Avenues At The Peninsula Chicago Announces Changing Of The Toque

Award-winning Avenues at The Peninsula Chicago will bid farewell to Chef de Cuisine Graham Elliot Bowles and welcome Curtis Duffy as new Chef de Cuisine for the restaurant, effective April, 2008.

Duffy brings with him a myriad of experience most recently from Alinea where he was Chef de Cuisine working for Owner/Chef Grant Achatz since 2004. Prior to Duffy's experience at Alinea he worked at Trio for Chef Grant Achatz as Pastry Chef from 2003 to 2004 and worked as Chef in various culinary positions at Charlie Trotters from 2000 to 2003.
"We are very pleased to welcome Chef Duffy to Avenues," said Regional Vice President and General Manager for The Peninsula Chicago, Maria Razumich-Zec. "We would like to thank Chef de Cuisine Graham Elliot Bowles for his role in Avenues' achieving Five Diamond status and bringing national and international recognition to the restaurant during his nearly four year tenure. We wish him well as he opens his own restaurant here in Chicago."
"I'm grateful for the opportunity I've experienced at Avenues," said Chef Graham Elliot Bowles, "...and I'm excited to see a chef of Curtis Duffy's caliber continue to build on the foundation we started at Avenues over the past 3+ years."
Duffy is expected to start with a hotel and kitchen orientation at The Peninsula Chicago in March. Chef de Cuisine Graham Elliot Bowles will remain as Chef at Avenues through March, 2008. Chef Duffy's new menu is expected to be in place in Avenues on or about April 15, 2008.
Avenues, located on the Lobby Level of The Peninsula Chicago, serves dinner Tuesday through Saturday evenings. The restaurant has received numerous awards and accolades including a perfect 4 star rating from each of Chicago's publications that rate restaurants: Chicago Tribune, Chicago magazine, and Chicago Sun Times.

Reservations can be made directly with the hotel, The Peninsula Reservations Department at tel: (312) 337-2888, fax: (312) 751-2888 or e-mail: pch@peninsula.com. Reservations can also be completed online at peninsula.com or through The Peninsula Global Customer Service Centre at telephone: (852) 2926 2888, fax: (852) 2732-2933, email: reservation@peninsula.com or the following toll-free number: (1-866) 382 8388