New head chef promoted at Bluecoast Seafood Grill

Scott Kammerer, president and CEO of SoDel Concepts, recently announced the promotion of Jason Dietterick to the position of head chef at Bluecoast Seafood Grill in Bethany Beach, one of the hospitality's group's eight restaurants in coastal Delaware.

Dietterick started with SoDel Concepts in 2004 and helped founder Matt Haley open three award-winning restaurants before leaving to head up the kitchens in several other popular Delaware restaurants statewide.

"We are so happy to have this talented chef back with our company," said Scott Kammerer, president and CEO of SoDel Concepts, which also owns Plate Catering and Big Thunder Roadside Kitchen, a food truck. "The timing was perfect. He was ready to come back to SoDel Concepts and shortly after, the position of head chef opened up. Jason makes really delicious food, and he was an invaluable part of the team when our corporate chef, Doug Ruley, was invited to cook at the James Beard House in New York in March."

Born in Newark, Delaware, Dietterick started his culinary career at the Back Burner in Hockessin, and he worked for restaurant guru Stephen Starr in Philadelphia. He joined SoDel Concepts after studying at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa, California. He's been the chef-de-cuisine at Liquid Assets in Ocean City, Maryland, and at Solstice Restaurant at the Atlantic Hotel in Berlin, Maryland. He's also worked at Nage in Rehoboth Beach, which prides itself on pushing the culinary envelope, and at the Stone Balloon Wine House in Newark.

Listed in "Best Chefs America," Dietterick cultivated a passion for farm-to-table, innovative dining during his career. "At Blue Coast, our use of Delaware agriculture is central to the menu design," said Dietterick, who returned to SoDel Concepts in 2014.

"Coming back to SoDel Concepts was an honor and a blessing," he said. Corporate Chef Doug Ruley is an "awesome chef and mentor. "I want to thank Matt, Scott and Doug for believing in me, keeping me on the right path and helping me progress in my career."

Jason lives in Ocean View with his wife and their two children.