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  101 East Intendencia Street, Pensacola, FL 32502   850-542-8398 

About

Authentic Italian

Angelena’s name is inspired by the deep roots within Pensacola’s history.  Giatano Giardina, a young, 20-year-old Sicilian immigrant, landed in New Orleans in 1875 in search of hope and new opportunity — the American Dream. Shortly after his arrival, he met his soon-to-be wife, Angelena. At her encouragement, the couple relocated to Pensacola in the early 1880s and the husband-and-wife team quickly found success as local produce merchants.  The Giardinas’ produce was used by both families at home as well as by finer dining establishments in the downtown area.  As a team, the Giardinas found much success in Pensacola, both in culinary circles and as real estate entrepreneurs.

Gulf Coast Roots

Today, local husband-and-wife team James Briscione and Brooke Parkhurst follow in the Giardina’s footsteps with Angelena’s Ristorante Italiano, the much-anticipated addition to the Great Southern Restaurant Group. Chef Briscione’s menu brings creative, Southern touches to classic Italian cuisine. Handmade pastas, thoughtfully prepared vegetable dishes are served alongside an abundance of Gulf seafood. The dining room’s wood-fired oven lends flavor to everything from Neapolitan-style pizzas to meatballs and desserts. Wine Director, Brooke Parkhurst, curates the extensive Italian wine list, highlighting wines from thirteen different Italian wine-growing regions.

The Team


 


James Briscione

Executive Chef

James Briscione is the first-ever two-time champion of Food Network’s Chopped. He has since become a Food Network regular, serving as a host and judge on television as well as starring in original Food Network digital series and streaming platforms. James is a frequent guest on The Dr. Oz Show and was named one of People Magazine’s ‘Sexiest Chefs Alive.’ Together, he and Brooke have authored four cookbooks, including their award-winning, best-seller, The Flavor Matrix (HMH ’18).

James cut his culinary teeth at the age of sixteen in the kitchens of Jubilee on Pensacola Beach. While in college in Birmingham, Alabama, James began crafting wood-fired oven pizzas for Chef Frank Stitt at Bottega Café. In his six years under Stitt’s tutelage, James worked his way up to become chef de cuisine of the multi James Beard Award-winning Highlands Bar & Grill. In 2006 a new life and new challenges enticed him to shift his attentions to New York City. James moved to Manhattan to be with his now wife, Brooke, and to take a position at Daniel Boulud’s iconic four-star restaurant, Daniel. As the sous chef of the private dining room, James cooked for a rotating roster of visiting celebrities and dignitaries. Eventually, James transitioned to The Institute of Culinary Education where he spent ten years as the Director of Culinary Research, training students and professional chefs alike on cutting edge culinary techniques. In the summer of 2018 James and Brooke returned to their hometown of Pensacola, FL to open Angelena’s with Quint and Rishy Studer, the Great Southern Restaurant Group and Jean Pierre N’Dione.





Brooke Parkhurst

Wine Director

Born and raised in Pensacola, FL, Brooke Parkhurst, spent her childhood in her mother’s kitchen and her grandfather’s newsroom. It’s only fitting that Angelena’s now sits adjacent to the former site of the same newspaper, the Pensacola News Journal, where her mother and sister worked as a features reporter and her grandfather, Braden Ball, was publisher for 35 years.

While studying at Davidson College, Brooke moved to Rome, Italy, for one year where her love for the Italian language and food culture developed. Upon graduating from Davidson College, Brooke moved to New York City to work in television journalism and to further her passion for Italian food and wine. Her debut novel with recipes, Belle in the Big Apple (Scribner 08’), is the story of a young woman who takes the city by storm with her quick wit and culinary prowess. Brooke then followed suit, becoming a TV morning show regular, a digital culinary personality for Conde Nast’s debut web network and a columnist for NewYorkDailyNews.com

With James, Brooke taught a series of Couples Cooking classes at The Institute of Culinary Education as well as became a noted wine speaker. Brooke has enjoyed reoccurring appearances on The Today Show, The Dr. Oz Show and Fox & Friends.





Jean-Pierre N'dione

Co-Owner

Born in Senegal, West Africa, and raised in Toulouse, France, Jean Pierre moved to New Hampshire in 1998 for 9 months to try something new but ending up cutting his stay short from the cold and relocating to sunny Pensacola, Florida. He began his employment at the Fish House as a server in 2001 and discovered his passion for the restaurant industry and only 11 months later was promoted to Service Manager; in 2009 he became the General Manager of the Fish House, Atlas Oyster House, and the Fish House Deck Bar. In January of 2010, Jean Pierre decided to make his residency official, he applied for and was granted U.S. citizenship; shortly thereafter he graduated from our own University of West Florida with a Bachelors degree in Accounting. When it comes to our restaurants Jean Pierre’s philosophy is to ensure all of our guests feel welcome and have the most memorable dining experience at Our House.




 


Matthew Skye

General Manager

Matthew Skye was born in Chicago, Illinois starting his restaurant career at the young age of 15 and being a helping hand in opening four restaurants by the age of 20, Matthew realized his passion for the industry and attended Johnson and Wales University. Where he graduated in 2006 with a degree in food & beverage management. After working in several states, including Colorado and Arizona in the catering world, Matthew made his way to Pensacola in October 2020 with his two dogs, Charming and Nova to take on the position as General Manager, at Angelena’s Ristorante Italiano. While Matthew misses the mountains, he is enjoying the scenery and vibrant growth here in Pensacola.