Whitehorse’s most popular chefs are enmeshed in a legal battle over thousands of dollars worth of cooking equipment.
The former owners of the now-defunct Henriette’s Taverne, Matthias Lexow and Jonathon Peterson, are suing Antoinette Oliphant, alleging she took from them more than $122,650 in kitchen and restaurant decor items.
Lexow and Peterson opened Henriette’s last year, but soon decided to take their culinary skills to Atlin in the spring. They sold their well-attended location, at the corner of Steele Street and Fourth Avenue, to Oliphant, who previously owned a slow-food restaurant and managed the kitchen at the Skky Hotel.
Henriette’s soon became Antoinette’s, and though the menu changed, the spot has remained a trendy destination for dinners.
But the move has been far from smooth.
Lexow and Peterson allege they left behind major pieces of kitchen equipment that Oliphant promised she’d give back or pay for, according to documents filed last Tuesday.
At stake are two chandeliers, a walk-in freezer, paintings, an antique piano, several stainless steel tables and sinks, a coffee machine and a book on healthy cooking.
Also, Lexow and Peterson allege they built a porch for Oliphant, paid for her propane fuel and a dumpster. The pair are seeking an order declaring ownership over the items as well as the goods themselves.
A case management conference is scheduled for September 28.
Contact James Munson at jamesm@yukon-news.com