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FULTON MARKET—Acclaimed pastry chef Mathew Rice is exiting Paul Kahan's renowned The Publican—and Chicago altogether. The pastry pro is heading to Nashville to work at Gerard Craft's forthcoming Pastaria and Eater Nashville has more details. Rice took over the Publican sweets program in August 2015 after stints at Nightwood and Girl & The Goat.
GOLD COAST—There's another shuffle at a One Off Hospitality hotspot, as Nico Osteria has a new bar manager. Scott Stroemer, who was on the opening team at the swanky Italian seafood restaurant in the Thompson Chicago hotel, has launched a new spring cocktail program, including the "Sun Arise" (George Dickel #8 Tennessee Whiskey, spring rhubarb syrup, lemon juice, ginger, cardamom). [UPDATE: Head bartender Matty Eggleston will be leaving soon to start his own project, reps say, which is why Stroemer is being promoted. Stay tuned for more on what Eggleston is up to.]
RIVER NORTH—A major change has come to one of Chicago's hottest bars, as opening bar manager Freddie Sarkis left The Broken Shaker in late March. There's no word yet on his replacement, and Sarkis is consulting on the cocktail program at the forthcoming Furious Spoon expansion in Logan Square while he works towards his next major move.
WICKER PARK—Chop Shop has a new chef, Emily Ghedotte, who has added some new spring dishes to the menu at the North Avenue restaurant/bar/event venue/butcher shop.
RIVER WEST—John Douglass, formerly the bar manager at Table, Donkey and Stick, is the new beverage director at Paramount Room and has launched some new cocktails at the Michelin Bib Gourmand bar and eatery on Milwaukee Avenue. He takes over the program from Dan Marunowski, who left for Salero.
LOGAN SQUARE—Q-Tine, the unique late-night barbecue and poutine eatery on Milwaukee Avenue, has a new chef. Jerry Taylor, who comes from the corporate hotel restaurant world, has taken over and launched lunch service.
