Mixer Benjamin Schiller Jumps From Boka To Fifty/50

By Anthony Todd in Food on Apr 29, 2013 7:00PM

The Fifty/50 restaurant group is getting serious very quickly. Two weeks ago, they announced that a new chef, Chris Curren, was taking over operations for the whole restaurant group. Today, they made another big announcement — except this one is a bit more surprising. Benjamin Schiller, head of cocktails and spirits for Boka Restaurant Group, is coming to Fifty/50.

Schiller had been at Boka group for more than three years, overseeing beverage programs at Girl and the Goat, Boka and GT Fish and Oyster. The cocktail programs at these restaurants got a ton of attention during his tenure - we even barrel-aged cocktails with him once upon a time. Schiller will be taking over all of the booze operations for the group and bartending at Homestead and the upcoming Berkshire Room, a new craft cocktail lounge. Previously, cocktails at Homestead had been provided by Femme de Coupe on a consulting basis.

Schiller and Curren aren't the only recent hires for the group. They also hired Pastry Chef/Baker Chris Teixeira away from Sixteen to run pastry for the entire group — he's already revamped the whole menu at West Town Bakery & Diner.

While we love a sports bar and a pizza place as much as the next man, it's obvious that Fifty/50 Group, known mostly for upscale bar food, is trying to take things to the next level. They've brought in some serious talent (and spent some serious cash) over the last month, and we are eagerly awaiting the Spring opening of Homestead so we can get a taste.

Fifty/50 is at 2047 W. Division St.