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Princeton chef’s tale of threats is a potboiler

By Greg Forester, Staff Writer
   A former Triumph Brewing Co. chef has been charged with aggravated harassment by Sag Harbor, N.Y., police in connection with a series of threatening phone calls he allegedly made to another chef at one of Princeton’s newest restaurants, in what appears to be a case of chef-on-chef crime.
   Thomas P. Kulick, the former Triumph chef, telephoned Julio Quisbert, JL Ivy’s executive chef, 12 times beginning in early September, according to police. Mr. Kulick’s employment at Triumph ended sometime in the last year, and he could not be reached for comment.
   Some of the harassing calls came at a time when Mr. Quisbert was sent on vacation in Sag Harbor by restaurant management following JL Ivy’s successful summer opening in the former Rusty Scupper on Alexander Street. Mr. Kulick actually impersonated a JL Ivy partner and threatened Mr. Quisbert with termination for leaving on an unauthorized vacation, according Mr. Quisbert’s report to police.
   Also, Mr. Kulick told Mr. Quisbert “that he would get hurt if he returned to Princeton” during another call, according to Sag Harbor Detective Jeff Proctor.
   ”Basically a new restaurant opened in town, and the old chef in town began threatening the new chef,” said Detective Proctor.
   Police had speculated that the harassment might have stemmed from a previous working relationship between Mr. Kulick and Mr. Quisbert.
   However, Mr. Quisbert said he did not recognize the name and had no idea how Mr. Kulick had obtained his cell phone number or why the former Triumph employee had targeted him for harassment.
   ”My job is to do the food and do the best job we can, and I don’t want any rivals,” said Mr. Quisbert, who noted that the caller had criticized his culinary techniques during some of the calls.
   Ed “Jean Luc” Kleefield, the owner of JL Ivy and a number of other restaurants in New York state, said the whole affair was a disappointment, given the great work his chef has done and the great reaction the new eatery has received from the Princeton area.
   ”He’s been putting out spectacular food, and the community in general has been extremely supportive of the chef,” said Mr. Kleefield. “It’s just a shame that some whacko feels inclined to take our success, which is good for everyone in the community, and make it into a negative thing.”
   Sag Harbor police, during an interview in late October, said they attempted to get the two parties to resolve the dispute without resorting to the aggravated harassment complaint, but Mr. Quisbert had been adamant about pressing charges.
   ”Normally we wouldn’t even pursue this,” said Detective Proctor.
   Restaurant employees said Mr. Quisbert went ahead with pressing charges after police determined, through their investigation, that Mr. Kulick had been employed at Triumph Brewing Co., less than one mile away from JL Ivy.
   ”The chef was truly concerned for his safety, and probably didn’t think it was a big deal, except for the fact this gentlemen works for Triumph Brewery,” one restaurant representative said.
   Due to jurisdictional rules, Sag Harbor police said they were forced to solicit the help of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department in order to serve the aggravated harassment complaint on Mr. Kulick. Mr. Kulick had not been served at that time, police said, because papers were accidentally served on the wrong Mr. Kulick, slowing down the process.
   In New York state, aggravated harassment is what is known as a Class B misdemeanor, according to police.
   Triumph Brewing Co. did not have contact information for Mr. Kulick, and he could not be reached for comment.