Growing up, Jamie Knott wasn’t sure what career he wanted to pursue, but he knew it couldn’t be boring. The Baltimore-born, Nutley-bred chef admits that though school wasn’t always his strong suit, he was raised with a strong passion for cooking. After starting out with small restaurant jobs as a teenager, Knott attended the New York Restaurant School and began making his way through the dining scene at some of the most prominent restaurants in New York City. Now, as the co-owner and chef of both The Saddle River Inn and one of Jersey City’s newest restaurants, Cellar 335, the father of three reflects on the path he’s carved into the restaurant world.
While attending culinary school, Knott spent time working at a French Restaurant,Café Centro, where he worked under Chef Franck Deletrain. “[Deletrain] taught me techniques I still use today, especially the way I think of flavors. He was really hard on me. I was 19 and late a lot, but he saw a lot of himself in me and took me under his wing. He would take me to special events, Rockefeller Center, charities, he always took me with him and I learned a lot. I’m eternally grateful for that.” From then on, Knott moved around to different restaurants throughout New York and New Jersey, including Ryan DePersio’s Fascino in Montclair, Saluté, Asia de Cuba, China Grill, Ed’s Chowder House, Artisanal and within the BLT restaurant group, among others, all based out of New York City.
Four years ago, Knott looked into the Saddle River Inn, and loved it immediately. “I had dinner there that week, and it was basically love at first sight. I couldn’t believe a place like that existed.” The restaurant originated as a sawmill and basket weaving factory in the 1800s, and in 1981 was established as a contemporary fine dining French restaurant on the banks of the Saddle River. “My partner and I put the deal together, and within six months, we got the restaurant. Now, we are in the top 100 restaurants [for foodies] in the country and top 10 in the Tri-State Area. It’s been basically a dream come true.”
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