103 WEST INDIANA AVENUE, DELAND, FL 32720 | 386.734.3740

The Cress Team

  • Hari Pulapaka

    Hari Pulapaka: Executive Chef & Co-Owner
    Hari was born and raised in the bustling metropolis of Mumbai (formerly, Bombay). He came to the United States in 1987 to pursue graduate studies in Mathematics. Today, Hari is a classically trained James Beard nominated Chef as well as an active tenured Associate Professor of Mathematics at Stetson University. Hari teaches full-time at Stetson University during the day and returns to the kitchen at Cress at night. More...

  • Jenneffer Pulapaka

    Jenneffer Pulapaka: General Manager & Co-Owner
    Jenneffer is a social entrepreneur and champion of global cuisine. She was born and raised in Orlando, but she spent many months in Europe and Asia, which influenced her understanding of global foods. Today, Jenneffer is a podiatric surgeon with her own private practice (The DeLand Foot and Leg Center) and also manages Cress. More...

  • Sean Henderson

    Sean Henderson: Lead Server, Prep Cook
    Sean Henderson was born in New York but has lived in Florida for 38 years. He first became interested in the restaurant business 12 years ago when he started working as a server in a catering business. Today he is a Café Manager by day and a Server, here at Cress at nights. He also enjoys learning the joy of cooking from Chef Hari whenever he can. He has been married for 11 years and has 4 children, Shelby 19, Seth 17, Sloan 10 and Slade 8. He currently resides in Orange City, FL.

  • Leah Pugh

    Leah Pugh: Lead Server/Assistant Dining Manager
    Leah was born in Winter Park, and raised in Deltona, Fl. She has been married 14 years. She has two boys Reece 9, and Ryder 8, who she home schools during the day. She currently lives in Deltona.

  • Lisa Koenig

    Lisa Koenig: Server
    Born in Deland in 1982 and later moving to Washington D.C. for roughly 3 years, Lisa missed the small town feel of Deland and chose to leave the big city. Lisa graduated with an Associate of Science in Hospitality Management from Daytona State College and has enjoyed working within the restaurant business her entire life. Lisa married her husband Luke in 2009 and now has two girls, Taylor 2yrs old and Julia 4 months.

  • Sarah Abi Lindon

    Sarah Abi Lindon: Server
    Bio Coming Soon.

Recent News

  • Menus
    Here is our Current Menu.

  • 4th Anniversary Charity Dinner
    On Monday, September 3rd, Cress sparkled with our 4th anniversary charity dinner featuring five of Central Florida's finest locally inspired chefs! This year's theme was "For Local, By Local". Celebrations began at 6 pm with a special screening of "Vegetarian Bound: A Pilot for TV" at the Athens Theater followed by a decadent food and wine dinner at Cress. Here is more information about the event and a recap of the dinner at Cress.