Jesse Barber Drops Out From Dudley Market Just One Year In

Just days away from officially turning one year old, Venice’s Dudley Market suddenly finds itself without a chef. Opening name Jesse Barber has, along with his wife Celia, decided to leave the restaurant for parts unknown, promising to pop up around the state in the meantime.

The move leaves the popular beach-adjacent Dudley Market chef-less for the time being, though partner Sris Sinnathamby will continue to lead the day to day direction of the place. As for the Barbers, an email circulated around says the pair plan to head back to their roots with a set of pop-ups in Los Angeles and beyond. Barber is also still slated to cook at the James Beard House in New York at some point this year.

The note also says that Barber will be happily consulting on new projects around town, though for the time being he seems to have no plans to attach himself permanently to a new restaurant project. That seems to match up with Barber’s ongoing wanderlust, as the largely Westside chef bounced around with pop-up dinners following his sudden departure from Barnyard Venice last March. More news on Barber’s replacement at Dudley Market when it becomes available.