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A shuffle at one of Randolph Row’s promising recent openings has given a Loop hotspot one of Chicago’s top Latin-focused chefs. Cory Morris, who made his name under Jose Garces at Mercat a la Planxa and Rural Society, has left Ronero in the West Loop to become chef de cuisine at Latin rooftop hotspot Boleo in the Kimpton Gray hotel, Morris says.
Morris says he decided to leave Ronero “a couple weeks ago” and is working on revamping the menus at Boleo, which he hopes will become available later in the fall. “Right now the menu has a strong Peruvian influence,” he says. “I will focus more on Argentina now that it's going into the winter months. It's still going to be street food-inspired and a fun dining experience but I'll draw from my experience at Rural Society to showcase heartier foods.”
There’s more news at Boleo too, as the rooftop restaurant and bar which opened in late August 2016 under Peruvian chef de cuisine Alexis Hernandez technically has two new chefs. Brian Millman, who had been the executive chef at Atwood and the Allegro Hotel, has slid over to become the executive chef at Boleo. The Allegro and Boleo are Kimpton properties and Atwood was previously a Kimpton property. Morris says he has “full control” over Boleo’s menus.
As far as Ronero goes, Morris says his former sous chef Trevor Cole has taken over the executive chef position at the bi-level Latin restaurant and cocktail bar. There’s no word yet of any possible menu changes. Longtime local hospitality vet Nils Westlind opened Ronero early this year, garnering hit-and-miss reviews, and it also lost its beverage director less than two months in.
UPDATE: Ronero owner Nils Westlind submitted a statement about the chef change: “We wish Cory nothing but the best in his new endeavors. We are grateful to have had his creativity and talent when opening Ronero and are incredibly excited to promote Trevor Cole, formerly of Chicago Cut, to executive chef.” He’s working on a new fall menu as well, a rep says.
