Douglas Bernstein, last seen at Eccolo and who’s been in the kitchen for the past two months at Bacar, is taking over for Michael Miller as Bacar’s executive chef. Miller had only been there two months, and the restaurant has had a generally tumultuous year and a half, with Morgan Mueller moving on to Jardinière in September, and, as Eater reported, a major personnel shuffle in the fall of ‘08 following the departure of then exec chef Robbie Lewis. To top it off, in March, Bacar became embroiled in the Madoff scandal when federal investigators went seeking proof that Ruth Madoff – who randomly became an investor in the restaurant in 1999 – had divested herself of any interest in the property. The place has survived the tumult, not to mention an ailing economy with fewer business diners, and Bernstein will be unveiling fresh menus within weeks.
Bacar Names New Chef [Eater]
EARLIER: Chef Shuffles Shake Jardienere, Ame [Grub Street]
Investor Trying to Get Bacar Off Feds’ Menu [Chron]
Chef Robbie Lewis, GM Mickey Clevenger Out at Bacar [Eater]
