On hearing from Mackay Restaurants—that's the El Gaucho empire, including Aqua by El Gaucho, which used to be called Waterfront—that Aqua was getting a new chef* after only a short time under its new name, food writer Ronald Holden** sent an email inquiry about the reason for the end of chef Peter Levine's tenure. He received this unusually frank reply from Mackay corporate executive chef Ken Sharp:

Hi Ronald, Peter didn’t align himself with our company standards, of excellence, quality, consistent, and treating all staff with respect. Although he was very talented, he could not get over his ego Thanks Ken

P.R. people everywhere must be aghast. We sent Peter Levine the above, and he emailed back in apparent tranquility:

Its all good on my end. I will persue my own place this year...
I guess I didn't fit in with the El Gaucho kitchen.

*Steve Cain, moving from chef de cuisine at El Gaucho Bellevue.
**Our own Dominic Holden's dad.