Americana Cafe set to open mid-June

What do the celebrity-owned restaurant chain “Wahlburgers” and Wareham’s newest eatery have in common? The executive chefs at both attended culinary college together.

Chef Peter Ward of Americana Cafe, set to open on Main Street in mid-June, went to Newbury College for Culinary Arts in 1989 – as did Paul Wahlberg, executive chef of Alma Nove restaurant and the Wahlburgers burger joint in Hingham.

“I picked up Paul Wahlberg every morning and drove him to school. During the time, the brothers would tell me to come in and they’d be sitting at the table, rapping,” said Ward of musician-turned-actor Mark Wahlberg.

It may have been Ward’s first run in with fame, but it surely wasn’t his last.

Ward began his culinary career as a dishwasher in Madeleine Kamman’s cooking school, Modern Gourmet. Kamman is a well known French cook, and the restaurant that she ran with her students, called Chez La Mere Madeleine, was highly rated and received five stars from a Boston Globe restaurant reviewer.

“Madeleine Kamman, she’s one of the best french chefs. Like Julia Childs but better,” said Ward. “She had a cooking school that was in progress, and I ended up working with them. I went in and did prep work…I was like the glorified dishwasher.”

Since then, Ward has a plethora of experiences in the restaurant business. In all of them, he's worked for others. But with the American Cafe, he'll open his own restaurant with Karen Moore.

Americana Cafe is the first restaurant where Ward will be his own boss.

Co-owner and manager Moore calls herself the silent partner, though she's already approached Selectmen and other businesses in the area to foster relationships within the community.

“I am the silent partner, but he is the chef,” said Moore. Turning to Peter, she said, “I want you to get recognition.”

As far as recognition goes, Ward said the true test will be in the food.

Ward spent years cooking Italian food with Italian chefs “straight from Italy,” as he says.

Regarding fare, the restaurant will have local and American favorites, but Ward said he wants to switch things up every now and then.

“I'm doing an influence of everything,” he said. “I'm leaving it open so that I can do everything.”

The freedom that Ward has in his new restaurant is one he's earned over the years.

“He had so many ideas working for all those people,” said Moore.

Residents will be able to see exactly what he plans to serve up soon.

The restaurant is located behind Brennan's Smoke Shop, where Frankenstein's used to be, at 208 Main St.

Once opened, the restaurant will serve customers from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.