Dish Flash
Failure to Communicate
Today’s big news: Roland Liccioni, who put Le Français back on the map in the nineties, is apparently leaving Old Town Brasserie (1209 N. Wells St.; 312-943-3000) just before Christmas. “I’m going to France to visit my mother, take some time off,” Liccioni says. After that, he has no plans, but would like to stay in Chicago. Bob Djahanguiri, OTB’s owner, sees it differently. “I told him, ‘You go to France and when you come back we will sit down. And if you agree with my agreement, we will work together.’ . . . Roland is a great chef but the restaurant is not just the food. Honestly, he wants to stay.” During Liccioni’s absence, Andy Motto, a Charlie Trotter’s veteran who has worked with Liccioni for 12 years, is handling the kitchen in Old Town. Liccioni gave his notice last month—“handled it professionally,” says Djahanguiri—but during the ensuing weeks, Djahanguiri says, the two have tried to work out an agreement, a claim that Liccioni finds baffling. “If he wants to negotiate, I don’t know because he hasn’t said anything to me,” Liccioni says. “In my mind I know I’m leaving. That’s it.” Jeez, someone get these two a mediator. Communicate, boys!
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Reader Comments:
That's it!?? We've got restaurants closing, struggling, and all you got is RL is going to France?
Anonymous 10:38. Are you kidding? Did you read the last Dish column? Full of closings and struggling, etc. Quit your whining.
Roland is as important to the chicago culinary scene as any of the chefs that put us on the map . i.e; Banchet , Trotter, Mantuano ,Yoshi Etc. It is a shame most owners ,who are usually front of house veterans dont realize what they have until it is gone . Give Roland praise for leaving his understudy of 12 years behind and not taking him with. a gift the owner surely does not understand
Do your research! Andy Motto has been fired or released everywhere he's been, because he is mediocre in the culinary world. I would expect OTB to be closed by Valentine's Day. Do not make your reservations or you will be eating at McDonald's.
Roland is a pip-squeak, plain and simple. He has no people skills and his food has not changed in at least 10 years! Do us all a favor and stay in France.
Why are you all so callous? Chef Roland is a wonderful person who represents a period in American haute cuisine that not many chefs can say they were a part of. He has inspired, taught, and educated many people and should be commended. Andy Motto is a wonderful cook and should be acknowledge for his work at Le Lan. Diving further into negative character attributes would be childish and not helpful. I am sure that both people will be successful in the future. The rift in their relationship represent the results of an unprofessional work environment that came in between two old friends. Who are we to judge either of them? Look into yourselves and figure out why name calling is deemed appropriate behavior.
History never celebrates the usurper.
This is truely an unfortunate situation. We wish all parties the best and look forward to following the careers of both of these talented chefs.
Where do I go for The Chestnut Soup now?
i wonder if the posters of the bitter comments ever worked in a professional kitchen. p.s taking pot shots at someone anonymously does not really count for much.
I think the reason the person accusing us of not doing our research is writing as "anonymous" because he/she doesn't want to be sued for defamation of character. Andy Motto has never been fired from anywhere...and enjoys a wonderful and professional relationship with all former bosses, chefs, and fellow kitchen folks. We are all in for quite a treat!
This is actually hilarious. Only this Phoebe person has a clue about the world of restaurants... Motto has a great reputation and is considered a 'throw down chef' by many of the serious chefs in Chicago. Furthermore, both these men have worked together for 12 years and deserve a bit more credit, as they are both quite talented culinarians.
andy and roland are BOTH talented chefs and good people. let roland go back to france take a vacation, i bet you people take a break once in awhile, chef's rarely get to. Let andy get behind the stoves again, he is way too young and talented to be making judgements yet.
Maybe if the French Chef's of Chicago would learn to keep their "manhood" where it belongs they wouldn't have so many problems. Everyone wants to be like Banchet in every way. Sad.
Roland will be missed. I hope he enjoys his visit to France. And wherever he turns up in Chicago I will be there. It's amazing OTB let him go.