Earlier this week Consilient Hospitality announced it hired Jeff Harris away from Bolsa, where he's been the executive chef since 2011. If you're a fan of Harris' cooking, the announcement might be an exciting one. New restaurants bring new menus and new inspiration, and if it all works out customers get to enjoy a newly reinvigorated dining experience. There's only one problem, assuming you're reading this somewhere in or near central Dallas: Harris is headed to AF+B in Fort Worth.
AF+B, which is expected to open this December, marks the second time Consilient has sent a notable Dallas chef off to Cow Town. Earlier this year, Jeffry Hobbs left his post at Sissy's to help open AF+B, but he wasn't the right fit, according to Consilient. He's out and Harris is in.
Harris marks Consilient's second hire of a chef who worked at Bolsa as of late. In September the restaurant group announced that Graham Dodds of Central 214, who had also helped get Bolsa off the ground, would be joining their team at Hibiscus on Henderson Avenue. Consilient certainly has a "type."
As for AF+B, the restaurant is described as a "neighborhood tavern cast in a fresh and elevated voice," and while that could describe a restaurant that serves everything from haute fish and chips to modern American cuisine, there's a good chance that what ever it is will turn out well in Harris' hands.
Bolsa, meanwhile, has hired Andrew Bell to replace Harris. Bell has spent time at Nosh, not to mention The Mansion on Turtle Creek, and is expected to turn out a brand new menu shortly.
