Scott Alderson
Past Perfect, Nashville TN
taped at Criolla’s, Grayton Beach FL
http://www.pastperfectnashville.com
Scott Alderson, chef at Past Perfect in Nashville, likes to think of his cooking as a kind of new Florida fare, the result of years of study at some of the South´s finest restaurants. A graduate of the Asheville-Buncombe Community College in Asheville, North Carolina, Alderson received an A.A.S. Degree in culinary technology in 1988. While in school, he landed his first job with Mark Rosenstein at the Marketplace in Asheville. During a three-year tenure he rose to sous chef. His next stops were on the Cashiers, North Carolina, country club circuit — first at the Wade Hampton Golf Club, then at Chatooga Club. From there it was back to his native Florida and Cafe Maxx in Pompano Beach.
In 1990 Alderson was able to realize a dream — to work with Jeremiah Tower — at his famous Stars restaurant in San Francisco. From there, inspired by the high energy, sophisticated cuisine, he travelled across the country to take on the sous chef position at the Harbourwatch in Harwichport on Cape Cod. But it wasn´t long before Alderson was eager to return to his roots, and in 1992 he went to work as the sous chef at Casa Vecchia in Ft. Lauderdale. A year later, he left Ft. Lauderdale for Bud & Alley´s in Seaside, Florida, and then in April 1995 Johnny Earles hired him to take on the chef´s position at Criolla´s. It was while he was there that he taped for Great Chefs. – Alderson ws delighted to be in the chef´s chair at what many consider to be the ‚“dining gem‚” of the Florida Gulf Coast. He experimented with the Florida products that he loves, adding new original recipes to the menu. He was proud to work with owner Johnny Earles in the creation of the New Orleans/Caribbean dishes that have made the restaurant famous. Florida Trends magazine called the menu a ‚“masterpiece,‚” declaring the recipes a blend of ‚“the Cajun spices of the back-bayou with the finesse of French flavor.‚” Alderson believes in Earle´s philosophy. ‚“I just do it right, and people get off on it.‚”
It works for Alderson as well, who consulted on the menu at a neighboring restaurant, Bayside Grill, in Orange Beach, Alabama. Looking for the perfect spot, he has since moved to Six Degrees, then Saffire, then BB King´s, and then Layl´a Rul, before coming to Past Perfect.
