Why Frigerio left
If you read my Table Talk column this morning, you know about my phone interview with the former chef of Cinghiale, Stefano Frigerio, who arrived with such fanfare from Maestro in Virginia and now has left, ostensibly for family reasons.
The new restaurant is the most sought-for keyword on this blog, so I gather there are plenty of readers who want whatever news I have about the place -- in spite of the readers who are fed up with the Foreman-Wolf empire. (See yesterday's comments.) Believe me, I sympathize with your side of it, too.
Anyway, I also talked to the restaurant's owner, Tony Foreman over the phone about the change, but his comments didn't make it into the Table Talk column. I promised I would include them here. ...
...I asked why Frigerio had left, and Foreman mentioned the chef's needing to spend more time with his family first. But he also said that "there were some differences in execution — some things I felt needed adjusting."
Frigerio, for instance, had been used to doing tasting portions, something some customers had been grumbling about. Portions, according to Foreman, are now bigger.
"He's a talented guy," Foreman said. "But I have a very particular idea I'm trying to pursue, and I'm single-minded about it."
New since Frigerio left, a prezzo frisso of three courses has been added consisting of anything on the main menu for $48, $70 paired with the appropriate wines. It's to encourage people to eat in the traditional Italian manner.
(Amy Davis/Sun Photographer)
Comments
Foreman - Single-minded - I never would have guessed.
Posted by: David | November 21, 2007 12:49 PM
I may not care for the guy but he has a right to run his business the way he wants. He has a vision of what he wants his restaurant to be and is going to make sure it happens.
Posted by: J.H. | November 22, 2007 7:15 AM
Ate their last night for my birthday and had a wonderful experience. We will not be waiting for a big occasion to go back, any ole day I want a great meal and great service we will be heading there.
Posted by: Selina | November 27, 2007 10:54 AM