Jonathan Olson is no longer running the kitchen at Jim Fiala’s The Terrace View. As reported by Riverfront Times’ Ian Froeb, Olson and Fiala parted ways last week.
Olson, profiled as one of our Ones To Watch back in 2009, had worked at The Terrace View for the last few months. Prior to that, he served as executive chef at Erato on Main in Edwardsville, Ill., from January until August of last year.
As for future plans, Olson told The Scoop that he is unsure of his next step but that he’s actively looking for a new kitchen stint. “I took seven months off last time,” he said, referring to the period between leaving Erato on Main and assuming the top job at The Terrace View. “I won’t do that this time.”
Taking the reins at The Terrace View is Mason Denton, who formerly cooked at Pomme Café and Wine Bar in Clayton. “He’s very fired up,” said Fiala. “Everybody supports him in the kitchen and wants to work for him and really is excited about his attitude and his vision for where we want to go. And he has a good rapport with the front of the house,” added Fiala, noting that he is excited for happenings at both the back and front of his downtown restaurant. Not only is this Denton’s first job as an exec chef, it’s also the first opportunity for Jeff Handlan, who recently became manager of The Terrace View, to run a restaurant.
— Photo by Brian Fagnani
This article appears in June 2011.