CHARLESTON, SC - Gabrielle, the signature restaurant at Hotel Bennett, has appointed Edgar Kano as its new executive chef and unveiled a new coastal-focused menu sprinkled with international flair.

Born in Mexico City and of Japanese heritage, Kano brings his cultural and culinary diversity to Gabrielle and Charleston via over two decades working in some of the world’s top seafood-centric destinations.

“Since arriving in Charleston, I have listened, I have learned and I have fished,” said a smiling Kano, who used to rise at 4 a.m. in previous roles to visit markets and secure the best catches for his diners. “I have enjoyed meeting farmers and fishermen, learning about this beautiful community and enjoying its southern hospitality, and, together, our team has curated a new menu based on product seasonality that has elevated the Gabrielle experience.”

Kano credits his grandmother’s cooking and growing up in a multi-cultural household for his interest in the culinary arts and travel. He has always immersed himself in his local culture, joking that he “has a Mexican heart, Japanese blood and now a Charleston home.” He takes his immersion efforts seriously, though, speaking English, German, Spanish and French.

A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Kano has spent more than 20 years in culinary leadership roles working for Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts and its signature restaurants around the world, including honing his craft in Punta Mita, Mexico, and spending time in French Polynesia, Singapore, Berlin, Vancouver and Dallas. He joined Hotel Bennett and Gabrielle from the Four Seasons Atlanta.

An avid fisherman and keen shrimper on his days off, Kano drew inspiration from the stunning crystal cast net hanging from the ceiling in Gabrielle’s dining room when he was creating the restaurant’s new menu.  

“My culinary philosophy is very simple: to provide clean, uncomplicated and ingredient-driven dishes,” said Kano. “Gabrielle’s new menu is mostly a voyage of Coastal Carolina’s best available product, both from the sea and onshore, married with the international techniques and textures that I love and respect.”

Kano joins a Gabrielle team that features acclaimed Pastry Chef Rémy Fünfrock, whose artistic desserts are a culinary attraction at Hotel Bennett’s popular La Patisserie on King Street, and Charleston restaurant institution Erich Rauber, who spent over a decade managing Peninsula Grill on Market Street.

Some of Kano’s new dinner menu items include:

• Snapper Ceviche with Yuzu, Serrano Chili, Tomato, Purple Onion and Cilantro
• Big Eye Tuna Tiradito with Serrano Chili Ponzu and Radish
• Blue Crab Salad Toast with Brioche, Cucumber, Piment D’Espelette and Lemon Aioli
• Togarishi Swordfish Steak (Butcher Block)
• Seafood Black Linguini with Clams, Mussels, Shrimp, Tomato, Fennel and Spiced Shrimp Jus
• Storey Farms Whiskey Brined Chicken with Citrus Lacinato Kale and Spiced Comeback Sauce

Additionally, Fünfrock has created several new desserts to complement Kano’s menu, including:

• Strawberry Basil Shortcake
• Carmelia Chocolate Parfait
• Peach and Apricot Bombe

Charleston’s only restaurant to open onto Marion Square, guests enter Gabrielle off King Street and through Hotel Bennett’s stunning lobby. The restaurant’s elegant and lively bar features live music on the weekend, often on the large outdoor fine-dining plaza.

For more information, visit www.GabrielleDining.com, call 843-990-5460 or follow @GabrielleDining on Facebook and Instagram. Gabrielle is open daily from noon-3 p.m. for lunch, and from 5-10 p.m. for dinner.

About Hotel Bennett

Hotel Bennett, one of the South’s grandest hotels, overlooks the iconic and historic Marion Square in Downtown Charleston. Centrally located to the culture, cuisine, and charm the city has to offer, Hotel Bennett seamlessly blends unparalleled luxury, an unmatched setting, and the high level of gracious hospitality for which Charleston is renowned. A distinct experience unique to the city, Hotel Bennett carefully combines European architectural inspiration married with classic Southern furnishings and details throughout. Named for the Charleston-based Bennett family, Hotel Bennett is owned by local hotelier and businessman Michael Bennett. The property is managed in a collaborative partnership with the Salamander Collection, the luxury hotel company founded by Sheila Johnson. www.hotelbennett.com