Chef Timothy Wastell Leaves Firehouse, Jobie Bailey Steps Up

Ok, we'll admit it. We didn't even know there was a veritable DOC reunion at Firehouse for the past six months. Turns out chefs Timothy Wastell and Jobie Bailey, the duo who spent four years as co-chefs of DOC, have been working together there since October. It all started when Wastell, the opening chef at Old Salt, departed the restaurant last September to head up the kitchen at Firehouse, where he had first spent time in 2011 after leaving DOC. Bailey, who had left his post at Nonna in August, joined him in October as his sous chef.

But, alas, it was only a temporary reunion. Wastell has recently moved on and Bailey is stepping up, taking over the role of chef of daily operations at Firehouse, and hiring Christopher Lewandowski as his sous. "Learning how to work with an almost entirely wood-fired line has been an added bonus," Bailey says of his post. "And after a trip to Italy last September it has given me a whole new respect for the pizza we do, which is true to the pies of Napoli."

As for Wastell, who's Instagram feed reveals a very recent trip to a tropical isle, Bailey says: "Tim is going to take a break and regroup, but he will do something great I'm sure of it."