Cape Cod LIFE August 2016

Her star is on the rise

Cape Cod Life  /  August 2016 / ,

Writer: Marina Davalos / Photographer: Dominic Casserly 

Her star is on the rise

Cape Cod LIFE August 2016

Cape Cod Life  /  August 2016 / ,

Writer: Marina Davalos / Photographer: Dominic Casserly 

Michele Ragussis

Photography by Dom Casserly

Michele Ragussis is a reality TV celebrity and an executive chef at a popular P-town restaurant

Even though celebrity chef Michele Ragussis has appeared on seven major TV food shows and has more shows in the works, she has not let stardom go to her head. When guests dine at Central House at The Crown & Anchor Hotel in Provincetown, the gregarious executive chef makes it a point to step out of the kitchen and into the dining room, on the deck overlooking bustling Commercial Street, and chat with guests while they feast on her signature dishes, such as linguine and clams.

In recent years, Ragussis has appeared on the Food Network’s “Chopped,” “24 Hour Restaurant Battle,” and “Comeback Kitchen,” and was a finalist on the eighth season of “Food Network Star.” She also appeared on NBC’s “Food Fighters” and FYI’s “Midnight Feast” and was a judge on “Beat Bobby Flay.” She spent three seasons as executive chef at The Pearl, a waterfront restaurant in Rockland, Maine, before moving to Boston in 2014, and Cape Cod six months thereafter.

Now in her second season as executive chef at Central House, Ragussis says she is having the time of her life. “We are crushing it!” she says with a laugh.

Her boss, Rick Murray, The Crown & Anchor’s president and general manager, couldn’t agree more. “Michele’s homemade pasta dishes hit it out of the ballpark, like her lobster pappardelle,” he says, waving a hand as if smelling the savory aroma. “She has a gift for bringing out the flavor. She’s got high standards, and because of that, we have a lot of return customers.”

Marina Davalos

A resident of Cotuit, Marina Davalos is a freelance writer specializing in hospitality, design, and the arts. When she's not out gallivanting for stories, she can be found spending time with her niece, her dog, and her cat. Marina has covered several unique stories for Cape Cod LIFE including a history piece on Emperor Hirohito’s 1975 visit to Woods Hole, a profile on Provincetown chef Michele Ragussis, and – for our 2017 Annual Guide - a comprehensive look at 17 B&Bs and inns on the Cape and Islands.