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The Ever-Expanding Roy Choi Empire: Kogi's Founding Chef Replaces Jamie Lauren at Beechwood
Roy Choi inside the KogiBBQ truck (Tom Andrews/LAist)
Some kitchen switch-upping to report from Venice's Beechwood. Leaving her post is SF-to-L.A. transplant and former Top Cheftestant Jamie Lauren, who took over the head cheffing duties there just last October. In her stead, local culinary empresario and "stoner cuisine" guru Roy Choi, the man behind the seminal Kogi BBQ truck, Chego!, and A-Frame.Squid Ink has some details:
Owner Dave Reiss has asked Choi to step in and "provide some new direction for the kitchen while making plans to renovate and update the dining space," according to Alice Shin, Choi's PR and Twitter maven. Get ready for Choi's most American menu to date, one that's "laid-back, beachy and contemporary, while expressing some of the classic idiosyncrasies of Roy's imagination."
No word yet on what Lauren's next move will be. In February, Lauren was one of the four L.A. chefs up for Food & Wine's "The People's Best New Chef" for the region (she lost to Ricardo Zarate, alas). Of the chefs named to top honors by the mag itself in 2010, Choi was named Best New Chef overall.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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