Vancouver's super-chef Rob Feenie has returned to the restaurant business after leaving his signature restaurants Feenie's and Lumiere last November.
Feenie will join the Cactus Club restaurant chain as "Food Concept Architect," executives from the chain announced on Tuesday.
"We are exited and thrilled to have one of Canada's top chefs join our team," said Cactus Restaurants president Richard Jaffray.
Feenie is one of Canada's most celebrated chefs. In 2005, he became a pop culture icon by winning the Iron Chef America competition. He has also written several cookbooks and has had his own television cooking shows.
But later that year, with his two restaurants Lumiere and Feenie's facing bankruptcy, he signed the majority ownership over to David and Manjy Sidoo.
Feenie said that he had an employment contract with the Sidoos, but they refused to keep him on as executive chef.
In November, Feenie went public with accusations that the Sidoos had forced him out of their restaurants, and quit as chef.
"I'm no longer with the company because, most importantly, my role as a chef was taken away," he told reporters at the time.
The Cactus Club is a B.C.-based chain with 17 locations in B.C. and Alberta.
As "Food Concept Architect," Feenie will create new dishes and improve old favourites, Cactus Club officials said.
