JOSH THOMSEN OF AGRICOLA EATERY IN PRINCETON
Executive chef Josh Thomsen of Agricola Eatery, 11 Witherspoon St, Princeton (609-921-2798), has been invited to cook at the Ninth Annual Starchefs.com International Chefs Congress that will be held in Brooklyn from October 26 to 28. This culinary symposium includes 100 of the world’s most innovative chefs, pastry chefs, mixologists, and sommeliers who will impart to their colleagues the latest techniques and culinary concepts. This year’s theme is Cooking Honest: The Power of Authenticity in the Kitchen. Thomsen will be presenting two dishes to the competing sommeliers in the “Somm Slam” competition, where contestants will race to the wine cellar and select what they think is the best wine for the dish. Five somms who display the most poise and knowledge in defending their pairing will move on to Day 2.
Executive chef Josh Thomsen
Photo courtesy of Quentin Bacon.
CHEF WILL MOONEY
Chef Will Mooney owner of The Brothers Moon, 7 W Broad St, Hopewell, has redecorated his restaurant, which features a seasonal menu as well as daily specials. The deli area is now a sitting area they call the "dessert café." Chef Mooney is involved with Food Day and will feature food from the following farms through October 24: corn and late tomatoes from Sansone’s; greens, hard squash, and garlic from Chickadee Creek; and mushrooms from Shibumi Farm. A portion of monies will be donated to the Suppers Program, whose mission is to provide safe and friendly settings where anyone can develop and manage their personal transitions to a healthier life. Reservations: 609-333-1330; BYO.
VONDA MCPHERSON
Vonda Mcpherson is the executive chef at the newly opened Duke’s Southern Table (11 Clinton Street, Newark; 862-763-5757), offering Southern, Low Country and American cuisine.
CHRISTINE NUNN AND JOHN KEYSER
Chef/owner Christine Nunn has opened Picnic on the Square, 26 Wilsey Square, Ridgewood (201-444-4001); BYO. Nunn was the chef/owner of Picnic in Fair Lawn from 2010 to 2013, which received rave reviews and was named as one of the Top 25 restaurants in the state by New Jersey Monthly in 2011 and 2012. John Keyser, previously from Picnic in Fair Lawn and Grange in Westwood, is sous chef.
GINA PETRUZZELLI AND DILIAN SARMIENTO
Gina Petruzzelli and Dilian Sarmiento are the chef/owners of Sweet & Flour, 300 Front St, Secaucus, a bakery that offers custom cakes, cake pops, cupcakes and a variety of desserts (201-552-2678).
Do you know of any chefs who have changed jobs? If so, e-mail the details to [email protected]. Be sure to include the chef’s name, former restaurant affiliation, where they are working now, or what they are doing in the interim.