People
At Latitude, it’s about serving fantastic food and spirits and much more. It’s about each detail involved with entertaining. The following key members of our service team provide the unity and direction that add up to an amazing experience at Latitude.
Richard Travis, executive chef
Under the direction of Executive Chef Richard Travis, Latitude provides outstanding regional American cuisine that savors seasonal foods available in Northern Michigan. Travis updates his menu constantly, with the menu perfectly reflecting the weather outdoors.
Chef Travis trained under Certified Master Chef Milos Chelka and Master Pastry Chef Joe Decker. He continued honing his skills under world-class chefs in France and Chicago. Returning to the seasonality of life in Northern Michigan, Chef Travis spent eight years bringing nearby Tapawingo restaurant to national acclaim.
His experience and skill have helped make Latitude the creative and energetic environment you will enjoy.
David Waskiewicz, general manager
At the forefront of Latitude is General Manager David Waskiewicz. With more than 20 years of experience in the food and beverage industry, he has worked in every service position from busboy to general manager. David joined our Epoch Restaurant team in 1997 as Assistant Dining Room Manager of Forté in Birmingham, Mich.
David is responsible for day-to-day operations at Latitude. One of his passions is the wine list, featuring more than 200 labels. His interest has influenced and educated his serving staff, all of whom are eager to share their knowledge with Latitude guests.
David also supports and shares his knowledge with Latitude’s service team as head dining room coach. “Service professionals must realize that each guest is unique,” he says. “They must make it their business to know why each guest came to dinner. This information allows the server to deliver a customized event to each guest.” You’ll witness the result of this powerful credo when dining at Latitude.
