Jay’s Restaurant executive chef Chris Cavender has accepted the position of executive chef at Sycamore Country Club, where his late father once served as club president and where his mother is still an active member.

Cavender joined Jay’s three years ago at a crucial time, shortly after the death of the Oregon District restaurant’s founder, Jay Haverstick. Haverstick’s daughter Amy now owns the restaurant and hired Cavender, who previously was co-owner of TW’s restaurant in Miamisburg and of Cuvee Wine Bar in Bellbrook and who also has served as food and beverage director of the Ohio Renaissance Festival for the past 16 years.

“My partnership with Amy Haverstick was one of the best I’ve had in the business — I thoroughly enjoyed working with the people there, and I didn’t think I’d ever leave,” Cavender said this morning. “But this is one of the best opportunities I’ve had in my career.”

Haverstick said Cavender “did some wonderful things for Jay’s after my dad passed away, and helped me move the restaurant forward.” Haverstick said she will hire a successor to serve as Jay’s executive chef, but “I won’t be in a rush,” since the restaurant has an experienced kitchen staff that operates well.

Cheri Dalton, clubhouse manager for Sycamore Country Club near Ohio 741 and Lytle Five Points Road, said Cavender’s hiring “is a homecoming of sorts, as he spent many summers of his youth” at the club. “SCCC members can look forward to rotating menus featuring fresh and seasonal ingredients as well as interactive cooking classes and wine and beer tastings. Chris will bring a passion that our members are sure to embrace and taste.”

Liz Wright, Sycamore’s membership and marketing director, said the club “wanted to make a commitment to the membership to make their culinary experience exemplary, and we quickly determined that Chris Cavender was the best person for the job.”

Sycamore has 300 family memberships totaling 650 to 700 members, Wright said. Its main dining room seats 100, and it has an outdoor patio that overlooks the club’s 18-hole golf course. Its banquet facilities are open to non-members as well as members, Wright said.

Cavender said his family has had a membership there since 1972, and his mother plays golf and bridge at the club.

“I always said if this job came up, I’d be interested, because I know the membership, and I believe I can encourage the members to want to come and enjoy the club more often,” Cavender said.