‘Top Chef’ Champ Joe Flamm Leaving Spiaggia to Open Chicago Restaurant | Eater Chicago

"On Michigan Avenue, the Michelin-starred Italian restaurant occupies a luxurious dining room that overlooks Michigan Avenue and parts of the lakefront; I report that its executive chef, Joe Flamm—winner of Top Chef season 15 and at Spiaggia since 2014—is leaving, with his last day on September 30, and that he plans to open his own Italian restaurant (he said shortly after winning Top Chef in March 2018 that he wanted his own Italian spot). Tony Mantuano, who opened the restaurant 34 years ago and whose fans have included Barack Obama and Joe Biden, has been a mentor to Flamm; Flamm says Mantuano has been supportive, taught him lessons about balance in food and life, and emphasized that restaurant culture matters for food and service. Around its 30th birthday in 2014 Spiaggia underwent a renovation, it is an Eater 38 member, and Crain’s reported that chef du cuisine Eric Lees will replace Flamm." - Ashok Selvam