Oh God, not this shit again…
From him personally and from overlord David Sidoo, all I’ve gotten have been saccharine roses (“He’s not going anywhere” is the basic message line). I’ve heard different things from staff, though, who never seem to see him around anymore and talk as if he’s found a way out.
I believe it.
I received this in the mailbag today, a press release from Gold Medal Plates:
The following chefs have been selected by Vancouver’s top food and wine critics and will compete for gold, silver and bronze medals:
Javier Alarco – Hyatt Regency Vancouver
Robert Belcham – Fuel
Melissa Craig – Bearfoot Bistro, Whistler
Kevin Doucette – The Westin Bayshore
Rob Feenie – Independent
David Hawksworth – West
Scott Jaeger – The Pear Tree
Jay Lynn – Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa
Dale MacKay – Lumiere
Lee Parsons – Wedgewood
Stefan Pimenta – Le Gavroche
Pino Posteraro – Cioppino’s
Nico Schuermans – Chambar
Hmm. So is that it? Out with a leaked whimper or is everything still gravy? The Sidoos are hosting a big shindig for media up in Whistler during Cornucopia…is that when they’ll finally announce a change?
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The Lumiere website has the Sidoos listed as Owners and Feenie as Executive Chef. Foodtv’s recent profile of Feenie gave alot of coverage to Rob – but did not mention the Sidoos at all. Weird.
I can’t imagine Lumiere really making a go of it without Rob. Though he takes alot of criticisms – he’s the real deal when it comes to cooking.
Who cares about the Sidoos? They are grotesque caricatures of star-hitchers who’ve bought their way into Vancouver’s so-called “society”.
When Marc-Andre and Jeremie left Rob was totally adrift in the kitchen. He’s not the “real deal” everyone thinks he is. It should have been Iron Chef Choquette.
He’s been fhired? WTF, I am so confused.
On the gold medal plates website and the chefs competing for 2007 it does not say anything about rob feenie running for independent or dale mackay for lumiere. has this not been made public yet??
on another note,…
i think regardless of what happens to rob feenie in his culinary career at the lumiere/feenie’s empire, he has earned whatever he decides to do. he built those places with his knowledge and technique, and his NAME. the whole point is that he’s hired credible chef de cuisines to effectively run his ideas. who knows if it’s still his menus or not.
he has kids and a family. just leave him be. it’ll be the talk of the town if and when something happens, and those restaurants may not survive without him.
It’s from a press release that was sent out this morning (the GMP site hasn’t been updated yet).
Rob just contacted me assuring me that the “independent” thing is a mistake and that he’s representing Lumiere. So the GMP has two chefs competing from the same restaurant? If that’s true then it’s very odd! He added that he’s taking time off to work on the next Feenie’s cookbook.
I’m going to wrap these comments up so we don’t get anonymous cranks spouting off again. People on the record are more than welcome to spout in the forum’s Trade Winds thread.
UPDATE: GMP National Culinary Advisor James Chatto just sent all the GMP Vancouver judges a note saying Rob isn’t there as an “independent” but will be with working with Mackay for Lumiere.
As for the staff members who’ve been saying that he’s left…Rob steadfastly maintains it’s probably just a misunderstanding due to the book writing sabbatical.
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