Longtime Freemans Chef Preston Madson Leaves for New Project With Wife/Isa Chef Ginger Pierce

After nearly seven years of making the city's most famous artichoke dip (and a lot besides), Preston Madson has left his position as chef at Taavo Somer and William Tigertt's Lower East Side hipster stalwart Freemans. His last day in the kitchen was Friday, when he Instagrammed a photo with the caption: "That's a wrap, last day @freemansrestaurant been almost 7 years. Thanks for the good times, great memories and thanks to all the wonderful people I got to work with over the years. Now on to the next page, get to work with my lovely wife @gingerjpierce again!!!! Cheers"

From the sound of it, there are no hard feelings here. Seven years is a long time to work at one place, and Madson says he's off to work with his wife, Ginger Pierce, who was the chef at another of Taavo Somer's restaurants, Isa in Williamsburg. She, as it turns out, also worked her last shift on Friday, so it looks like the two are embarking on their own project together. No word yet on what that will be, but we should know soon enough.

Meanwhile, Tigertt tells Eater that Ana Harrison, another longtime employee of Freemans, has been promoted to chef de cuisine to fill in for Madson, but that a new executive chef has not yet been determined.