UPDATED: Dallas Top Chef Tre Wilcox signs on at Loft 610 in Plano

by Teresa Gubbins

Here's the kind of anonymous email you like to see in your in-basket every day:

Tre Wilcox is taking the position of Executive Chef at Loft 610. He'll start around the the first week of October, and the restaurant will introduce a new menu on October 6.

Madonna's icky brother Christopher Ciccone offers Tre Wilcox and company advice. Boy, that really worked out.

October 6. Which is 10-6. Like 610, get it? Cute.

Wilcox will replace Marcos Rodriguez, who is headed to Bolla, where he'll join dreamy chef David Bull, who is not going anywhere. (As confirmed by a spokesperson at the Stoneleigh Hotel.)

Since leaving Abacus in late 2007, Wilcox has been making appearances at various foodie festivals such as Savor Dallas, where he always seems to attract gaggles of gals.

UPDATE: Here's the press release:

Loft 610 Urban Restaurant & Lounge announced today the naming of Tre Wilcox as Executive Chef of its Plano restaurant. Chef Tre assumes culinary responsibilities immediately with a limited menu preview on Saturday, October 3 and the full menu debut on Tuesday, October 6.

“We are reinvigorating our commitment to fine cuisine by having Tre lead our kitchen,” said Brian Twomey, owner of Loft 610. “Tre has a unique way of creating exciting flavor combinations without making the dishes too ‘out there.’ We want the menu to be comfortable and approachable. The food at Loft 610 will be prepared simply, but expertly.”

Dallas native Chef Tre began his culinary career at age 16 and quickly moved from the fast food world to gourmet cuisine. He was hired as a grill cook by Kent Rathburn at the five-star Dallas eatery Abacus, and quickly rose through the ranks to become Chef de Cuisine. In 2007, Chef Tre gained national notoriety and showcased his passion for finer food on Bravo’s third season of “Top Chef.” In the last year, he has served as a private chef as well as a national spokesperson for cookware.

Loft 610 Urban Restaurant & Lounge offers a sophisticated downtown dining experience complete with exposed steel structures, reclaimed brick and polished concrete floors, replicating the ambience of an old warehouse. The restaurant opened in December 2007 and quickly established itself as a place for upscale dining outside of the downtown Dallas area, receiving Dallas Observer Critics’ Pick and Best of Dallas accolades.

“I am excited to take on this new challenge,” said Chef Tre. “Loft 610 is a beautiful restaurant with a top notch kitchen, and I know we can create a lasting impression on people that want a fantastic meal. We hope to reverse the traffic flow on the Tollway during weekend nights. We’re only 10 minutes from Highland Park and we aren’t in Uptown, but everything else about LOFT 610 is.”

Joining Chef Tre in the kitchen will be longtime friend and Abacus colleague Jermaine Brown, who will take over as Executive Sous Chef. Brown is leaving his current position as Executive Sous Chef at Abacus to reunite working with Chef Tre.

“We have been operating with a sensational front of house under the leadership of Vice President of Operations, Chad Holland, and we now have perfected the entire picture,” added Twomey. “Loft 610 will be a very special place, and we have all the elements necessary to be one of the top restaurants in the country. I am so pleased with what we can offer to our community.”

Loft 610 serves lunch and dinner daily with a late-night kitchen open on Thursday through Saturday nights. The restaurant and lounge have several secluded dining areas for private parties and banquet events.

“Our pricing is affordable for everyday occasions,” said Twomey. “We’ve created a menu that allows people to enjoy a fantastic night out without having to take out a second mortgage. This is not just a special occasion restaurant.”

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