Roster changes: Tacoma chefs moving on to new kitchens

I’ve seen a handful of chefs move to new kitchens around Tacoma in the last several months. Here’s a quick update of who is cooking where:

Marrow: Hudson Slater has joined the staff of Marrow in Tacoma’s Sixth Avenue neighborhood. Hudson’s resume includes the Beach House at Purdy, but he spent most of his cooking career at Maxwell’s Speakeasy + Lounge since its opening in 2008.

They’re not big on titles at Marrow, but co-owner Matthew Schweitzer said Slater would act as something like a chef de cuisine. Said Schweitzer, “His community engagement and outreach is second to none. He’s very structured, organized, and task-oriented.” He’ll join Marrow’s chef, Michael Joinette, and sous chef Brandon McKinney in the Marrow kitchen.

Said Slater, “I’m really excited. We all have fun cooking together and it’s going to be a blast being in this kitchen. I have a lot of respect for what Matt has been doing, I’m happy to join this team.” Slater’s first day is today.

Smoke + Cedar: Alexander Anton will be a familiar name for restaurant watchers who know his father, longtime Puyallup restaurant owner Jim Anton, or his uncle Basil Anton. Alexander Anton started his cooking career at his father’s restaurant, Anton’s, but his resume also includes the Columbia Gorge Hotel, long-gone Tacoma restaurant Woody’s on the Water, and Seattle restaurant group Chow Foods. In February, Anton joined the staff at Smoke + Cedar, replacing Kristen Lyon. The restaurant, open to the public, opened in 2014 at Allenmore Golf Course.

Laura’s Bayview: Speaking of Lyon, the former Smoke + Cedar executive chef is now cooking at one of my favorite places in town for fish and chips, Laura’s Bayview. The St. Helens neighborhood eatery has seen some menu modifications since Lyon took over the kitchen. Steelhead, pork belly and pork loin porchetta have cycled through as recent specials. The base menu still includes the fantastic fish and chips, made with Alaskan cod. Lyon was hired as executive chef in April. She previously worked as kitchen manager at Bite, inside Tacoma’s Hotel Murano.

This story was originally published July 28, 2015 at 9:11 AM with the headline "Roster changes: Tacoma chefs moving on to new kitchens."