Chicago Chef Dale Levitski Is Nashville-Bound

It's rumor confirmation time: Chicago chef Dale Levitski is indeed moving to Nashville. That's right, the Top Chef alum and James Beard Award nominee is making the switch to helm an as-yet-unannounced restaurant slated for the Melrose Theater portion of the newly redeveloped Melrose property on 8th Avenue. Via press release, Levitski says the following about the move:

I am thrilled to be joining one of the hottest food scenes in the country[.] While Chicago will always be my beloved hometown, what really excites me about Nashville is the energy and support for the culinary scene. More specifically, the team behind the project, the space in which it will grow, and the high quality of service are all in line with my goals, and I know it's going to be a fantastic result.

The project, of which scant details have been released, is a partnership between Ryman Hospitality Properties CEO Colin Reed, sons Sam and Ed Reed, Q-Juan Taylor and M.L. Rose owner Austin Ray. Colin Reed states that "[i]t was very quickly evident that [Levitski] was the ideal talent for this project" and that "[w]hen he began discussing his vision for the food, it was as if he had a script of conversations we'd had internally."

Levitski, who was a runner-up on Season 3 of Top Chef, most recently helmed Sprout and Frog N Snail restaurants in Chicago. After parting ways with both last October, he spent time as a guest chef at Montana's The Resort at Paws Up.
· Is Top Chef Alum Dale Levitski Headed For Nashville? [-ENSH-]
· All Dale Levitski Coverage [Eater Chicago]
[Photo Eater Chicago]