Chef Justin Smillie, who took over the helm at E.U. after Akhtar Nawab's departure, was recently fired by owner Jason Hennings. According to Grub Street, Hennings blamed Smillie's unwillingness to cut costs by forgoing Greenmarket shopping: “After six months of 45 percent food costs in a recession, Justin paid more respect to the Greenmarket than to the restaurant.” Smillie reportedly took his entire crew with him. In the meantime, Hennings has put a replacement team in place and hasn't yet named a new chef. As for Smillie, you'll likely find him shopping at a Greenmarket near you.





Hopefully Justin will find a place where the owners let him buy the quality ingredients he wants to use. There are plenty of other restaurants that make liberal use of the green markets and local food sources and people in New York seem willing to pay the extra money for that.