Chef Shuffles: Kyle McClelland out at Proof + Pantry, replaced by Andre Natera protege Julio Peraza

Opening chef Kyle McClelland is no longer the chef at Proof + Pantry in One Arts Plaza, or the soon-to-open Madrina, the high-style French-Mexican mashup under development in Dallas. But replacing him in both kitchens is an exceptionally talented chef, Julio Peraza, who trained under the masterful hand of chef Andre Natera.

If you’re following the city’s chef shuffles at home, you’ll likely recall that Natera led the kitchen to much praise at the Pyramid restaurant in the Fairmont Dallas Hotel, then tackled the Marquee Grill/Village Marquee/Toko V before decamping for Austin to run the Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa. At each of those Dallas restaurants, Peraza served as Natera’s sous chef.

Peraza took over the kitchen at Proof + Pantry last week and will be in charge of the food at Madrina, too, an ambitious restaurant with eyes on Michelin star-level food and service.

“Julio is immensely talented,” Natera told me. “He definitely has the talent and cooking skills to make things happen there.”

photo: Proof + Pantry instagram.