Gone: Fianco

Matt Troost, the previously unknown chef who was at the helm of Fianco, has tweeted that the restaurant he was working at has closed. He's also tweeted that he could use a job (his e-mail address is m.d.troost@gmail.com should you know of any).

I'd like to offer a passionate endorsement of Mr. Troost. When I first visited Fianco, shortly after it opened, my plan was to write a quick, 100-word blurb about the place. Nothing about it suggested that it would be notable enough to deserve something more. But after that first meal—silky pâté, gorgeous pastas (one of which we put on our annual list of the 100 best dishes we ate all year)—we decided to do something bigger. The first line of that review: "Who the hell is Matt Troost?"

I don't think that question is relevant anymore. Via Fianco (and a smart Twitter presence), Mr. Troost has made a bit of a name for himself. So I'm not worried about his future. To the rest of the Fianco staff: Our thoughts are with you, and we hope you get back on your feet soon.

And to all those Fianco fans out there: Trust me, I feel your pain.