French Brasserie Couvant Loses Opening Chef to the Ace Hotel

Couvant, a French brasserie that opened last August in the Eliza Jane Hotel, has lost opening chef Brad McDonald to the CBD’s Ace Hotel, where he will run the food and beverage program, reports Nola.com’s Todd Price.

Prior to running the kitchen at elegant Couvant, Eater’s 2018 winner for most gorgeous new restaurant, McDonald logged time at big name restaurants including Per Se and Noma, even opening his own barbecue restaurant in London (Shotgun), but will be making the transition out of the kitchen for his new role at the Ace Hotel.

He will oversee all the restaurants and bars at the hotel, which have recently undergone a few chef shuffles; upstairs’ Italian restaurant Josephine Estelle’s chef de cuisine Justin Koslowsky moved to serve as head chef of its oyster bar Seaworthy, after the latter restaurant’s chef left to open Justine with his former boss Justin Devillier.

Couvant’s 2018 debut was praised for its traditional brasserie menu of steak frites, roasted chicken, moules frites, foie gras, steak tartare, and more, as well as its sophisticated and intricate cocktail menu. Nola.com reports the restaurant is searching for a new head chef.

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• Chef Brad McDonald will depart recently opened Couvant [NOLA.COM]
• French Brasserie Couvant Opens Today in the Eliza Jane Hotel [ENOLA]
• The Ace Hotel Gets a New Head Chef for Its Raw Bar [ENOLA]