In the last issue, I reported on the departure of ~TOSCA CAFE~ chef Josh Even and manager Dana Katzakian after negotiations to take it over didn’t pan out. But it’s now a bit more clear why that didn’t happen with the new details of April Bloomfield’s dissolution of her business partnership with Ken Friedman (in light of numerous allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct). She is going to now own and control their West Coast restaurants, Tosca Cafe (which she took over with Friedman in 2013) and LA’s Hearth & Hound. They’re doing a coastal split, with Friedman maintaining ownership of New York’s Spotted Pig—let’s see if he comes up with a clever renovation of “the rape room.”
In a statement to Eater National, Bloomfield says: “Today, I am announcing the end of my partnership with Ken Friedman. There is much hard work ahead, and it begins with taking full leadership of the Hearth & Hound in Los Angeles and Tosca Cafe in San Francisco. In New York, I remain chef at the Breslin and will begin work on reconcepting the John Dory Oyster Bar [ed. note: Ken Friedman will not be involved with either location]. My complete focus now will be on the welfare and opportunity for my staff and building a company I can be proud of. This has been a painful time for many people, my past and present staff especially, and I will have more to say at some point in the near future. For now, I am looking forward to forging ahead.” Let’s see if more time in San Francisco will make her a more vociferous feminist and champion of employee rights and safety as she restructures her business and team.
The dining room at Tosca. Photo by Sonya Yu via Tosca.
