Chef John Simmons
I began cooking professionally at the ripe old age of 15 years old, prepping cabbage soup and flipping leo omelets and washing dishes at a local deli. I continued to cook my way through high school and college, earning beer money and a degree in economics at the University of Illinois along the way. Despite my enjoyment of the restaurant world, a career in the kitchen never crossed my mind.
After a few years of toiling in an office, however, I decided that there’s no place like home and in the kitchen I was home. So I enrolled at Kendall College Culinary School in Evanston, IL and earned my degree in culinary arts. After a year cooking in sunny Sonoma, CA, wine country I returned to Chicago and got a job on the line at a new restaurant opening in my neighborhood, Bistrot Zinc, run by a large and talented rockstar French chef, Rene Bajeux.
Well… I learned a lot from Rene and within 3 years he was gone and I was running Bistrot Zinc, Café Zinc, and opened a second Bistrot Zinc on the Gold Coast.
Shortly thereafter Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises came calling. It seems they were opening a monstrous French Bistro at the Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and needed a chef. I told them “d’accord” and shipped out to Paris, Las Vegas.
Mon Ami Gabi was an immediate smash hit and became one of the 10 highest grossing restaurants in the country. After 4 years as the executive chef at MAG it was time for me to do my own thing. It was 2003. That’s when Firefly* Tapas Kitchen and Bar was conceived and subsequently born.
Firefly* is centrally located so that restaurant and club and casino employees and entertainers and performers can stop for tapas and sangria after their shifts and also so locals and visitors can hit the Fly* from any corner of town. The eclectic list of tapas and cocktails caught on and we’ve been bangin out covers ever since.
Next up is another Firefly* under the iconic glass dome in front of the Plaza Hotel and Casino downtown.
Rock and roll…
Recipes by Chef Simmons
Meatballs with tomato and pepper sauce garnished with fresh parsley and freshly grated cheese is an excellent appetizer or a side dish for cocktail party.
Delicious Bacon Wrapped Dates are sweet, salty and hot; quick to make as finger food for party.
A twist on a classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich using Nutella and ripe bananas grilled to perfection. Can be used as a fun dessert or appetizer.
A classic rendition of beef tenderloin, seared and finished in the oven. The beef filet is served on a bed on roasted red smashed potatoes and topped with fresh herbs.
Delicious and easy to make chefs favorite Bread Pudding starts with bite sized cubes of bread that are covered in a rich custard-like mixture of cream, eggs, sugar. This old fashioned, warmly spiced bread pudding having cherries and chocolate as the toppings with great red wine sauce gives the complete satisfaction of a dessert
Delicious, creamy, aromatic and healthy spicy carrot soup made with fresh herbs and spices having ginger and garnished with fresh parsley served hot with cheesy mini croutons is sure an excellent meal.
UPDATED! Delicious and colorful South American style tiger shrimp cerviche having red and yellow pepper, lime and orange juice; garnished with avocado and tortilla chips. An excellent dish for the hot summer time.
This chilled vegetarian soup with Mediterranean tradition is created with summer vegetables and day old bread. A Great dish to make the night before.
Kids’ favorite and Delicious homely meal for the whole family consists of Pasta dipped in a cheesy gourmet white sauce along with crunchy tilapia fish sticks having creamy spicy sauce on it is sure an excellent choice for dinner or for potluck.
A refreshing cocktail made with lime juice, rum, club soda and fresh mint.
Mouthwatering vegetable dish in the traditional Spanish style.
Cool and refreshing summertime drink
A refreshing cocktail made with fresh fruits, wine and brandy is a perfect drink for summer time at patio.
Delicious and easy to make two styles of sautéed shrimp. One is known as shrimp from devil having rich and spicy flavor and other one is shrimp with garlic in creamy and buttery sauce.
A fresh summer salad.
Toasted Bread Slices Topped with Artichoke Hearts and Bell Pepper Slices
UPDATED! Delicious and easy one pan dish; made with potato & onion having soufflé texture from eggs and sauce made with rooster sauce and apple cider vinegar.