The Story of Cask & Larder

When James and Julie Petrakis approached me to design their second restaurant, Cask & Larder, I was thrilled to begin a quest that would turn into one of the hottest restaurants in Winter Park, FL.  Their sister restaurant, The Ravenous Pig just down the street, was my first start at working with the husband and wife team years prior and is as equally as popular as it’s younger sibling.  Calling themselves a “Southern Public House”, Cask & Larder paid tribute to this legacy by creating a congenial neighborhood

gathering spot where their made-on-site beers flow freely (hence, the cask) and the pantry is always full. Long ago, the term “larder” applied to a storing area for meats and fish, typically the coolest room in a house.  Their website totes that, “Modern refrigeration has since come along, but we honor the traditions of whole cookery by curing our own meats, canning our own preserved fruits and pickled vegetables, seeking out the best local fish and shellfish, and doing everything we can to make sure Cask & Larder is the coolest room in these parts”.

Knowing that casual Southern elegance was what my clients were after, my team and I created a space with restored oak floors, white panes of weathered oak and whitewashed shutters, canned-on-premises jars of beautiful vegetables and foodie items, textured brick, custom art pieces and a rustic chalkboard featuring daily specials, and fresh paint in whites and light blues. The concept was drawn from some of the favorite eateries James and Julie have visited in Charleston, Atlanta, and other stops along their travels. James has described the menu as “farm style” with everything à la carte so that diners can create their own meal from seasonal vegetables, seafood, and meat. Cask & Larder has been one of my favorite projects to date.  Please take a look in the Portfolio to view the home of this culinary feast for the senses. Also be sure to check out their website at: www.caskandlarder.com