In 1975, at the age of eight, André had a copy of the catalogue from The Culinary Institute of America. He knew then that this was the school he would attend. In 1988 he graduated from the Institute where he was voted “most likely to succeed.” André cut his chops and a finger or two at such New Jersey favorites as The Manor, Park One Eleven and Rosemary & Sage. In 1998 with the help of his wife Tracey, Andre’s Restaurant was opened in Newton, New Jersey. The restaurant has received rave reviews including an “Excellent” in the NY Times and Three and a half Stars from the Star Ledger. Andre’s has also been voted Best of the Best in North Jersey twice by the readers of New Jersey Monthly Magazine and named one of New Jersey’s most romantic restaurants by the Artful Diner. Andre’s will reopen at it’s new location on Seneca Lake in Sparta, NJ in the Spring of 2015. With a twice monthly changing menu, Chef Andre has the opportunity to take advantage of all of the local seasonal bounty that Sussex County has to offer. Any given menu will offer a balance of comfort and adventure, garnering inspiration from Europe, California and Asia. His mantra being; Eat a lot and pay attention! Zagat rated Andre’s a 27-“Excellent” for food and 26 for service. Also “Worth The Trip” which makes Andre’s a destination restaurant for many visitors to Sussex County. The current restaurant location- 188 Spring St in Newton has been reinvented and renamed “dre’s”. The more casual version of Andre’s. The same attention to detail just with a more casual vibe. André has cooked at the James Beard Foundation Awards as well as many charity benefits in the tri state area. These events have allowed him to cook alongside some of the great chefs that he admires.