After months of doing damage control, chef April Bloomfield has decided to leave the Spotted Pig — marking an official end to her partnership with co-owner Ken Friedman, who is accused of being a serial sexual harasser.
Bloomfield announced her departure in a statement to Eater and Grub Street on Wednesday. She will instead focus on her other restaurants now, including the Breslin Bar & Dining Room and the John Dory Oyster Bar in NYC.
“Today, I am announcing the end of my partnership with Ken Friedman,” Bloomfield said. “There is much hard work ahead, and it begins with taking full leadership of the Hearth & Hound in Los Angeles and Tosca Cafe in San Francisco. In New York, I remain chef at the Breslin and will begin work on re-concepting the John Dory Oyster Bar.
“My complete focus now is on the welfare of and opportunity for my staff and building a company I can be proud of,” the chef added. “This has been a painful time for many people, my past and present staff especially, and I will have more to say at some point in the near future. For now, I look forward to forging ahead.”
Bloomfield has spent months weathering the storm at the Spotted Pig after Friedman was accused by nearly a dozen women of sexual harassment, including accusations of unwanted groping and a reported “rape room” — which was allegedly used by chef Mario Batali, one of the restaurant’s investors.
The alleged victims recounted the abuse in a New York Times report published back in December. Bloomfield told the paper that she was only ever aware of two incidents, which were “addressed internally.” She later apologized for not knowing more.
“I fell short, and I am filled with anger and regret that, in the past, some of my staff were subjected to humiliating and degrading treatment,” Bloomfield wrote on Instagram. “Now I am learning the extent of events, often kept from me, and I know I should have been even more unrelenting. For this — way too late — I am truly sorry.”




