Scott Conant digs into former Alto and L’Impero partner Chris Cannon in the new New York Restaurant Insider. “It became clear to me that I couldn't work with that group anymore.…There is such a thing as the Peter Principle, where people rise to their level of incompetence. And it just became clear to me that maybe I was associated with a group that was in that category,” he said. Today in the Post, Steve Cuozzo asks Conant to explain himself. “I'm going to do the right thing and keep my mouth shut,” Conant said. “It was a conversation I didn't realize they were going to take verbatim.” Conant was quick to say that Michael White is “doing a great job” at Alto and Convivio, but something tells us this won’t be the last time hard words come out.

The Italian Job [NYP]
Related: Behind the Scenes at the Conant-Cannon Divorce