Il Palio chef announces departure, former chef returning

Chef Adam Rose is returning to Il Palio at the Siena Hotel in Chapel Hill and current executive chef Teddy Diggs is starting his own restaurant, Il Palio announced Thursday.

Rose, who is originally from Long Island, N.Y., was Il Palio's executive chef from 2007 to 2013, before becoming the executive chef and partner of the former Black House restaurant in Durham. He left there in 2015.

Triangle Food Guy Sean Lennard broke the news on Tuesday that Rose would be taking over for Diggs, who has been at Il Palio for nearly five years.

Just learned that Adam Rose has returned to Il Palio at The Siena Hotel in Chapel Hill. Chef Teddy Diggs will be there through July.

— Triangle Food Guy (@TriangleFoodGuy) June 19, 2018

Rose will be leading at dining operations starting July 1.

"Having chef Adam walk back through the kitchen doors of Il Palio restaurant was like a dream sequence from a movie," Siena Hotel general manager Anthony Carey said. "The staff was really happy to see him and to know he is returning as our chef. Several associates worked with chef Adam prior to his departure and were so excited to share with him all the great renovations that have taken place during his time away. It really was like a homecoming of sorts."

Representatives said there will be new offerings including cooking classes (like sangria making) and intimate dining experiences with Rose.

Diggs is planning to open his own Triangle-area restaurant that will focus on Roman pizza and fried snacks. No word on where that restaurant will be located, but it will be in the Triangle.