The rumblings about Walter Manzke's exit from Bastide wafted through the air at Chefs & Champagne on Sunday. Bastide, which only reopened in September after closing for almost two years, owned by Joe Pytka, who's now gone through three top chefs in the restaurant's lifespan. We didn't have confirmation from either camp by the time it hit Eater on Monday morning, but it came soon after: Manzke (and wife Margarita) were out, Paul Shoemaker was in. Bastide got a solid three stars from the LAT---not quite the four stars it garnered with Alain Giraud at the helm, but not the one scathing star for Ludovic Lefebvre---they just added lunch, things seemed to be on track. So why and why now? The story from Joe Pytka's camp was that Manzke "left of his own volition," but several uninvolved tipsters suggested he was asked to leave. Manzke says "It was unexpected but mutual. I wouldn't have left if he didn't want me to leave." More insight from the chef, next.
All stories about "Chef Shuffles"
James Overbaugh has been tapped to take over all dining at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills, including room service, catering, special events, the new Roof Garden outdoor restaurant and The Belvedere. Per the flackage, Overbaugh was at Erna’s Elderberry House at the Relais & Chateaux designated Château du Sureau in Oakhurst, CA for 11 years. His influence over the menus---"fresh seasonal ingredients, creativity and flavors from around the world"---starts after May 20. Overbaugh replaces Sean Hardy who, we're told, left a few months ago. [EaterWire Inbox]
With Walter Manzke's quick exit from Bastide, Pytka has no time for chef auditions: “I am excited that Paul [Shoemaker] is available at a moment’s notice, and I look forward to tasting his masterful and enthusiastic cuisine. The best is yet to come!” [~ELA~]
Whoa. Still awaiting confirmation, but the huge rumor at last night's Chefs & Champagne event on Melrose Place is that Walter Manzke is no longer executive chef at Bastide. Owner Joe Pytka lured Manzke from the Monterey peninsula to reopen Bastide after being shuttered for almost two years; it only and finally opened in September '07. If true, it's still unclear whose decision it was. We didn't see him but heard Manzke was at the event, and we don't know if Bastide had a table but they were offering Champagne, chocolates and suckling pig sliders (dear God, someone serve those all the time) in the leafy garden patio. A few chefs confirmed the rumor not with words, but in code: Sometimes just a look and a nod explains it all. Story developing, plus a C&C Hangover Report soon. UPDATE: Totally confirmed.
· It's Official: Walter Manzke in at Bastide [~ELA~]
· CONFIRMED: Bastide Officially Opens Tomorrow [~ELA~]
· Eater Inside: Bastide [~ELA~]
LOS ANGELES: After Zen Zoo closed its Brentwood and Beverly Hills locations, owner Alfred Ritter said they would look for a new space to reopen. It hasn't been easy. From the Zen Zoo newsletter: "Many of you have been asking when Zen Zoo Tea will return to the Westside (we miss you too!)...While we've considered some options, we have not been able to find a location that best fits Zen Zoo's business and operational needs. If you are able to help speed up that process, and you have a direct contact for a location lead (for the Santa Monica and Brentwood areas only), please e-mail: realestate@zenzootea.com." Not sure blasting your email list is the best way, but it couldn't hurt. [EaterWire Inbox]
It's official: Katsuo Nagasawa is the new exec chef of Gonpachi in Beverly Hills. It wasn't long ago that the owners cleaned house after poor reviews and lagging business. "Naga" is best known for opening Cafe del Rey in the '80s, so he brings a certain fusion aesthetic hopefully adjusted for the new millennium. Anything's better than the potato and cheese croquettes topped with bonito flakes: Naga's menu (Caesar with spicy caviar and tofu croutons, spinach salad with spicy sardines and fried fennel, filet with wasabi mashed potatoes) is probably better suited to "Restaurant Row" tourists and/or Angelenos' palates. The soba and sushi chefs are still there. [EaterWire]
BEV HILLS/VENICE: We heard rumblings about this last summer, but it's official: Conny Andersson left his exec chef position at the Beverly Wilshire hotel with plans to open his own place in Venice this summer. No specifics yet on the where or the what. Chef de cuisine Brian Moyers is now in charge at The BLVD. [EaterWire]
WEST HOLLYWOOD: The Wokcano on Third Street had a small fire today, noticed by the folks at Innovative Dining Group (who own Sushi Roku, etc.) who called the fire department. Wokcano staffer says there was some minimal smoke damage and they hope to reopen by tomorrow. [EaterWire]
SILVER LAKE: From a tipster: "Last night driving west on Sunset I saw that Cardone's Deli had newspaper on its windows. Seems that the scruffy Silver Lakers in this park of SL didn't provide enough business. I went there several times and was satisfied with my sandwich but parking was a pain and they were often out of ingredients. Hopefully another deli takes the space because we need it here in Silver Lake." [EaterWire Inbox]
HOLLYWOOD: We hear from our Bronson Canyon spy: "The deli portion of Victor's Liquor & Deli closed at the end of March, but the liquor store is still open through April as long as the merchandise holds out. Some good deals on Spiegelau wares. Owner says there's already something planned for the space that will be 'food and wine oriented', but not a wine bar since Victor's Restaurant already has one. He's confident that 'the neighborhood will embrace' this mysterious newcomer. Fingers crossed." [EaterWire Inbox]
SOMEWHERE: We dished that Samir Mohajer would leave Rustic Canyon this month, and now we hear he and former Providence chef de cuisine Paul Shoemaker are teaming up to open their own place. No word on concept, timeline or location yet, but the seed has been planted. Shoemaker, who opened Providence with Michael Cimarusti and Donato Poto, left the restaurant in late 2007. [EaterWire Inbox]
NEXT: One way to get a discount for Chefs & Champagne >>It's all about high-end modern Mexican cuisine downtown this year: There's John Sedlar's Rivera and Gabrie Morales' Provecho, and Rosa Mexicano at L.A. Live, plus Josef Centeno will be the new exec chef of Casa, a Mexican/Spanish-inspired restaurant that will open at the California Plaza in August (so much for this rumor). All of a sudden Ciudad has some company. [LAT/ELA]
Photo by Alen Lin, 2/11/08
We got word from Yuji Isawa, the now-former exec chef of La Defence in Koreatown. This didnt' take long:
"Due to many bullshit and politics, I have left to go into a more professional environment. Please, La Defence, take my name off of all your website, menu, etc... I am not willing to represent any of myself to such a restaurant, if that's what its supposed to be...go back to being a room bang or karaoke club..."An Eater commenter (Yuji?) gave the place 3-6 months because the service was untrained, the karaoke did indeed waft into the dining room, and it was like Paris in Las Vegas---and not in a good way. Isawa says he'll let us know where he's off to next, and no word yet on what the owners of La Defence plan to do with the menu without him, if anything.
· Eater Inside: La Defence [~ELA~]
The New York Times' special Travel magazine bit into some of Santa Monica's newer restaurants including Rustic Canyon, Catch at Casa del Mar, Bar Pintxo, Robata Bar. But when it came to the Penthouse at the Huntley, it's noted that the farmer's market fare is coming from chef Seth Greenburg, not opening chef Michael Reidt who apparently left about six months ago. After that scathing Brenner/LAT review when it opened last year, the news isn't much of a shocker. [NYT]
It's been two weeks since Joachim Splichal and executive chef Yianni Koufodontis parted ways at Paperfish, and it comes as no surprise that his replacement comes from deep within the Patina Group pool. Kevin Meehan replaces Koufodontis, who left only three months after the restaurant opened and just a few weeks after the Los Angeles Times gave Paperfish a half-star review. After tooling around several LA restaurants (Bastide and L'Orangerie are highlghted on his resume), Meehan has been chef de cuisine at Patina since 2005 when it opened downtown. This feels less square-peg-in-round hole, (Koufodontis was new to the Splichal regime), so there may be fewer bumps ahead. But will bringing in a Patina alum make the "anonymous" cuisine feel any less "hotel or corporate restaurant?" [~ELA~]
SILVER LAKE: There were some rumblings that former Opus chef Josef Centeno was looking at the soon-to-shutter Michaelangelo space on Silverlake Boulevard, but a tipster says not likely: "Centeno will not be taking over that space. You were right; he was trying to get it, but apparently he decided to back out due to numerous concerns he had about the landlord. He said it was hard to do, but felt it was the right thing. He is now starting to look for a new space." [EaterWire Inbox]
BEVERLY HILLS: The Peninsula Hotel will unveil its renovated rooftop restaurant and bar (and pool area) in May. Cheryl Rowley Design oversaw the $4 million redo which sports new water features, firepits, cabanas, etc. The café and bar are open to the public, and if you're into city views, white peach martinis, watermelon and cherry-tomato soup, and snapper ceviche then you should feel quite comfortable there. [EaterWire Inbox]
SANTA MONICA: SBE isn't stopping at fancy supperclubs and swanky lounges. Word is they've taken over Caffe Divine at Fred Segal. From the Mahamondo blog: "As I walked in, had to do a double take as the caffe' had morphed into a day lounge, like something you could hang out in South Beach, Sydney or Seminyak." Tunes, ambience, vibe and coffee have all been tweaked. The manager told our tipster that celebrity chef Jose Andres will be consulting on an organic menu. That's unconfirmed, but a possibility since he's overseeing food and bev at the SLS Beverly Hills, SBE's new luxury hotel in Beverly Hills. [Mahamondo]
Just another day at the EaterWire. Have something to share? Lay it on us.
MALIBU: The Sunset Restaurant, which sits at the entrance to Point Dume state beach near Zuma, never needed a great chef or menu: It had the sunset and a full bar. But now the owners want to take things to "another level." There's a new managing director (Raymond Byrne, came from Il Fornaio in SM) and a new chef: Jake Rojas who was last at Inn of the Seventh Ray, and before that Mix and Joel Robuchon in Vegas. [EaterWire]
HOLLYWOOD: We'll throw this one to anyone who knows: "I'm not saying I really want more Pinkberry news but I don't have anywhere else to turn. The location near hollywood and vine that has been covered with signage for at least the last 6 months - is it ever opening? I can't find any information on it and a sign on the front just says "coming soon" and there has been little to no activity around it that i've seen - is this a sign of pinkberry slowing their store openings?" We wonder the same thing every time we drive by. [EaterWire]
The Carl's Jr. Jr. mystery solved, and if a chain shutters in Burbank, does anybody hear? >>VENICE: Today the LAT reported on all the chefs that traipse through the kitchen at Joe's, but they failed to mention that the new permanent chef de cuisine is Mike Bryant, late of Bin 8945 and Norman's. We're told he started a few weeks ago. [EaterWire]
TOPANGA CANYON: Another chef mentioned in that article is Mark Gold, who's been at Joe's after leaving his post at Leatherby's Café Rouge in Costa Mesa. In addition to opening his own place in Sherman Oaks, Eva, this spring, we heard Gold is about to start at the Inn of the Seventh Ray. Another interim post? [EaterWire]
BEVERLY HILLS: Matthew Gladstone just started as executive chef/director of culinary operations at the Luxe Hotel on Rodeo Drive, replacing Michelle Francis, who just started in at the beginning of the year. Gladstone swears he didn't know exactly what he was getting into when he helped launch Happy Endings in Hollywood, and he left after only a few months. New menu should start this week. [EaterWire]
Big news from former L'Orangerie and Bastide chef Ludovic Lefebvre, who recently wowed everyone with his special stints at Breadbar this winter. When we last checked in, Ludo talked of opening an intimate little bistro here in LA, something personal where he could do his own thing, maybe mid-city, Third Street, Beverly. The dream of many a chef, no? And when a chef dream costs money, sometimes you have to go where the money is. No, not Top Chef. Las Vegas. We just confirmed with Ludo that he's partnered with the Tao group to open a new concept at the Palazzo. More details coming soon. [~ELA~]
Alen Lin, 12/1/07
Big news came in late yesterday: "From a first hand source. Yianni, the chef de cuisine at Paperfish is no longer at the resto. Depending on who you ask, he and Joachim decided together that he will leave, or Joachim called him this morning on his way to work and fired him. I'll leave you to decide, but if you know Joachim at all, the answer is very clear."
Confirmed. We just spoke to Splichal: "Yianni and I have parted ways, and we'll make an announcement about his replacement next week." Paperfish has barely been open four months, so was this because S. Irene Virbila's scathing half-star review of Paperfish in the Los Angeles Times? Let's look at the evidence.
Continue reading "BREAKING: Paperfish Chef Shake-Up"We got an update from Kris Morningstar who recently left his exec chef position at Blue Velvet: "While I appreciate any credit I have been given, the successes we had were due to the dedication of our entire staff. That being said, a shift occurred in the vision of the restaurant and I felt it was time for me to leave. I am confident that the kitchen will continue to put out great food at Blue Velvet. As far as my future plans go, I am excited about the position I have accepted heading up the kitchen at a restaurant that will open later this year." He didn't say this, but we have a feeling that "shift" is towards something more nightlifey, loungey. And he's not dishing on that new project yet, but we expect it will be something to watch for. [EaterWire]
DOWNTOWN: Details are minimal, but Kris Morningstar is no longer at Blue Velvet. There are other possibe management/ownership changes, but we're awaiting all the details. This was Morningstar's first exec chef position and he garnered quite the following: Miss Irene gave the restaurant two-and-a-half stars, his eco-friendly ways were showcased on Big Ideas for a Small Planet on the Sundance Channel, and he's on the long list for James Beard's Rising Star Chef this year. No word yet on his plans. [EaterWire]
MID-CITY: Lisa Olin and pastry chef Elizabeth Belkind didn't get the storefront they wanted for their Cake Monkey bakery, but they have a new commercial space and are filling orders. Full Disclosure: We know this because we received a sample box of delectable mini-cakes (we're not the only ones) that left us in a sugar-induced dreamland for the last few days. Chocolate, vanilla and the homemade foil-wrapped Ho-Hos were the favorites here at Eater HQ. That Elizabeth Belkind, she can bake. [EaterWire]
MID-CITY/BEV CTR: A reader drove by The Creperie by Jack & Jill, which replaces Michelia on Third Street, suggesting it looked ready to open. Sure enough: The more-than-crepes crepe restaurant has a count-down clock on its website for its March 5 debut. [EaterWire]
CULVER CITY: Per a tipster: "Akasha starts lunch next week. Was in there while they were shooting the final ep for her TLC show. Food was great, although I wish portions were bigger. Love her baked stuff." By the way, that TLC show is Flip That Restaurant and debuts on March 8 at 9pm. [EaterWire Inbox]
WEST HOLLYOOD: We got an email to reserve for a special pinot noir wine tasting at One Sunset, which is intriguing on its own (not the first place that comes to mind for multi-course wine dinners). More interesting is that the exec chef is now Jason Marcus. A quick Google tells us Marcus was the chef at Red Pearl Kitchen in San Diego. We're told opening chef Chris Ennis left in January. [EaterWire]
MARINA DEL REY: (Or is it Venice?) A reader sends word about Lido Grill on Washington Boulevard: "They've used the last few weeks for their soft opening. Grand Opening is set for March 1. Chef/Owner Michel (French North African) has history in opening restaurants and clubs from Japan to Tunisia and isn't afraid to use a lot of flavor. Flamenco, Sevillianas and other Spanish dancing is featured on weekends." Some pics for your viewing pleasure on Yo Venice!. (417 Washington Blvd.) [EaterWire Inbox]
BEVERLY HILLS: Scott Garrett, former sous chef at Whist the Viceroy, is now exec chef at Avalon Hotel's Blue on Blue restaurant. He says he'll keep the menus simple, seasonal, "fun." With a new team---sous Brett Robbins and chef de cuisine Kellie Knox---the poolside restaurant will launch a small bites/cocktail happy hour menu in March. There could be worse things to do with an early springtime afternoon. [EaterWire Inbox]
STUDIO CITY: Fans of peel-your-own shrimp swimming in spicy broth and big hunks of bread, sorry: A reader sends word that Killer Shrimp on Colfax closed. Confirmed. It closed on January 26, but the Marina del Rey location remains open. [EaterWire Inbox]
DOWNTOWN: While work lulls on independent projects like Bridge Tavern, Church & State and BottleRock, the chains just keep on coming. Johnny Rockets is set to open on the second floor of the Union Bank Plaza's retail center in March. (5th and Figueroa) [Angelenic]
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