David Carrier Staying in Georgia; Will Start at the Cloister at Sea Island

Back in September, when news broke that David Carrier had been ousted as exec chef of Kith & Kin, it came as a huge surprise. At first, people thought there was a chance the towering chef with the booming voice who helped launch a Southern comfort-food movement in Chicago would return. But he didn't. And now we learn he's not coming back. At least not for a year.

Carrier will remain in Georgia with his wife, Ryanne, and join her on staff at the Cloister at Sea Island. In February, Carrier will begin working with executive chef Cliff Denny, a veteran of the Ritz-Carlton in Naples, Fla, at the resort's many restaurants. "I've committed a year to it," Carrier said. "I'm not going in as anything but a set of hands and I'm going to learn how resorts, and how the corporate side of things, work."

Before he settles in on Sea Island, he'll spend close to a month down in Seagrove, Fla., a resort community near Panama City, helping open V Restaurant in the brand new Hotel Viridian, where he created the menu and is putting together a training program.

Will he ever come back to Chicago? He said the Sea Island gig is a great opportunity for him to learn. "I'm sacrificing a lot, but I'm gaining a lot." Down the road, he said, "If an opportunity in Chicago presents itself, we'll look upon it with careful eyes. if it works out, I'd hop on it in a heart beat." So maybe he'll actually be back up north, but unfortunately not until at least 2012.

David Carrier [Photo: 312DD]