MotorCity Casino loses executive chef

Top MotorCity Casino chef heads to Chicago

Michael Russell has been named executive chef of Chicago’s McCormick Place

September 7, 2007 BY SYLVIA RECTOR FREE PRESS RESTAURANT CRITIC Certified Master Chef Michael Russell, executive chef of MotorCity Casino for more than eight years, has been named executive chef of Chicago’s McCormick Place, the largest convention complex in North America. Russell, 61, resigned his MotorCity Casino job two weeks ago “under very good terms,” he said today.

(Kathleen Galligan/Detroit Free Press) Certified Master Chef Michael D. Russell stands inside the entrance to the VIP area as Motor City Casino gives a sneak peek at its new facilities back on May 29, 2007.

Earlier this week, a MotorCity Casino spokeswoman confirmed that Russell had left to “pursue other opportunities.” She said a successor has been chosen and an announcement would be made soon. Russell’s resignation comes just two months before MotorCity is scheduled to open its new 18-story, 400-room hotel topped by an opulent new edition of the casino’s fine-dining Iridescence restaurant. He had been responsible for all food services at MotorCity, including banquets and the hotel’s in-room dining operations. Leaving now, Russell said, “gave them the opportunity to find a replacement before everything opened up.” In Chicago, he will oversee all of McCormick’s food services, which amount to $36 million a year. His family will continue living at their home in Rochester and he will commute back here periodically. Russell is one of only 61 American Culinary Federation certified master chefs in the United States. Well-known in Michigan’s culinary community, he said he has no intention of abandoning the state forever. “I was born here, grew up here and had my whole career here,” he said. “But this was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down. It’s kind of the next step in my career.” He begins his new position in two weeks; in the meantime he’s taking “a much needed, relaxing vacation” that includes fishing, some travel and flying his radio-controlled airplane.