Three years after opening his trendy French-Asian restaurant in downtown Aiken, CuiZine owner Philippe Chin is closing it.

"Augusta is where I belong," said Mr. Chin, who was at Bambu on Hickman in Augusta for four years before opening his Aiken restaurant.

The final meal was served Saturday.

"People are always saying to me, 'Chef, when are you coming back to Augusta?' "

CuiZine, inside the Hotel Aiken, had a regular following. Mr. Chin said he will miss those customers but was concerned that the focus at CuiZine was getting away from the food.

"It became more of a bar/restaurant than a restaurant/bar," he said. "I don't want to own a bar."

With CuiZine's closing, Mr. Chin has a number of ideas about the next phase of his career.

One of the first things he plans to do is finish a book he started about five years ago. Although it will have recipes in it, Mr. Chin doesn't call it a cookbook.

"It will be recipes from the travels and the great memories, and food," he said.

Each recipe will include a story about where it came from.

After the book, a cooking school and another restaurant are on the way.

Mr. Chin said cooking need not be time-consuming. Instead of picking up fast food, families could have simple, healthful meals if they knew how to prepare them.

"Cooking is not difficult," he said.

He has been scouting locations in Augusta for the school, which would be more than a one-afternoon cooking class. He envisions three months of classes, with homework.

Another restaurant is on the horizon one day, he said.

"But it will not be a bar; it will be a restaurant that focuses on food," he said.

He and Cheryl Grace have been working to build up a section of Augusta they call "midtown." They live not far from that area, which is along Central Avenue near Summerville. She owns Pastel, and there are several shops in the area, but there's no restaurant there.

"I don't know what I'm doing yet, but I will be doing something to make me happy," Mr. Chin said.