Jan. 27--Aaron Martinez, the California chef last seen as a chef-in-residence at Intro restaurant for three months last year, is extending his stay in town.
Martinez will be the chef de cuisine at the new Il Porcellino, scheduled to open in spring in the former Paris Club (59 W. Hubbard St.) space. (Paris Club and Intro are both part of the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group.)
Il Porcellino will feature a pasta-focused Italian menu. "It's a lot different from what I usually cook," Martinez said. But, he added, he knows Italian cuisine from the time he spent cooking with Michael Tusk, a three-Michelin-star chef who owns Quince and Cotogna restaurants in San Francisco.
After his tour of duty at Intro, Martinez said he wasn't sure he would stay in Chicago. "I hung around the (Lettuce) test kitchen, heard offers here and there," he said. "Then Doug (Psaltis) said he had a new concept, asked me if I was interested, and after sitting down with him, I thought it would be fun. I'm looking forward to this."
Martinez will work under Psaltis, the executive chef who also oversees RPM Steak, RPM Italian, Bub City and other concepts launched by R.J. and Jerrod Melman.
"It's a great fit,' Psaltis said. "We share a lot of the same philosophies, and we share the same respect for Michael Tusk, who I think is the most talented Italian chef in the country."
Psaltis said he "imagines" Il Porcellino will open around March.
Phil Vettel is a Tribune critic.
pvettel@tribpub.com
Twitter @philvettel
