REDMOND—Abby McCune is the new executive chef at Blu Sardinia, replacing Jose Laureano. For the past year McClune has been consulting for this Eastside Mediterranean restaurant; previously she was chef at Grand Central Bakery, chef and owner of Ventana, and, most recently, executive chef at Matt's Rotisserie and Oyster Lounge. In a press release, general manager Rodrigo Cardona says McCune's work has earned high respect from the team and "taken our menu to new heights." PIONEER SQUARE—As reported early this month, chef Brandon Kirksey has left Girin, Steven Han's Korean steakhouse and ssam bar, to join The Slanted Door team in San Francisco. Now the restaurant has announced that Byron Papatheodorou, who helped open Omega Ouzeri before transitioning to Girin, will step forward to head the kitchen. Papatheodorou attended culinary school in Greece, where he says he learned a rough side of the industry. "It was tough and scary because the kitchens in Europe have a very militaristic feel," the chef says in a release. "I'd like to promote a kitchen where everyone can put forth effort without being scared to make mistakes. You learn best by making mistakes." Expect Papatheodorou to push the robust in-house fermentation program even further, and to shift the menu toward more traditional and authentic Korean fare, "dishes that are not quite as Americanized," he promises. PORTLAND—When Damn the Weather announced that Brian Pappenfuss was taking over the kitchen and chef Eli Dahlin was moving on, it wasn't yet clear where Dahlin would end up. Turns out that Seattle's loss is Portland's gain: Eater Portland reveals that Dahlin, who also formerly held the chef de cuisine role at The Walrus and the Carpenter, will helm Dana Frank and Jane Smith's new restaurant, Dame, when it opens this summer. Expect Mediterranean- and Eastern European-inspired cuisine from Dahlin and a beautiful selection of organic wines from Frank, who was named Food and Wine's Sommelier of the Year 2015.
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Byron Papatheodorou IN at Girin
Plus Eli Dahlin heads to PDX and Blu Sardinia hires Abby McCune