iPlay America Brings in New Executive Chef and Restaurant Manager to Transform their Culinary and Dinning Experience
Freehold, NJ., (February 05, 2019) – iPlay America, an indoor family entertainment and events center located in Freehold, NJ, announces two new hires to help lead the facility’s evolving food and beverage team: Adam Livow has joined iPlay America as Executive Chef and will be working closely with the Vice President of Food and Beverage, Kevin Hayes Jr., to develop menus and set the culinary direction for Game Time Bar & Grill, the Event Center @iPA, and the new Top Golf Swing Suite. Additionally, Mathew Marini has been hired as the Manager of Game Time Bar & Grill and Top Golf Swing Suite and will be focusing on the overall restaurant experience and leading the front of house staff.
Executive Chef Adam’s hire marks his return to iPlay America. He previously served as the facility’s original Executive Chef back in 2011 and enjoyed a three-year stint with the organization. Livow helped establish the success of the culinary experience before becoming a contestant on season 14 of Hell’s Kitchen with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay.
With executive Chef Adam back at the helm, guests can expect to see updated versions of their favorite classic dishes on the new gastropub menu coming soon to the park’s restaurant, Game Time Bar & Grill. The new menu will feature elevated comfort foods scratch-made on premise, including pork belly smoked and cured in-house, freshly ground burgers and flatbreads with house-prepared dough. Changes to Game Time Bar & Grill’s menu will be rolling out over the next several months, with the full revamped menu set for April, just in time for The Top Golf Swing Suite grand opening this spring. In addition to the restaurant’s new staples, diners will also be offered a selection of seasonally inspired monthly appetizers, entrees and desserts.
“Over the years, iPlay America has become a destination for entertainment, games, events and fun in New Jersey. With our new menus, we’re now looking to establish the restaurant and Event Center as a true dining destination in the area,” said Livow. “New Jersey has a great food scene, and diners have come to expect quality food with an exciting flair, no matter whether they’re stopping at a fast-casual spot for a quick bite or celebrating at a fine dining restaurant. With the new menu at Game Time Bar & Grill, we’ll be offering guests quality and delicious versions of familiar favorites, with a twist. This coupled with the fact that menu items are available at a price point that won’t break the bank, makes the restaurant itself a draw for a family meal or a friends’ night out.”
In addition to the new menu at Game Time Bar & Grill, Chef Adam will be working with the team at the Event Center @iPA to set new menus and presentations that reflect how events and celebrations have been evolving in recent years, providing clients the ability to integrate the theme of their events into the food and presentation.
With over 15 years of food and beverage experience, Chef Adam previously worked in kitchens for well-known New Jersey event venues, including the Grand Marquis in Old Bridge and the Radisson Hotel.
Banquet Center in Freehold, and will bring a variety of experience and new flavor to this position at iPlay America. Chef Adam is a New Jersey native and earned his Grand Certificate of Culinary Education from the French Culinary Institute in New York City.
As Game Time Bar & Grill’s new Manager, Marini will be working closely with executive Chef Adam and Hayes to continue to develop the overall direction for the restaurant with a specific focus on the customer experience and diner satisfaction. In addition to his responsibilities as head of the front of house, Marini is also in charge of all restaurant events and promotions including a variety of sports and seasonally themed events throughout the year.
Marini brings to the role 15 years of experience in the food service industry, with a specific focus on the front of the house. He’s served as a Restaurant Manager and Bartender at various establishments in Las Vegas, including time with the world-renowned TAO Group at TAO Asian Bistro and LAVO Italian Restaurant and Nightclub. Most recently, Marini held the position of Assistant General Manager at the group’s Marquee Nightclub in New York where he supervised operations and the staff.
“We’re thrilled to welcome executive Chef Adam back to the iPlay America team. He’s an extremely talented and creative chef with a clear vision for the future of Game Time Bar and Grill and the Event Center @iPA, including enticing new menus that we can’t wait to introduce to our guests,” said Jessica Schwartz, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for iPlay America. “We’re also excited to have Mathew joining the team. With their 30 years of combined experience in the restaurant industry, we’re confident that Adam and Mathew will transform Game Time Bar & Grill and the overall dining experience at iPlay America into a true foodie destination in New Jersey.”
About iPlay America
iPlay America is the place to Get Inside the Fun! Its all indoor, family-friendly themed environment provides guests nearly four acres of outstanding rides, games, and attractions making it the perfect destination for FUN year round! The Event Center @IPA is home to concerts, corporate events, expos, galas, trade shows, company outings, sporting events, social gatherings, and every kind of party. iPlay America offers guests a mouth-watering selection of Boardwalk style fare, classic American cuisine at Game Time Bar & Grill, and an impressive event catering menu. ALWAYS free to enter, iPlay America’s guests can enjoy exciting attractions like 2-level Laser Tag, Indoor Go-Kart Track, Spinning Coaster and the Sky Trails® High Ropes Course (the largest indoor ropes course in New Jersey). iPlay America is a 2017 winner of TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence for Outstanding Service. For FUN, fine food, and events of any size, the award winning iPlay America is the place to Get Inside the Fun. iPlay America is located on Route 9 at 110 Schanck Road in Freehold, New Jersey.