Stephen Vardy to leave Beckta

[CharityCase]

Stephen is leaving Beckta to work as Executive chef with Caroline and the rest of the team at Par-Fyum in Hull.

I'm suprised that he's not venturing off on his own but he's still young and maybe doesn't have the funds for it just yet. I'll be interested to see who fills his shoes.

Edited August 28, 2006 by CharityCase (log)

[jmcnally]

Best of luck to him. It's kind of a shame since I have only been able to get to Beckta once. I hope they can find someone just as talented to fill his, er, hat.

[Worldly]

I also was only to Bekta once, but very much appreciated their tasting menu and associated wine pairings. Perhaps next time up we'll try at Par-Fyum. Certainly worth a try.

Edited August 29, 2006 by Worldly (log)

[AshleyW]

I am a bit disappointed to read this news. Stephen Beckta and Stephen Vardy make a good team and this is what Beckta is about.

Chef John Leung is also the co-owner. Having two executive chefs in the same restaurant may be good or bad. We will have to see how it goes. Time will tell.

[George W.]

Chef Vardy's replacement is current Sous, Mike Moffat. Also, John Leung is no longer a co-owner he is sticking with his other position as the Chef at the British High Commissioner's residence. Caroline Gosselin bought out her partners at par-fyum.

[AshleyW]

Have any one tried Beckta and Par-fyum recently after the changes in chefs?

[AshleyW]

Have any one tried Beckta and Par-fyum recently after the changes in chefs?

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As you all know that Steven Vardy has left Par-fyum. Do you know which restaurant Steven is going to?

[Bueno]

Actually, he left Beckta and went to Par-fyum.

[AshleyW]

Actually, he left Beckta and went to Par-fyum.

←

I know. But he is leaving after 4 months at Par-fyum. Ottawa Citizen mentions it last week. But I don't know where he is going this time.

[Bueno]

See, now that I didn't know. I assumed that when you said "as you all know" you were talking about the information who do indeed know from this thread. This is the first mention of him leaving Par-fyum.

[George W.]

The Ottawa Citizen note (November 29, 2006) stated:

"Chef Stephen Vardy, 2006 winner of Chef of the Year Epicurean Award, will be leaving his position Friday as executive chef at Par-fyum Bistro Moderne in Gatineau (Hull) after a three-month stint. Mr. Vardy will announce a new venture soon. He is being replaced by sous-chef Che Chartrand."

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[CharityCase]

The Ottawa Citizen note (November 29, 2006) stated:

"Chef Stephen Vardy, 2006 winner of Chef of the Year Epicurean Award, will be leaving his position Friday as executive chef at Par-fyum Bistro Moderne in Gatineau (Hull) after a three-month stint. Mr. Vardy will announce a new venture soon. He is being replaced by sous-chef Che Chartrand."

- - -

←

My best guess, and I hope I'm right, is that in his 3 months he managed to gather enough investors to launch his own restaurant. It probably has little to do with clashes in the kitchen as he was given full reign, I think it's just his time to enter the marketplace and he needed to do some work on finding the startup costs.

[AshleyW]

I heard different thing. I heard that Steve is going to work for another restaurant in Ottawa. Let's wait and see.

Edited December 9, 2006 by AshleyW (log)

[George W.]

On December 13 the Ottawa Citizen reported that Vardy is now the EC of Whalesbone Oyster, 430 Bank Street. Also, starting in February he will offer (through Whalesbone) once-a-month fine dining evenings at his home on Quebec.