Church & State has had not a few chef changes in the few years since it's been open downtown, and today comes news that there's been another. Chef Joshua Smith has left the restaurant, as of today, and has been replaced by Jeremy Berlin, most recently of The London West Hollywood, which he helped to open. Berlin is a French Culinary Institute graduate and an alum of Payard Patisserie & Bistro, Fleur de Sel, Le Bernardin and New York City's Gordon Ramsay at the London. It's been an amicable break-up, as it were, and a lightning fast transition. And yes, although there will be some changes, pigs ears are still and will continue to be on the menu.

“The restaurant wasn't going 100% in the direction that I needed it to,” said Church & State owner Yassmin Sarmadi by phone this afternoon. “Jeremy has a very strong French background. It's a very good fit for us. Josh helped us through an important transitional state, and I commend him for that.”

Church & State: 1855 Industrial St., L.A., (213) 405-1434.

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