Our Team
Michael KimmelExecutive Chef/PartnerExecutive Chef/ Partner Michael Kimmel has been with Tarpy’s Roadhouse since April of 1992. Before joining Tarpy’s, he worked at our sister restaurant, Rio Grill for about 8 months. Prior to Rio, he was the Sous Chef at Highland’s Inn in Carmel who moved him to California from New York City where he had been the Executive Chef at Mustang Grill and Sara Beth’s Kitchen. While attending culinary school, he helped open the New York Marriott Marquis in Time Square and graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park in December of 1986. Before heading to CIA, Michael’s first restaurant position was at The Sessions Pullman Club in South Chicago, where the owners encouraged him to seek further culinary training. His previous college background was in Advertising, Art & Design with a specialty in Commercial Professional Photography.Chef Kimmel’s food philosophy is straight forward and simple: “Use top quality products, buy local whenever possible and allow the natural flavors to come through with minimal handling.” Michael values striking presentations (Most of his plates are garnished with edible flowers from Tarpy’s garden) and harmonious, robust flavors. Kimmel’s passion and experience also flow into other areas of Tarpy’s such as marketing, design and maintenance of the grounds and kitchen gardens, concept development and the general restaurant culture. He is constantly working to improve quality, consistency and standards for Tarpy’s. For Chef Kimmel, his “Great Reward” in life is dining on quality, well prepared, robustly flavorful cuisine! This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
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Deborah Lynn EdwardsGeneral ManagerDebbie was born in Monterey, was raised in Carmel Valley and graduated from Carmel High School in 1976. Debbie attended Monterey Peninsula College, moved to Long Beach in Southern California for a time before returning to the Peninsula in the early 1990’s. Her first restaurant job was as bus girl at the Buckeye Restaurant in Carmel Valley when she was 16 and later at Bob’s Big Boy. When Debbie moved home to Monterey, she did so to work in the family insurance business but soon realized she liked restaurants best. Debbie worked at John Gardner Tennis Club in Carmel Valley where she waited on celebrities like Lucille Ball, Carey Grant, Clint Eastwood and Merv Griffin. The work was seasonal so she moved on to Highlands Inn and later bartended at Fanny’s Bar and Grill on Tyler Street in Monterey for 8 years. Her final pre-Tarpy’s stint was at the Whaler for a couple of years. Debbie came to Tarpys in April of 1993 starting as a server and moving through bartending, banquet serving and server training before becoming a manager and finally General Manager in 2000. Shortly after joining Tarpy’s, Debbie became pregnant with her second son and worked as a server all through her pregnancy. She has been married for 25 years, her first son is in Collage at San Francisco State and her youngest is graduates from high school this year. |
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Alethea CusimanoEvents and Catering ManagerAlethea Cusimano is a native of Monterey and began working at Tarpy’s Roadhouse in 2004 as a hostess. She was going to school to become a paralegal at the time, but quickly fell in love with the restaurant business. Eager to advance she quickly became a server and shortly thereafter began serving banquet parties. She was approached by the Banquet Manager in 2005 and accepted the position of an Event Coordinator. She has enjoyed assisting clients in planning everything from birthday parties to weddings to corporate dinners. She now serves as Wine Manager for Tarpy's. |
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Lillia SosaBar ManagerLillia has had a wide and varied career in the food and beverage industry. Working in positions primarily on the West Coast, Lillia started her career with Disney. While working at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA she was promoted to Floor Lead at Goofy's Kitchen and was on her way up the industry ladder. To further her advancement, she relocated to Las Vegas and accepted a management position with Wynn Las Vegas. While with Wynn, she was part of the team that opened Las Vegas hot spot The Palazzo and City Center and worked alongside celebrity chefs Todd English and Rick Moonen. The urge to return to California was too great and she recently returned to join the Tarpy's team as the Bar Manager. |
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Tony TollnerManaging PartnerTony was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1953. In 1964, Tony and his family moved to Greensboro, North Carolina where his mom lives today. In Greensboro, Tony embarked on his career in the restaurant industry taking a position at Yogi Bear Honey-Fried Chicken, at age 15. Following a career in the Navy and time to "explore his options", Tony moved to Mountain View, California and attended Foothill College. During that time, he supported himself waiting tables at MacArthur Park in Palo Alto. It was there that the idea of restaurant management first surfaced. On a trip to the Monterey Peninsula he went to what was then Billy Quon’s where their ex-boss was working. Following a job offer, Tony moved to Carmel Valley in 1983. In November of 1983, Tony helped to open Rio Grill and in 1985 he became a partner in Real Restaurants, which was then comprised of Rio Grill, Mustard’s Grill in Napa and Fog City Diner in San Francisco. In 1989, Real Restaurants reorganized and Rio Grill became a free-standing entity. Tony managed Rio Grill from 1984 until 1991 when he and his partner, Bill Cox found the building that now houses Tarpy’s Roadhouse. In 1994, a chef/friend approached Tony and asked if he would consider another venture. From that conversation, sprung the award winning Montrio Bistro. Montrio Bistro, along with Tarpy's Roadhouse and Rio Grill comprise the Downtown Dining group of restaurants. With outstanding cuisine, exemplary service and an attention to detail, The Downtown Dining restaurants continue to bring a unique and flavorful dining experience to locals and visitors alike. |
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