Grace Chef de Cuisine Nicholas Romero Exits; No Replacement Named Yet

Nicholas Romero is exiting his chef de cuisine position at Grace, owner/general manager Michael Muser confirms. "While we're very sad to lose him, we're excited to see him grow," Muser states in an e-mail.

Romero, who was previously at Avenues with both Muser and Grace's executive chef Curtis Duffy, has worked with the pair for more than six years. "He's the closest thing either of us has to a little brother," Muser says.

Muser says that Grace has no urgency to fill Romero's shoes since Duffy is at the restaurant upwards of 15 hours a day, but that they will bring in someone "at some point."

For right now Muser indicates that Romero will take some time off to spend with his family before considering future employment. Romero, who has also spent time in the kitchens of Tru and L2O, also won best chef de cuisine at the seventeenth annual Jean Banchet Awards in 2014.