By Stefanie Gans
“I can’t believe this is true. I don’t know how I’m going to tell my kids.” This is just one of the over 100 Facebook messages and 95 text messages Will Artley received after news broke that the chef left Pizzeria Orso.
Artley promised this particular parent’s child he would make a pizza with him on his birthday. “It’s just little things like this that I’m starting to think about,” says Artley about the departure, which he calls a mutual agreement. “We both decided that time was time.”
During his two-and-a-half years at the much-more-than-pizza Pizzeria Orso, Artley played with beer-infused pizza dough, represented the restaurant on Food Network‘s “Chopped,” and paid homage to local writer Jody Fellows of Burger Days (and Falls Church News-Press) with the epic Fellows Burger: a brunch-time item with a sausage-infused burger patty topped with maple syrup, bacon and a runny egg.
Chef Bertrand Chemel, of sister restaurant 2941, will step in at Orso until a permanent chef is hired. A representative for the restaurant would not comment on when this decision was initially made and how the restaurant will change. At this time, the menu will stay the same.
In the last 15 months, Artley lost 130 pounds and competed in marathons, triathlons and Ironman competitions. He frequently tweeted about his workouts and weight loss; his Twitter profile picture is a split screen with before and after images.
“It was very emotional for me to walk out of there for the last time,” says Artley, who posted this message on his Facebook wall this morning: “You may wonder why…and may never fully understand ….but everything happens for a reason….just keep moving forward…”
October 20 is the exact date, three years ago, that Artley left as chef of Del Ray‘s Evening Star Cafe.
Artley says “I have no plans,” but he will continue making pizzas. He keeps a duplicate of Orso’s pizza dough starter at his house. He’ll keep feeding it, just like he’s done for the past two-and-a-half years.
