Restaurant Ramblings

publication date: Dec 10, 2007

Santé Holiday Issue - December 2007

CALIFORNIA — Patina Restaurant Group announced the opening of its newest restaurant, bar, and lounge, Paperfish, under Chef and Restaurateur Joachim Splichal and Executive Chef Yianni Koufodontis in Beverly Hills.

Executive Chef and Co-Owner Shekoh Moossavi and Pastry Chef and Co-Owner Mark Ainsworth combined talents to open Shokolaat in Palo Alto.

Unicorn Restaurant opened in the San Francisco Bay area under the guidance of Kiet Truong and will serve Pan-Asian cuisine.

Newly opened EXY Restaurant and Lounge in San Diego has appointed city native and 20-year industry veteran Carter Shuffler to the position of executive chef.

Daniel Sudar, former chef de cuisine of Betelnut, has taken the reins as executive chef at San Francisco’s new Red Lantern, serving Southeast Asian, family-style cuisine.

FLORIDA — Michael Schwartz, chef and owner of Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink, announced that Hedy Goldsmith will serve as executive pastry chef at the Miami bistro.

The current restaurant at Fort Lauderdale Marriott North will become a BlueFire Grille in early 2008 and will open under the direction of a new executive chef Craig Rosado.

ILLINOIS — Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Inc., announced the opening of Reel Club, a seafood restaurant in Oak Brook Center, under the direction of Chef Mychael Bonner.

LOUISIANA — The New Orleans Marriott unveiled the hotel’s new restaurant, 5 Fifty 5, led by Executive Chef Mark Quitney.

NEVADA — Noted Las Vegas entrepreneur Doc Wiener of DW Enterprises has opened Trader Vic’s Las Vegas and Halo Bar @ Planet Hollywood on the Las Vegas Strip.

Danny Abrams, owner of Manhattan’s Mermaid Inn and founder of Prohibition bar, brought both concepts to the Village at Queensridge in Las Vegas.

JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa appointed Josh Drennen to the position of senior restaurant manager for the resort’s Ceres Restaurant.

NEW MEXICO — In Sante Fe, Rio Chama has reopened after extensive remodeling, including the addition of two new banquet rooms and an 11,000-bottle wine cellar.

NEW YORK CITY — Baraonda will debut at its new location at 1640 Second Avenue and with its new chef, Christian Fantoni.

Lunetta, the second coming, has opened with Executive Chef and Owner Adam Shepard expanding on his exquisite paean to Italian-American home cooking.

Expressing the influences of the Italian Riviera and Liguria, Nizza opened with Chef Andy D’Amico serving small and medium plates that are big on flavor.

The Modern, Café 2, and Terrace 5 announced Belinda Chang as the new wine director for the restaurants located at the Museum of Modern Art.

Chef Waldy Malouf opened the kitchen counter@beacon, a restaurant within a restaurant featuring unique small plates.

Ben Zwicker, executive chef of T-Bar Steak & Lounge, created a menu for steak and seafood lovers in the Upper East Side.

The family-friendly Maxie’s Grill opened on Park Avenue under the direction of Reed Goldstein and Peter Kay.

OKLAHOMA — The Waterford Marriott Hotel announced the addition of two new BlueFire Grille chefs, Ian Wagner and Francis Silva, and new General Manager Chet Surmaczewicz.

VIRGINIA — 2941 Restaurant in Falls Church has appointed Bertrand Chemel to executive chef starting in the new year.

WASHINGTON — Tina Pilutik has been promoted to head pastry chef at Yarrow Bay Grill and Beach Café at the Point restaurants and Yarrow Bay Grill Catering, all located in Kirkland.

WASHINGTON DC — Executive Chef James Balster and Chef Lois Spencer collaborated on the menu for Dirk van Stockum’s newest creation, Park at Fourteenth, featuring creative American classics.

Domaso Trattoria Moderna, located in Hotel Palomar Arlington, opened with Executive Chef Massimo Fedozzi.