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Media Contact:
Bullfrog & Baum, 212-255-6717
Jennifer Russo / Jacqueline Burke
russo@bullfrogandbaum.com
jacque@bullfrogandbaum.com
BULLFROG & BAUM SERVES A TASTE OF WHAT’S PLATED FOR 2010
PLUS A SECOND HELPING OF ITS 2009 RESTAURANT OPENINGS
NEW YORK CITY (November 19, 2009) – The year 2009 saw chefs serving up piles of pizza, a mountain of mac ‘n’ cheese and grinders galore; fine dining succeeding against all odds; and steaks from sea to sea. A look ahead reveals even more Italian restaurants, a new generation of American chefs and a bright culinary promise for Sin City.
PREVIEW FOR YEAR’S END INTO 2010
BLT Steak Waikiki, HI, December 2009
Surf’s up at BLT Steak. With access to the Pacific’s local fish and produce, Chef Laurent Tourondel will create new dishes that reflect the flavors of Waikiki. This new locale will be outfitted in vibrant tropical flair like hibiscus flowers and outdoor seating on spacious a lanais.
BLT Burger Hong Kong, December 2010
Following the overwhelming popularity of BLT Steak Hong Kong, Tourondel will bring his signature burgers, shakes and fries to the Asian metropolis. The fun, casual setting and decadent menu of American classics are sure to be a hit.
CityCenter Las Vegas, NV, December 2009
Just before the end of the year MGM MIRAGE will introduce the world to CityCenter; an extraordinary urban resort destination fed by eight internationally-acclaimed chefs and restaurateurs the likes of Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Sirio Maccioni, and Masayoshi Takayama. CityCenter heralds a new era of resort experiences that aspire to refine and redefine Las Vegas.
Hatfield’s Los Angeles, CA, December 2009
Chefs Quinn and Karen Hatfield, who split duties between savory and sweet, will re-open their eponymous California-French restaurant in a larger space with an exhibition kitchen and a “living wall” covered in foliage. Favorites like Quinn’s Croque Madame with prosciutto and hamachi and Karen’s Sugar and Spice Beignets with chocolate fondue and a milkshake shot will reappear along with new favorites from their expanded menu.
R2L Philadelphia, PA, January 2010
R2L will soon join the world’s roster of restaurants with spectacular views: Seattle’s Canlis, Chicago’s Everest, and Paris’ Les Jules Verne in The Eiffel Tower. R2L sits 500 feet above Philadelphia, offering floor-to-ceiling 360-degree views that span over 40 miles. Chef Daniel Stern offers a menu that translates the cuisine of an elegant cocktail party into a fine dining experience.
Recette NYC, December 2009
What began as a successful private dining company will evolve into a new restaurant of the same name in Greenwich Village this winter. Recette will feature a menu of contemporary American snacks and plates displaying Chef Jesse Schenker’s urban sensibility. Each artfully-composed dish will showcase seasonal ingredients manipulated with classical technique.
Quattro Gastronomia Italiana NYC, February 2010
After three wildly successful years of serving expertly-executed Northern Italian cuisine to Miami Beach’s sophisticated clientele, Quattro is taking Manhattan. Identical twin Chefs Nicola and Fabrizio Carro’s zeal for authenticity will be replicated at Quattro’s new location in New York City’s Trump SoHo.
NYC-AREA RESTAURANT OPENINGS OF 2009
Gus & Gabriel NYC, July 2009
Chef Michael Psilakis’ Upper West Side gastropub is the place for kids of all ages to indulge in housemade favorites like Chili Cheese Hot Dogs, Loaded Potato Skins and Cheddar Tater Tots.
Locanda Verde NYC, May 2009
Chef Andrew Carmellini’s rustic Italian eatery in The Greenwich Hotel is the year’s most popular place to get your pasta fix while rubbing elbows with glitterati. With menu items like Gabagoul & Grana, My Grandmothers’ Ravioli, the best Lamb Meatball Sliders in the city and Our Porchetta Sandwich with grilled onions and provolone.
Macbar NYC, September 2009
All mac ‘n’ cheese, all the time. The owners of neighboring Delicatessen opened Macbar to feature 12 incarnations of gourmet macaroni and cheese. If you have a passion for cheesy comfort food, quality ingredients, sleek packaging and shiny yellow sneaks, Macbar is affordable luxury with style.
Marea NYC, May 2009
With three stars from The New York Times and two stars from The Michelin Guide, Chef Michael White’s Marea has defied economic gravity making this temple to seafood the splash of the year. The coastal Italian menu showcases the freshest Mediterranean seafood in signature dishes like Astice with Nova Scotia lobster, burrata, eggplant al funghetto and basil, and Fusilli with red wine braised octopus and bone marrow.
Mermaid Oyster Bar NYC, November 2009
Owner Dan Abrams and Chef Laurence Edelman opened a little sister to their successful restaurant The Mermaid Inn. Named the Mermaid Oyster Bar, 16 varieties of oysters and fish shack fare are offered daily.
Motorino East Village NYC, August 2009
Chef Mathieu Palombino brought his authentic Neapolitan pies across the river from Williamsburg to Manhattan, taking over the digs of a much-acclaimed predecessor Una Pizza Neapolitana. The opening of Motorino East Village was this year’s most notable passing of the pizza torch.
SHO Shaun Hergatt NYC, June 2009
SHO Shaun Hergatt in the Financial District has been this year’s surprise show-stopper. Chef Shaun Hergatt’s haute French and Asian-accented menu (and his hot Australian accented, too) earned him both a Michelin Star and a place in Esquire magazine’s roster of Best New Restaurants. Impeccably sourced ingredients, superior service and a little gold leaf lend a new refinement to the heart of Wall Street.
The Standard Hotel Beer Garden NYC, August 2009
Austrian chef Kurt Gutenbrunner has turned The Standard Hotel into a real sausage party under the High Line. His custom-made Giant Pretzels and Schaller & Webber Weisswursts, Cheddar Sausages, Classic Bratwursts and Currywursts are the perfect accompaniment to the assorted Bavarian brews on tap.
Studio Square Long Island City, NY, May 2009
The 30,000-square foot Studio Square is the best place to enjoy a beer with one thousand of your closest friends. Bridging the spirit of an open-air German beer garden with the surrounding urban landscape, the indoor-outdoor space is a destination to gather, eat and drink at any time of year.
The Taco Truck Hoboken, NJ, October 2009
The Taco Truck features authentic Mexican food and environmentally responsible practices... on wheels. The truck serves tacos, tortas and sides created by acclaimed Chef Roberto Santibañez. All food packaging and utensils are either 100% biodegradable or fully recyclable, and the truck uses bio diesel fuel and its own onboard recycling and composting system.
The Upholstery Store NYC, July 2009
Owned by chef and art aficionado Kurt Gutenbrunner, this sliver of a wine bar is the place to seek refuge this winter. Locals can tuck into seats salvaged from an old Parisian metro to sip on Hermann Wiemer Riesling or an obscure syrah from Morocco while admiring Clifford Ross photography and nibbling on liver paté or delivery from the Michelin-stared Wallsé next door.
Xie Xie NYC, July 2009
Chef Angelo Sosa’s new Asian-inspired sandwich shop in Hell’s Kitchen is the best place to escape the bánh mì craze. The much-hyped Vietnamese sandwich is not on the menu, but selections include an Asian Lobster Roll with Kewpie mayonnaise and dill, and Alain Ducasse’s favorite Fish Cha Ca La Vong with onion jam and turmeric.
ZYLO Hoboken, NJ, April 2009
This vibrant Tuscan steakhouse in the W Hoboken Hotel & Residences offers breathtaking waterfront views of the Manhattan skyline and a mouthwatering menu featuring a variety of steaks including prime, dry-aged and grass-fed, as well as savory handmade pastas.
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL RESTAURANT OPENINGS OF 2009
Bar Savona Gulph Mills, PA, May 2009
Bar Savona is a Philadelphia region hot spot for chic cocktails and rustic Italian dishes. The boîte shares space with Chef Drew Masciangelo’s award-winning fine dining restaurant, Savona. A Papi’s Collins pairs perfectly with the menu of handmade pastas, Artichokes golden fried and brick-oven pizza.
BLT Steak Hong Kong, January 2009
Atlanta, GA, January 2009
Miami Beach, FL, March 2009
Charlotte, NC, October 2009
2009 was a big year for busy Tourondel who opened the first international location of his BLT Steak and three additional locations of the modern steakhouse across the country. The far-flung destinations exposed Tourondel and his team to new ingredients and regional foods providing inspiration for a number of new dishes including a Cuban Sandwich with pork shoulder, ham and provolone served with garlic fries; 7-Spice Duck Breast with foie gras and peach mustarda; sides like Spicy BBQ Corn, Grits & Gorgonzola and Jalapeño Mashed Potatoes; and desserts such as Key Lime Panna Cotta with coconut sorbet and Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake with Georgia pecan ice cream.
Copa d’Oro Santa Monica, CA, January 2009
Each morning Head Barman Vincenzo Marianella combs LA’s farmers markets to create the evening’s bespoke libations at Copa d’Oro. Sip on a personalized concoction tailored to your tastes or one of his preconceived potions like the Ruby Sleeper Martini with Partida Blanco tequila, lychee liqueur, organic agave nectar and fresh lemon and ruby red grapefruit juices.
Cecconi’s Los Angeles, CA, February 2009
Cecconi’s is like a trip to Capri without the flight. The first American location of the Venetian original is outfitted in a color palette of Cerulean blue, black and white visible in its marble floors, tufted velvet banquettes and gilded mirrors. Feast on Chef Andrea Cavaliere’s Homemade Sausage and Roasted Red Pepper Pizza and sip a signature Bellini.
Eos Miami, FL, May 2009
Restaurateur Donatella Arpaia and Psilakis flew south last spring to bring haute Mediterranean small plates to the 15th floor of The Viceroy in downtown Miami. Psilakis’ hot Hellenic dishes like Orange Marlin Sashimi with pistachio, speck and apricot and Smoked Pork Ribs seasoned with dried chili, coffee and lime are popular with the city’s international jet set and earned three-and-a-half stars from The Miami Herald.
Katsuya LA Live Los Angeles, CA, June 2009
Master Sushi Chef Katsuya Uechi partnered with SBE to open his most recent restaurant just a dribble away from the Staples Center, making it the best place to spot Kobe Bryant eating Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna. Enjoy the chef’s signature Baked Crab Roll and Albacore with Crispy Onions alongside new dishes specific to LA Live like the Spicy Calamari and Kobe Sliders, pun intended.
MidAtlantic Philadelphia, PA, October 2009
Philadelphia’s newest Tap Room is the ideal watering hole for an after work local brew or affordable family-style dinner. Stern’s menu is Pennsylvania Dutch with a modern twist. Dishes like Crab Scrapple Cakes with toasted barley mustard, Fried Oysters and Salsify, and Roast Pork with apple fritters and sauerkraut provide a true taste of Pennsylvania.
Pizzeria Ortica Orange County, CA, January 2009
Chef David Myers and right-hand man Steve Samson channeled generations of Italian family recipes to create a menu of antipasti and Neapolitan-style pies. Favorites include the Salsiccia e Finnocchio Pizza with housemade sausage, caramelized fennel, mascarpone, red onion and buffalo grana; antipasti like Olive Oil-Poached Tuna Belly with cranberry beans, and pickled red onions and handmade pastas like Pear and Pecorino Tortelli.
Pizzeria Stella Philadelphia, PA, October 2009
The gourmet pies tossed at Restaurateur Stephen Starr’s Pizzeria Stella are a hybrid of the Neapolitan and New York styles. Stella’s mouthwatering menu offers everything from the traditional Margherita to signatures like Tartufo with black truffle, fontina, egg and parmesan and Vongole with clams, guanciale and broccoli rabe. The atmosphere? Legit. The oven? Wood-fired. The gelato? From a secret family recipe.
Sprinkles Mobile Los Angeles, CA, June 2009
This summer Sprinkles gave LA one great reason to sign up for Twitter. The cupcake company with a cult-following hit the streets in a customized Mercedes Sprinter van dubbed “The Sprinkles Mobile.” Sugar-deprived 9-to-5’ers, party planners and film crews are tightly tuned to the Sprinkles Twitter feed (@sprinklesaddict) to chase down Sprinkles’ sought-after cupcakes at locations around the city.
Square Burger Philadelphia, PA, July 2009
Starr’s SquareBurger is the place for kids of all ages to enjoy classic American grub at affordable prices in Franklin Square. The menu offers the Americana trifecta – hamburgers, hot dogs and French fries – dressed up with signature Starr panache. Starr’s favorite is the Philly Dog, an all-beef frank wrapped in kosher salami and topped with pickle, onion, cherry peppers, plum tomatoes and mustard.
Steak 954 Fort Lauderdale, FL, May 2009
Steak 954, Starr’s modern steakhouse at the W Fort Lauderdale, combines fine-dining luxury with comfortable resort-style. The menu offers hand-crafted cocktails, dry-aged beef, hard-to-find Australian Tajima Kobe and local seafood. Extensive outdoor seating is the perfect location to enjoy one of Fort Lauderdale’s best brunches.
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