BENTON CHARTER TWP., Mich. — Eduardo Pesentez cut the ribbon earlier this month to celebrate the official opening of the new Brew Pub at Cravings Bistro & Brew Pub in Benton Charter Township. Cornerstone Chamber of Commerce facilitated the event with local dignitaries, members of the Chamber as well as the general public joining in the event.

Craving’s Executive Chef and owner, Eduardo Pesentez, has more than 25 years’ experience in the food industry. Ecuadorian by heritage and trained in some of the finest kitchens in New York, Eduardo interjects the colors and tastes of his culture into the classic elegance of metropolitan cooking. After coming to Southwest Michigan, Chef Eduardo founded Cravings, Inc. and partnered with Tracy Boyd to create Cravings Catering.

For more than 10 years now, Chef Eduardo has owned and operated Cravings Catering. Due to his passion for excellence, his catering clients suggested he open a restaurant so they could enjoy his creations on a daily basis and in 2010 Cassavas Latin American Cuisine in St. Joseph was born.

As the restaurant grew, it was apparent that a larger venue would be needed so the restaurant relocated to Mall Drive in Benton Charter Township in 2012. With this move came a decision to create an entirely new restaurant that would serve the local population better and thus came Cravings Bistro and Pub.

During the Cassavas years, Pat Glenn and his wife Beth, would frequent the restaurant and became friends with Chef Eduardo.

Eduardo would visit their home and enjoy Pat’s home brewed beers and suggested to Pat that he should brew commercially. In 1997, Pat started brewing at his home which was a hobby that he enjoyed with no intentions of becoming a commercial brewer. However, after years of prompting from Eduardo, Pat finally challenged him to secure the proper licensing to brew on premise as a brew pub and then he would come and brew for him. A little over a year later the licensing was obtained and in June 2014 Cravings became Southwest Michigan’s newest brew pub.

Chef Eduardo said “Cravings Bistro and Brew Pub now offers more than seven unique craft beers as well as 21 taps of other visiting draft and domestic draft beers.

“We offer a Mug Club membership that provides customers with daily savings and exciting benefits.”

Mug Club membership includes a one-time cost of $50 that will give members a stainless steel membership card/bottle opener, a Cravings T-shirt, a 20 ounce pour for the price of a 16 ounce daily, $2 off growler refills on Mug Club Thursdays, exclusive events held for members only and discounts on beer pairing dinners.

Their hours of operation are: Tuesday through Thursday from 4-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 4-11 p.m.; and Sunday from 12-8 p.m.

Cravings also provides weekly live entertainment and daily specials that are posted on their Facebook page. There is also a room available for private parties that can cater to your group needs.

Additional information may be found on their web site at http://www.cravingschef.com.