Sixteen Names Thomas Lents as New Exec Chef

It's been more than six months since Frank Brunacci announced he was leaving Sixteen, but the upscale restaurant in the Trump International Hotel & Tower finally has found his replacement. Thomas Lents, who at one time was executive sous chef at Everest, returns to Chicago to officially begin his post at Sixteen on Jan. 19. Lents most recently was chef de cuisine at Joel Robuchon at The Mansion in the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Lents will take the next month or so to nail down his new menu and introduce his dishes to the restaurant in mid- to late-February. And while Brunacci was the executive chef of the entire hotel property, Lents' responsibilities will focus solely on Sixteen. Since Brunacci's departure, the restaurant has waned a bit, losing its Michelin star. Let's see if Lents, who oversaw the Michelin three-star Joel Robuchon, can help elevate the restaurant.
· Chef Frank Brunacci Parts Ways With Trump's Sixteen [~EChi~]
· Michelin Guide Revealed: Alinea Keeps 3 Stars; L20 Drops to 1; Avenues Off List