SAUCE MAGAZINE
The Scoop: Jonathan Olson has left Erato as executive chef
August 31st 02:08pm, 2010
Jonathan Olson has left Erato Wine Bar and Restaurant on Main Street. Olson’s last day as executive chef at the Edwardsville, Ill., restaurant was this past Saturday. According to Olson, the departure stems from a disagreement with management.
Olson, who has lived in Edwardsville for more than a decade and has spent nearly five years in the restaurant business, stated that he does not plan on leaving the St. Louis area. “I’m taking time off. I’m not in a hurry to get a new job,” he said.
In three weeks, Olson will travel to New York City for the StarChef.com International Chefs Congress. He then plans on heading south to Houston, where he can catch up with family and stage at restaurants for a week. “I’ve staged at a couple places there before. Basically, I’m taking the month of September off,” he summed.
Olson assumed the restaurant’s executive chef post in January when chef Kevin Willmann opened his own restaurant, Farmhaus, in St. Louis city. Of his time spent helming Erato’s kitchen, Olson stated, “I just tried to prepare really good food out of that little kitchen.”
Photo by Brian Fagnani
Other coverage of Joanthan Olson
By Ligaya Figueras
Tags: Erato on Main, Jonathan Olson, The Scoop
September 2nd, 2010 at 1:25 pm
I don’t understand why this is news….honestly I don’t think most people care. It’s nothing against Jon, but really he really is no Gerard Craft, Kevin Nashen, Kevin Willmann, or Josh Galliano. He is an okay cook at best. He has ridden on the coat-tails of others and taken a lot of credit that wasn’t due him. I would like to see him go somewhere new in St. Louis, and try to inspire a crew to work for him and him come up w/ his own successful dishes. Then I think an article might be warranted about him, but that probably wont happen.
September 17th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
I agree with Karma’s post. Jon is an okay cook, at best. It seems like he received the position as executive chef at Erato based on convenience, not talent.
April 14th, 2011 at 8:12 pm
[...] served as executive chef at Erato Wine Bar and Restaurant on Main Street in Edwardsville until last summer. Like Vest, he was named one of our Ones To Watch back in [...]