Atlanta loses a great chef
Bill Addison of Atlanta Magazine tweeted the news over the weekend: The Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead is losing its chef, two-time James Beard award nominee Arnaud Berthelier.
An email to the elite hotel’s public relations department confirmed that Berthelier is leaving, but would not elaborate on his replacement. I spoke with Berthelier, who also confirmed the information today. He could not, however, speak yet of his plans — only that they would not be in Atlanta. His last day at the Dining Room is October 1.
The classically trained chef joins a long line of super stars to be launched by the Ritz’s posh dining room: Guenter Seeger, Joel Antunes and Bruno Menard all began Atlanta careers helming the five-star restaurant’s kitchen; all eventually left to open their own restaurants or work over seas.
Berthelier has been with the Atlanta restaurant, a flagship for the Ritz-Carlton, for four years. In 2007 and 2008 he was nominated for the James Beard Award, the most coveted recognition in the American food world. In this photo, he’s putting the finishing touches on a dish that encompassed many of the influences he allowed for in his varied style, from African and Asian to Mediterranean: Lamb loin with an aromatic garam masala crust, sweet potato and licorice puree, roasted pear polenta and a tangy lemon froth.
I’ll update with where Berthelier is headed, as well as who might replace him, when I know more. Until then, bon chance to Berthelier.
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12 comments Add your comment
OZZFEST
September 8th, 2009
2:36 pm
Yum, $250 meals are my favorite. A carrot tastes so much better when it has a 5-star label.
Paul From Milton
September 8th, 2009
3:02 pm
They taste even better when money is no object and you don’t have to mingle with people who can’t afford them and then complain about it.
Earl
September 8th, 2009
3:35 pm
Yawnnnnnn
shankit
September 8th, 2009
4:04 pm
What’ll you have?
What’ll you have?
Heard he’s trying to get on at the Varsity.
No chance.
What'llYaHave/What'llYaHave
September 8th, 2009
4:12 pm
I’ve been to the Ritz, done that more than once, and there’s nothing coming out of that kitchen that will change the world. It’s all pretentious hyperbole that feeds the egos of a few “foodies.”
In fact, the last time I “ate” there, my wife and I left and went straight to the Varsity; nothing – nothing – beats a chili dog and onion rings.
Rod
September 8th, 2009
4:24 pm
Some folks lead pretty sad lives. When you read a blog about fine dining, go to the trouble to blog about it and then you reveal that you don’t even like (or can’t afford) fine dining – you must lead a pretty pathetic existence. Why don’t you folks go blog about something you do like – such as flashing your sisters.
Tyler Pike
September 8th, 2009
4:26 pm
People wouldn’t think he was such a good chef they ever put his food side by side with my dad’s…
I completely agree w/ you guys too about the Varsity. I used to live on their Chili Dogs when I was down visiting a bunch of my friends at GA Tech.
dave
September 8th, 2009
4:43 pm
Just a middle class family here and we celebrated my son’s 18th birthday there last year with the “Chef’s Choice” on a Saturday night in May. . . multiple interesting courses (never had lots of the items), expensive; but, we had fun and the kids and their mom and I will never forget it . . . worth every penny . . . Good luck, Chef!
sig
September 8th, 2009
9:49 pm
imo he is the best chef in atlanta. no question. amazing
Earl
September 9th, 2009
8:36 am
In case some of you have not figured it out, the blog author is a self imposed snob compensating for who knows what………
The Dining Room at the Ritz, among many others, closing | Omnivore Atlanta
September 11th, 2009
4:52 pm
[...] week the news came that chef Arnaud Berthelier would be leaving the Ritz at the beginning of October. Today, we learned that the Dining Room will not continue to operate after Berthelier leaves. Its [...]
Vicki Williams
November 24th, 2009
5:07 am
Arnaud is now at Sir Elly’s the fine dining Western restaurant at The Peninsula in Shanghai…the restaurant opened on 21 Nov, I tried a six course preview menu for media on the 20th. Most dishes were good, some not quite there yet…more tweaking to do…restaurant has fantastic views of The Bund and an outdoor terrace on top floor of the hotel.