Omnivore - Nick Melvin leaves Empire State South
Drama abounds
Wow. Here's some hot news blazing its way around the Intertubes: Nick Melvin is already departing Hugh Acheson's Empire State South where he has been chef de cuisine since the restaurant's opening a couple of weeks ago.
Melvin left Parish to take the position at the new restaurant. Rumor is that he's being replaced by Ryan Smith, formerly of Restaurant Eugene and Holeman and Finch.
"Atlanta chefs are going out of their way in real life to outdo the drama on 'Top Chef'," a restaurateur (who shall remain nameless) told me this week. That seems a bit harsh but the job hopping is pretty damn relentless. Why?