Manrique Eighty-Sixes Himself from Aqua

 After three years of legal wrangling over ownership of Aqua, chef Laurent Manrique announced today that he's split from the FiDi restaurant that once represented cutting-edge cuisine in San Francisco. A press release said the chef had also severed his ties with Aqua Development Corporation. Manrique was named executive chef at the restaurant in 2003, and helped it rack up two Michelin stars twice, both in 2007 and 2008.

"The nearly three years of legal battles related to the ownership of Aqua that have been going on since shortly after the 2006 death of Charles Condy have come to make it impossible for me effectively perform my job and maintain the high standards of my profession," Manrique stated in the release. "I am very happy to have had the chance to help build what became a two-star Michelin restaurant and I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with Charles Condy, a most distinguished restaurateur."

Manrique is still chef and co-owner of both Café de la Presse and Rouge et Blanc Wine Bar.