Three Chicago Restaurant Chef & Staff Shuffles To Know

LOGAN SQUARE/THE LOOP— There’s a major change over at The Radler, where Nate Sears is no longer chef/partner at the Logan Square Bavarian restaurant and bar. He stealthily left over the summer and started his new job last week as executive chef at The Wit hotel, according to The Tribune. Sears, who sold his stake to his partner Adam Hebert, is working on new menus for State & Lake on the ground floor first, followed by Roof at the Wit upstairs. Hebert has promoted sous chef John Crue to replace Sears, who described the move as one to better support his family.

BUCKTOWN/WEST LOOP— AMK Restaurant Group (AMK Kitchen Bar, Nosh & Booze) has hired a Top Chef contestant as the company’s new executive chef. Angelina Bastidas, who competed on season 13 of the television show, will first overhaul the menu at AMK’s Bucktown restaurant, something that will happen in November. Bastidas was the chef de cuisine at The Gwen hotel in Miami, and also worked at Bazaar by José Andrés, Tongue & Cheek and Piripi.

WEST TOWN— While there’s still no mention of an opening date (they’re only saying "fall") Temporis Restaurant, the upcoming fine-dining spot at 933 N. Ashland Ave., has hired a beverage director. Donald Coen, an Alinea vet, that also worked with Temporis’ co-chefs Evan Fullerton and Sam Plotnick while wine captain at Les Nomades, will oversee the wine program. Coen will ensure the wines pair with Temporis’ tasting menus.