From a press release:
Corners Tavern, the contemporary American gastropub nestled in downtown Walnut Creek’s Broadway Plaza, has appointed Gavin Schmidt as Executive Chef. Gavin has been with Corners Tavern since its inception and was instrumental in shaping the original and subsequent menus. Gavin’s resume prior to Corners Tavern is like reading a page from the San Francisco Chronicle’s Top 100: Coi, Campton Place, Fifth Floor, Aqua and Elisabeth Daniel; restaurants where his roles varied from Sous Chef to Executive Chef.
Since taking the reins of Corners Tavern, Gavin and his team have taken the cuisine in a simpler, more approachable direction, focusing on the bounty that the Bay area has to offer. Shopping at 3-4 farmers markets a week and working with local farms and ranches ensures that the kitchen has only the best products to work with. An avid butcher, Gavin also brings in whole animals, including pigs and lamb from local ranches that he utilizes in many forms on the menu, from his house-cured charcuterie, lamb tartar, to the pork pozole served for Sunday brunch.
“It’s a laborious process,” Gavin says of breaking down whole carcasses for the menu, “but it offers so much more opportunity in terms of how you can develop the menu. It also gives me a lot more control over the end-product and I’m able to focus more on these amazing ingredients and letting them shine.”
His experience working with whole animals was the impetus behind his new Weeknight Suppers menu, which allows him to showcase these large format proteins in a variety of different ways. Serving items such as slow roasted pork shoulder, smoked coffee rubbed brisket, grilled leg of lamb, or buttermilk fried chicken. Weeknight Suppers pay homage to supper at mom’s house – hearty, homey, comforting meals that are simple and approachable. They are available Monday – Thursday and include a starter and dessert for just $30 per person.
Corners Tavern also makes all of the pasta and breads in-house, including the brunch bread basket, and has also just launched a new Happy Hour, which includes a variety of local oysters, house-made sausages, ceviche, cubano and tacos of the day. Happy Hour is available every day from 2pm – 5:30pm.