of "American cuisines. So…Meritage Bistro has the same high
standards for its food quality and presentation, service to its guests!

For more information, please visit their website at the following link: http://www.meritagebistro.com

201-497-0026
(C) Copyright 2010 - Goldcoast Restaurants International, LLC
info@meritagebistro.com
Meritage - American Bistro
Westwood, Avenue
Northern, New Jersey
07675
Coming SOON to
Northern New Jersey