Jeff McInnis and Gigi Part Ways

Gigi's owner, Amir Ben-Zion, confirms to Short Order that the rumors that Chef Jeff McInnis has left his position at Gigi are true.Ben-Zion explained that the split was amicable and it was never the intention of the restaurant or McInnis to stay beyond the first few months after opening.Since opening...

By Jose D. Duran

March 3, 2011

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Gigi's owner, Amir Ben-Zion, confirms to Short Order that the rumors that Chef Jeff McInnis has left his position at Gigi are true.

Ben-Zion explained that the split was amicable and it was never the intention of the restaurant or McInnis to stay beyond the first few months after opening.

Since opening last year in September, Gigi, along with restaurants like Sugarcane, Sustain, and Sakaya Kitchen, have helped usher in a food renaissance of sorts in midtown Miami. McInnis was even chosen by New Times to be featured in its inaugural People Issue last November because of the buzz surrounding his food and the restaurant.

Before that, McInnis was perhaps best known as a contest on Top Chef's fifth season, where he was eliminated in the tenth episode.

No word at this time as to where McInnis will be moving on to.

Follow Short Order on Facebook and Twitter @Short_Order.

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Jose D. Duran is associate editor of Miami New Times where he primarily oversees the arts and culture and music beats. Jose joined the New Times staff in June 2008 but has been covering Miami culture since 2005. His work has also appeared in publications likeVice, Billboard, and Spin. He’s earned numerous accolades including placing first for Weekly Newspaper Contest: Business Reporting from the Florida Press Association in 2020; placing third for the Writing: Light Feature from the Florida Press Club in 2019; and placing third in Weekly Newspaper Contest: Best Obituary from the Florida Press Association in 2015. Jose holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Florida.

Contact: Jose D. Duran

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