Elsewhere      11/11/2008  

Chris Lee Leaves Gilt For Aureole

Diner’s Journal, seeking to preserve Florence Fabricant’s big scoop, announced today that Gilt chef Chris Lee is leaving to take over Aureole at the end of year. Our only question is why it took so long. Lee is one of the few chefs in town who truly excels at the kind of luxe food served in high-end restaurant like Aureole or Le Cirque; it was therefore inevitable that someone would snap him up, especially after he got an unexpected, but wholly deserved, two Michelin stars earlier this year. Aureole, for their part, had a perfectly fine chef in Tony Aiazzi, but may have felt that to say viable in the current market they had to make a big move. Certainly nobody I know has talked about the place since Larry Johnson was wearing Knick blue and orange. Congratulations to Chris, congratulations to Charlie Palmer, and congratulations to whoever lands Tony Aiazzi. Congratulations, too, to those many New Yorkers who never got a chance to eat Chris Lee’s food.

Times: Christopher Lee Moves to Aureole
Starchefs Bio: Chris Lee

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