Chef Miguel Valdez Leaves The Red Door & Wellington

After three years at The Wellington Steak & Martini Lounge and The Red Door Restaurant & Wine Bar, executive chef Miguel Valdez tells Eater that it was just his time to move on.

Valdez, who was a recipient of The National Restaurant Association's Faces of Diversity Award earlier this year, says that he loves reinventing and modernizing old dishes. While considering his next move, Valdez helping chef colleagues with special events; he'll be in the kitchen at the Chad White pop-up at Toast Enoteca tonight, and hopes to ultimately stay in the San Diego market.

Owner Trish Watlington shares that Valdez had been co-cheffing with Karrie Hills, who will now step into the executive chef role. Hills graduated from San Francisco's California Culinary Academy and headed up the kitchen at Paso Robles Inn & Steakhouse and Panolivo in Paso Robles.
· The Red Door Restaurant & Wine Bar [Official Site]
· All Chef Shuffles on Eater [~ESD~]

[Miguel Valdez, courtesy photo]