Chef opening ‘pasture-to-plate’ upscale eatery in Lindenhurst

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Ad-Lib Geo Cafe is located at 475 S. Route 45 in Lindenhurst.

Updated: October 3, 2011 1:24PM

Lindenhurst officials have created a new beer and wine license to accommodate the village’s newest business — an upscale restaurant that features organic seasonal foods from local farmers.

Rick Starr is the owner and chef of Ad-Lib Geo Café. He plans to open his new restaurant Wednesday in the former Wayne’s Pizza, 475 S. Route 45, serving local organic produce, poultry, meat and fish.

The 38-year-old Antioch Community High School graduate has been head chef at Kirsch’s Restaurant west of Lake Geneva, Wis., for three years.

The pending retirement of Kirsch’s owner and the restaurant closing this fall put him on the fast track to open his own place.

“For the past few years I’ve worked with local farmers and ranchers using their fresh seasonal produce and meats at the restaurant in Lake Geneva,” he said. “I don’t know of anyone else in this area of Lake County who has the same vision of providing a true pasture-to-plate dining experience.”

He will be the chef and calls his style ad-lib cooking with whatever is available or in season. His goal is to offer quality at an affordable price.

“I want to focus on building relationships with local farmers and help them grow their businesses,” Starr said. “It’s cool to see small farms grow when they are partnered with restaurants.”

He is transforming the former pizzeria by opening up the kitchen so diners can view the food preparation.

“It has a contemporary look, clean and stream-lined with an earthy feel to go with our focus on fresh food and wine,” he noted.

Starr’s love for food started in high school when he attended Lake County Area Vocational Center and then the Culinary Institute of Kendall College in Evanston. He worked at various restaurants, resorts and hotels, landing in Lake Geneva in 2000 where he was a chef at The Hunt Club and Brissago at the Grand Geneva Resort before he took over the top spot as head chef at Kirsch’s.

He lives just over the state line in Wisconsin, with his new restaurant a straight shot south on Route 45.

“This is the perfect location, a bit small, but it has the perfect kitchen for catering,” he said. “If we do well I may expand in the future.”

Starr says he is ambitious and wants to become involved in the community by offering internships to high school students interested in culinary arts.

He plans to offer cooking classes and demonstrations and local farm tours to the public as he grows his new business.

For more information about the new café, call (847) 245-7328.