celebrity restaurants

Chazz Palminteri To Open A Restaurant in Baltimore

Chazz Palminteri is famous for his New York style. Now the actor is bringing a taste of the Bronx to Baltimore for a new celebrity restaurant, a venture called Chazz: A Bronx Original.

The Baltimore Sun says that Palminteri's Charm City adventure began when he was in Baltimore's Little Italy in 2009 searching for some good Italian food while in town with his one-man show "A Bronx Tale." He discovered Aldo's, a popular local restaurant. He ordered the linguini with marinara sauce and liked it so much he came back the next 10 nights in a row.

Clearly impressed by the food, he made friends with the owners and found collaborators for a new restaurant. Chazz: A Bronx Original which is described as "a garlicky valentine to the Italian-American table" is set to open this spring in the Harbor East neighborhood. The 160-seat restaurant will have a coal-fired pizza oven and Palminteri says that he will be visiting the restaurant frequently to hang out with the locals. He told the Baltimore Sun he's been getting tips on life as a celebrity restaurateur from his longtime friend actor-turned-hotel-and-restaurant-owner Robert De Niro.

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Tags: baltimore, celebrity restaurants, celebrity restaurateur, chazz palminteri, italian, italian food

Eva Longoria's Beso Restaurant Files For Bankruptcy

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

In 2009 Eva Longoria and celebrity chef Todd English took their Beso restaurant concept to Las Vegas. Now a little over a year after the opening of the restaurant in the Crystals complex in CityCenter, Beso LLC has filed Chapter 11. The Wall Street Journal reports that Longoria owns around a third of a stake in the corporation which operates both the Beso Restaurant and Eve nightclub in the MGM Resorts entertainment and retail complex.

The first Beso (which means "kiss" in Spanish) opened in Hollywood in 2008. Both restaurants feature Tex-Mex items such as Eva's tortilla soup, her avocado guacamole and chili rubbed skirt steak. The Chapter 11 petition, filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Las Vegas, list assets of $2.5 million and $5.7 million in debts. According to the WSJ article, Longoria herself is owed nearly $1.1 million on an unsecured loan and an additional $375,000 for legal fees she paid on the company's behalf. The Las Vegas Sun says that the restaurant projects ongoing losses of $76,000 per month and owes $1.8 million to landlord Crystals at CityCenter. There is also ongoing litigation involving contractors the construction of the club as well as former partners.

Both Beso Hollywood and Beso Las Vegas remain open. In a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press Longoria said that she would plan to Las Vegas and take charge of the future of the restaurant and looks forward to "a more proactive, hands-on approach" with her Las Vegas businesses.

Gallery: Celebrity Restaurants

Tags: celebrity restaurant, celebrity restaurants, celebrity restaurateur, eva longoria, Eva Longoria Parker, todd english

Jenna Bush And Her Husband List Baltimore Townhouse

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Celebrity Shopping

One of former President George W. Bush's twin daughters Jenna Bush Hager and her husband, Henry have listed their Baltimore townhouse. The Wall Street Journal reports that the pair are asking $474,900 for their three-bedroom home.

The property was originally built in the 1880s and was formerly a storefront that has been converted into a home. It measures 1,984 square feet and has exposed brick and wooden floors. There are 11-foot ceilings on the main floor. The master suite has a marble bath and spa tub and access to a two-level rooftop terrace. Henry Hager paid $440,000 for the property in 2008 before his marriage to Jenna Bush. The Baltimore Sun reported that the pair had their mountain bikes stolen from the home's garage. The listing, with plenty of watermarked photos, is on Realtor.com.

Tags: baltimore maryland, celebrity restaurants, henry hall, jenna bush, jenna bush hager, Jenna Bush wedding, maryland real estate

NFL Quarterback Vince Young's New Austin Steakhouse

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Sports

Last month NFL quarterback Vince Young became the latest football player to get into the restaurant business. Young currently plays for the Tennessee Titans but he played for the University of Texas and his new steakhouse is located in Austin. Young partnered with Laura McIngvale-Brown and her husband, chef Phillip Brown on the new venture, Vince Young Steakhouse. The steakhouse is located at 301 San Jacinto Blvd., a venue that already had its time in the spotlight as the home of MTV's "Real World: Austin."

The Longhorn spirit is in evidence in the decor. the lobby includes a Longhorn statue covered in copper pennies, with a large picture of Young behind it. The orangey/copper theme continues into the dining room and the walls also include images of Royal Memorial Stadium and photos of Young at the 2006 National Championship game. There is also a private area, the 10 Room which has a table shaped liked a football and a wall of wines signed by Young, some of which can be purchased and taken home.

Steaks are of course a specialty. The top of the line is the "Perfect Ten, a 10oz New York Strip of Strube Ranch Wagyu Beef, Pittsburg, Texas. Sides include bacon Mac and Cheese, brussels sprouts, sweet potato mash and haricots verts. For those not interested in steak there is a seared red snapper with a white wine and red pepper cream sauce; grilled salmon with sauteed sorrel, potato celery root hash, and grapefruit beurre blanc and pan-seared duck breast with winter vegetables and fingerling potatoes. Entrees range from $11 to $50. There is also a separate dessert menu that features the Forever Young chocolate cake, a warm chocolate cake with soft ganache center accompanied with vanilla bean ice cream and a honey crisp.

Young has said that he and his partners hope to expand the concept and open restaurants in other cities in the future.

Tags: austin, austin restaurants, celebrity restaurants, steakhouse, steakhouses, vince young, vince young steakhouse

Darryl Strawberry Opens Queens Restaurant

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Celebrity Design

Former professional baseball player Darryl Strawberry may have picked up some business skills in his brief stint on "The Celebrity Apprentice" because he's got a new venture, a restaurant in Queens, New York. Strawberry's Sports Grill opened this week with celebrities Justin Timberlake, Whitey Ford, current Yankees Nick Swisher and David Robertson, Ali Fedotowsky of the Bachlorette, and Miss USA Rima Fakih in attendance at the grand opening party.

The restaurant in Douglaston, Queens is decorated with sports memorabilia including Strawberry's Shea Stadium locker from his Mets days and two World Series trophies. Strawberry partnered with Eytan Sugarman of Southern Hospitality and the menu features some Southern treats like a house-smoked BBQ brisket, cornbread, collard greens and crawfish and cheddar hushpuppies. There is also also a complete burger menu, a dessert menu with pecan pie, milkshakes and deep-fried Twinkies served with strawberry sauce and vanilla ice cream and a special adults-only dessert menu with ice cream topped with fruit puree and liquor sauces.

Our sister blog Slashfood sat down with Strawberry and learned that Strawberry plans to be a hands-on owner, sticking around for the first six months to keep an eye on things. Check out their story for a tour of the restaurant.

Gallery: Celebrity Restaurants

Tags: celebrity restaurants, celebrity restaurateur, Darryl Strawberry, strawberrys grill

Francis Ford Coppola Opens New Restaurant

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Director Francis Ford Coppola is a man who loves his food and wine and he'll be combining both at Rustic, a new restaurant inside the Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville, California. The full title of the restaurant is Rustic Francis' Favorites which gives a clue to the fact that the menu is geared toward the tastes of the great man himself. The restaurant will serve Italian favorites including Neapolitan style pizzas as well as meat cooked on an Argentine-style parilla and a Brazilian-style Tomasi rotisserie. Seasonal produce will be sourced from the on-site vegetable and herb garden. Eater SF recently had a photo tour of the total facility which includes two tasting rooms, a cocktail bar, retail area and plenty of movie memorabilia including as Don Corleone's desk from The Godfather.

Inside Scoop chatted with Coppola about his new creation and the vision behind it. He wanted to put the focus on rustic country cuisine serving hearty fare using fresh ingredients. Starting this fall the restaurant will have 'a tavola' service on Sundays. Instead of order ing from a menu, guests will be served a variety of dishes that the chef prepares and sends out, a nod to old-fashioned family Sunday suppers.

Tags: celebrity restaurant, celebrity restaurants, celebrity restaurateur, francis ford coppola, geyserville, winery

"Entourage" Pals Collaborate On Restaurant Deal

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

On television Kevin Dillon and Kevin Connolly play buddies in the popular series "Entourage" and in real life they are taking up a popular Hollywood past time, investing in restaurants. The pair are part of a newly formed investment group that purchased Siro's Restaurant, a seasonal restaurant located trackside at the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.

The investment group, called Racing Restaurants of America, is headed by president Keith Kantrowitz, president of New York City-based Power Express Mortgage; with managing partners Paul Carlucci, publisher of the New York Post; and Steven Schoenfeld, managing partner with MPS Global Securities, several jockey and horse trainers and Connolly and Dillon. The restaurant has been in existence for more than 70 years serving the horse racing aficionados who converge on Saratoga Springs each summer. The Albany Business Review reports that the restaurant went on the market early last year for $3.1 million but the price was later reduced to $2.7 million. The sale price isn't known but the group has already gotten to work investing in the property, installing new televisions and granite countertops and improving the patio. Kantrowitz, a longtime patron of the restaurant and racing fan expects the revenue to be $6 million in just the six weeks of the racing season. The restaurant is traditionally only open during track season but will remain open on weekends through October.

A menu posted on the Siro's website shows that the restaurant serves pricey dishes including seared Hudson Valley foie gras, broiled aged prime sirloin, roasted rack of Cassel Farm lamb and Maine lobster. Entries cost upwards from $30.

Gallery: Celebrity Restaurants

Tags: celebrity restaurants, entourage, kevin connolly, Kevin Dillon, saratoga springs, siros

Eva Longoria Parker's Expanding Restaurant Empire

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Celebrity Design

The restaurant world may not be having its best season but one celebrity restaurateur is ready to expand. People Magazine reports that Eva Longoria Parker is taking her Beso restaurant concept to Las Veas. Beso Las Vegas will open on New Year's Eve 2010 with an event hosted by Longoria Parker. The exact venue is still under construction but the menu will resemble Beso Hollywood with items like Eva's tortilla soup and chili rubbed skirt steak on the menu.

Longoria Parker and her business partner celebrity chef Todd English (who already has a version of his signature restaurant Olives in Las Vegas) plan to make the Las Vegas version a little different with a variety of specials and drinks and an upstairs lounge called Eve. Las Vegas is a smart move for a burgeoning restaurant chain, Although tourism is down in Las Vegas, the city still brings in hungry tourists looking for a special experience. Tao Las Vegas has topped the list of highest grossing independent restaurants for several years.

Longoria Parker is also planning a series of smaller airport versions called Besitos (little kisses in Spanish). The first one will be in Los Angeles. English can guide her there too, his Bonfire restaurant has outposts in both Boston's Logan Airport and New York City's JFK Airport.

Gallery: Celebrity Restaurants

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Tags: beso, celebrity restaurants, celebrity restaurateur, CelebrityRestaurants, CelebrityRestaurateur, eva longoria, eva longoria parker, EvaLongoria, EvaLongoriaParker, las vegas, LasVegas, restaurateur, todd english, ToddEnglish

Bruce Willis To Open A Wine Bar

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Celebrity Shopping

The latest celebrity to open a restaurant is Bruce Willis. Willis, who was a bartender before he rose to fame, was also part of the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain. His new project is a partnership in Bowery Wine Co., a wine bar opening in the East Village area of New York City. The NY Post quotes owner Chris Sileo as saying that the new venue is upscale and loungy and will serve paninis, salads and desserts.

Many celebrities have gone into the restaurant business, some with limited success (remember Britney Spears's brief turn as restaurateur?). Many more however have added to their wealth by being a partner in a restaurant group or one restaurant. Check out the gallery below for a list of some of the successful celebs in the restaurant business.

Gallery: Celebrity Restaurants

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Tags: bowery wine co, bruce willis, BruceWillis, celebrity, celebrity restaurants, CelebrityRestaurants, east village, expire-images:2009-3-26, new york