Chef Shuffle

Tony Esnault is Named Patina’s New Exec Chef

Chef Esnault
Chef Esnault

Joachim Splichal has concluded his personal search for a new exec chef at his flagship restaurant, Patina in Downtown L.A., and has named chef Tony Esnault to the position. In a letter from Splichal himself, in which our names have cleverly been inserted after a much appreciated “Dear,” we learn that chef Tony has at least one killer reference. Splichal writes, “it was at a casual lunch this summer with my good friend Alain Ducasse at my home in Biarritz…I shared with Alain the difficulties I’d had finding the right chef for Patina and he insisted right then…that I meet Tony.” Esnault has a long history with Ducasse and most recently cooked in his New York restaurant Adour. Of Splichal, Esnault says he is “honored to be working with such an esteemed master chef.” See chef Joachim Splichals’ announcement letter below.

“Dear X,

After a long search, I am very happy to announce the appointment of Tony Esnault as Executive Chef at my flagship downtown restaurant, Patina. It has taken almost a year to find the right chef for Patina, but it was well worth the wait. Tony is a phenomenal chef who has worked at some of the world’s best restaurants, including Auberge de L’Ill in Alsace, Louis XV in Monaco and Essex House in New York, and I’m excited to welcome him to Patina.

Though I have interviewed countless chefs in search of the right fit for Patina over the past year, it was at a casual lunch this summer with my good friend Alain Ducasse at my home in Biarritz where the connection with Tony was made. I shared with Alain the difficulties I’d had finding the right chef for Patina and he insisted right then and there that I meet Tony, who has worked with him since 1996 and opened Adour in New York.

Tony will begin to work closely with me in late September and he will develop a new Patina menu that marries our individual styles and techniques. With his extraordinary pedigree and his truly outstanding cooking, I know that Tony will influence and grow the Patina kitchen.

The entire staff and I welcome Tony to Los Angeles and to his new position as Executive Chef at Patina. We all look forward to what we know will be an excellent new chapter at Patina as we begin the celebration of our 20th year.

Sincerely,

Joachim Splichal
Chef and Founder
Patina Group

Tony Esnault is Named Patina’s New Exec Chef