La Bella Fonte

Chef: Christopher Arquiett, was born and raised locally near Watertown, NY.  His exploration in the kitchen began at an early age as his family owned a small self-sustaining ranch where food was always at center focus. Working with his father outside with the estate gardens and livestock and in the kitchen with his Mother, he rapidly grasped the concept of “Farm to Table” well before the phrase was ever coined. Chris began working in professional kitchens at the age of 16 and knew immediately that this was his life’s calling, to become a Chef.  He earned his degree in Culinary Arts from Jefferson Community College and received his first Executive Chef appointment when he was only 20 years old.  After managing several Watertown area kitchens and bringing notoriety their restaurants, Chris committed himself to further challenges and relocated to Albany, NY.  Working in the French Kitchen’s of the Capital District he refined his skills in the classic arts. There he recognized and cultivated his truest passion: Italian Cuisine. He later went farther south, closer to New York City and operated his first Manhattan Style Steak House. He remained dedicated to developing his own creative and vivid style of food while never forgetting his hands-on knowledge of the sources and harvesting of fresh food with wholesome home-cooking. Driven and compelled, he continues to seek out any opportunity to learn and to inspire and to invigorate himself and the people he prepares his food for. He consistently explores, expands and carries with him his greatest inspirations and nourishing relationships with many masters including his friendship with Jacques Pepin.   He has now returned to ‘the beautiful source’ of his passion, Northern New York, combining his learned talents to La Bella Fonte, an Italian Steak House.