Galatoire's Still Searching for New Executive Chef

This isn't exactly breaking news, but French Quarter landmark, Galatoire's?one of the more respectable Bourbon Street establishments?is still without a chef. Now former-executive chef Gerry Middleton served his last oysters en brochette last Wednesday night, stepping down abruptly after only 4 months on the job. Middleton had previously been the sous chef at the grand dame of New Orleans restaurants, until April, when executive chef Brian Landry stepped down to hang out with the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board.

Galatoire's won the 2005 James Beard Award for Most Outstanding Restaurant (kind of a big deal) and is the perpetual winner of accolades with names like "Best French Quarter Restaurant." They're apparently weathering the storm quite nicely, though, according to CEO Melvin Rodrigue: "We have a pretty deep bench (in the kitchen), so we should be okay for a while.”

· Galatoire's Executive Chef Steps Down After Four Months on the Job [TP]