I am a very keen fan of one Michelin Star JAN restaurant in Nice, having eaten there three times in the past three years. When I saw that Chef Scott Armstrong announced his departure from JAN ten days ago, I sat up, and wondered where he was moving to. Reading the news that Head Chef Kevin Grobler has finished up at JAN is of even greater concern, seen on Facebook yesterday.

I have written to Chef Jan-Hendrik, requesting information about the chef successors, and have asked him to comment on the chef departures. I will post his response as soon as I receive it. 

Chef Scott Armstrong (middle in the photograph, with Chefs Kevin Grobler and Rutger Eysvogel, which I took in February last year) posted that he had left his job at JAN on 10 March, his Facebook profile showing him to be Chef de Partie at Lympstone Manor, a Country House Hotel, with a Michelin one-star rating for its restaurant run by Chef Michael Caines, having commenced his new job earlier this week. He worked at JAN restaurant for just over two years, being the newest of the three South African chefs to join the JAN kitchen, in February 2016. 

Chef Kevin Grobler (left in the photograph above) joined JAN just as I ate there in June 2015. His wife Inemarie posted as follows on Facebook yesterday afternoon:

’THE END OF ONE FABULOUS ADVENTURE MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT | It’s with serious mixed emotions that we end our amazing adventure in France + JAN to open a new chapter closer to home.

France has marked the highlights of our lives so far, from getting married, working with super creative minds, receiving the Michelin star, travelling Europe, having a beautiful baby boy, eating at fabulous restaurants, strolling through mind blowing markets to meeting amazing people. We will treasure those memories forever + always be thankful that we were blessed enough to have them. Thank you to Jan-Hendrik van der Westhuizen + Pascal Szafranski for the life changing opportunity + for everything you did for us while we were part of the JAN family. You will always have a very special place in our hearts + definitely be missed.

We are however so excited about our new adventure closer to home. Kevin received the amazing opportunity to run his own kitchen + now Zach can see his grandparents + family more often. I have a few ‘secrets’ up my sleeve but keep an eye on my Facebook page Miel + Meel for more info.

#newadventures #miel_meel #chefkevingrobler #brahzach’

Chef Jan-Hendrik posted a Sous-Chef job announcement on his Facebook page last Saturday, with the following wording: 

‘SOUS-CHEF | Join our award winning team at one Michelin star restaurant JAN in France. Make a mark for yourself. Must have experience and a valid working VISA for France/Europe. Email work@janhendrik.com #JAN’.

It appears that the two chef departures within ten days are coincidental timing, Chef Kevin and his wife wishing to be closer to their families in the Cape, while Chef Scott has made his job change to expand his CV and to gain more experience, eirher to return to the restaurant, or to open his own restaurant one day. We will update this post as soon as we hear from Chef Jan-Hendrik van der Westhuizen.

POSTSCRIPT 22/3: Chef Jan-Hendrik replied as follows to my email about the chef departures: 

‘Please don’t be sorry to hear about Kevin and Scott leaving JAN, Scott has already resigned last year and would like to move to UK for more experience and Kevin and Inemari decided to return to South Africa which is also due to the baby being closer to family etc. They both spent a very good few years with me and as life and chefs works we all grow and move in new directions. I wish them only the best.

Scott has been replaced with Nicole Laubcher from Namibie who has been with us for a few months now already. She is a fantastic chef and bakes a koeksister like you’ve never tasted before.
Kevin’s replacement is still not public.

The JAN team has never been stronger and we look forward to a exciting season ahead of us.
Groete.
Jan.H’

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: click here Instagram: @Chris_Ulmenstein