Dallas Chop House in Dallas: DRG Makes a Formal Announcement and Chef Kenny Mills Tells His Side of the Story

As noted below, Chef Kenny Mills is no longer with Dallas Chop House. He wasn’t fired. It’s a complicated story—and we all know there are always at least four sides to every story–but today, I’ll present two: DRG Concepts and chef Kenny Mills.

From DRG Headquarters

Kenny Mills is no longer Executive Chef at Dallas Chop House and is no longer with DRG Concepts.

This development is the result of a management decision regarding operations and implementation of corporate culinary direction to ensure the success of the restaurant.

DRG Concepts President and Dallas Chop House Founder/Owner Mike Hoque said, “Chef Mills’ leadership in the kitchen at Dallas Chop House is appreciated and everyone at DRG wishes him all the best. In response to any questions that may arise from guests on how this management change will impact the DCH experience, it should be noted that the menu, recipes and features of the concept were developed with the collective culinary leadership at DRG, and were not the sole result of Chef Mills’ work. DRG Concepts Corporate Chef A.J. Joglekar and Culinary Director Chef John Tesar will continue to develop and deliver recipes at Dallas Chop House that exceed all expectations, and will do the same for all DRG Concepts brands. And DRG Concepts operations leadership will ensure that the experience and service that our customers receive continues to be stellar.” New leadership in the Executive Chef position at Dallas Chop House will be announced when ready.

Kenny Mills

“I put in my notice two weeks ago,” says Mills. “They [DRG] fired my sous chef and put in one of Tesar’s guys. I came in on June 1 and there was a whole new crew in my kitchen.”

Tesar, of course, is John Tesar the recently appointed culinary director for DRG. “Tesar wouldn’t let me run my kitchen. He told me I was an over-the-hill no talent cook. Life is just too short to work with people I don’t like.”

I spoke with Tesar briefly this morning. When I asked him what was going on with Kenny he said, “Hey, I’m the culinary director. This is just as big a shock to me as it is to you. I had no idea.”

At one point Mills sat down with owner Mike Hoque. “I told him I couldn’t run my kitchen like this and he said he would take care of it but nothing changed. I’ve done everything Mike has asked me to do here. But after Tesar slammed a bread bucket at me, I knew that if I stayed it wouldn’t work.”

Mills already has a new job lined up. UPDATE: Teresa Gubbins says Mills will begin his new job at Villa-O on July 6.