A little birdie tells Pegasus News' Teresa Gubbins that former Top Chef contestant Tre Wilcox will be taking over the top chef position at Plano's Loft 610.
Wilcox has been seen at various foodie gatherings and been doing some private cheffing work since leaving Abacus in 2007.
Along with Wilcox, Loft 610 will get a new menu starting Oct. 6. If you need some Tre before then, you could head to Macy's Come Together Culinary Event in support of the North Texas Food Bank on Sept. 17.
UPDATE: Brian Twomey, owner of Loft 610, sent along this release confirming Tre's appointment:
Loft 610 Urban Restaurant & Lounge Names Tre Wilcox as Executive Chef
Chef Tre to Bring the Upscale Dining of Downtown to the Suburbs
Plano, Texas (September 25, 2009) – Loft 610 Urban Restaurant & Lounge announced today the naming of Tre Wilcox as Executive Chef of its Plano restaurant. Chef Treassumes culinary responsibilities immediately with a limited menu preview on Saturday, October 3 and the full menu debut on Tuesday, October 6.
“We are reinvigorating our commitment to finecuisine by having Tre lead our kitchen,” said Brian Twomey, owner of Loft 610. “Tre has a unique way of creating exciting flavor combinations without making the dishes too ‘out there.’ We want the menu to be comfortable and approachable. The food at Loft 610 will be prepared simply, but expertly.”
Dallas native Chef Tre began his culinary career at age 16 and quickly moved from the fast food world to gourmetcuisine. He was hired as a grill cook by Kent Rathburn atthefive-star Dallas eateryAbacus, and quickly rose through the ranks to become Chef de Cuisine. In 2007, Chef Tre gained national notoriety and showcased his passion for finer food on Bravo’s third season of “Top Chef.” In the last year, he has served as a private chef as well as a national spokesperson for cookware.
Loft 610 Urban Restaurant & Lounge offers a sophisticated downtown dining experience complete with exposed steel structures, reclaimed brick and polished concrete floors, replicating the ambience of an old warehouse. The restaurant opened in December 2007 and quickly established itself as a place for upscale dining outside of the downtown Dallas area, receiving Dallas Observer Critics’ Pick and Best of Dallas accolades.
"I am excited to take on this new challenge," said Chef Tre. "Loft 610 is a beautiful restaurant with a top notch kitchen, and I know we can create a lasting impression on people that want a fantastic meal. We hope to reverse the traffic flow on the Tollway during weekend nights. We’re only 10 minutes from Highland Park and we aren’t in Uptown, but everything else about LOFT 610 is.”
Joining Chef Tre in the kitchen will be longtime friend and Abacus colleague Jermaine Brown, who will take over as Executive SousChef.Brown is leaving his current position as Executive Sous Chef at Abacus to reunite working with Chef Tre.
“We have been operating with a sensational front of house under the leadership of Vice President of Operations, Chad Holland, and we now have perfected the entire picture,” added Twomey. “Loft 610 will be a very special place,and we have all the elementsnecessary to be one of the top restaurants in the country. I am so pleased with what we can offer to our community.”
Loft 610 serves lunch and dinner daily with a late-night kitchen open on Thursday through Saturday nights. The restaurant and lounge have several secludeddining areas for private parties and banquet events.
“Our pricing is affordable for everyday occasions,”saidTwomey. “We’ve created a menu that allows people to enjoy a fantastic night out without having to take out a second mortgage. This is not just a special occasion restaurant.”
About Loft 610
Loft 610 Urban Restaurant & Lounge provides an upscale, urban vibe to the dining experience in the suburbs. Located in Plano, Texas, 15 miles north of Dallas, Loft 610 features a sophisticated lively atmosphere with the comfortable modern space of a downtown loft. For reservations, contact Loft 610 at 972-377-2500 or online at www.loft610.com.
