You Heard It Here First      10/23/2008  

Christophe Bellanca Out at Le Cirque; Tovar, Becker Among Candidates to Replace Him

One chef leaves Le Cirque, and another is headed in. (Photo courtesy Le Cirque)

As Gastrodamus suggested the other day, a huge shake-up is in play at Le Cirque, where chef Christophe Bellanca is no longer in the kitchen, having parted “mutually” with owner Mauro Maccioni, the latter tells us. Maccioni didn’t want to elaborate on the reason for the split, but it obviously wasn’t because of the work Bellanca did in the kitchen, which was universally praised by most critics, including a three star review from the Times .  Le Cirque, still a citadel of old-school fine dining with a loyal following of wealthy plutocrats, and needs somebody good. Among the candidates for the position, which is among the most prestigious in town, are Cedric Tovar, who coincidentally just left Peacock Alley, and Franklin Becker, now available after the demise of Sheridan Square. “We want a great chef, someone who will get us three Michelin stars,” says Maccioni. “Someone who will maintain the standards Le Cirque is accustomed to.”

Comments

3 Responses to “Christophe Bellanca Out at Le Cirque; Tovar, Becker Among Candidates to Replace Him”

  1. Check on October 23rd, 2008 1:13 pm

    I hope Chef Becker gets the job, he’s a very talented chef and a great huma being

  2. Sirio on Departed Chef: “He’s French. He takes everything too personal.” | The Feedbag on October 23rd, 2008 2:53 pm

    [...] Earlier: Christophe Bellanca Out at Le Cirque; Tovar, Becker Among Candidates to Replace Him [...]

  3. Christophe Bellanca Starts Today as Corporate Chef for BLT Group | The Feedbag on December 15th, 2008 1:19 pm

    [...] Earlier: Christophe Bellanca Out at Le Cirque; Tovar, Becker Among Candidates to Replace Him [...]

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