Celebrity Restaurant Chains

Nobu (4/5) started it with a unique menu that has been copied worlwide. The rise of the celebrity chef who can no longer be found behind the stove of any of his restaurants. He flys around slipping in and out of aprons and making appearances in the empire while trusted "right hand men and women" try to keep up with the master. Joel Robuchon has now done the same with L'Atelier (3/5) in Tokyo, Paris, Las Vegas and now London. Alain Ducaisse has restaurants in Monaco, Paris and New York. Wolfgang Puck has a frozen food brand in addition to the restaurants. These places are all good enough except that you pay maximum dollar for the chef's name without getting the quality of the original inspirational chefs cooking. Same high price, almost as good just doesnt seem quite right.

Comments

[Eloy]

I couldn't agree more. However, I went to opening night of Strip Steak (Michael Mina) Mandalay Bay in October. Michael was in the kitchen that night, and it was fabulous. Only to return two weeks later and find that he had already left. :-(

Let them sign cookbooks and smile for Regis and Kathy Lee... the king of all chefs still reins over the #1 restaurant EVER opened in the U.S. - All hail Grant Achatz and Alinea!