Sacramento's most difficult reservation and likely most expensive restaurant has a new chef, scoops the Sac Bee's Blair Anthony Robertson.

David Chavez, who has held high-level kitchen positions at several properties in the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group, has taken the helm at the restaurant after John Griffiths, who won the job more than a year ago in a national search, decided to leave the post. Selland will help Chavez acclimate to working the $135-per-person dinners, in which the chef not only cooks but acts as a sort of an emcee for the evening...

Chavez, 31, had been hired several months ago as a sous chef by the Selland Family Restaurants, even though Selland said there was not a specific job opening at the time. The Selland Family also owns highly regarded Ella Dining Room and Bar, and two locations of Selland’s Market-Cafe. When Griffiths announced he was leaving, Chavez, who had shown both his culinary and people skills, was named to what many consider to be one of the most coveted kitchen jobs in the city.

Griffiths’ departure after a relatively short tenure came as a surprise to many.

Read the entire story in the Sac Bee.

There had been some signs that something was up at The Kitchen. On Thursday, Sept. 25, The Kitchen announced via e-mail that Chef Randall Selland would be "in all month doing the show at The Kitchen." When Chef Selland first started The Kitchen, I was too early in my career to be able to afford to go, but as I've been able to save my pennies, I've added eating at The Kitchen with Chef Selland to my Sacramento Food Bucket List. I've been watching and waiting for an opportunity to see him at The Kitchen.

I had seen Chef Griffiths during his first month at The Kitchen last year, and had a great time, but it wasn't so good that I'd be willing to shell out that amount of money again. I've been calling The Kitchen every few months and asked whether Chef Selland would be filling in while Chef Griffiths was on vacation in the near future. I was told that there wasn't any time scheduled this fall, but honestly, once I saw the Sept. 25 e-mail announcement, all I cared about was grabbing a reservation. I did, and didn't worry about the why.

Kudos to the Sac Bee's Robertson for getting this story.

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