Greg Vernick

Chef

Born in Philadelphia and raised in Cherry Hill, NJ, Greg spent much of his childhood at his grandfather’s butcher shop in Center City and at his mother's luncheonette near their hometown. His first job working in a kitchen at the Jersey shore inspired him to pursue his own calling for the restaurant industry. He went on to earn a degree in Hospitality Management from Boston University followed by a culinary degree from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, New York.

After several years of working in Boston, New York, and then as a chef and chef-trainer with the Jean-Georges Vongerichten team around the country and overseas, he returned to Philadelphia to open his first restaurant Vernick Food & Drink in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood of the city in 2012. He expanded his presence in Philadelphia thanks to the partnership with Four Seasons Philadelphia when Vernick Coffee Bar and Vernick Fish opened in 2018 and 2019 respectively within the hotel, and then added a Wine Shop & Chef’s Grocery next to Food & Drink shortly after.

After living in coastal places and visiting many throughout his life - pivotal years in Boston, love of the Jersey shore, travels to the Pacific Northwest, Italy and Spain – Greg’s passion for seafood resulted in conception of Vernick Fish, many years in the making.