I got an e-mail from Gordon Naccarato, owner of Pacific Grill, announcing he's hired Ian Thompson, formerly of Asado and El Gaucho, to be the newest executive chef at Pacific Grill.

Naccarato told TNT Diner readers a few weeks ago that Jason Moses would replace Aaron Valimont, who left to work at Oceanaire in Seattle. Moses, who was the sous chef at Pacific Grill before briefly becoming executive chef a few weeks ago, has left the restaurant for personal reasons.

Ian Thompson, former chef at Asado and El Gaucho, will join the kitchen at Pacific Grill.

To sum up Thompson's resume: he is a Gig Harbor native who started his restaurant career washing dishes at Spiro's in Gig Harbor. He attended South Seattle Community College's culinary program and worked line cook jobs at Coastal Kitchen and Primo Grill. He was a member of the opening team for El Gaucho's Tacoma location before taking over catering operations at the Garden Cafe at Windmill Gardens in Sumner. He then went to work at Asado before going back to SSCC to attend the hospitality management program. He graduates from the program this June.