Chef Shuffle

New Chefs Announced at Le Virtu and Lacroix

Chef Joseph Cicala
Chef Joseph Cicala Photo: Le Virtu

East Passyunk Avenue’s Le Virtu recently hired Joseph Cicala as it’s new executive chef. Cicala replaces Luciana Spurio, the restaurant’s opening chef, and will begin rolling out newly revamped menus this week. Cicala, a suburban Washington D.C. native, trained under Roberto Donna at D.C.’s Galileo following his two year apprenticeship at Michelin starred Chef Pietro Rispoli’s Ristorante Al Cenacolo in Salerno, Italy. He also spent some time working for Mario Batali at Del Posto in New York, and was most recently the Executive Chef at Palio Ristorante in Leesburg, VA.

In other chef changes, Lacroix at The Rittenhouse promoted Chef Jonathan Cichon, former sous chef, up to Executive Restaurant Chef. His promotion comes just as the restaurant prepares to say so long to outgoing chef de cuisine, Jason Chichonski, who is leaving to open his restaurant. Chef Chichon has been rising through Lacroix’s kitchen ranks since 2005.

New Chefs Announced at Le Virtu and Lacroix