Aer hearing her values, and eating her food, it was no surprise
to me that she was able to open her second restaurant, Central
+ Main in Madison, NJ late last year. Similarly to South + Pine,
Central + Main takes pride in serving seasonal and local food, but
still sets itself apart from its predecessor with a different menu and
atmosphere. I have come to realize that is just the Leia Gaccione
way, and I'm certain it won't be the last we see of it.
At 36 years old, Gaccione has accomplished much of what many
young aspiring chefs dream of achieving. Her drive to always be
better, while remaining humble has grounded her as one of the best
chefs in New Jersey. Still, similarly to much of her career to date,
she is doing the most from a relatively low profile. Now, with two
restaurants under her belt and a growing base of customers, her
name is bound to stretch from coast to coast. Gaccione is much
more than just a great female chef in the industry, her illustrious
resume has landed her as a well-rounded talent, period. If you ask
me, she is one of the best, and I'll be anything but surprised when
thousands of people are on the same page as I in the near future.
V U E N J . C O M
121
