Meet Our Chefs
Brendan Almy
Manager ~ Chef
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A former U.S. Marine and Iraq War veteran, Brendan brings over 20 years of culinary and hospitality experience to Gretchen’s. He has worked in top restaurants across New York, California, and Virginia, helping to launch restaurants, hotels, and country clubs.
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Known for his leadership, inventive menus, and expertly crafted cocktails, Brendan blends creativity with discipline, making him a standout chef and mixologist and a valued member of the Gretchen’s team.
Brian Almy
Head Chef
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Brian brings decades of culinary experience and a passion for hospitality to Gretchen’s Bistro. He began as a dishwasher at 14 and later trained at Johnson & Wales University. After years of balancing cooking with a career in law enforcement, he returned to the kitchen full-time in 1998, cooking for celebrities and even a U.S. president.
In 2020, Brian returned to his coastal roots and now leads the kitchen at Gretchen’s, where he blends fresh, local ingredients with coastal flavors, making us a standout in Oriental.