BiteClub Eats » Chef Shuffle

Santi welcomes Richey

biteclub — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 19:35:29 +0000

As reported previously in BiteClub, sous chef Doug Richey is taking over the Santi kitchen in Santa Rosa. He’s been working with exec chef Liza Hinman, who’s heading off to maternity leave.

Should you be worried? Owner Doug Swett says he’s totally confident, especially since Richey trained under former exec chefs Franco Dunn and Dino Bugica in Geyserville.

And come on, look at the way he handles a pig head– a true measure of any great chef.

Congrats Chef!

Prix Fixe: Beginning January 17 Santi launches a Monday evening Prix fixe menu for friends and family. As a way of introducing Chef Richey to the neighborhood, Santi will be offering a 3 course meal featuring both Santi favorites and new creations for $35 per person.

Liza Hinman leaving Santi

biteclub — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 23:33:29 +0000

It’s a bittersweet departure for Chef Liza Hinman, who will leave Fountaingrove’s popular Santi Restaurant after New Year’s.

The mom-to-be is expecting a child in March and will turn over her toque in January to Sous Chef Doug Richey. Hinman has been with the restaurant for years, taking over the role as exec chef after Chef Dino Bugica transitioned to Santi’s sister restaurant, Diavola.

Hinman is not anticipated to return to the restaurant’s kitchens, though Santi owner Doug Swett says, “Never say never.”

“Doug is our sous chef from the Geyserville days and the food won’t miss a beat,” Swett said. “There will be different roles for everyone, but I have every faith in him.”

Hinman, however, is going out with a bang. Santi’s New Year’s Eve menu is a whopper, with plenty for the whole kitchen to take on, including brown butter crepes with Dungeness crab; foie gras terrine; cauliflower soup with sea urchin; tortellini with black truffles; calves liver; linguini with lemon cream and salmon caviar; osso buco; whole branzino; braised guinea hen and meyer lemon tart. $85 to $100 per person. (707) 528 1549. The restaurant has also recently started serving weekend brunch.

Humphries to Oxbow, Tyler Florence opening

biteclub — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 22:44:08 +0000

Hot news from Napa: According to Paul Franson’s NapaLife, former Martini House chef Todd Humphries may be heading to the Oxbow Public Market to take over the space vacated by Oxbow Wine and Cheese Merchant. Not confirmation yet, but the rumor mill is buzzing that it’s more than likely. Martini House was sold in October 2010 to the owner of PF Chang’s.

Just down the street, Tyler Florence’s new Rotisserie and Wine is slated to open Wednesday, according to multiple sources. The casual restaurant concept will feature the return of Jeremy Fox, formerly of Ubuntu, as executive chef. Florence’s restaurant is the third in a much-anticipated trio of openings at the Riverfront development that included Morimoto, Fish Story and Rotisserie & Wine. The website is still mum about the opening details.

Chefs Korsh, Fox resurface

biteclub — Thu, 27 May 2010 22:55:56 +0000

Eric Korsh, formerly of Restaurant Eloise in Sebastopol has returned to New York and, according to the New York Times, has been named chef at the fabish Waverly Inn and Garden in Greenwich Village. Perhaps they’ll be more appreciative of his penchant for offal. Also resurfacing is Jeremy Fox, the visionary vegetarian chef of Napa’s Ubuntu. Fox left Napa last winter just as Michelin kudos were being handed out, only to set up camp in LA for several months. He’s returning to the Bay Area, according to published reports, to head up Daniel Patterson’s new Oakland restaurant, Plum.

Odyssey closing

biteclub — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:59:22 +0000

BiteClub has learned that Odyssey Restaurant in Windsor will be closing in July. It’s a bummer, though not totally unexpected, since chef-owner Rudy Mihal’s been hinting at a change for several months now. After two and a half years manning the stove pretty-much single-handedly, he’s ready for a break.

From Rudy, ” I’m going to go to New York for two months then Europe. I’m going to take some time off…Don’t know where I’ll reopen but it…won’t be Windsor,” he told BiteClub.

BiteClub hopes he’ll return to Sonoma County, since he’s a much-needed young chef willing to take risks — not always in abundance in the North Bay. Mihal’s talked about opening an authentic pit-bbq spot in the future. The Gramercy Tavern alum bolted out of the gate, impressing chefs and diners, but the out-of-the-way location, tiny kitchen and down-turning economy proved challenging.

Odyssey will remain open Thursday through Saturday, closing for good the second weekend of July. Rudy says he sold the business to the owners of Bangkok Villa on Yulupa Ave. in Santa Rosa.