-Marina del Rey, Calif.
-On the second-to-last day of the scouting offseason, Feast Fest scouters have officially signed Mexico City-based chef Pablo Arencía in an effort to regain critical Latin appeal lost with the departure of Jarolde Jámes in April.
Latin America is one of the most underrepresented areas of the globe at Feast Fest, and with people of Latin American descent a critical demographic, Jámes quickly became a star figure at Feast Fest who brought more people of Latin American descent to Feast Fest in 2012 and 2013 than ever before.
But Jámes and scouters butted heads during contractual negotiations this offseason. Jámes wanted a $525,000 per year, three-year deal, but scouters instead pushed for a $446,000 per year, four-year deal. Jámes eventually got his requested offer down to $500,000, but FF refused to budge, and after months of strained talks, Jámes announced Apr. 22 he wouldn't be returning.
Scouters began looking at Arencía in May, and quickly found him a viable candidate. He was brought to Marina del Rey last month for preliminary negotiations, and confirmed via email Thursday that he had accepted a $227,304 offer for two years.
"Tell the media I'm thrilled," he wrote to scouters at the end of the missive.
Arencía will travel to Marina del Rey for a new chefs introductory press conference scheduled for next week.
FF Wire Service
The NCA Feast Fest lives here