Sieger Bayer Leaving Leghorn; New NAHA/Brindille Wine Director; Kendal Duque on the Move:
UKRAINIAN VILLAGE—Sieger Bayer, the Leghorn chef and a 2014 Eater Young Guns semi-finalist, is leaving Element Collective's chicken spot on June 21. He'll become a sous chef under chef Tony Quartaro at Formento's, The Bristol Group's upcoming Italian spot on Randolph. [EaterWire]
RIVER NORTH—Chad Ellegood, a 2013 Jean Banchet nominee at NoMI, will take over the NAHA and Brindille wine programs...
Michael Nahabedian Talks About the First Year of Brindille:
Michael Nahabedian went from the cusp of one blossoming neighborhood (opening Cafe Absinthe during the seedy days of Wicker Park when "there were crack houses there") to partnering with his cousin and renowned chef Carrie Nahabedian to open Naha on the cusp of another blossoming neighborhood, River North, in 2000. Nearly 13 years later, the Nahabedians finally decided it was the right time to...
Rachael Lowe In, Jason Carlen Out as Spiaggia Staff Turns Over:
As Tony Mantuano's team prepares to reopen Spiaggia in less than a month, many staffing changes are coming to his iconic Italian restaurant. The latest development sees wine director Jason Carlen departing; he sent an email over the weekend to announce his notice, but will stay on through the reopening. Acclaimed advanced sommelier Rachael Lowe (Sixteen) is leaving her sommelier post at Naha...
Sommeliers' Top 11 Chicago Wine Lists, Mapped:
Wine may not be as trendy as craft beer these days, but many Chicago restaurants can still build a great list. Eater asked four of Chicago's most acclaimed sommeliers for their favorites—Michael Muser (Grace, a 2014 Food & Wine Sommelier of the Year), Alpana Singh (The Boarding House), Jon McDaniel (Henri, The Gage) and Richard Hanauer (RPM Steak). Their picks for the top 11 wine lists in...