J.P. Challet leaves the Windsor Arms (for the third time)
The partnership between chef J.P. Challet and the Windsor Arms has come to an end…again. Last spring, Challet closed up Ici Bistro and transplanted the popular Harbord Street spot, along with its French fare, into the swanky hotel. Now, after seven months as the executive chef for Ici by J.P. Challet, Challet has called it quits. In a press release, Challet said he has left the Windsor Arms, citing a “divergence in vision” between himself and the hotel. George Friedmann, the owner and president of the Windsor Arms, confirms that Challet chose to leave and that the hotel’s restaurant is now serving guests from a “new comprehensive menu that features components of previous menus” (including some selections from Challet’s French bistro-style menu). Meanwhile, Challet himself is taking a one-month leave (in France, naturally) to “recharge his batteries” and “come back to something he feels great about attaching his name to.” Our guess is that the “something” won’t be the Windsor Arms, but it seems the history between these two does have a way of repeating (three-peating?) itself.
&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/challet-624x395.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_262012" align="alignnone" width="656"] (Image: left, J.P. Challet/Facebook; right, Windsor Arms/Facebook)[/caption]
The partnership between chef J.P. Challet and the Windsor Arms has come to an end...again. Last spring, Challet closed up Ici Bistro and transplanted the popular Harbord Street spot, along with its French fare, into the swanky hotel. Now, after seven months as the executive chef for Ici by J.P. Challet, Challet has called it quits. In a press release, Challet said he has left the Windsor Arms, citing a "divergence in vision" between himself and the hotel. George Friedmann, the owner and president of the Windsor Arms, confirms that Challet chose to leave and that the hotel's restaurant is now serving guests from a "new comprehensive menu that features components of previous menus" (including some selections from Challet's French bistro-style menu). Meanwhile, Challet himself is taking a one-month leave (in France, naturally) to "recharge his batteries" and "come back to something he feels great about attaching his name to." Our guess is that the "something" won't be the Windsor Arms, but it seems the history between these two does have a way of repeating (three-peating?) itself.){kind=link}
The Windsor Arms has gone downhill over the past while. The fact that it offers groupons makes me wonder how long it will hang on…
“We are never, ever, ever getting back together!”
Agreed. They’ve been offering them since 2011, if my memory is serving me well.
My prediction is that the building will be bought by a condo developer, refurbished, and marketed as “a piece of history”.
It seems there have been a lot of chefs leaving or closing shop this year. Between Ursa, Yours Truly and now Hudson there seams to be a shift in the culinary scene in Toronto. I just heard the CDC for Bar Isabel has left as well. Where are these chef’s going? I’ve heard roomers about these chefs opening new places, let’s hear some new stories about what’s upcoming from these guys!! We’re lucky to have such an active scene here in Toronto, let’s hear more about the future of these guys!
CDC? Someone please translate
Chef de Cuisine.
Chief of the kitchen