A Breath of Fresh Air - Dusek's Update

As most of you remember, earlier this week I broke the news that Ryan Pfeiffer was leaving 16” on Center as culinary director.

I also mentioned I’d update you if I got any more info. New info has rolled in.

16” on Center partner Bruce Finkelman followed up and told me “Ryan was with us for almost a year, and I would be happy to work with him again anytime.  He left because he finished the task at hand, and had some stuff going on which I feel is his business to tell, and not mine.  Maybe we'll hire another culinary director someday, if we find someone we like as much as Ryan.”

Pfeiffer was also gracious enough to share his side of things. He said, “Yes, I left 16 on Center. When I started I was given the task to revamp Dusek’s kitchen and menu and hire a new chef. After I was able to get Geoff (Thompson) on board and acclimated and reformat the menus. I let Geoff take the reigns and was amazed with what he was doing and I felt like it was in a way better place than when I started. With my new child and my own business I was stretching myself very thin and I was feeling it. I had a conversation with Bruce about it and we both decided that it was the right move for me to focus on family and Big Kids. I still love the company and the people I worked with, but just found myself overwhelmed, so I made the decision to focus on family and my business.”

So there you have it. I appreciate both parties being transparent and sharing this information. I applaud Pfeiffer for putting in place a great tasting menu at Dusek’s with his partner Thompson.

More importantly, I love that Pfeiffer realized he was stretched thin, something every chef and every parent of young children recognizes as a challenge under the best of circumstances, and he made what was likely a difficult decision many of us might be afraid to make. I also appreciate that Finkelman and 16” on Center were gracious with giving the right space and helping with the outcome.

I don’t know if you saw the Crain’s article on Maple and Ash’s partners allegedly misusing PPP funds for personal expenses, but I hope we’re moving away from shenanigans like that in the industry, and more toward the kind of mutual respect and managing of limitations that Finkelman and Pfeiffer displayed at Dusek’s.

I got a hot new review coming this weekend. Likely tomorrow or potentially Saturday morning depending on how revision of my draft goes today. Free subscribers, this one is for paid subscribers only, so do yourself a favor, drop $5 and get in on this party. It will be spectacular, I promise.