Family dining at Voltgaggio's Family Meal - concept expands

Among the numerous restaurant concepts that Chef Bryan Voltaggio and his partner, Hilda Staples, have opened, Family Meal focuses on a place where families can enjoy time together, around the table sharing food and conversation at a pocketbook friendly price. The Culinary Institute of America graduate, Chef Charlie Palmer protégé, James Beard Award nominee and Top Chef runner up, Chef Voltaggio’s culinary acumen can be seen on every plate at Family Meal reflecting his rendition of American diner fare.

At the beginning of January, the second Family Meal restaurant was opened in Baltimore at the end of Pier 4 at the harbor and in close proximity to the National Aquarium.  The first Family Meal was opened in Frederick, Maryland – home for both Staples and Voltaggio and where the initial partnership started at their restaurant VOLT. With a strong belief in the Family Meal concept, the two are expanding beyond the Maryland and Washington DC market into Ashburn and Richmond Virginia.  

Both Hilda Staples and Chef Voltaggio had time to chat for the Dining Dish radio program on Baltimore Internet Radio.  The vivacious Hilda gladly shares how she and a complete stranger, Chef Bryan Voltaggio, went into business.  Chef Voltaggio on why “farm-to-table” could be waning and why. Bryan was very articulate about Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry initiative; he waxed passionately about how no child should go hungry. In 2015 Maryland legislation is geared to have breakfast, lunch and dinner for those school children without and a summer program to keep them fed with nutritious meals.  

Watch the slideshow, read the full story HERE.