FORT LAUDERDALE – Food is no laughing matter for most chefs, but for Christopher Gillis, it is all about the belly laughs.  Gillis was recently promoted to Executive Chef of Laffing Matterz at the Broward Center, which has been named “Best Dinner Theater” by Gold Coast Magazine and New Times.
 
Gillis has worked in Fort Lauderdale’s culinary industry for the past six years, and other experience includes working at the Broward County Convention Center and The Coral Ridge Yacht Club. Growing up in Puerto Rico, he developed a passion for Caribbean cuisine, leading to his life-changing decision to move back to the United States to pursue a culinary career and attend the International Culinary School at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. With a particular interest in Asian fare, Gillis constantly tries to improve his culinary arsenal and is always willing to try new creations.
 
In his position as Executive Chef at Laffing Matterz at the Broward Center, Gillis oversees kitchen operations and mentors and motivates his staff.
 
“Chef Chris creates the perfect opening act with a pre-show dinner that rivals any restaurant,” said Mark Wells, creator of Laffing Matterz.  “Chef Chris is always experimenting with new recipes and has developed a mouth-watering menu that is a hard act to follow.”
 
Appetizers include two jumbo lump crabmeat cakes sautéed to golden brown served with a creamy lemon-caper sauce, three risotto and goat cheese balls infused with white truffle oil, and skewers of BBQ-marinated beef tenderloin served with cold Asian noodle salad.  All entrées are served with a house salad and the menu choices include sliced filet mignon served with a port wine demi-glace, sautéed jumbo sea scallops topped with Mornay sauce; oven baked Chilean Sea Bass finished with a fire-roasted pineapple /red pepper salsa; wild mushroom Chicken Marsala; tender lamb osso bucco; and vegetarian truffle pasta purses stuffed with a blend of cheeses and a hint of truffle.  Two first place award winners from Mike's Pies, cheese cake, key lime pie and a hot fudge sundae served in a homemade Butterfinger basket star in the tempting dessert menu.
 
Laffing Matterz at the Broward Center returns for a six-month engagement in the Abdo New River Room Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. and selected Sundays throughout the season at 4:30 p.m.  Audiences enjoy belly laughs with every delicious dinner laughing at the absurdities of current events and everyday life as a cast of multi-talented performers presents hilarious satire with all original songs.  Admission is $65-$69 and includes the show and a dinner with house salad, a choice of entrée and warm sourdough bread.  Appetizers, desserts and alcoholic beverages are billed separately.  Tickets and group discounts for parties of 10 or more are available through the Broward Center’s AutoNation box office at 954/462-0222 or online at www.BrowardCenter.org.
 
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located in the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District at 201 SW Fifth Avenue in Fort Lauderdale.
 
Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, TAM Airlines and Sun-Sentinel are proud sponsors of the Broward Center.
 
All dates, times, programs and artists are subject to change.
 
About The Broward Center for the Performing Arts
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is one of America’s premier performing arts venues. Presenting more than 700 performances each year to more than 700,000 patrons, the Center showcases a wide range of exciting cultural programming and events, and offers one of the largest arts-in-education programs in the United States, serving more than 150,000 students annually. In 2007, the Broward Center was named the Cultural Embassy of Broward County in recognition of its success in linking cultural activity with the region’s economic development. The Broward Performing Arts Foundation, Inc. receives and maintains funds to sustain, develop, and secure the future of the Broward Center.  The Broward Performing Arts Center is located in the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District at 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit www.BrowardCenter.org.
 
The Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment Consortium is a cultural partnership between the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Museum of Art | Fort Lauderdale, Florida Grand Opera, Fort Lauderdale Historical Society and the Historic Stranahan House Museum.  It is supported by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.