Chef Perfecto Rocher Departs Lazy Ox For Solo Resto

In a rather surprising move, Perfecto Rocher — the Spanish chef who replaced Josef Centeno at Laxy Ox Canteen and who was slated to open a paella restaurant in Santa Monica with owner Michael Cardenas — has clocked out of the downtown eatery. Rocher has split not only from Lazy Ox, but from Cardenas as well, to pursue a solo project. The chef is in the early planning stages now, but his forthcoming restaurant will feature Spanish cuisine.
·Michael Cardenas Opening LA's First Paella-Based Restaurant Taberna Arros y Vi in Santa Monica This Fall [~ELA~]

Update: Michael Cardenas has hired chef Travis Chase from The Tin Table in Seattle to stand in for Rocher at Lazy Ox, and Cardenas is in talks with a "big name chef" for the Santa Monica project.