News flash: renowned local chef Mark Militello is out at Trina, the chic restaurant inside the beachfront Atlantic Resort and Spa in Fort Lauderdale.
Today, food and beverage manager Rochelle Burns confirmed his departure, saying,
"He's no longer with us." She declined to comment further.
Rumors
are swirling in restaurant circles about the circumstances of
his departure. Some restaurant industry vets have described Militello as demanding, although he was
plenty nice to our reporter when she interviewed him in August (part two of the interview here). In November 2009, Militello was brought on to help open The Office gastropub in Delray Beach but was let go there just months later, in Februaray 2010.
In the 1990s, Militello
became known as one of the orginal "Mango Gang" of chefs who brought
artistry and fresh, tropical flavors to South Florida restaurants
and invented so-called "Floribbean" cuisine. He has cooked on-air with Julia Child
and been recognized by the James Beard Foundation. He rose to even
greater prominence as the namesake behind four Mark's restaurants from
South Beach to Boca Raton. Those closed under still-mysterious
circumstances in 2008. Militello worked at the Regent Bal Harbour for about
six months in between the closing of his Mark's chain and his time at
The Office.
More on this as it develops. In the meantime, leave your thoughts below.
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