Chef Gonzalo Rivera Says Adios to La Marea

Photo by Riki Altman

Save that last empanada for us, amigo!

Though most of the crowd at last night's March of Dimes Signature Chefs Event was all smiles, yours truly suffered a broken heart when La Marea's executive chef, Gonzalo Rivera, mentioned he has given notice and won't be at the restaurant after October. Sigh.

He singlehandledly made me reconsider my dislike of Mexican food. Gone are the days when I hid away in his kitchen, shoving my spoon into his chocolate jalepeño ice cream after ducking under a sunbrella to swallow gazpacho marys before noon. I might never find the strength to eat huevos rancheros in this town again.

Will I have the motivation to schlep all the way to Palm Beach County to see what the Michael Mina protégé creates at the Waldorf Astoria's Boca Raton Resort? Only time will tell. That, and perhaps an invitation to taste his new menu.