Four-star Oriole (661 W. Walnut St.) will lose two key team members, when pastry chef Genie Kwon and chef de cuisine Tim Flores depart at the end of the month.
“I think from the very beginning, I had a clear vision of what I wanted to accomplish,” Kwon said. “As chefs and artists, we’ve achieved more than that. Tim and I realized we have different dreams (to pursue), and we leave knowing we’ve built a really strong team.”
While acknowledging the loss of two big talents, Oriole chef/owner Noah Sandoval said the change would be a positive one.
“It’s definitely positive for everybody,” he said. “I obviously couldn’t have done this (Oriole) without her, but you can’t stay in something forever. I mean, this is where I’m going to be forever, but it’s unrealistic to expect that of everybody else.”
Kwon and Flores will be replaced from within, Sandoval said. Pastry sous-chef Courtney Kenyon will be promoted to pastry chef, and Mariya Russell will move up to the chef de cuisine position.
“We have people ready to grow, and this is a great opportunity for them,” Sandoval said. “Courtney has a great foundation already; she’ll take control of day-to-day production. I’ve got some ideas, but it will be a total collaboration.”
And whither Kwon and Flores, who, by the way, are engaged?
“We have some ideas that are in conceptual development right now,” Kwon said. “But we’re open to other projects if they seem right for us.”
pvettel@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @PhilVettel
