In what might be the biggest Charleston culinary news in years, celebrity chef Sean Brock has decided to leave the Neighborhood Dining Group. According to a news bomb by Food & Wine, Brock now serves as “founding chef and culinary advisor” of the Charleston, Nashville, Greenville, and Savannah Husks, and is no longer involved with McCrady’s, McCrady’s Tavern, nor Minero.

He is leaving to focus on his own restaurant projects in Nashville. He’s lived in Music City for some time, but frequently visited Charleston to check up on his restaurants.

Followers of Brock’s Instagram account know that he’s traveling through Sweden and currently hanging out at Fäviken with chef Magnus Nilsson, while the citizens of the Lowcountry have a meltdown that he’s chosen Nashville over us. Since he can’t talk to the press right now, his PR company sent the following statement:

“I am so proud of the reputations we have built at each of the restaurants, and I’m excited for each member of the teams to carry the restaurants forward,” says Chef Sean Brock. “I have full confidence in these chefs and know that they will continue to deliver the creative, locally-focused, ingredient-driven cuisine that our guests have enjoyed at the restaurants over the years.”

Many credit Brock for the culinary resurgence of Charleston — so what does this mean for the future of the Lowcountry restaurant scene?

• Sean Brock Leaves Restaurant Group to Focus on Nashville Projects [F&W]

• Husk Isn’t a Chain — But It’s Definitely Growing [E]

• Chef Sean Brock Has Big Plans for Nashville [ENASH]