Former Henley Executive Chef RJ Cooper Lands in Brentwood

BRENTWOOD - RJ Cooper, who abruptly exited the kitchen at Midtown restaurant Henley back in January after leading it as opening executive chef, has landed as chef at Brentwood restaurant Ludlow & Prime. Located at 330 Franklin Rd. Suite 226 B, the restaurant opened last May in the former home of Cross Corner Bar & Grill in the Brentwood Place shopping center. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner six days a week with a menu of steaks, seafood, oysters, and other fare. [EaterWire]

DOWNTOWN - Gray & Dudley executive chef Levon Wallace will be parting ways with the 21c Museum Hotel restaurant later this spring. Wallace, who previously was the chef for 21c’s Louisville restaurant Proof on Main before coming to Nashville to open a now-shuttered outpost of Cochon Butcher, tells the Scene that he will remain at 21c until at least the middle of May. Wallace hasn’t yet revealed his future plans but does promise that he will be staying in Nashville. [Nashville Scene]

SOBRO - Simon Bowker has been named as executive chef for the massive new JW Marriott hotel slated to open downtown later this summer. Bowker previously spent nearly 10 years in the kitchen at the iconic Foutainebleau Miami Beach luxury hotel, most recently as executive sous chef. He will help oversee San Francisco chef and restaurateur Michael Mina’s first Tennessee venture, an outpost of Bourbon Steak, along with the southern-leaning restaurant Stompin’ Grounds. [EaterWire]

DOWNTOWN - Slated to open later this spring, the Bobby Hotel has named Jeff Axline as its executive chef. Axline, who will oversee four food and beverage outlets - Tavern at Bobby, the Rooftop Lounge, Café at Bobby, and Bobby’s Garage Bar - previously worked as executive chef and director of food and beverage for BENCHMARK hospitality company, as well as helming the kitchen at Hotel Zaza in Houston, Texas. [EaterWire]