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
This article appears in Aug 1-31, 2010.