Celebrity Chef To Open Qué Mas Beverly Kitchen Restaurant

BEVERLY, MA — A new Beverly restaurant from "Chopped" finalist and celebrity chef Alex Pineda is set to open on Wednesday.

A ribbon cutting is set for 4:30 p.m. for Qué Mas — which is opening at 114 Rantoul Street in the former location of the Frank restaurant.

Pineda said the new spot will offer "modern Latin cuisine" with influences from South America, Columbia, Mexico, Guatemala and Peru.

Pineda is the son of Lydia Shire, owner of the renowned Scampo.

"I've learned to be grand," he said. "I've learned to be fearless. We took over the restaurant space formerly known as Frank, put our stamp on it and are officially open this summer."

The centerpiece of Qué Mas is a display case with sardine cans from around the world that Pineda and Shire have collected together for over 25 years.

He said the goal at Qué Mas is to push the boundaries on what is on a plate, how it's presented, and the way a customer feels after they've experienced it.

"The beauty behind what we do as chefs is that the opportunities are endless," he said. "I just want to cook good food, have fun while I do it. I think it's just because Latin culture is fun, it's loud, it's sexy, it's beautiful, it's vibrant, it's great music, and great food."

Also opening Wednesday in the building at 112 Rantoul Street is The Bottle Shop, a dedicated wine shop and liquor store that features a selection of fine wines, spirits, craft beer and grab-and-go market items.

The Bottle Shop moves into the space previously known as DeVille.

"We are thrilled to open The Bottle Shop as a place for fine beverages and unique market finds," said owner Alex Weatherup. "Our wine and spirits collection grows every week, as do the retail offerings and market goods. The world of wine is vast and can be unapproachable at times. We love helping collectors find rare and particular bottles, but also appreciate finding the perfect, every night bottle.

"To put it simply, we're excited for the opportunity to help you find what you're looking for."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached @Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)