Meet the Chef

York native Jason Viscount did not always dream of becoming a chef. He was, however, fortunate enough to have a role model to learn from. As the hostess of many dinner parties, Viscount's grandmother prepared meals such as Welsh rarebit, made with cheese, beer and mustard sauce.

During his middle school years, Viscount also had a chance to learn from his restaurateur father, and working in two of his father's restaurants sparked his interest in culinary arts. Viscount and his family lived in the basement of one of the restaurants, and food deliveries coming into the restaurant via Viscount's bedroom were a regular occurrence.

Viscount's life had always been influenced by fine cuisine and the food service industry. By the time he needed to decide upon a career Viscount didn't hesitate to attend the Restaurant School of Philadelphia.

It was at the Restaurant School that Viscount fully developed and nurtured his passion for food. After graduation, Viscount returned to central Pennsylvania and became a chef at the Yorktowne Hotel, followed by a stint at Hotel Hershey's Circular Dining Room and eventually an eight-year run as chef de cuisine at Harrisburg Hilton's Golden Sheaf.

Now at BRICCO, Viscount enjoys the title of executive chef and all of the responsibility and creative freedom that come with it. Since starting at BRICCO, Viscount has been cooking up numerous accolades for himself and the restaurant. In 2007, Harrisburg Magazine readers named BRICCO "Best New Restaurant." In March 2008, Viscount was named Chef of the Year by the Hershey Harrisburg Tourism and Convention Bureau. In 2010, Bricco was named "Simply the Best Restaurant Overall."

Viscount's zeal for fine food is not put on the back burner when he exits the restaurant after work. At the home Viscount shares with his wife, you'll find him enjoying his extra-large kitchen that fills the space of the regular kitchen, as well as the dining room. Viscount may conjure up plenty of his own recipes there, but the influences of Viscount's past still remain. Lamb kidney stew on an English muffin and a slice of tomato — his grandmother's breakfast specialty — is still the perfect way for Viscount to start each day.