William Werner OUT at Quince; New Chicago Pastry Chef IN

After coming aboard Team Tusk approximately a year ago, hotshot pastry chef William Werner has parted ways with Quince. Now, Werner is surely one of the top pastry chefs in town, though it's probably fair to suggest that his progressive dessert program didn't always seamlessly fit with the Quince theme. And, for what it's worth, the desserts were the only hiccup in Bauer's 3.5-star rave in December, so take that as you will. The official word is that Werner left to pursue his own "professional endeavor."

As of today, taking the title of Quince's executive pastry chef is Joel Reno, last seen at Chicago's Everest in Chicago, where he had been for the past five years. Classically French trained, Reno's first dessert menu will roll out next week, and looks to be more closely aligned to the Tusk train of thought, with "enlightened classic" Italian/French desserts and the like.
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