New chef at El Camino Real
Dustin Chalermkittichai is wrapping up at Rouge.
El Camino Real, the border bar in Northern Liberties, has hired a chef to replace Jennifer Zavala, who left last month on the eve of her debut on Bravo's Top Chef, from which she was booted after the premiere. She's now at Xochitl.
New guy is Dustin Chalermkittichai, most recently sous chef at Rouge on Rittenhouse Square. He starts on Liberties Walk full time on Oct. 6. Owner Owen Kamihira says he'll increase the variety of smoked meats and will broaden the scope of the Mexican side of the menu.
Chalermkittichai has had a taste of travel. Listed in his bio is a turn at Maze, the Gordon Ramsay joint in London, plus Arzak in Spain, New York's Waverly Inn and Aix, and the Standard Hollywood.
(Post corrected.)