EXCLUSIVE: Michael Simon is Out at Carriage House, The Bedford

The talented, yet controversial mixologist Michael Simon is no longer at Carriage House and Bedford, confirms chef/partner Mark Steuer.

"He resigned on Saturday," Steuer tells 312DD exclusively. "Call it creative differences. We appreciate everything he did for us pre- and post-opening and wish him nothing but the best wherever he lands next."

In Time Out Chicago's November review of Carriage House, writer Julia Kramer called Simon's cocktails "first-rate drinks, from the bright, vegetal Chartreuse Elixir to the savory, smooth Lowcountry Gin Gibson to a Singapore sling whose perfection is like a giant apology for every act of cruelty that's been inflicted on this often puckery and overly boozy tiki classic."

Simon's resignation comes at an awkward time because he is up for "Best Mixologist of the Year" (going against the likes of Blackbird's Lynn House and BOKA's Ben Schiller) in the annual Banchet Awards, taking place on Feb. 8.