Kitchen LTO Announces Chef Finalists For Its Sixth Reincarnation

Kitchen LTO, the permanent pop-up in Trinity Groves, changes up their chef every six months. Chef Anastacia Quinones is in charge of the kitchen right now, but she will soon have to give up her title to the next enterprising chef. Quinones has a few weeks left, but Eater has the list of finalists vying to take her place.

Among the five finalists for Kitchen LTO 6.0 are some familiar Dallas faces, a Food Network regular, and a rogue out-of-town chef:

• Nick Amoriello – Amoriello is currently working at Rapscallion, after previously serving as executive chef at So & So’s and Sevy’s Grill. Amoriello has planned a "Modern Texas" menu should he get the gig at Kitchen LTO.
• Jennifer Basjel – The owner of popular catering service Getting Saucy, Basjel has appeared on Beat Bobby Flay and worked as Chef John Tesar’s garde manger at the now-shuttered Spoon Bar & Kitchen. Basjel proposes a "Modern Bistro" concept if she lands the job.
• Mark McDaniel – Also a caterer, Mark McDaniel has worked with Kent Rathbun and Richard Chamberlain, along with catering events for President George W. Bush and Garth Brooks. McDaniel’s vision for LTO is "Modern American."
• Thomas Morris – Former trial lawyer and personal chef Thomas Morris’s website indicates an enthusiasm for French cooking, but his proposal for Kitchen LTO is Caribbean cuisine.
• DJ Park – Chef DJ Park comes to Dallas from Los Angeles, where he’s been working as a freelance chef. Park’s concept will focus on Korean comfort food.

The winning chef will be determined at Kitchen LTO’s voting party on January 31, where ticketholders can sample each chef’s proposed menu. Chef Anastacia Quinones’ last day is February 28, and one of these five finalists will re-open their brand new concept on March 2nd.