Cooking School is in Session

We are proud to announce that our Chef Jonathan Amann won the title of BEST CHEF IN CHESTER COUNTY at West Chester’s Restaurant Festival

This is the premiere of DLN Cooking School in which area chefs demonstrate cooking techniques or some of their favorite recipes. Jonathan Amann is the executive chef of Amani’s BYOB. He and his wife, Jeannine -- who is also the general manager -- own the Downingtown restaurant.

Best Chef In Chester County
By Jeanine Amann

We are proud to announce that our Chef Jonathan Amann won the title of BEST CHEF IN CHESTER COUNTY at West Chester’s Restaurant Festival

Jon competed against other area chefs in a cook off where they each had 20 minutes to prepare an appetizer using beets, 30 minutes to prepare an entrée using pumpkin butter, and 20 minutes to prepare a dessert using goat cheese. Jon won with an appetizer of Fried Wontons stuffed with Pan Seared Foie Gras, Chanterelle Mushrooms, and Blue Foot Mushrooms served with a Porcini and Truffle Sea Salt dusted Diver Scallop and finished with a Beet Puree.

Next, he prepared an entrée of Seared Halibut with a Pumpkin Butter and Hazelnut Crust, finished with a Whiskey Molasses Glaze and served with Pommes Frites tossed in Smoked Sea Salt and Honey Thyme Scented Root Vegetables.

Finally, his dessert was Champagne Mangos, Gooseberries, and Strawberries tossed in Fleur de Sol and served with a Goat Cheese and Lemon Verbena Whipped Cream between layers of Cinnamon Sugar Phyllo Dough. And all of this was prepared in an outdoor kitchen on the steps of the Court House! One of the judges said that the Halibut was the best dish she had had in her LIFE!

Amani's: Farm Fresh & Fabulous
By Kate Brennan, WC Dish

"There's a new restaurant in Downingtown, and I'm not talking about the much-hyped Firecreek. Just down the street, in the spot formerly occupied by Fioravanti's, a little BYO gem called Amani's has quietly joined the ranks of the town's nascent food scene. Amani's, run by husband and wife team Jonathan and Jeanine Amann, may not have seen as much publicity as its steakhouse neighbor, but it's certainly just as worthy a visit.

Amani's romantic, cheerful farm-house decor, reminiscent of ascene from Oklahoma!, echoes its philosophy when it comes to food. The concept isn’t a new one,but it’s still rare – Amani’s uses only local, "farm fresh" ingredients, mostly from the Milky Way Farm in Chester Springs."