Chef Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman Leaves Jose to Start Her Own Restaurant
Chef Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman is leaving Jose to start her own restaurant, Eledi, with Jose’s soon-to-be former general manager, Victor Rojas, and Jose’s beverage director, Carlos Marquez, as her partners. The trio has also started Oh Hi Hospitality together.
Why Now?
“A lot of people have asked, why now?” Quiñones-Pittman tells Eater Dallas. “By no means was there a bad breakup. The owners have known for quite some time; we’ve been very up front with our plans.” The project will allow Rojas and Marquez to explore their loves for coffee and cocktails, respectively, in additional restaurants, Quiñones-Pittman hints, although there are no plans at this time.
Award-Winning Chef
Quiñones-Pittman has garnered a lot of accolades in her career. She was the Eater Award winner for Chef of the Year in Dallas in 2018; a three-time semifinalist for Best Chef: Texas in the James Beard Awards; and her work was featured on Netflix’s Taco Chronicles. Last April, she celebrated seven years at Jose.
New Restaurant, Eledi
The trio will depart Jose on May 5, and Eledi is expected to open later this year, although Quiñones-Pittman declines to offer a firm date or the new restaurant’s location. “Eledi will be smaller because I want to focus on technique and the ingredients that we’re sourcing locally,” she says. Quiñones-Pittman will do pop-ups between now and then to introduce dishes that will appear at the upcoming restaurant, like a smoked potato and chicharron tater tot a la brasa, cooked over leftover embers from a fire.
Family Traditions and Live-Fire Cooking
Eledi combines Quiñones-Pittman’s mom’s name and her mother-in-law’s name, Elena and Diana, representing the family traditions in her cooking techniques. The restaurant will emphasize live-fire cooking. “We don’t want to be defined by just one genre. There are definitely Mexican techniques and flavors, but I don’t know that I would call it a Mexican restaurant,” she says. “We want to change. We want to stay true to the spirit of the cuisine while allowing it to grow and evolve, and be shaped by the people who cook it.”
Supporting Local Businesses
“Victor and I were both born and raised in Dallas, which is not common among restaurateurs and hospitality groups in the city,” Quiñones-Pittman says. “We want to have other small businesses look at us and say, ‘If they can do it, we can do it.’”
Stay Updated with Eater Dallas
Sign up for the newsletter Eater Dallas
Conclusion
Chef Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman is embarking on a new journey with her partners, Victor Rojas and Carlos Marquez, to open Eledi, a restaurant that combines family traditions with live-fire cooking. With a focus on local ingredients and technique, Eledi is expected to bring a unique dining experience to Dallas. Quiñones-Pittman and her team aim to support local businesses and inspire others to follow in their footsteps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When will Eledi open?
A: Eledi is expected to open later this year, although the exact date and location have not been announced.
Q: What type of cuisine will Eledi serve?
A: Eledi will serve a unique blend of Mexican techniques and flavors, but will not be defined as a traditional Mexican restaurant.
Q: Who are the partners behind Eledi?
A: The partners behind Eledi are Chef Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman, Victor Rojas, and Carlos Marquez.
Q: How can I stay updated on Eledi and other Dallas food news?
A: You can sign up for the Eater Dallas newsletter to stay updated on the latest news and developments.
