New England is host to some of the most special seaside escapes in the country - and Newport, RI is one of our favorites. Home to a collection of breathtaking Gilded Age mansions and the spectacular views of the Cliff Walk - it also boasts luxury hotel The Chanler. We were able to connect with EC Jacob Jasinski, who helms their Forbes Five-Star restaurant Cara, who shared this fresh recipe featuring sweet, succulent Jonah Crab.

Jacob Jasinski’s culinary career began early in life when he was inspired by his Polish immigrant grandparents, who had the tradition of nightly family dinners that filled the house with love. Jasinski would often accompany his father to the local New England farmer’s markets, where he was taught how to choose the best quality ingredients for each dish.

After working in the industry during high school, Jasinski sought out opportunities to further refine his craft and take the opportunity to travel. His culinary repertoire bloomed while living abroad, working in Michelin-starred Domaine de Clairefontaine alongside Chef Philippe Girardon and in Michelin-starred kitchens in Venice, Italy.

Returning to the states, his career flourished at The Dining Room Ritz Carlton in Buckhead, White Barn Inn, and Joel Robuchon in Las Vegas. In 2014 he was tapped to take over Seasons dining room at Ocean House in Westerly, leading the restaurant to its first Forbes Five Star achievement. In 2017 the opportunity arose to develop the culinary program at Sails Restaurant in Naples, Florida, taking home Florida’s Top Chef Award and gaining national attention.

After traveling around the globe in late 2018, Jasinski returned home to Rhode Island to take the top toque at The Chanler, gaining its first Forbes-Five Star award under his guidance. Jasinski’s approach to cuisine is to let the ingredient speak for itself, “taking an ingredient you’ve had a thousand times and preparing it in such a way that you find your palette experiencing it as if it was the first time is the objective for each dish.” This modern approach to New England food is partnered with a focus on sustainability, supporting local farmers, ranchers, and fishermen. Jasinski has even built a vast garden on The Chanler grounds, used in its nightly changing blind tasting menus.

In his rare time off, he enjoys playing guitar, kayaking, and spending time with his wife and two boys.

About the restaurant...

Tucked away in a small private room with panoramic ocean views, Cara, The Chanler's signature Forbes Five-Star restaurant, offers contemporary and creative blind-tasting menus inspired by European elegance and sustainable New England ingredients. Executive Chef Jacob Jasinski lets the food take center stage with avant-garde cuisine, creating new dishes daily to highlight ingredients harvested at their peak. The kitchen team thoughtfully presents and explains each dish to provide a storied view into the creative process, creating a dynamic interaction between the chefs, service team, and guests.