Celebrity chef restaurants in New York City

[Fat Guy]

I'm trying to generate a list of celebrity chef restaurants in New York City. I'm talking about the restaurants from people like Mario Batali and Bobby Flay, whose names would be recognized all over the place by people who aren't even necessarily foodies. I don't mean guys like Gray Kunz and Jean-Georges Vongerichten, who are celebrities to us but whose names don't mean much to the average person. I guess that means TV chefs, though perhaps there are some celebrity chefs who got their celebrity some other way -- I don't know.

So, besides all of Batali's restaurants, and all of Bobby Flay's restaurants . . .

[docsconz]

Iron Chef Morimoto.

[AvsKick21]

I'm trying to generate a list of celebrity chef restaurants in New York City. I'm talking about the restaurants from people like Mario Batali and Bobby Flay, whose names would be recognized all over the place by people who aren't even necessarily foodies. I don't mean guys like Gray Kunz and Jean-Georges Vongerichten, who are celebrities to us but whose names don't mean much to the average person. I guess that means TV chefs, though perhaps there are some celebrity chefs who got their celebrity some other way -- I don't know.

So, besides all of Batali's restaurants, and all of Bobby Flay's restaurants . . .

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Morimoto

Maybe Todd English

[Fat Guy]

Jeez, I hadn't thought of Morimoto. I definitely need help here.

[docsconz]

I think Thomas Keller can be included, especially after Ratatouille.

[Nathan]

Roy

[docsconz]

Bourdain may be the most famous of all, but is he still cooking?

[Nathan]

Bourdain may be the most famous of all, but is he still cooking?

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not in many years. but does Flay cook?

[Nathan]

also the guy at Perilla

[docsconz]

also the guy at Perilla

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In one sense he qualifies, but does the fact that neither you nor I remember his name disqualify him at the moment ?

[daisy17]

Perilla is Harold Dieterle

Lidia Bastianich

Tom Colicchio

[Nathan]

also the guy at Perilla

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In one sense he qualifies, but does the fact that neither you nor I remember his name disqualify him at the moment ?

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that's probably exactly why he does qualify!

Rocco would if he had anything open at all.

Tyler Florence lives in NoLIta and I know that he's been scouting space on and off for a restaurant for years...(has he ever been a real chef?)

[GordonCooks]

Gordon Ramsey

Joel Robuchon

Come to think of it - the NY dining scene is so steeped with history, the places were the celebrity long before the celebrity chef phenomenon. Places like Tavern on the Green, 21, etc

Edited July 18, 2007 by GordonCooks (log)

[weinoo]

Sam Talbot - oh, wait...

[Nathan]

going to disagree with Robuchon for the same reason that JG et al don't count.

[plattetude]

Daniel Boulud, on the strength of "After Hours". Granted, that's a pretty limited TV audience...

Marcus Samuelsson has had a bit of face time on PBS, but I think Aquavit is still probably better known as an entity than he is as a chef-personality.

Christopher

[chefboy24]

I'm trying to generate a list of celebrity chef restaurants in New York City. I'm talking about the restaurants from people like Mario Batali and Bobby Flay, whose names would be recognized all over the place by people who aren't even necessarily foodies. I don't mean guys like Gray Kunz and Jean-Georges Vongerichten, who are celebrities to us but whose names don't mean much to the average person. I guess that means TV chefs, though perhaps there are some celebrity chefs who got their celebrity some other way -- I don't know.

So, besides all of Batali's restaurants, and all of Bobby Flay's restaurants . . .

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zagat's got a good list in their 2007 nyc restaurant guide - of course there are a few that are only obvious to us foodies, like you mention, but you can quickly filter them out.

[Megan Blocker]

Do their stints on the Today Show qualify the Scottos? Are they even really chefs, any of them?

[emsny]

I take it you don't want to extend this to celebrity restaurateurs (De Niro, et al).

[Fat Guy]

Is De Niro a restaurateur, or more of an investor? I never did understand the extent of his role in those places. If he's just an investor, I wouldn't include him on this particular list. If, however, he's like Chris Noth (Mr. Big in "Sex and the City") with the Cutting Room and is actually involved in the restaurant's operations, then I'd probably include that.

(By the way, the reason I'm asking all this is that I'm helping someone out with a sidebar for a book about New York City)

[ulterior epicure]

From FG's initial post (and docsconz's follow-up post), it seems pretty limited to the Food Network chefs who have opened restaurants in New York... otherwise, it seems the majority of posters are limiting the field a bit too much to go beyond those three chefs (i.e. Batali, Flay and Morimoto).

I suppose it depends on FG's (or whoever is qualifying this thread's) definition of "celebrity" in relation to "chef." Is regular TV appearances a requirement? What about adverts in print and other media? I agree that Lidia Bastianich should be added, mostly based on the former; numerous PBS appearances.

If regular appearances, features, and adverts in print media is included, then certainly you'd have to include Boulud, Ripert, Robuchon, Ducasse (if he counts), and perhaps Keller.

Then there are the fringe "celebrities" to the "lay," but certainly rock stars in foodieland, like Dufresne, Matsuhisa, Takayama, Kunz, Samuelsson, and David Chang, etc....

What's the scope here?

[Fat Guy]

Recognizable by the average North American non-foodie.

[GordonCooks]

going to disagree with Robuchon for the same reason that JG et al don't count.

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I'm thinking international - not a good choice for a US tourbook, or hotel guide. I'll substitute Mama Leone

[tetsujustin]

Michael Symon and Aaron Sanchez were on the Melting Pot way back on FTV.

If that counts.

[ulterior epicure]

Recognizable by the average North American non-foodie.

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Okay, according to this qualification, then I'd say the following:

Batali

Flay

Morimoto

Boulud

Ripert

Palmer

Keller

Vongerichten

Bastianich

I'm sure there are others, but right now, my average foodie mind can think of any.

u.e.