Piedmont hires new chef de cuisine

Durham’s Piedmont Restaurant has hired Jeffrey Satterly, the former executive chef at Frazier’s in Raleigh, as its new chef de cuisine.

Chef Marco Shaw, who helped Eno Hospitality Group take over Piedmont from its original owners, will help Satterly during the transition in July. The press release says Shaw “is moving on to spend more time with his family and begin work on new projects.”

No word from Shaw on what those projects will be.

Eno Hospitality Group owns Piedmont, Zely & Ritz in Raleigh and Coon Rock Farm.

Satterly graduated from Johnson & Wales in 1995, worked at the Woodlands Resort & Inn in Summerville, S.C., Lespinasse in Washington, D.C., as chef de cuisine at Carolina Crossroads at The Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill and as sous chef at Herons at The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary. In 2007, Satterly became the executive chef at Frazier’s, which recently closed.

The press release says Satterly’s resume includes “stints at The French Laundry with Thomas Keller, Bouchon Bakery, The Mansions Las Vegas, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, and Aquarelle.”

Fortune Palace owners may reopen elsewhere

I heard from several readers about the closing of Fortune Palace, a much-loved Chinese restaurant on Raleigh’s Brentwood Road.

I contacted Lisa Chang, president of the Triangle Area Chinese American Society. As it happens, Chang’s godsister, Bobo Liew, owned the restaurant with her husband, sister and brother-in-law.

Chang explained that the couples, who have young children, struggled to run such a large restaurant, with seating for more than 200 people, and take care of their families. (It was likely the only Chinese restaurant in the area that had the capacity for large events, including wedding receptions.) And so when someone offered to buy it, they accepted, Chang said.

“You have to try to do what’s best for your kids,” Chang explained.

Chang did note that the couples are considering opening another smaller restaurant. We’ll keep readers posted if that happens.

Send restaurant news and tips to aweigl@newsobserver.com