Poughkeepsie’s Revel 32° Welcomes a CIA-Trained Celebrity Chef

Outside Revel 32 / Photo courtesy of Revel 32

The renovated event venue in downtown Queen City partners with Chef David Burke for top-tier culinary catering in the Hudson Valley.

When Revel 32° opened its doors in Poughkeepsie in autumn 2019, it did so with a bang.

The occasion was a grand one, since it marked the completed adaptive reuse renovation of the historic Masonic Temple on Cannon Street. To celebrate the launch of Queen City’s newest event venue, owners Jim and Gina Sullivan got the party started with events like a debut party led by 12-piece soul band Remember Jones and a Mardi Gras fest featuring The Soul Rebels.

Now, one year after its grand debut in the Hudson Valley, Revel 32° unveils the latest addition to its event offerings. Beginning this fall, the Poughkeepsie spaces commences a special partnership with celebrity chef and Culinary Institute of America graduate David Burke.

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Chef David Burke / Courtesy photo

Known for his endless creativity and exceptional technique, Burke is the mastermind behind more than a dozen restaurants across the United States, including David Burke Tavern in the Upper East Side in Manhattan and the Time Out Market in Brooklyn, as well as Salt & Char and The Blue Hen in Saratoga Springs.

Although Burke calls New Jersey home nowadays, he got his culinary start at Hyde Park’s Culinary Institute of America. After graduating in 1982, he went on to garner a string of accolades, including the James Beard Foundation Best Chef New York, the Culinary Art Institute’s August Escoffier Award, and the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France Diplome d’Honneur. Notably, he was the first American to receive this latter award.

On top of his restaurants and accolades, Burke is a regular on TV, with appearances on Bravo’s Top Chef and Top Chef Masters, among others.

Revel 32 in Poughkeepsie / Courtesy photo

Through his partnership with Revel 32°, he hopes to channel his love for the region that introduced him to the wonders of the culinary world.

“The Hudson Valley is being recognized on a wider scale as of late, and for good reason – the abundant natural beauty, open space, and access to fresh, local ingredients of the highest caliber make this a dream location,” Burke enthuses. “Furthermore, being in partnership with Revel 32° is an ideal pairing for me – giving me a platform to bring high quality, memorable cuisine to events in the heart of the Hudson Valley, the very place my love of cooking began.”

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As far as how the partnership came to be, it was a stroke of fate when one of Burke’s investors introduced him to the Revel 32° team. After a trip north to Dutchess County to walk through the renovated space, Burke instantly saw the potential in Poughkeepsie.

“We’re can-do type people and I think they are, too,” Burke says of the Sullivans. Since shaking hands, the chef and the owners have collaborated on the menus and experiences they plan to offer. Depending on the nature of the events booked (weddings, parties, brunches, and more are all possibilities), Burke and his team will work with the hosts on custom menus injected with David Burke flair.

“It’s creative edge, whimsy, sustainability, and high-quality food that puts a smile on your face,” he explains. “We don’t do the same old.”

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To assist him with his catering efforts in the Hudson Valley, he plans to hire local staff and chefs. Thanks to his strong ties with his alma mater, he’s excited to connect with his colleagues there for recommendations, both in terms of staff and producers. In keeping with his Hudson Valley theme, he anticipates sourcing as many ingredients as possible from the region.

“We want to offer quality products and good values,” he says, adding that he hopes to mention the farms and makers from which ingredients are sourced on his menus. In regard to the menus themselves, they range from starters and entrees to gourmet stations and desserts. Burke can do station catering just as well as seated dinners or corporate meetings, with dishes ranging from grilled lamb chop lollipops with mint and date chutney to start to full stations dedicated to gourmet mac and cheese, sushi, dim sum, or Tuscan favorites. And did we include dessert? Because treats like gianduja caramel tortes and apple frangipane galettes are too delectable not to mention.

If Burke’s passion for the Hudson Valley and success in the culinary industry are any indication, then his partnership with Revel 32° is sure to be a delicious new addition in Poughkeepsie.

“We knew our guests – and the city – were deserving of a one-of-a-kind experience here, and our partnership with Chef David Burke will only amplify what we can offer,” Revel 32° co-owner Gina Sullivan enthuses.

Revel 32°
32 Cannon St, Poughkeepsie

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