Changes at La Poste

Chef Dave Taylor and GM Kelly Lough have left La Poste, and Andrew Mersmann has been promoted to Executive Director of Operations and Executive Chef at both La Poste and sister restaurant Django Western Taco, according to Jens Rosenkrantz, owner of both restaurants. Travis Hale has been promoted to Assistant General Manager at La Poste. No word yet on the next ventures for Taylor and Lough.

The press release:

CINCINNATI, OH January 15, 2014 -- Effective immediately Andrew Mersmann has been promoted to Executive Director of Operations and Executive Chef at La Poste Eatery and Django Western Taco. Andrew is an award-winning chef and 14 year veteran in the local restaurant scene. In addition, Travis Hale has been promoted to Assistant General Manager at La Poste Eatery.

David Taylor and Kelly Lough, who opened La Poste more than three years ago as founding partners, have embarked on new opportunities. They will be assisting in the transition as we continue to maintain the high level of cuisine and service that La Poste has been known for since its opening.

Andrew Mersmann is a graduate of Walnut Hills High School and attended the Fine Arts program at the incinnati Art Academy. He has also attended the Illinois Institute of Art in Chicago and the Midwest Culinary Institute. In 2010 and 2011 he was the Gold medalist in the Chaines des Rotisseurs’ Young Chef’s competition in Cincinnati. He has worked in the finest local restaurants in Cincinnati with increasing responsibilities. The list includes Pigall's, Jean-Ro Bistro, Pho Paris, Greenup Cafe, Otto's, Honey, and Jean-Robert's Table. He joined La Poste Eatery in 2011 as Chef de Cuisine. In 2013 he assumed the position of General Manager and Executive Chef at Django Western Taco.

Travis Hale is also a 14 year industry veteran and has been at La Poste for more than two years. Previously he worked at Nada for four years as a server and manager.

La Poste Eatery is a 75 seat fine dining restaurant serving French inspired New American cuisine located in Clifton's Gaslight District around the corner from the Esquire Theatre. There is an extensive wine list that is stored in a 2,000 bottle temperature-controlled wine cellar. It is open for dinner from Tuesday to Saturday and available for private parties. There is live Jazz on Wednesdays with the Faux Frenchmen, and valet parking every day.

Django Western Taco was opened in June of 2012 in Northside and serves an eclectic mix of Southwestern and “Cowboy Fusion” cuisine. And tacos too. The atmosphere is casual with weekly live music and a full bar.

Jens G. Rosenkrantz Jr., an award-winning fine-art photographer, and retired wine salesman and financial securities executive, is the owner. He has a studio at the Pendleton Arts Center in OTR.

Cincinnati Restaurant Week: La Poste

I was almost going to skip this spring's Restaurant Week, as I scurry to pack and leave for Knoxville and a jam-packed few days at the Southern Food Writing Conference. But I'm glad I didn't.

Restaurant Week is always a great opportunity to try a new restaurant or return to one you've enjoyed in the past. It's hard to beat $33.13 for three courses (two-for-$33.13 and other deals available at some lower-cost venues within the Greater Cincinnati Independents/Eat Local Cincy consortium). The only thing I don't understand is why these restaurants and the parent organization don't do a better job of publicizing their Restaurant Week offerings.

In any case, La Poste has been on my list for some time, and I took advantage of this opportunity to try it out. Delightful and delicious. Here's a quick look.

Fruit salad amuse with crispy bread

Diver scallop with hot bacon vinaigrette, wilted greens, gorgonzola, 

specks of rye croutons, and a beautifully runny egg

Seared tuna salad with Meyer lemon vinaigrette, wasabi tobiko, and baby radishes

Salmon (cooked to a perfect medium rare) over Israeli couscous 

with brown butter sauce and asparagus

Oh, and that lovely chocolate mousse tart with raspberries and creme anglaise at the top of this post. Here's La Poste's Restaurant Week menu, which I couldn't seem to find anywhere else online. (Apologies for the folds; I'm not above walking out of a restaurant with a specials menu.)

I thoroughly enjoyed myself at La Poste and look forward to going back and checking out more of what Chef Dave Taylor and crew have in store. (I overheard a server describing one of tonight's specials that was, understandably, not on the $33.13 Restaurant Week menu that included foie gras and sounded divine.)

I hope you'll take advantage of Cincinnati Restaurant Week to get out and try something new too. If Restaurant Week doesn't work for you, there are more fabulous food and craft beer events going on in the city this weekend than I can possibly link to. I picked a heck of a weekend to head out of town. I'll just have to content myself with adventures at the conference that include dinner at Blackberry Farm, a field trip to Benton's Bacon, and lunch at the Knoxville location of Asheville fave Tupelo Honey. And I'll be back in time to check out the Asian Food Festival at The Banks on Sunday (it runs 4:00-midnight Sat. and 1:00-9:00 Sun.). For now, I gotta run.