Chef Shuffle

Camille Becerra Leaves Orchard Street Project ‘Hours’ Before Opening

Photo: Courtesy of Bravo

Back in April, former Paloma owner and Top Chef contestant Camille Becerra told us she may or may not end up being involved with the long-delayed Orchard Street restaurant that Teddy Kambouris was planning to open with her. “It’s important to me that the next place I develop be a perfect fit,” she said then. “It’s unclear still if they will get it together enough for me to be a part of the team.” Well, it seems the partners didn’t get it together, because Steve Lewis reports today that she’s left APL (pronounced “Apple,” as in Orchard — ugh) just “hours” before it was ready to open: “It became clear that the owners and Camille weren’t getting along. It was like cowboys and Indians, and although at times it seemed like it was going to work out, well, it didn’t.” Lewis also reports that Stuart Braunstein will be bringing a version of his failed art and party space, Collective Hardware, to the basement of Greenhouse next month.

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Camille Becerra Leaves Orchard Street Project ‘Hours’ Before Opening