Entered into upon the voluntary departure of the Executive Chef from the kitchens of a Michelin-starred establishment, pursuant to the laws of the State of New York.
This Agreement memorializes the mutual understanding between the Restaurant and the Chef, whose creative stewardship contributed materially to the establishment's culinary identity, critical recognition, and the award of one Michelin star. In consideration of the severance, goodwill, and confidential knowledge conveyed during employment, the parties agree to the covenants that follow.
For a period of eighteen (18) consecutive months following the Chef's last day of active service, the Chef shall not, directly or indirectly, own, operate, manage, consult for, or serve as executive or head chef of any restaurant, pop-up, residency, or dining concept located within the five boroughs of New York City that offers modern French cuisine, contemporary bistronomie, or any menu substantially resembling the culinary program developed at Chevalier.
All recipes, menus, plating compositions, sauce bases, fermentation protocols, tasting-menu sequences, and written culinary materials created, adapted, or refined by the Chef during the course of employment with the Restaurant shall constitute works made for hire and remain the sole and exclusive property of the Restaurant in perpetuity.
Without limitation, the following categories are expressly retained by the Restaurant:
During the Restricted Period, the Chef shall not solicit, recruit, or hire any current employee of the Restaurant, nor shall the Chef induce any purveyor, farmer, fishmonger, or specialty supplier with whom the Restaurant maintains an active relationship to cease or materially alter that relationship. Casual professional contact that does not result in a change of employment or supply shall not constitute a breach.
The Chef acknowledges continued access to confidential information including financial performance, guest data, investor identities, unreleased concepts, and the Restaurant's proprietary sourcing network. Such information shall be maintained in strict confidence indefinitely, regardless of the expiration of the Restricted Period.
Paid in six equal monthly installments commencing April 1, 2025, in express consideration of the covenants set forth herein. The Chef acknowledges that such consideration is adequate, material, and specifically bargained for.
Nothing herein shall prevent the Chef from: (i) accepting a position at any restaurant outside New York City; (ii) teaching, writing, or appearing in media capacities, provided no confidential material is disclosed; (iii) operating a concept within the five boroughs that is demonstrably distinct in cuisine type — including, by way of example, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, or Levantine programs — subject to the recipe ownership provisions of Section 2.
The parties acknowledge that monetary damages may be inadequate for a breach of Sections 1, 2, or 4, and the Restaurant shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief in addition to any other remedies available at law or in equity. Should any provision be held unenforceable under applicable New York law, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force, and any overbroad restriction shall be modified by the court to the maximum enforceable scope.
This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its conflict-of-laws principles. Exclusive jurisdiction and venue shall lie in the state and federal courts located in New York County.