Ritz-Carlton Changes to Langham in Pasadena: What Will Craig Strong Do?

According to the LAT, the Ritz-Carlton in Pasadena will become a Langham Hotel in January 2008, and the new owners plan to renovate all the restaurants and bars on the property. So what does this mean for the Dining Room, helmed by Craig Strong, which just received a Michelin star? Or the Terrace Restaurant, known for its weekend and holiday brunch? Not to mention the lobby bar, reopened as a wine bar just last year. The only other Langham Hotel in the U.S. is in Boston, and from what we hear, its Cafe Fleuri is known for jazz brunch and a weekend chocolate bar---typical upscale hotel dining. A Langham rep says, "We are committed to retaining the services of Chef [Craig] Strong," so it sounds like they want to keep the chef on board. The Dining Room is a little stuffy and dated, and we've always hated those ship window boxes, so a renovation is a good idea. But Strong's cooking has always been incredibly...strong. It would be a loss to Pasadena (yet another one) if he moved on.
· Pasadena Ritz-Carlton to be rebranded [LAT]