James Toland to Take Over May Street Market Location

Press release!

Here we go! Please call me with any questions. I look forward to cooking for you all very soon! http://tinyurl.com/29oqqom

Press Release

Contact: James Toland Phone: (312) 502-0554

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 9 A.M. EDT, November 02, 2010

Chef James toland announces loaction and actual name of new restaurant in chicago’s river west neighborhood

chicago, il November 2, 2010: Chicago raised Chef James Toland, formally of Lockwood Restaurant is announcing his new restaurant will open under the name “James Toland” at 1132 West Grand Ave in the former May Street Market space. May Street Market is scheduled to close within the week. James Toland’s opening date has not been set as remodeling of the existing space will take 4-6 weeks. Chef Toland hopes his establishment will be a lighting rod for forward thinking ideas in cuisine, libation, agriculture and the arts.

James Toland is going to be a New American Cuisine restaurant and lounge with a late night kitchen that serves affordable dishes geared toward sophisticated pallets. “I want to cook for cooks” explains Toland. “Nothing would please me more than to be the late night hang-out for kitchen crews, musicians, artists and the rest of the fringe communities.”

The décor will be warm and inviting with touches of garage band artifacts, further supporting the notion of what is old is new again. “I think New American Cuisine is the most exciting movement in the arts right now and I want to make my mark in my own personal way.”

If Restaurant James Toland succeeds in anything, it will further bridge the community to the American farmer and raise much needed awareness about the crisis of poor nutrition in America. “We don’t have to use factory farmed proteins anymore or cheap sweeteners. This is Illinois; the crossroads for the richest agrarian nation in the world!” rants Toland. “I also don’t think haut cuisine has to be for the rich anymore. This is my challenge; how do I use sustainable ingredients that are more expensive than factory farmed products, without passing on the cost or skimping on portion size? The answer, invest in the farmers.”

When asked why he abandoned the name Gabba Gabba Hey! Chef Toland remarked, “It was a working title that took on a life of its own in the blogosphere. I want to meet the surviving members of the Ramones someday, just not in court.”

Restaurant James Toland will offer touring bands, not from Chicago, free meals if they are in town for a gig. Band members must pay for their drinks however. There will also be a 10% discount to cooks, wait staff and bartenders from other establishments in hopes of being the go-to place for after-hour-wind-downs.

Chef James Toland resume includes appointments as Chef du Cuisine of Lockwood Restaurant under Chef Phillip Foss, Executive Chef of the Relais Chateaux Hotel Fauchere, chef collaborator for Sam Kass’s Inevitable Table, Chef du Cuisine at the Relais Chatueax White Barn Inn, Executive Chef of Sugarloaf USA Resort, and Executive Sous Chef for La Boheme in Winnetka. Chef Toland attended and was expelled from SUNY Purchase and Kendall College before Staging in European kitchens for 2 years.

Entrée prices will range from $12 - $24 and Drinks start at $5.

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