Chef Michael Leviton To Sell Lumière

Seven-time James Beard Foundation Award nominee Michael Leviton has decided to sell 16-year-old West Newton French bistro Lumièreaccording to The Boston Globe. The farm-to-table restaurant located on 1293 Washington Street will be taken over by chef Jordan Bailey, Leviton's chef de cuisine, when Leviton leaves at the end of February.

In his December newsletter, Leviton writes, "Jordan is a remarkably dedicated and talented young man who will maintain what you love about Lumière while invigorating it with the energy it needs for the future."

Fortunately for Bailey, most of the staff will remain at the restaurant, "making the transition pleasantly seamless," according to Bailey.

Previously, Leviton was a co-owner of restaurants Area Four in Cambridge and A4 Pizza in Somerville. Leviton worked under notable chefs such as Joyce Goldstein, Daniel Boulud, and Francois Payard when he began his career in the late '80s.

Regarding his resolve to sell Lumière, Leviton writes, "This decision has been years in the making and is still loaded with mixed emotions. But, while I still have very little idea of what is next, I am excited by the opportunities and for the prospect of a more 'normal' existence with my very patient family."