Grae Nonas Leaves Austin to Open Minneapolis Nordic Restaurant

Grae Nonas, the former Olamaie co-executive chef, is moving to Minneapolis to open a new hotel restaurant. The Nordic-styled Tullibee is part of the forthcoming Hewing Hotel. It’s set to open this fall.

As Tullibee’s executive chef, Nonas aims on using Nordic techniques and styles, which’ll include fermentation, wood-burning, butchering, and more, as well as sourcing from Minneapolis' woods and lakes. The restaurant’s name comes from a rare fish found in the state. Nonas is also in charge of the Minnesota hotel’s food and drink options.

Nonas helped open Austin’s acclaimed modern Southern restaurant Olamaie with owner and co-executive chef Michael Fojtasek in 2014. He was a finalist for this year’s James Beard Awards’ Rising Star Chef. Both Nonas and Fojtasek were named Eater Austin’s chefs of the year in 2015, as well as Food & Wine’s Best New Chef in 2015.

Nonas announced he was leaving Olamaie in July to open his own seafood-focused spot dubbed Aya (after his daughter). Eater has reached out to find out what will happen with this venture; watch this space for updated.

• Grae Nonas OUT at Olamaie [EATX]
• Tullibee [Facebook]
• Hewing Hotel [Official]