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The A Voce Mystery: Here’s What We Know

We’re still trying to get to the bottom of the mystery of Andrew Carmellini’s future at A Voce, but getting information from either party is almost impossible, owing no doubt to what must be an ongoing negotiation. Ownership has released only this terse statement to Grub Street:

New York (April 29, 2008) - Marlon Abela, chairman of Marlon Abela Restaurant Corporation (MARC), owner of A Voce, where Andrew Carmellini is the executive chef, announced today that a second location of A Voce will open in New York City in the Time Warner Center in the space currently occupied by Café Gray in early 2009.

Well, there’s a bit more to it than that. Ownership has somehow come up with the idea of entering one of the most expensive and daunting spaces in the city at the very moment that they are in hazy relations with the chef on whose reputation the entire credibility of the place rests.

Here’s what we know, however, based on what we’ve heard through the restaurant grapevine — all of it off the record, and none of it from sources immediately close to either ownership or Carmellini:

1. David Rockwell is designing the interior.

2. The rumor about Manual Trevino being considered has something to it; he was spotted going into the kitchen by a sharp-eyed customer who recognized him from Top Chef.

3. AC may be out, but he’s not out yet. He’s still at A Voce cooking every day, although refusing to answer any questions.

Earlier:
Help Wanted at A Voce?

The A Voce Mystery: Here’s What We Know