Executive Chef Mike Wajda has left his position at Proof on Main to join the hospitality consulting cooperative Honest Hospitality as their Chef Partner. Proof, located in 21c Museum Hotel, 702 W Main Street, announced the appointment of their new Executive Chef, Jonathan Seele, who comes to Louisville from the Lexington 21C Museum and Hotel.
“As a young cook, I cut my teeth at Proof,” said Searle in a press release. “Having the opportunity to come back to a restaurant I love, in a city full of incredible talent is such a humbling experience. I’m so grateful to call this kitchen my own.”
Honest Hospitality, founded by Chef Gary FX LaMorte, focuses on ground-up consulting with domestic and international clients with “systematic evaluation and implementation of standard operating procedures,” according to their web site.
“We are looking to disrupt the workforce and give chefs a better quality of life inside and outside of the kitchen,” said Wajda. “In my next chapter, I plan to focus just as much on restaurant culture as I do food. My passion for this industry runs much deeper than just flavors, and I hope to help cultivate better restaurant environments…”
Wajda went on to say that the team will be focused on back-of-house consulting on everything from kitchen design, staffing and staff training to recipe development, menu planning and kitchen culture training. Front-of-house consulting is in their plans for the future.
Also previously at Proof on Main, Noam Blitzer is joining Honest as their Chef de Cuisine, and Chicago Chef Brent Balika will be their corporate chef. The team’s first big contract will be with Apicii, helping them launch a multi concept in New Jersey, followed by a contract in Atlanta.
Photography: Mike Wajda courtesy of Honest Hospitality
