Coleman storming the Palace

Former Mauka Chef Joel Coleman is finally diving back into the Santa Fe dining scene, and by all accounts, he's poised to make a huge splash. Coleman told The New Mexican on Monday that he will be manning the kitchen at the long-vacant spot formerly occupied by the historic Palace Restaurant (142 West Palace Ave.).

Fans of Coleman's signature pan-Asian cuisine will be happy to know he has you firmly in mind, but he also will expand the menu to make it accessible to a wider range of palates. He may even keep the Palace name, out of respect for its history. When Mauka closed, Coleman acknowledged he needed to expand his customer base to stay in the game. Now he's getting his chance.

Don't expect an Italian menu that dwells in Palace's past. "Santa Fe has enough Italian restaurants now," Coleman said. His goal is to resurrect a treasured chunk of local restaurant real estate while breathing new life into its culinary offerings. No major remodels are in the works for the space, which Coleman hopes to have up-and-running by May. (Financial details of the deal were not available as of press time).

Amavi's Sellers passing the torch

David Sellers is stepping down as head chef of Amavi Restaurant (221 Shelby St., 988-2355) and plans to move with his family back to the East Coast.

Former Amavi sous chef and Inn and Spa at Loretto pastry chef Megan Tucker will take over as Amavi's head chef later this month. Sellers, a longtime fixture at Santacafé before opening Amavi in July 2007 with his wife, Heather, was and still is a strong supporter of the local/sustainable food movement within the fine-dining community. Hopefully, Chef Tucker will continue to support local and regional food producers long after the torch has been passed in the Amavi kitchen. Wherever the Sellers family winds up, the restaurant community there will be extremely lucky to have them. Good luck, Sellers clan!


Sellers' departure also signals a line-up change at this year's Culinary Arts Ball, which takes place March 27 at Terra at Encantado resort in Santa Fe near Tesuque Village. Replacing Sellers will be O'Keeffe Café Executive Chef Leo Varos, who will serve pan-roasted Atlantic red mullet, lomo embuchado (Spanish-style, dry-cured boneless pork tenderloin), fresh shelling beans and fennel broth, paired with a 2008 Château Bonnet Entre Deux Mers Bordeaux Blanc (sauvignon blanc and semillon). To view a copy of this year's Culinary Arts Ball menu, visit www.santafenewmexican.com and search for "Crowded Calendar."

Ex-Tulips owner makes comeback

Joel Coleman isn't the only one playing culinary hopscotch at the moment. Local fine-dining restaurant Tulips may have disappeared right before Thanksgiving last year, but former Tulips chef/owner Steven Jarrett is making a comeback. Soon, Jarrett will take the reins from Chef Michael Easton in the kitchen at La Stazione in the Railyard (formerly Railyard Restaurant & Saloon, 530 S. Guadalupe St.).

Despite the transition in the kitchen, owner Louis Moskow and Easton continue to tantalize diners with their special food events. Fast on the heels (or in this case, hooves) of La Stazione's whole-pig roast, the kitchen will serve up a roasted whole lamb with onions, olives and roasted potatoes this weekend ($21.95 per person). To find out more and to make reservations, call La Stazione at 989-3300.