<div class="tldr">Executive Chef Laura Chen left Aquamarine, a seafood restaurant in Midtown Manhattan, on May 15, 2024. Chen had led the kitchen since 2021.</div>\n\n<ul class="key-facts">\n <li>Laura Chen served as Executive Chef at Aquamarine from 2021 to 2024.</li>\n <li>Chen announced her departure on May 15, 2024.</li>\n <li>Aquamarine is located at 48th Street and Third Avenue in Midtown.</li>\n</ul>\n\nLaura Chen’s departure marks a significant change at Aquamarine, a seafood-focused restaurant that has been operating in Midtown since 2019. Chen took over as Executive Chef in 2021, following the departure of the restaurant’s founding chef.\n\nAquamarine confirmed Chen’s exit in a statement on May 16. The restaurant said it plans to appoint an interim chef while conducting a search for a permanent replacement. No timeline for the hiring process was provided.\n\nChen’s tenure at Aquamarine was noted for a shift toward locally sourced seafood and a simplified menu. Sources familiar with the situation said Chen left to pursue other opportunities but did not specify her next move.\n\nIndustry observers say the departure comes amid a competitive Midtown dining scene where seafood restaurants face challenges from supply chain fluctuations and changing consumer preferences. Aquamarine’s management did not comment on how the change might affect future operations.\n\n<h2>Sıkça Sorulan Sorular</h2>\n<h2>Who is Laura Chen and what was her role at Aquamarine?</h2>\n<p>Laura Chen served as the Executive Chef at Aquamarine, a Midtown seafood restaurant, from 2021 until her departure on May 15, 2024. She was responsible for menu development and kitchen operations.</p>\n<h2>What led to Laura Chen’s departure from Aquamarine?</h2>\n<p>Chen left the restaurant to pursue other professional opportunities. No further details about her reasons for leaving were disclosed by her or the restaurant.</p>\n<h2>What are Aquamarine’s plans following the chef’s exit?</h2>\n<p>Aquamarine is appointing an interim chef and plans to conduct a search for a new permanent Executive Chef. The restaurant has not announced a timeline for completing this process.</p>