~Café Chardonnay President Honored at FRLA Stars of the Industry Gala~
(L-R: FRLA President & CEO Carol Dover, Frank Eucalitto, FRLA 2022 Chairwoman of the Board Olivia Hoblit)
TALLAHASSEE, FL – The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA) recently recognized the commitment and service of Café Chardonnay President Frank Eucalitto during its annual Stars of the Industry Gala at the Caribe Royal Resort in Orlando. During the ceremony, Eucalitto was inducted into the FRLA Hall of Fame as Restaurateur of the Year.
“Florida is known around the globe for having incomparable restaurants and dining experiences because of industry leaders like Frank Eucalitto,” said Carol Dover, President & CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. “Frank opened his first restaurant in Florida 40 years ago and has since launched a successful catering company and six more restaurants, including the acclaimed Café Chardonnay. Frank has made such an incredible impact on his local community, and he has invested so much into mentoring others in the culinary industry. We are so proud to honor Frank with this well-deserved Hall of Fame recognition!”
The Hospitality Stars of the Industry Gala pays tribute to men and women from across the Sunshine State for their remarkable work in hospitality. The Hall of Fame distinction is reserved for those who have dedicated decades to providing excellent service and leadership in hospitality.
“It is an honor to be inducted into the FRLA Hall of Fame as Restaurateur of the Year, and it has been such an amazing privilege to be a small business owner in Palm Beach Gardens,” said Frank Eucalitto, President of Café Chardonnay. “My wife Gigi and I have loved being a part of this community and feel blessed with the support we have received over the last 36 years. We could not have done this without our incredible team, and we share this award with them. We look forward to continuing to provide outstanding experiences for our entire Café Chardonnay family.”
Since 1982, Chef Frank Eucalitto has successfully created seven restaurants and an off-premises catering company in northern Palm Beach County. Under his management, Café Chardonnay and the catering company have endured for more than 35 years. Since childhood, Frank loved to cook alongside his dad. He graduated from the prestigious Johnston and Wales in Providence, Rhode Island, earning degrees in both culinary arts and hotel/restaurant management. Frank and Gigi Eucalitto opened their first restaurant, The Cobblestone Café, in Tequesta in 1982 and followed that with Café Chardonnay in 1986. Chef Eucalitto has been a respected businessman in the local Palm Beach community, owning several restaurants including No Anchovies!, Frank’s Sandbar, and Off the Vine. He was named Businessman of the Year by the local Chamber of Commerce and was a past president and is a current board member and treasurer for the Palm Beach Chapter of FRLA. Frank has been involved in numerous charitable events, was one of the organizers for the first Share our Strength “Taste of the Nation” event, and founded “Chef’s Helping Heroes” to benefit the Renewal Coalition of Jupiter.
To learn more about Frank, please watch his FRLA Hall of Fame Video here.
About FRLA: The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Founded in 1946 as the Florida Restaurant Association, FRLA merged with the Florida Hotel and Motel Association in 2006. FRLA’s more than 10,000 members include independent hoteliers and restaurateurs, household name franchises, theme parks and suppliers. The association’s mission is to protect, educate and promote Florida’s nearly $112 billion hospitality industry which represents 1.5 million employees. Dedicated to safeguarding the needs of the membership, FRLA provides legislative advocacy to ensure the voices of its members are heard and their interests are protected. The association offers regulatory compliance and food safety training through Safe Staff® and FRLA’s subsidiary, RCS Training. The FRLA Educational Foundation provides industry-developed, career-building high school programs throughout the state.
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