Vermilion Gets a New Chef

William Morris will become top chef at Old Town’s Vermilion.

Morris replaces Tony Chittum who is leaving to reopen the Iron Gate Inn in Dupont Circle, reports Tom Sietsma in the Washington Post’s Going Out Guide.

Morris, a Springfield, Va., native, previously worked at San Francisco’s Michael Mina and Brasserie Beck in Washington, DC.

He also worked as executive sous chef at Bourbon Steak in Georgetown.

Morris told Sietsma that he wants to continue what Chittum started and “progress from there.”

Morris also has been helping out at Old Town’s Columbia Firehouse Restaurant, which, like Vermilion, is owned by the Neighborhood Restaurant Group.

Chittum’s last day at Vermilion will be Valentine’s Day. President Obama and the first lady chose to dine at Vermilion last year for Valentine's Day.

Vermilion also was chosen by Patch readers as the place to go for the "Best Mother's Day Brunch."

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