Harrington Resigns From Pyles, Kyle Barham Named New Exec

by Steven Doyle

Word is out that Joel Harrington has resigned from Stephan Pyles. Harrington was named executive chef of the Pyles flagship restaurant this past April. Harrington formerly worked for Dean Fearing at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Dallas and the Ritz Dove Mountain  near Tucson, Arizona.    

Harrington recently received rave reviews as part of the new book Notes From A Kitchen, a two-volume 900-page cloth bound journey with noted American chefs including Sean Brock (Husk and McCrady’s, Charleston, SC), George Mendes (Aldea, New York), Johnny Iuzzini (Jean Georges, New York), Jason Neroni (Osteria La Buca, Los Angeles), Emma Hearst (Sorella, New York),  Neal Fraser (Grace, Los Angeles), Matt Gaudet (Aquitaine, Boston), Michael Laiskonis (Le Bernardin, New York), and Zak Pelaccio (Fatty Cue and Fatty Crab, New York) and of course Harrington.

The book is a modern take on cookbooks through the eyes of filmmaker and photographer Jeff Scott featuring stunning photographs and is billed as a new culinary genre of psychological cookbook reveals the daily journey inside a chef’s creative mind.

Stephan Pyles said in an email confirming the departure, “As long as I don’t leave I think Stephan Pyles will be fine. [I am] bringing Kyle Barham up. He is currently my ex sous and Dean’s sous at one time as well as chef at the old Ciudad under Joanne [Bondy].”

Harrington is said to have been offered a significant pay raise to move to Beaver Creek, Colorado. Harrington will stay in the Dallas area if he is able to, he has several children living in the city. The chef is expected to stay at Pyles through the end of the year.