Chef Patrick McKee Leaving Paley's Place

Come January 2015, Patrick McKee, executive chef of Paley's Place, will be moving on after 10 years in the NW Portland restaurant's kitchen.

Portland Monthly reports that McKee is planning to helm another Portland kitchen, but so far he's keeping mum on what or where that will be. (Hmmm.... A Chefstable venture perhaps?) The departure is amicable, as McKee tells PoMo's Kelly Clarke: "Vitaly is my mentor and a friend. But it was time to move on."

Owner Vitaly Paley, meanwhile, is hinting that the departure will open the door for a menu reboot, perhaps one inspired by the popularity of his DaNet Russian dinner popups held monthly at Portland Penny Diner. In January, Paley is planning to add "old world French-Russian plates dating back to the days of Peter the Great," says PoMo.  Paley tells Clarke: "I have a lot of ideas I'm experimenting with. Once or twice a month (at DaNet) is no longer enough. I'd like to bring some of that past forward into the future."

Taking McKee's place (though not yet his title) will be Luis Cabanas, who's worked in the Paley's kitchen for 15 years and will be promoted to chef de cusine.