With just hours remaining until tonight’s James Beard Awards to be held at Lyric Opera in Chicago, news has emerged that RJ Yoakum, lauded executive chef of Knox-Henderson fine dining restaurant Georgie and a nominee for Best Emerging Chef, is no longer employed by Travis Street Hospitality.
Stephan Courseau, owner of Travis Street Hospitality, confirmed the news to the Dallas Morning News over the weekend, simply stating that it was his decision. On Monday morning, Courseau provided a formal statement detailing what may have led to the hospitality group severing ties with the French Laundry alum:
“Travis Street Hospitality has parted ways with Chef RJ Yoakum. We recently became aware of multiple violations of company policy that do not align with our company’s values. Georgie’s success is rooted in the strength of our team, and we are confident in our continued ability to deliver an exceptional dining experience.”
Yoakum has been the talk of the town since arriving to Dallas at the start of 2023, after his stint at renowned chef Thomas Keller’s Napa Valley restaurant, and being named the executive chef at Georgie later that year. His eight-course tasting menu earned rave reviews and Georgie earned a Michelin recommendation under his leadership at the Guide’s inaugural Texas ceremony last fall.
In an interview with DiningOut Dallas just this month, Yoakum was candid about the grief he endured after losing his grandmother and aunt in a short time and how they had inspired his work at Georgie. It was clear he was motivated, with his eyes fixated on receiving a Michelin star.
While it is unclear when Yoakum’s last day at Georgie was, the restaurant remained open for business as usual on Sunday, June 15.
As this story continues to unfold, Yoakum is still listed as a nominee on the James Beard website. DiningOut Dallas has made requests for comment to the James Beard Foundation and is awaiting response.
