Chris Arturo will be the chef at Ani Ramen House, 218 Newark Avenue in Jersey City, which is expected to open in the late fall. Chef Arturo, a New Jersey native, began cooking professionally in 2009 after attending the French Culinary Institute (now ICC) in New York City. His love of Asian cuisine was fostered in his first job with longtime Jean George’s veteran, chef Josh “Shorty” Eden. In 2010, Chris returned to New Jersey to work at Passionne, Upstairs, Pig & Prince, Villalobos and Nico Kitchen+Bar, finishing there as chef de cuisine. In these roles, he honed his culinary skills and gained an appreciation of local farms and livestock, butchery and charcuterie. In addition, he has consulted on several menus, including Cowan’s Public House. Further pursuing his passion for Asian cuisine, Chris was active in a successful pop-up concept in Montclair, New Jersey called Ronin Ramen. With the little time he has outside of the kitchen, he is always on a quest to find delicious ramen throughout the NYC area. Arturo will work alongside Ani Ramen’s chef/partner Julian Valencia.
BRYAN GREGG
Escape in Montclair ,which opened in the spring of 2013 has closed. Chef/owner Bryan Gregg, wrote the following in a press release: “We’ve decided not to renew our lease in Montclair as it comes due in November. My focus has been fully dedicated to my new venture, Tastes by Bryan Gregg. Our first location opened in September in West Orange, NJ (235 Prospect Avenue, West Orange) with one more to be announced soon. I’m just not able to spend the countless hours that are required to successfully run Escape. Escape has taken me on a journey peppered with pride and joy and I’ll miss my first venture as I move forward into my next. I want to thank my loyal clientele and the numerous people who’ve helped make Escape a success over these last three years. I can’t wait to welcome everyone at Tastes by Bryan Gregg.”
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