The St. Augustine native was majoring in hospitality administration at Florida State when he left to take a cook's job in Fort Meyers. In a year's time he returned to Tallahassee as sons-chef at the University Center Club on the FSU campus. Another year later, when the acclaimed classicist Jack Shop returned as executive chef of the Governor's Club, Harvey jumped at a chance to assist the maestro. He remained until March, when the Renaissance Coffee and Tea Co. came on the market. Visit them Monday through Friday at the Renaissance, or any Saturday at their stand in the downtown Farmers' Market.
Good things happen at both places.
Ashby Stiff is a veteran faculty member and founding director of the European Study Program in Hospitality Administration at Florida State University. A specialist in international, cultural and ethnic foods, he also has done extensive stints in hotel, club and resort management in his native Baltimore and in Washington D.C., Montana, Wyoming, Florida and the Caribbean. Handily, one of his degrees is in writing, from the Johns Hopkins University. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution, or retransmission of any of the contents of this service without the express written consent of Tallahassee Democrat is prohibited.