David Punch
chef-owner
I began my culinary path at a young age making pancakes in home-ec class at Natick High School. I then went on to ski and cook in Vermont, which was the catalyst for my love of the restaurant world. Since then, I have never looked back. I spent my early cooking career in Boston at the Nightingale, Upstairs on the Square and Rendezvous. I then had the fortune of running Ten Tables Jamaica Plain as chef. Three years later I became an owner myself, opening Ten Tables Cambridge. These experiences have given me the opportunity to hone my skills, crafting what makes an approachable and delicious menu: flavorful ingredients executed professionally. At Sycamore, we believe in food that makes you happy. I invite you to join us for a memorable dining experience in our corner of Newton Centre.
Lydia Reichert
chef
I began my culinary career more than 14 years ago, and have honed my skills as sous chef at restaurants that include the award-winning Craigie on Main in Cambridge and Quince in San Francisco. I welcome challenges and new adventures and in addition to traveling all over southern Africa, the Caribbean, and western Europe, I have also had the opportunity to cook in kitchens throughout Spain. While continuing to push myself to learn new techniques, I always keep in mind that the primary role of cooking is to create tasty food for people to enjoy in a comfortable environment.
Scott Shoer
bar manager
Born and raised on the north shore, I was introduced to the restaurant business at an early age spinning up pizzas at the local shop. I have held every front of the house position in a restaurant, but have always come back to my roots at the bar. I’ve been fortunate to learn under some of Boston’s master “hospitalitarians,” including Lydia Shire, Michael Schlow, Esti Parsons, and most recently with legendary Boston barman Rob Iurilli at Abigail’s. Sycamore is as much a place to eat as it is a place to connect, and that is what I try to do at our bar – make new friends and entertain old ones.
Lizzie Szczepaniak
general manager
I fell in love with the city of Boston while attending Boston University for the French Horn and fell in love with the industry at Craigie Street Bistrot over 10 years ago as an expeditor and manager. I also fell in love with my future husband! We helped Chef Maws open Craigie on Main, and then moved to live and work on a cheese farm in Alsace, France. After France came a move to Chicago, where I worked my way up to management at Paul Kahan’s Publican, earning my beer-server Cicerone certification. After doing stints at Straight Wharf Restaurant in Nantucket, opening Row 34 in Fort Point, and slinging spritzes during patio season at Coppa, I spent a year obtaining my Sommelier Certification and curating the beer and cordials program as the Director of @Urbanhops at The Urban Grape in Boston’s South End. I love Sycamore because it feels like home – sharing delicious things with people that I truly care about.
Josh Skerry
Assistant Manager
My first restaurant job was making from-scratch pizza & selling slices at Durham House of Pizza, while completing a degree in European Cultural Studies & German at the University of New Hampshire. I’ve since worked at restaurants on Nantucket, in Back Bay, Davis Square, Brookline & the South End. I was a part of the opening team at Buttonwood in Newton Highlands in 2018 an for it’s reopening in 2019, I served as maitre d’. I inherited my sense of hospitality & generosity from my mother, Nadine; candor & canniness from my father, Jim. Sycamore is home for me & all of our friends, new and familiar alike. It’s an electric space, where locally and responsibly-sourced food, considered wine & crafted drink are enjoyed in good company. I’m so proud to be a part of something so special & always look forward to having you for dinner.
René Alcover
Sous Chef
I started my culinary path when I was 15, making pizzas at Uno’s back home in Puerto Rico. From there, my journey led me to go to The Culinary Institute of America where I had the opportunity to work and learn in different countries like Spain and Mexico. After graduating, I moved to Boston and started working for Jeremy Sewall of Island Creek Oyster Bar & Row 34. For four years, I learned about New England fare, and its seasonality of produce and fish. My view on food is that people can taste the emotion you put in it.
Chainey Kuykendall
Sous Chef
Growing up in the friendly city of Mount Airy, NC, I found my love of cooking through my parents. My mom would share her Filipino heritage through food; my dad made sure we always had hamburger helper and grits. After working in The Ocean Room in South Carolina and the Chevy Chase Country Club in Maryland, I came to Boston to join sycamore and become part of a passionate team I could grow with and make tasty food.
Cooking is my way of celebrating my family, along with the people that have come into my life.
