Jonathon Sawyer Age 28 | Chef and restaurateur
Why he’s interesting //A little more than a year ago, Jonathon Sawyer, flying below the foodie radar, opened Bar Cento in Ohio City. It quickly became one of the neighborhood’s hottest dining spots. His simple approach, focus on implementing green practices and occasional appearances with Iron Chef Michael Symon on the Food Network’s Dinner Impossible have all elevated Sawyer’s profile. He’ll soon shake up the city’s culinary scene once again as he unveils Ohio’s first green restaurant, the Greenhouse Tavern, set to open in early 2009.

Green way //“We want to remove the stigma of having tofu involved in [going green]. We want to use green practices, but don’t want to be preachy about it.” Plans for Greenhouse Tavern involve subtle incorporations such as using recycled materials in the bar, décor and furniture; faucets with touch censors; and a greenhouse on the roof.

Pick a bin //Bar Cento has three types of waste bins: one for recycling, one for compost and one for trash. Sawyer estimates this method has cut waste by 70 percent.

His motto //“Eat as much of the season when you’re in the season.”
Michael Symon is to pork as Sawyer is to … // “Anchovies. We secretly put anchovies into everything at Bar Cento. It’s kind of our salt and pepper.”

Moving on //This month, Sawyer will step down as executive chef and co-owner of Bar Cento. After turning the reigns over to chef Mike Nowak, Sawyer will focus solely on the Greenhouse Tavern. “We really believe in the rejuvenation of downtown, and right now, I really need to focus on my new project.”