Fabrice Poigin has joined restaurateur Tracey Borkum and her Urban Kitchen Group — Chive and Kensington Grill — as executive chef. He will work in the capacity of a corporate chef assisting with the opening of new restaurants and with the catering division. You may remember Poigin from his early days at Sally’s (some of us even remember him from the early 1980s at Bagatelle), from his own restaurant, Vignola, and most recently from his two-year stint as executive chef at Bertrand at Mr. A’s. Expect great things from that duo.

Replacing Poigin at Mr. A’s is Stephane Voitzwinkler, who most recently served as executive chef at the Manchester Grand Hyatt with its signature restaurant, Sally’s. (Yes, it’s all coming together now. Voitzwinkler served under Poigin as sous chef). Voitzwinkler, who is originally from Alsace Lorraine, France, came to the United States with Le Meridian to work at Marius in Coronado.

***

Tommy DiMella has accepted the position of executive chef at Dobson’s Bar and Restaurant. DiMella attended the Culinary Institute of America in New York and has most recently served as sous chef at Pamplemousse. He replaces Max Elfman, who has been at the helm at Dobson’s since 1992. Elfman is relocating to the Miami area to begin a new career in real estate. Best of luck to Elfman and a word of advice to DiMella: Don’t touch the mussel bisque recipe!

***

Fantastic news for foodies. Check out Café Cerise (cherry) which opened in late December at 1125 Sixth Ave. Chef/proprietor Jason Seibert’s fantastic remodel of the former Lilo’s restaurant would be worth the trip alone, but his French-rustic village food is something of a sensation. Originally from San Diego, Seibert trained at the California Culinary Academy before working around in some of the country’s best kitchens including China Moon (San Francisco), Bistro Ralph (Healdsburg) and Park Avenue Café (NYC).

***

For those lucky enough to have a subscription to Art Culinaire, peel off the plastic seal wrap and turn to Page 6 where an eight-page feature on Arterra’s Carl Schroeder begins. Schroeder was invited to participate in the winter issue (Volume 71) and was asked to write the recipes for a feature being prepared on that great Southern favorite — grits.

Schroeder’s recipes for the article, titled “True Grits,” take this simple ingredient made from dried hard-kernel corn to new heights.

If reading the recipe for his “Syrah Braised Short Ribs on White Corn Polenta” or his “Lamb, Duck and Rabbit ‘Corn Dogs’ with a Trio of Chutneys” doesn’t make your mouth water, the highly saturated, beautifully printed photographs that Art Culinaire is famous for will.

***

The Cohn Restaurant Group has signed a lease for the former Reuben’s restaurant space on Harbor Island. Cohn will team with Deborah Scott to open a yet-to-be-named seafood themed restaurant.

***

Check out Pearl, the new restaurant by Susan Lew that opened recently in the former Anthony’s space off Bernardo Center Drive in Rancho Bernardo. This $3 million-plus project will be the second restaurant for Lew; Emerald in Kearny Mesa was her first.

***

Ara Sharmlyan and Garo Minassian of Scalini (Del Mar) opened Grappa, an Italian restaurant in San Marcos, last month. Located at the Campus Marketplace on Twin Oaks Valley Road, this very moderately priced eatery featuring the cuisine of Tuscany offers salads, wood-fired pizzas, rotisserie and grilled meats and pastas.

***

Former Canadian Football League player Brent Pollock has been named executive chef of Pacifica in the Desert. Pacifica in the Desert is the sister restaurant to Pacifica Del Mar and is operated by Kipp Downing. After an injury in his second year of play, Pollock enrolled at the California Culinary Academy where he graduated as class valedictorian. He worked at the prestigious Auberge Du Soleil in the Napa Valley before spending seven years with the Gordon Biersch Co. He most recently served as executive chef in the kitchen of Palo Alto’s pan-Mediterranean restaurant Zibibbo.

***

Hispanic Magazine recently named Bazaar del Mundo’s Casa de Pico one the nation’s 50 best Hispanic restaurants. Known for its colorful patios, strolling mariachis and birdbath-sized margaritas, Casa de Pico is celebrating its 32nd year in business. Bazaar del Mundo and Casa De Pico are located in Old Town and are owned and operated by Diane Powers.

***

On Tap Bistro and Microbrewery, located in the UTC Shopping Center, quietly reopened under new ownership in late November. The restaurant and brewery had closed without notice earlier in the year. The new owner, David Rothman, previously owned and operated the Blue Crab in Point Loma. On Tap offers casual eclectic fare seven days a week beginning at 11:30 a.m.

***

On a little sweet side note, congratulations to Karen Krasne of Extraordinary Desserts in Hillcrest and her fiancé, Jamie Kiskis, on the birth of their daughter, Sahara Keikilani, who was born on Dec. 24. Truly an extraordinary creation.