6 Chef and Staff Shuffles To Know In Chicago

—BLVD, the Hollywood glam-themed restaurant and bar at 817. W. Lake St., has lured a Pump Room vet to be its opening chef. Ross Mendoza, who also has experience at many acclaimed NYC restaurants, is working on a "globally inspired menu of modern American shareable plates that highlight classic dishes and familiar flavors reimagined and served in thoughtful new ways," according to a news release. The space will be modern with Art Deco accents, Chicago magazine reports, and is slated to open "toward summer."

—Band of Bohemia, the first Michelin-starred brewpub, has a new pastry chef. George Kovach (Entente, TWO, Cochon Volant) is now cooking up new sweets including hibiscus panna cotta, "parsnip" (parsnip and apple sorbet, lemon merengue, parsnip cake), and orange flower pot du creme at the Ravenswood gem.

—Local beverage and operations stalwart Justin Anderson, who was the longtime beverage director at La Sirena Clandestina before moving on to helm the openings of 16" on Center spots The Promontory, Moneygun, Saint Lou’s Assembly, and was most recently the director of operations at Revival Food Hall, has exited and moved to Denver. Anderson is coy about what he’s working on there, only saying that he has some "announcements on the way."

—Travelle Kitchen + Bar, the upscale spot in the Langham Hotel in River North, has a new beverage director in The Netherlands native Tomas van den Boomgaard. He is an internal promotion after working in hotel hospitality in St. Lucia and Rosewood Washington D.C.

—Lincoln Park neighborhood gastropub The Monkey’s Paw has hired a veteran of Bangers & Lace, The Dawson, and Davanti Enoteca as its new chef. Adam Allen’s dishes include grilled octopus with romesco sauce and pappardelle with goat sugo.

—Longtime local bar star Erin Hayes, most recently of Lost Lake, has exited and moved to Los Angeles. She’s now a national director of education and brand advocacy at House Spirits Distillery.