If there’s one thing Americans apparently love, it’s restaurants opened by celebrity chefs. Maybe because it’s a way for Chris Q. Public to feel somehow closer to their favorites on the Food Network or other channels. Or it might be the place to “see and be seen.” But we’ve had a collective love affair with them and their restaurants for decades.
I remember going to Wolfgang Puck’s Spago restaurant in the early 1990s (and how proud I was during the years that I could “still fit” into the slinky dress I wore there…until I no longer could LOL). Since then, dozens of celebrity chefs have opened restaurants – Emeril Lagasse, Giada De Laurentiis, Gordon Ramsay, Cat Cora, Guy Fieri, Paula Deen, Todd English, and the list goes on and on.
Bobby Flay has been on Food Network (FN) since the channel’s very first year – 1994. From Variety:
Flay has fronted a slew of series and specials for the cabler, from recent offerings such as “Beat Bobby Flay” and “Brunch at Bobby’s” to the original “Grillin’ and Chillin’ ” series that established Flay as a charismatic chef barbeque master. Flay has also long been a regular contender on Food Network’s many game shows, from “Chopped” and “Iron Chef America” to “Worst Cooks in America,” “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” and “The Next Food Network Star.”
Recently Flay also hosted the series “The Flay List” with his young adult daughter Sophie.
Thanks to his popularity on FN, Flay has also been able to open several restaurant chains, including Mesa Grill, Bar Americain and Bobby Flay Steak. He’s also opened 19 locations of Bobby’s Burger Palace, a fast-casual brand.
Variety is reporting that Flay and FN will be parting ways (after a 27-year run!) when his current contract ends. However Bobby Flay will still keep himself busy since he’ll soon be opening 2 more restaurants in Las Vegas.
He had already opened a Bobby’s Burger Palace in Caesars Palace this past May, and introduced a new restaurant, Amalfi, at the same resort a month later. He’s now going to open 2 more Bobby’s Burgers – one at Harrah’s Las Vegas, and one at Paris Las Vegas. Both locations are, of course, Caesars Entertainment property.
Menus at the two new locations will feature Flay’s original recipes, which include his signature burgers, fries with a choice of sauces, and milkshakes.
The Harrah’s location, anticipated to open in the Fulton Street Food Hall in December, will also offer breakfast options. Bobby’s Burger Palace at Paris Las Vegas, which is expected to open in March, will be around Le Boulevard, adjacent to the soon-to-open Nobu Restaurant & Lounge (which is co-owned by celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa).
Feature Photo: Labwork / Wikimedia
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1 comment
Wolfgang Puck Spago was before my time. But he had multiple other chains later on with several airport locations. I passed by his BOS and IAD restaurants frequently. His picture was also on canned soup, ConAgra frozen food, organic coffee, certain lines of houseware products etc.
I don’t get how people fall in that. Obviously, Wolfgang Puck’s company will double-check if they see a fit between his profile and the co-brand. But it is strikingly obvious that he is not the chef that developes the restaurant menus, processed food recipes, or the like personally…
I think it’s the same with many celebrity chefs. Think of Jamie Oliver who is present in so many countries with TV shows, cook books, co-branded groceries, and a restaurant chain which at some point extended across four continents.
Those celebrities have certainly have something at the core of their brand image where they played a pivotal role at some point (like, Jamie Oliver in his TV show The Naked Chef or Wolfgang Puck with his early Spago restaurant).
Nowadays, they’re just running a business of extending their name to other brands.