Innovation  It’s a tall order for any chef. Oversee a kitchen where the menu changes  weekly. Prepare recipes that feature fresh, seasonal ingredients. And,  make sure all dishes are 475 calories or less. This is the mandate for  Sous Chef James Petraikis and his culinary colleagues at Seasons 52,  Darden’s newest test concept that has been in operation for just over  a year in Orlando. “You certainly can’t complain about monotony,”  laughs James. “As a chef, it is challenging and intriguing. You’re  always learning something new.” Seasons 52 is the creation of Darden’s internal New Business team that  is charged with identifying and developing new restaurant concepts  to help drive Darden’s future growth. Seasons 52 is designed to not  only be a great restaurant with delicious food and excellent service,  but also to help our guests celebrate living well through seasonally- inspired, healthier dining. “We use no butter and we have no fryers  in the restaurant,” says James. “To impart a special flavor, most dishes  are cooked on an oak-burning grill.” With a constantly changing  menu, the development of new seasonal recipes is an ongoing and  arduous assignment. Every item undergoes rigorous taste-panel test- ing before going on the menu, and must pass very high benchmarks  for taste and appearance. Seasons 52’s focus on seasonally inspired, nutritionally balanced cuisine,  combined with a casually sophisticated atmosphere and wine bar has  Darden poised to build a leadership position in yet another segment of  casual dining. It’s an effort that is well underway with the expansion of  the Seasons 52 test to two new Florida locations in the coming months. 17  Darden Restaurants James Petraikis  Sous Chef Seasons 52 Joining Darden’s Seasons 52 has  been a 180-degree culinary turn- around for James Petraikis. A graduate of the Culinary Institute  of America, he is a trained chef  whose career has been spent in  some of America’s finest dining  rooms.Why the switch from dishes  with rich cream sauces to light  marinades? “I had worked several  years ago with some of the creators  of Seasons 52,” he explains. “I was  intrigued by the concept and felt a  focus on lighter, healthier dining  was a growing market that offered  more opportunity for me.”After just  five months, James already is a  manager-in-training and will shortly  help open the second Seasons 52  in the Orlando area. V Darden Restaurants  17