Ceviche’s Inspired Panamanian Restaurant & Bar welcomes a new chef, Scott Surratt, formerly of Café Pamlico in Buxton, and a new general manager, Mandy Jones, formerly of LM Restaurants Inc.
 
Chef Surratt’s background in fine dining and coastal cuisine make him a great asset to the Ceviche’s team, said co-owner Laura Tiblier.
 
Tiblier said Surratt joined the team in early May, a month when the restaurant was already committed to five local events. Now that things have calmed down just a bit, Surratt is gearing up for the summer season.

He paired back the menu a bit last month during his transition, but is ready to roll out the full menu in the coming weeks. While many of the popular dishes will remain, Surratt will put his own twist on things.
 
He will have the opportunity to showcase what he brings to the table at a tequila dinner June 24 featuring five courses paired with four craft cocktails, all prepared with Lunazul Tequila. This will be the first of a series of quarterly Sunday dinners hosted by Ceviche’s.
 
“In addition to Scott, we’re super excited to have Mandy Jones on board,” Tiblier said. “Her expertise has helped us to be able to take a small step back from the day-to-day operations and focus a bit more on the bigger picture.”
 
Part of the bigger picture, according to Tiblier, is expanding Ceviche’s front patio to include covered outdoor dining. Five tables and an awning will be added to better accommodate guests who wish to dine outside.
 
Tiblier said she and husband Hunter Tiblier are also looking into the next possible steps to expanding the Ceviche’s brand, perhaps with a second location.
 
For more information on the upcoming Lunazul Tequila Dinner, call 910-256-3131 or visit the restaurant's website.
 
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