Chef Koren Grieveson Is Officially Out at Avec

Koren Grieveson, the James Beard-award winning chef de cuisine at avec, has parted ways with the company. Grieveson has worked with exec chef Paul Kahan since 1998, where she was sous chef at Blackbird, until 2003 when she helped open and put avec, the hugely popular Mediterranean-focused wine bar in the West Loop, on the global map.

Eater got a tip last night and just exclusively received a statement (below) from One Off Hospitality (where Kahan is partners with Donnie Madia, Terry Alexander and Eduard Seitan) confirming the news. The departure comes as a surprise as Grieveson has received numerous accolades for her work with the company. There's no word on what caused the split, why she has moved on or who will replace her as chef de cuisine at avec. As for what Grieveson will do next, that is uncertain as she was unavailable for comment at press time.

One Off Hospitality just sent the following statement:

We are saddened to announce the departure of our longtime chef, partner and friend Koren Grieveson. Her contributions to Avec have been substantial and our pride and respect for what we have accomplished together has been inspiring. Koren will be moving on, leaving a great legacy in her team at Avec. As she embarks on the next chapter of her culinary journey, she remains a friend and partner in Avec. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors.