[January 19, 2013] Gastronomy restaurant announces departure of chef Adam Hightower Tweet Jan 19, 2013 (Detroit Free Press - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The Epicurean Group, which opened Gastronomy: A Modern American Bistro in Southfield last year, has announced that executive chef Adam Hightower is no longer with the restaurant. A news release quoting Epicurean Group president Eric Djordjevic did not say why the company decided to "part ways" with the chef. "We are proud of what we have accomplished at Gastronomy, and Adam played an integral role in helping us create a noted presence in the metro Detroit dining scene. ... It has been an immense honor to have Adam as a team leader" and employee, the announcement said. Hightower could not be reached Friday for comment. In a telephone interview, Djordjevic said he did not plan to appoint an executive chef at this time. Rather, the four-person kitchen brigade, or staff, would continue operating as it has since the restaurant opened. It wrote the Gastronomy menus and executed the food daily, Djordjevic said, including during a period late last year when Hightower took a leave of absence. "I have tremendous confidence in the team that's there," he added. General manager Chris Salazar will continue to have overall responsibility for operations. No changes are planned in the nature of the menu or service, Djordejevic said. Contact Sylvia Rector at 313-222-5026 and [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @SylviaRector. ___ (c)2013 the Detroit Free Press Visit the Detroit Free Press at www.freep.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]