Chef David Felton, 42, the opening executive chef of Ninety Acres restaurant in Peapack-Gladstone, has resigned his post. His last day was April 23.
“It’s been a really fun 10 years,” he said. “I look forward to spending time with my family while I work on new and exciting things.” Felton would not discuss his reason for leaving or elaborate on his future plans.
Last October, management of Ninety Acres, which is owned by entrepreneur Bob Wojtowicz, was taken over by Montage, a luxury hotel and resort management company based in Laguna Beach, California.
In early 2009, Felton left the Pluckemin Inn in Bedminster, where he was executive chef, for the opportunity to design his own kitchen in the one-time carriage house and stables on a hilltop in Somerset County’s Natirar Park. The stone buildings and nearby mansion, built circa 1910-1912, had once belonged to the King of Morocco.
As executive chef of Ninety Acres, Felton’s duties included overseeing the 135-seat a la carte restaurant, the 19-acre farm that began just beyond the kitchen’s back door, private dinners in the restaurant and also full-scale weddings in the 5,000 square-foot ballroom that was added to the mansion.
Ninety Acres first appeared on NJM’s annual Best Restaurants list (then a Top 25) in 2010. It made the list in seven of the next eight years, including 2018’s Top 30.