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About Us
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For twins Joy and Jay Reinhardt careers in food service were, in a sense, pre-ordained. The sibling team behind Arlington Catering Company received early instruction in the art of fine cuisine from their dad, “Big” Jay, who honed his craft at some of the Bay Area’s best-known eateries and later moved to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where he served as private chef to a Saudi prince. Their father’s career enabled Joy and Jay to travel internationally and exposed them to a broad array of cultures and culinary traditions that later inspired their careers in the food and hospitality industry.
As President and Owner, Joy is responsible for making sure the business delivers on its promise to provide clients with exceptional food and quality service at affordable prices. Her vision for Arlington Catering Company was built on a decade of experience working in DC’s restaurant and hospitality industry. Prior to its launch, Joy was General Manager of the former Bluestone Café, where her brother was Sous Chef and where the two fell into a natural partnership defined by their shared passion for great food, artfully done and graciously presented.
From that moment on, Joy and Jay were determined to bring their talents to bear on their own venture, and are thrilled to have the chance to do so at Arlington Catering Company, as well as at their North Arlington eatery Restaurant Vero. Jay, who has worked all his life in restaurants, currently splits his time between the catering side of the business and his position as Executive Chef at Restaurant Vero. Together, the siblings bring an energy and synchronicity to their work that shines through in every aspect of what they do. They are backed by a team of professionals whose high standards and expertise are reflected at every level of client interaction.
Wine Consultant Veronica Kunkel’s passion for wine stems to her childhood. Her dad, a home-based vintner, introduced his daughter to the process of winemaking, an early experiment that would spark both a lifelong love of wine as well as an interest in more offbeat varietals and small-scale vineyards. Veronica gets a thrill out of introducing customers to great-tasting, uncommon wines that appeal to their tastes and are great on value. And while she likes complexity in wines, she feels enjoying them should be simple. Veronica was formerly at the Alexandria-based Planet Wine, and is pleased to be spending her time developing the wine programs for Arlington Catering, Restaurant Vero and Grape Juice Wine Shop.
A Neighborhood Bistro
Restaurant Vero sprang from our desire for a neighborhood eatery that specialized in fresh, flavorful cuisine. The kind of place you could drop into after work for a great meal, but could also celebrate a special occasion in. A place that quickly feels comfortable to the regular, but is always inviting to the newcomer. When the opportunity arose in 2006, we decided to open it ourselves.
At Restaurant Vero, we specialize in straightforward and sumptuous cuisine that is American at its heart, but cosmopolitan in its spirit. Served by our friendly staff in a warm, intimate setting, our menu highlights simple, inventive dishes that focus on seasonal offerings. Our wine list features an extensive array of small-production vintages that are light on the wallet but big on taste, as well as a full selection of craft and premium brews.
The Vero Team/Behind the Scenes
Executive Chef Jay Reinhardt
You could say that Executive Chef Jay Reinhardt’s passion for fine cuisine is part nature, part nurture. Jay’s first job was in a restaurant and he has worked in food service ever since. But his earliest training came from his dad, “Big” Jay, who cooked at numerous restaurants in the Bay Area and worked for several years in the Middle East as a personal chef to a Saudi Prince. Big Jay’s work and associated travel exposed Jay and his twin sister Joy to a wide array of cuisines from far-ranging places across the globe, and planted a seed in them that would ultimately bear fruit in their partnership at Restaurant Vero, and at its sister company Arlington Catering Company.
Co-owner Joy Reinhardt
For Joy Reinhardt, Restaurant Vero is the natural result of a life spent around great food and an opportunity to bring a distinctive dining option to her neck of North Arlington. A long-time veteran of DC’s restaurant and catering scene, Joy cultivated her knowledge of the industry at some of the areas premier restaurants and catering companies, including Blue Stone Café and the Red Sage. She launched Arlington Catering Company in 2002, and the success of that venture led to her current effort with Restaurant Vero. Joy loves providing a showcase for brother Jay’s cuisine and partner Veronica’s talent for pairing wine and food, and is excited that their collaboration has turned an unassuming little spot on Lee Highway into a celebrated gathering place for locals and others.
Co-owner Veronica Kunkel
Veronica Kunkel passion for wine has been lifelong. Even as a child, the self-described “wine geek” was fascinated by her dad’s experimentation with different varietals, the earthy aromas holding a certain allure for her that is as powerful today as it was then. As the Wine Specialist for Arlington Catering, Restaurant Vero (named for her) and Grape Juice Wine Shop, Veronica loves to expose clients to great-tasting, affordable wines from small-production vineyards. An avid fan of great beer, she and Joy also work to maintain a selection of exceptional craft and premium brews from around the world.
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