Modern Spanish chef and former graffiti artist Jesús Nuñez tells Grub Street he has left the kitchens at the two West Village restaurants where he was chef. “Hector Sanz and I have mutually decided to part ways,” Nuñez writes in a statement, referring to the restaurants’ owner. “As a result, I am no longer involved with Barraca and Melibea. I’m so proud of the work we’ve accomplished there together over the past year and wish Hector and the team nothing but success in the future.”
Barraca opened in September and Melibea, which specialized in unusual pairings, like octopus and braised oxtail put to work with spring vegetables in a hearty pasta stew, opened in April.
“There are a number of concepts and ideas that I’m interested in pursuing,” Nuñez tells Grub Street, adding that he’s recently returned from a trip to Spain to see family and that he’s feeling “more inspired now than ever before.” The chef is currently developing new projects. In the meantime, Pamplona and Bouley vet Alex Ureña, who is currently the chef at Rayuela, also owned by Sanz, will take the reins of the two West Village spots.
Earlier: What to Eat at Melibea, Jesus Nuñez’s Newest West Village Restaurant
