FoodWire: News from Pappy's Smokehouse, Niche

• I will look at Gerard's moves in a positive light until proven otherwise. This guy is not only a first-class chef, he is also a very humble and smart individual who surrounds himself with the best team available. His talented team is recognized and rewarded and this should allow Gerard to oversee other things. I know his fingerprints will be all over these projects, and I wish him the best.

• Ian, For those of us who aren't fluent in the language of Chefish, what are the practical implications of Altnether's promotion to chef de cuisine? Will Gerard be manning the stoves less frequently at Niche? Will Gerard have less creative input into the Niche tasting menu? Is this promotion an indication (along with Taste Bar and Brasserie by Niche) that GC is going the route of celebrity chef turned franchise whore/businessman, with a downtown in quality soon to follow? As a food critic, what is your take on celeb chefs cashing in by spreading their efforts over a "franchise" as compared to focusing all their energies on a single venture?

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